2010 03 09 PC MinutesMINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
March 9, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
7:02 P.M.
A. A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to
order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Alderson.
PRESENT: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Weber, Wilkinson, and
Chairman Alderson
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Les Johnson, Planning Manager
David Sawyer, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja, and
Secretary Monika Radeva.
II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA:
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR:
Commissioner Weber requested Page 9, paragraph 1 be corrected to read:
Commissioner Weber expressed his thoughts on radio frequency and FCC
certification and stated additional trees, greater than the 25 feet proposed,
were needed to help the cell tower blend in. It was then moved and
seconded by Commissioners Weber/Barrows to approve the minutes of
February 23, 2010, with that correction. Unanimously approved.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Continued -Conditional Use Permit 2009-122; a request by WFI, Inc.
for Sprint for consideration to allow for the co-location of three panel
antennas, three microwave antennas and one equipment cabinet for
an existing telecommunication monopalm tower located at 77-865
Avenida Montezuma; Desert Recreation District - La Quinta
Community Park.
Planning Commission Minutes
March 9. 2010
Mr. Bill Sanchez, Property Manager for Washington Park Shopping
Center, 80-618 Declaration Avenue, Indio, CA 92201, introduced
himself and said he was not the applicant, but wanted to address the
Commission on behalf of the property owner.
Mr. Sanchez said the owner of the shopping center was in general
supportive of Luxe Electric Cars' request as it would assist the tenant
with visibility. Another possible display location could be the
utilization of one of the parking stalls in front the store up against the
walkway. However, the owner was not in support of having golf cars
displayed on the ADA ramp or the walkway in front of the store.
Mr. Sanchez explained the previously identified half parking stall was
usually utilized for motorcycle or golf cart parking, and it could be
striped differently if requested. He said if the applicant was
conditioned to use that space for their outdoor display, it would be
difficult to identify since it would blend in with the general parking.
Commissioner Weber asked if the vehicles sold by Luxe Electric Cars
would be legal to drive on public streets. Mr. Sanchez replied he
could not answer the question as he was not a representative of the
applicant.
Commissioner Weber asked if the area of discussion was included in
the City's golf cart program. Staff replied it was not. Staff said the
four golf car vendors operating in La Quinta were not required to
comply with the State requirements and explained why. In addition, if
purchasers wanted to drive them on the City's golf cart routes, they
would have to license the vehicles and make sure they met all of the
City's requirements.
Commissioner Weber asked about the use of electric cars on the
City's golf cart routes. Staff replied that different provisions applied
to electric cars. The City was not involved in licensing such vehicles
as it was handled by the State Department of Motor Vehicles.
However, the licensing of golf carts was administratively handled by
the City.
Commissioner Quill wanted to clarify that the shopping center and its
parking lot were private property allowing patrons to drive their golf
carts within the center and only be cited if they were driven on public
streets. Staff said that was correct.
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Planning Commission Minutes
March 9, 2070
Commissioner Weber said he also agreed with the Commissioners'
comments. He said the Commission would like to encourage
alternative and more efficient methods of transportation. He thanked
Mr. Sanchez for attending the meeting on behalf of the owner and
expressed his disappointment that there was no representative of the
applicant.
Chairman Alderson said he visited the store and complimented their
product. He pointed out that currently the vendor was displaying a
golf car directly in front of the store by parking it in a handicap stall.
Chairman Alderson said he wasn't sure if it would be more
advantageous for the applicant to have two parking spaces for
outdoor display in front of the store or along Washington Street. He
said the half parking stall was more adequate for motorcycle parking.
He agreed with the Commissioners' comments that the sidewalk and
the ADA ramp should not be obstructed with outdoor display and that
the there was ample parking available. Chairman Alderson suggested
the applicant could be allowed to display golf cars in two parking
spaces directly in front of the store, next to the curb, if those stalls
were re-striped from handicap to regular parking stalls.
Planning Director Johnson said the approval of a Conditional Use
Permit was in perpetuity. He noted the center currently was not fully
occupied and there was still undeveloped land to the south. He
suggested the Commission could consider identifying a time limit of
two or three years to be incorporated in the conditions of approval
which would allow them to re-visit the case should there be a
situation in the future to warrant it.
Commissioner Barrows asked what other mechanism would trigger the
review of a Conditional Use Permit if there was no time limit identified.
Planning Director Johnson replied a violation of the conditions of
approval would warrant a review by the Commission. However, if
there were no violation, the approval would be in perpetuity and it was
not exclusive to Luxe Electric Cars.
Chairman Alderson referenced the public hearing notice for Conditional
Use Permit 2009-126 submitted by Yamaha Golf Cars located in the
Komar Desert Center which was scheduled for review and
consideration on March 23, 2010. He asked if the Commission would
be setting a precedent by approving the case at hand and would have
to allow the outdoor display.of golf cars along Highway 111 as well.
Planning Director Johnson explained the situation at Komar Desert
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Planning Commission Minutes
March 9, 2010
Planning Manager David Sawyer presented the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Planning Department.
Chairman Alderson asked if this case would require City Council's
approval. Staff confirmed.
Commissioner Quill said he was in support of the street name change.
Commissioner Barrows asked if Westward Ho Drive extended further
east than Jefferson Street. Staff replied Westward Ho Drive
continued beyond Jefferson Street and it ended at the Whitewater
Channel, just beyond the south entrance to the Indian Springs
subdivision in the City of Indio. Commissioner Barrows asked if it
would be better to re-name the entire street instead of just a portion
of it. Staff explained why that would be a more difficult procedure.
Commissioner Barrows asked how the 67% of property owner support
stated in the staff report was calculated. Planning Manager Sawyer
explained the calculations were based on street frontage minus city
owned property.
Commissioner Barrows thanked staff and said she was in support of
the street name change as well.
Commissioner Weber asked for clarification on which properties were
included in the calculations for property owner support and staff gave
an explanation. He said he thought the street name change was a
good idea.
Chairman Alderson asked which properties' addresses would be
affected by the change and if the City would have to incur any costs.
Planning Director Johnson replied the only properties that would be
affected, and possibly incur costs would be La Quinta High School and
the single family home located across the street from the school, but
they both had provided written statements that they were in support
of it. Planning Manager Sawyer explained the only cost would be
associated with changing out the street signs and that it would be the
applicant's responsibility. He noted the applicant had already been
notified and had agreed to the condition.
There being no further questions of the staff, Chairman Alderson
asked if the applicant would like to address the Commission.
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Planning Commission Minutes
March 9, 2010
X. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Quill/Wilkinson to adjourn this regular meeting of the
Planning Commission to the Regular Meeting to be held on March 23, 2010.
This regular meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. on March 9, 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Monika Radeva, Secr ary
City of La Quinta, California
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