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2010 09 28 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA September 28, 2010 CALL TO ORDER 7:00 P.M. A. A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 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 Yvonne Franco, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: There were two amendments requested: 1). Commissioner Barrows asked that Commissioner Quill's name be added to those present at the meeting; since he was in attendance; and 2). Commissioner Weber noted the starting and call-to-order times were different and asked that they be corrected. There being no further comments, or suggestions, it was moved by Commissioners Weber/Barrows to approve the minutes of July 27, 2010 with corrections noted. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Weber, and Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: Chairman Alderson. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Sign Program 2002-618, Amendment No. 3; a request by BRR Architecture for consideration for a sign program amendment for The Centre at La Quinta Sign Program to address new signage for Walmart Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 located south of Highway 1 1 1, between Adams Street and Dune Palms Road in The Centre at La Quinta. Assistant Planner Yvonne Franco presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Quill asked why the existing signs were being changed. Planning Director Johnson replied this was a corporate move to update their logo, and overall building appearance; including painting the exterior and minor interior remodeling. Commissioner Weber asked if there was any information on the tenant signs. Assistant Planner Franco said currently there were no proposed specific tenant signs for those locations and commented on current and previous tenants and their signage needs. Commissioner Weber asked if there would be any issues with directional signs. Planning Director Johnson said staff did not anticipate any issues but because this was a sign program amendment that language was included in case something additional was proposed by Walmart. He added, if so, it could be reviewed and considered by the Planning Director and could be brought back to the Commission if there were any major changes. Staff currently views the directional signage as being a minor concern which could be handled administratively. Discussion followed on the directional signs for the tire and lube area, the elevation of the Walmart sign and its colors. General comments were made to the applicant regarding the need for trimming the parking lot trees and how that would improve the sign visibility. There being no further questions of the staff, Chairman Alderson asked if the applicant would like to speak. -2- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 Mr. Tony Garza, BRR Architecture, representing the client, Walmart Stores, introduced himself and acknowledged the comments on tree trimming. Mr. Garza also said he would share that information with the client. He then said if the Commissioners had any questions, he was there to answer them. Commissioner Weber asked Mr. Garza to comment on the tenant signs and what they anticipated. Mr. Garza commented on what tenants they now have and added there were currently no tenant signs on the building. They were trying to identify where the future sign locations would be, but stated Walmart leaves that up to the tenants involved. Chairman Alderson asked if they were planning two locations to be determined later. Mr. Garza said they were planning for the locations, but not for the actual signage. There being no further questions of staff, or comments from the applicant, Chairman Alderson asked if there was any public comment. There being no public comment, Chairman Alderson opened the matter for Commission discussion and closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber said he remained sensitive to directional signs and commented on a nearby location. He was not concerned if these signs were going to be specifically for Walmart and nothing else in the Center. Chairman Alderson asked if he was comfortable with staff's previous response on the directional signs and he replied he was. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows/Weber to adopt Minute Motion 2010-005 recommending approval of Sign Program 2002-618, Amendment No. 3 as submitted. Unanimously approved. B. Sign Program 2006-1017, Amendment No. 1; a request by Lucas Coronet for consideration of a request for a sign program amendment -3- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 for Coronel Plaza located at the southwest corner of Calle Tampico and Avenida Navarro. Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioner Wilkinson asked about the example showing duplicate signs. He wanted to know if that was just an example or did they actually want the signs at two different locations. Staff said the graphics shown were just for illustration purposes. The current sign program allowed one sign per tenant. General discussion followed regarding fourteen sign locations, and adding six for a total of twenty sign locations; since there were only ten tenants. Comments were included on the amendment allowing more flexibility for sign locations. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Alderson asked if the applicant would like to speak. Mr. Lucas Coronel - 48-820 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta CA - introduced himself and said he wanted to make a correction and noted the request was submitted to allow the flexibility of having more than one sign per tenant. The application was submitted using the example showing two tenants with signs on the north and east sides of the building. He explained where the building was located and where his tenants' signs would get the most exposure. He added that he had two tenants who were motivated to move to the site by its location and they wanted the additional signs. He was asking for the flexibility to have signs in more than one location; such as Old Town has. His tenants needed the exposure from both sides of the building. Chairman Alderson asked if he wanted the amendment to include multiples of the same signs on the building. Mr. Coronel said a maximum of two - on the north and east sides; if the tenants chose to have them. -4- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 General discussion followed regarding one sign versus two, the need for flexibility, and clarification of the applicant's request. Commissioner Barrows asked for clarification on where the single tenant sign information was found in the staff report. Staff responded it was on page 1 1, IV.A.1., where it stated "Each tenant will be assigned one of the predetermined sign envelopes approved by The City of La Quinta. The tenant sign may not exceed this sign envelope." Staff continued, if the Commission wanted to consider granting the applicant's request, that language would have to be amended. Mr. Coronel said the sign program was originally submitted in 2006 and the information the Commissioner's were presented in the staff report was not something he turned in with the new amendment. Staff responded by saying the application was not reviewed with the understanding that there would be two signs, for a total of 20, on the building. Staff commented that the Commission had the discretion to pursue and consider the request by the applicant, with the potential for 20 signs on this building. However, staff had not contemplated this change in the analysis of the application, and it was not included in the information provided to the Commission. Mr. Coronel explained the motivation for requesting the 20 signs and the need to accommodate two of his tenants. Commissioner Wilkinson asked how many tenant spaces there were in the building. Mr. Coronel responded there were ten and then commented on the types of signs that were allowed in Old Town versus those allowed on this building. General discussion followed on the Sign Ordinance, signage space available on the building, and the flexibility to offer equal exposure to all the applicant's tenants. Commissioner Wilkinson asked if there were tenants sharing spaces in this building (one subleasing from another. Mr. Coronel said he did not have any subleases at present. Commissioner Wilkinson asked what the applicant would do if a -5- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 subleasee also wanted a tenant sign. Mr. Coronet said he would have to explain the situation to them, that this is what is available. They can take it or leave it. General discussion followed on the additional signs, amending the sign program, and possible sign locations. Commissioner Quill asked how the signs were constructed. Mr. Coronet said they were raised lettering that conformed to what was currently on the building. Commissioner Quill asked if they would be illuminated. The applicant responded they would not. There being no further questions of the staff, or comments from the applicant, Chairman Alderson asked if there was any public comment. There being no public comment, Chairman Alderson opened the matter for Commission discussion and closed the public hearing. Commissioner Weber commented on the good looks of this building and the unfortunate state of the surrounding areas. He said the building could accommodate the signage without a problem since the signage was not optimal as currently set up. He added the proposed signage made a lot of sense. Discussion followed on what the current sign program was, what the applicant was requesting, where the new signs were to be located and why. General comments were made regarding the assignment of sign locations and sign width versus the window width. Staff commented that sign width information was included in the conditions of approval as number four. Commissioner Barrows asked if other village sign programs allowed more than one sign per tenant. Staff gave examples of the programs for Old Town and the Calle Estado building saying there were mixed numbers of allowable signs in those programs. -6- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 Mr. Coronel said he had four small spaces, on the far south side of the building, that would never be doubled up. He stated he could restrict those to have one sign only. Commissioner Quill asked if that meant the Commission could restrict the amount of sign locations to 16. Mr. Coronel said yes, that would work. Commissioner Weber remarked that the signage on the tower should be restricted to the width of the window. He added it is needed to direct people and said the additional signs would help people in locating this building. Commissioner Quill suggested the approval state that six tenants would be allowed up to two signs and four tenants would only be allowed one sign. The applicant could pick and choose who those would be. Chairman Alderson asked Lucas Coronel if that served his needs. Mr. Coronel said that was fine. Commissioner Barrows suggested the language of the motion to be made would be to 1) allow the six signs on the north and east exposures of the tower; which was not previously a location where signs were allowed, and 2) the maximum number of building-mounted signs is limited to 16. Staff added that within the recommendations on page 4, of the staff report, there were four conditions of approval and suggested the Commission focus on changing item number two as well as consideration of the other three items; one of which addresses the issue of the width of the signs in relationship to the windows. General discussion followed to work out the appropriate approval language concluding with six (6) tenants will be allowed up to two (2) signs and four (4) tenants will be allowed one (1) sign. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Wilkinson to adopt Minute Motion -7- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 2010-006 recommending approval of Sign Program 2006-1017, Amendment No. 1, with staff's recommended Conditions of Approval numbered 1, 3, and 4, and amending Condition No. 2, as follows: 2. The building shall not have more than sixteen (16) individual building-mounted signs; which shall be assigned as six (6) tenants being allowed two (2) signs and four (4- tenants being allowed one 11) sign. Unanimously approved. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Report of the City Council Meeting and September 21, 2010 presented by Commissioner Barrows, with additional comments by Chairman Alderson and Planning Director Les Johnson. B. Chairman Alderson noted Commissioner Quill was scheduled to report back on the October 5, 2010, Council meeting. C. Chairman Alderson thanked the Commission for their confidence in him by re-electing him Chairman. D. Commissioner Quill brought up and discussed the lack of paved areas available, in certain sections on Highway 1 1 1, for citizens using public transportation. Anecdotal evidence was given about how difficult it was for the handicapped and elderly to maneuver in those areas. Staff commented that this subject had been previously mentioned and explained the steps being taken to address the problem. Discussion followed with suggestions from the Commissioners on ways to expedite a remedy. Staff said they would pass the information on to the appropriate person(s). -8- Planning Commission Minutes September 28, 2010 IX: DIRECTOR ITEMS: A. Director commented on the upcoming Joint Council Meeting scheduled for November 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m (for PC and ALRC) and asked for the Commission's input on discussion topics. It was suggested the Commissioners a-mail their topics to staff and noted the item will be agendized at the next meeting for discussion. There should be no more than two or three items. B. Director gave an update of the status of the General Plan (20351. Discussion followed on the update memo and the current status of the General Plan; with emphasis on the traffic plan. Discussion followed on the following points of the General Plan: • Greenhouse Gas Emissions and an upcoming CVAG workshop (October 18, 2010). • Non-Motorized Transportation and Trails Plan and the City's adoption of the Plan. • Livability and sustainability. X. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, it was moved by Commissioners Wilkinson/Quill to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next regular meeting to be held on October 12, 2010. This regular meeting was adjourned at 8:28 p.m. on September 28, 2010. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn ~Q/alker, Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California -9-