2011 07 26 PC MinutesMINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall
78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
July 26, 2011
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.
B. PRESENT: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman
Alderson.
ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson.
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager David Sawyer, City Attorney
Kathy Jenson, Principal Planner Wally Nesbit,
Assistant Planner Eric Ceja, and Secretary Monika
Radeva.
IV
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: Confirmed.
CONSENT CALENDAR:
There being no comments, or suggestions, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows /Alderson to approve the minutes of June 28 and
July 12, 2011 as submitted. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber,
Wright and Chairman Alderson. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner
Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None.
V. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
A. Site Development Permit 2002 -753, Amendment 1; a request by
Walgreens Company, for consideration to rescind condition of approval
#6 of the original site development permit and to permit the sale of beer
and wine at the existing Walgreens, located at the northeast corner of
Avenue 48 and Washington Street.
Planning Manager David Sawyer said staff had received residents'
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July 26, 2011
requests from Rancho La Quinta Home Owners Association to extend the
public hearing period for this item for sixty days. Thus, staffs'
recommendation is to open the public hearing and continue the item until
the September 27, 2011, Planning Commission meeting.
Chairman Alderson asked if there were any questions of staff.
Commissioner Weber asked staff to ensure that all adjacent home owners
associations be notified and given the chance to respond. He also asked
staff to review and evaluate police report data of similar Walgreens
facilities.
Planning Manager Sawyer replied that police data had already been
obtained and evaluated, but further data could be provided from other
similar facilities as well. He said staff would work with the applicant on
ensuring that all properties that might be affected are properly notified
and given time to respond.
There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Alderson opened the
public hearing portion of the meeting.
There being no discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows /Wright to continue Site Development Permit
2002 -753, Amendment 1, to the September 27, 2011, Planning
Commission Meeting.
AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright and Chairman Alderson.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None.
B. Sign Application 2011 -1536 a request by Sign -A -Rama for consideration
of a sign program amendment to permit larger letter sizes for individual
signs, located at 79 -215, 79 -245 Corporate Center Drive.
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 Weber asked for clarification on the approval process of
any future signs under this sign program. Staff replied all signs are
subject to administrative review and approval by staff through the City's
Sign Application process.
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July 26, 2011
There being no questions of staff, Chairman Alderson opened the public
hearing portion of the meeting and asked if the applicant would like to
speak.
Mr. Lee Osborn, 43671 Messina Court, La Quinta, CA, introduced himself
and said he had recently relocated his business into the building and
would like to add signage that was consistent with the ones already
existing on the adjacent buildings. He said he was available to answer
any questions from the Commission.
Commissioner Weber asked to confirm that the proposed sign was
adequate and consistent with the existing signs on the adjacent buildings.
Mr. Osborn replied that it was.
Discussion followed regarding the size of the signs and sign visibility for
that center. Commissioner Weber said he was in support of the proposed
sign program amendment as it would keep the signage consistent and
would allow for greater visibility from the major streets.
Chairman Alderson asked to clarify that the amendment to the sign
program was only to increase of the letter size of the sign. Mr. Osborn
confirmed it was. Chairman Alderson said due to the location of the
building he was in support of the proposed sign program amendment.
Chairman Alderson asked if the Commissioners had additional questions
of the applicant. There being no further questions he closed the public
hearing portion of the meeting and opened the matter for Commission
discussion.
Commissioner Weber said he found the proposed sign program
amendment to be appropriate for the location of the building and asked
staff to make sure that all future signs go through the established
administrative review process to ensure compliance with the established
sign program guidelines.
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows /Wright to approve Minute Motion 2011 -002
approving Sign Application 2011 -1536, subject to the conditions
submitted.
AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright and Chairman Alderson.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None.
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C. Sign Application 2011 -1528; a request by Superior Electrical Advertising
for consideration of a sign program amendment to permit the placement
of street - facing signs and monuments signs, located at the La Quinta
Village Shopping Center at the northwest corner of Washington Street
and Calle Tampico.
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 Weber asked for clarification on the difference between a
pylon sign and a monument sign. Staff explained the design of both
types of signs would be the same; however, a pylon sign advertised only
the shopping center and the main tenant, whereas a monument sign
advertised only pad tenants.
There being no questions of staff, Chairman Alderson opened the public
hearing portion of the meeting and asked if the applicant would like to
speak
Mr. Mark Frank with Superior Electrical Advertising, 1700 West Anaheim
Street, Long Beach, CA, introduced himself and said he was available to
answer any questions.
Chairman Alderson asked about the difference between a pylon sign and
a monument sign. Mr. Frank explained the difference.
Chairman Alderson said he had visited the La Quinta Village Shopping
Center and he was pleased with building A and was in support of the
proposed sign program amendment.
Chairman Alderson asked if the Commissioners had additional questions
of the applicant. There being no further questions he closed the public
hearing portion of the meeting and opened the matter for Commission
discussion.
There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows /Wright to approve Minute Motion 2011 -003
approving Sign Application 2011 -1528, as submitted by staff.
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AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright and Chairman Alderson.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None.
D. Continued — 2008 La Quinta Housing Element Update a request by the
City of La Quinta for consideration of a recommendation for adoption of
the proposed draft of the La Quinta Housing Element Update document.
Principal Planner Wally Nesbit 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 Weber asked to confirm that the original draft document of
the Housing Element was submitted with the California Department of
Housing and Community Development in May of 2009 and the review
process took until July of 2011. Staff replied that was correct.
Commissioner Weber expressed his discontent with the State's
bureaucratic government review process that has evolved as it has
become very lengthy and inefficient.
Discussion followed regarding unit density and the number of affordable
housing units being built per acre.
Commissioner Wright emphasized that a photographic record should be
established for anything that might have historical value, prior to
demolition.
Chairman Alderson asked when this item would be reviewed again by the
Planning Commission. Principal Planner Nesbit said the updated numbers
from the State would be available sometime next year, and staff would
have to begin the process in the Fall of 2013.
Chairman Alderson noted that a lot of the information referenced in the
document dated back to 2007, hence it was outdated.
Chairman Alderson asked if the document would have to be rewritten
because of the recent changes in regards to Redevelopment Agencies
(RDA). Planning Manager Sawyer replied the State's requirements
remained regardless of RDA existence.
General discussion followed regarding affordable housing units, the
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July 26, 2011
benefits of building affordable housing units through the RDA, and the
inadequacy of the State's requirements in terms of number of units.
There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Alderson opened the
matter for Commission discussion.
There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and
seconded by Commissioners Wright /Barrows to approve Resolution 2011 -
012 recommending to the City Council approval of Environmental
Assessment 2008 -599, as submitted by staff.
AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman Alderson.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None
There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and
seconded by Commissioners Wright /Barrows to approve Resolution 2011-
013 recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan
Amendment 2008 -118 and of the 2008 La Quinta Housing Element
Update, as submitted by staff.
AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman Alderson.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: None.
VI. BUSINESS ITEMS: None.
VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL:
A. Inland Empire Planning Commissioner's Workshop
B. American Planning Association Member Packet and Information
VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS:
A. Discussion of July 19, 2011 Council meeting.
Chairman Alderson gave a brief overview of the discussion and
residents' concerns expressed regarding the noise, traffic, public
safety, and party activities caused by the Goldenvoice annual series of
concerts held in Indio, CA.
Chairman Alderson said the second part of the meeting discussed in
detail the two new State bills passed on June 29, 2011, concerning
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July 26, 2011
Redevelopment Agencies. He asked City Attorney Kathy Jenson to
explain how the bills would affect RDAs. City Attorney Kathy Jenson
explained the two bills and said that the City of La Quinta was
planning to make the required payments to the State to keep the RDA
operational.
Discussion followed regarding the effects the bills would have on the
City's RDA and its ongoing projects, the sources that would likely be
used to make the required payments to the State, how the payment
amount was determined, what would happen if the City could not
afford to make the payments in the future, what the intent of the bill.
was, etc.
Commissioner Barrows said the evening session of the City Council
meeting reviewed the La Paloma project. She gave a brief overview of
the discussion that followed regarding the proposed water feature at
the entrance.
Commissioner Barrows said that when the La Paloma project was
brought to the Planning Commission for review and consideration,
there was very little information and detail provided by the applicant
regarding the proposed water feature which made it difficult to
evaluate and comment on it. She asked that specific detail be
provided in regards to proposed water features when projects were
presented to the Commission. Staff replied that future projects would
include that detail.
B. Commissioner Weber is scheduled to attend the August 2, 2011, City
Council meeting.
IX: DIRECTOR ITEMS: None.
X. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Barrows /Weber to adjourn this regular meeting of the
Planning Commission to the next meeting to be held on September 13,
2011. This meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m. on July 26, 2011.
R WRad qSeetary ,
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City of L a Quinta, California
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