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2011 02 08 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA February 8, 2011 7:04 P.M. CALL TO ORDER A. A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairman Alderson. PRESENT: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Wilkinson, and Chairman Alderson. ABSENT: Commissioner Weber STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Les Johnson and Secretary Monika Radeva. II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: There being no comments, or suggestions, it was moved by Commissioners Barrows /Wilkinson to approve the minutes of January 11, 2011 as submitted. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Wilkinson, and Chairman Alderson.. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Weber. ABSTAIN: None. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: A. Zoning Code Amendment 2010 -102 a request by the City of La Quinta for consideration of Zoning Code Amendment to the La Quinta Municipal Code, Section 9.60.030, to Permit Review of Alternative Fence Materials Not Currently Identified in the Code Section 9.120.020 "Table of Permitted Uses" to add the Sale of Golf Carts as a Conditionally Permitted Use in the Golf Course Zoning District. Planning Director Les Johnson presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Planning Department. Chairman Alderson said he would like the Commission to address the Planning Commission Minutes February 8, 2011 two items separately, first the alternative fence materials, and then the sale of golf carts. He asked if there were any questions of staff. Commissioners Wilkinson and Barrows asked if the owners who had installed the metal fence shown on Attachment #3, at 46700 Cameo Palms Drive, had complied with the Planning Commission's requirement to put caps on top of the metal fence. Staff replied that no action had been taken on the case as it was subject to the decision pending tonight. Staff would notify the owner of what would be required to address this issue after the zoning code amendment was adopted by Council. Chairman Alderson asked if sheet metal fencing was allowed, shouldn't the code specify the type of coating it must have. Staff replied that it would be better to address coating on an application -by- application basis in order to ensure that the metal fencing materials used were architecturally suitable, there was no glare, etc. Chairman Alderson said he was pleased with the fact that staff was revisiting the issue of golf cart sales and refining the allowable boundaries. Commissioner Barrows asked to clarify that the code amendment was specific to allowing Golf Cart Sales in the Golf Course Zoning District, and that it didn't also include neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) or the allowance of the sale of golf carts in other zoning districts. Staff replied the section was specifically identified as Golf Cart Sales which did not include other types of electric vehicles. He explained if the amendment was approved, it would be applicable city -wide, meaning, that it would allow for consideration of Golf Cart Sales to occur anywhere within the City on a Golf Course zoned property. Staff said the sale of NEVs, in addition to golf carts, was allowed subject to a Conditional Use Permit approval, in retail establishments in areas zoned as Retail /Commercial. There being no further questions of staff Chairman Alderson asked if there was any public comment. There being no questions or public comments, Chairman Alderson -2- Planning Commission Minutes February 8, 2011 opened the matter for Commission discussion. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Quill /Wilkinson to adopt Resolution 2011- 002 recommending approval of the proposed modification of La Quinta Municipal Code Section 9.60.030, to permit review of alternative fence materials, and Section 9.120.020 "Table of Permitted Uses" as submitted. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Wilkinson, and Chairman Alderson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Weber. ABSTAIN: None. VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: None. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Report of the City Council Meeting of February 1, 2011, presented by Commissioner Quill. He said the City Council adopted the proposed Non - Motorized Vehicle Transportation Plan. Commissioner Quill said Council discussed the landscaping for the Highway 111 Corridor and a new monument sign, and asked why these items were never presented to the Planning Commission for review and consideration. Staff replied that the Municipal Code protocol for landscaping permits and enhancements to public facilities required only Council review and approval which was why the case was never presented to the Planning Commission. Commissioner Barrows asked if that was because these were projects handled by the La Quinta Redevelopment Agency (RDA). Planning Director Johnson replied that not all projects were RDA projects. He explained it was related to City projects administered directly through City Hall for which the entitlement process did not require Planning Commission consideration. City Council could decide to have some projects presented to other Boards, Commissions, and /or Committees, and direct staff to do so. -3- Planning Commission Minutes February 8, 2011 Planning Director Johnson said that this policy was currently under review as part of the General Plan Update and could be revised in the not too distant future. Commissioner Barrows asked if the adoption of the Non - Motorized Vehicle Transportation Plan makes the City of La Quinta eligible for the BTA Grant. Staff replied it did. Commissioner Quill asked if the City would be applying for the grant. Staff replied it was definitely a matter the City was interested in proceeding with, particularly the Whitewater Channel Trail, but that it would not be applying for the grant this year and explained why. Commissioner Barrows asked what was the responsibility of the Planning Commission for implementing the adoption of the Non - Motorized Vehicle Transportation Plan. Staff replied that the Non - Motorized Vehicle Transportation Plan was already included in the City's General Plan Transportation Element. The adoption of the plan was merely taking those sections out of the General Plan and combining it with similar information from the County and State and making it its own document. Commissioner Wilkinson asked if there were any other funding options available for the Whitewater Channel Trail. Staff replied there were some and gave a brief description of what those were. B. Chairman Alderson noted Commissioner Barrows was scheduled to report back on the February 15, 2011, Council meeting. C. Quarterly Attendance Record. Chairman Alderson said he was very pleased with the Commission's attendance record. D. Chairman Alderson said Commissioner Weber had notified the Commission that he would be running late. It was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows /Quill to excuse Commissioner Weber's absence. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Quill, Wilkinson, and Chairman Alderson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Weber. ABSTAIN: None. -4- Planning Commission Minutes February 8, 2011 IX: DIRECTOR ITEMS: None. 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 February 24, 2011. This regular meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. on February 8, 2011. Respectfully Monika Radeia, Secretary City of La Quinta, California -5-