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2012 02 14 PC MinutesMINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall 78 -495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA February 14, 2012 7:03 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER A. A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Chairman Alderson. PRESENT: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wilkinson, Wright, and Chairman Alderson. ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Director Les Johnson, City Attorney Kathy Jenson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Engineer Ed Wimmer, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, and Executive Secretary Carolyn Walker. IL PUBLIC COMMENT: III. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA: IV. CONSENT CALENDAR: Commissioner Weber noted the following amendment to the minutes of January 24, 2012: Page 14, Paragraph 1, line 3 should read: He commented on the applicant having to share the access point with the Chevron dealership and the difficulties that entails. There being no further comments, or suggestions, it was moved by Commissioners Weber /Barrows to approve the minutes, as amended. Unanimously approved. V. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 9 Map 36421, Conditional Use Permit 2011-135, and Site Development Permit 2011 -920: a request by the La Quinta Housing Authority & Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 Redevelopment Agency for consideration of rehabilitation and development plans for the Washington Street Apartments located on the southeast corner of Washington Street and Hidden River Road. Associate Planner Wuu 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 if the through -units were primarily the new units. Staff responded they were. Commissioner Weber asked if there was anything more that needed to be added to the parking analysis; even with the addition of the 26 units. Staff responded there was not. Commissioner Weber asked if there was a material sample of the sheet metal fins. Staff said it was not included on the material samples board, but they were included on updated slides. General discussion followed on pilasters, the sheet metal fins and illustrations of the project. Commissioner Weber asked if the main entrance gate would be coming back to the Commission for design finalization. Planning Manager Sawyer said there would be a correction of width, but it would not come back to the Commission. Commissioner Weber commented about the staff report remarks on sustainability; as well as whether the project was being designed to LEEDs standards and certification. General discussion followed regarding project design versus LEEDs standards /certification; and the emphasis on cost efficiency for the tenants. General discussion followed on the painting of the utility transformers and above - ground mounted equipment; as well as undergrounding the 92KV utility lines. Commissioner Wright asked if Hidden River Road was a private road. -2- Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 Staff responded there are lettered lots defining it and it is private. Chairman Alderson asked if any public comments had been raised since the last meeting. Staff said no. There being no further questions of staff, Chairman Alderson asked if the applicant would like to speak. Mr. Jon McMillen, RSG, 309 West Fourth Street, Santa Ana, CA, introduced himself and said he was not the architect but would answer the questions about the fins. He said, as you are travelling along Washington Street, you will get the look of fence posts going by and you will be able to read some kind of movement along that edge; to break up the monotony of the long wall. The perforated fins are not a single piece sheet metal coming out with sharp edges, but would be bent softly at the edges so that if anybody did touch them they would not get cut. Commissioner Weber commented on the exhibit with the perforated material, which looked similar to television pixels, and asked if the pilasters (shown on the overhead exhibit) would be made out of that material. Mr. McMillen clarified the brownish pilasters which were not supporting the roof structure, but the others, would be made out of that material. Mr. McMillen responded to the earlier LEED discussion saying he was involved in the Vista Dunes project and explained how the LEED portion of the project evolved. General discussion followed on what LEED standards /certification involves including the extra costs, and paperwork, as well as its impact on future residents. Commissioner Wilkinson asked about his previous concerns about vibrations and noise from the suspended air conditioning unit in the chimney area. Mr. McMillen said they would be meeting soon with the Mechanical Heating and Plumbing (MHP) team and would look at the existing conditions and then discuss them with the architect. -3- Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 Commissioner Barrows asked if the fins were straight or angular. Mr. McMillen said they were angular, and did have some form to them as opposed to just a straight fin. Commissioner Weber asked if Mr. McMillen learned anything significant from the Vista Dunes Project that could be applied to this project. Mr. McMillen said yes and went on to comment about the venting system, the thermal chimneys, and the hard surfaces used in place of carpeting. Commissioner Barrows was concerned about the operation of the thermal chimneys since she was aware there were some problems encountered with the ones in the City of Indian Wells project. Mr. McMillen explained the Indian Wells project chimneys had an electric motor operator and the problems encountered had to do with dust collecting in the motor. The Vista Dunes thermal chimneys all had manual cranks with long handles which were cumbersome to utilize. At this project, it would be more like a house attic fan you could turn on and it would mechanically assist the ventilation process through the thermal chimney. All the natural heat that had naturally risen to that high point would be exhausted by the flip of a fan and open up all of the areas to ventilate properly. Commissioner Barrows gave anecdotal evidence of her successful experiences with the thermal chimney concept in her own home. She added there are challenges with the design, but what has been designed for this project sounds like a potentially very favorable solution. Commissioner Wright commented on traffic flow in and out from Hidden River Road on to Washington and how dangerous it had been. He noted since the oleanders had been trimmed, it made a huge difference and in the line of sight. He said the trimming will probably solve the problems we discussed. Chairman Alderson concurred. Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 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 closed the public hearing and opened the matter for Commission discussion. Commissioner Weber commented on how well this was designed as well as his concern about pedestrians crossing a six -lane major arterial. He was glad the City addressed each of the issues previously raised by Mr. Bedard. He added he was proud of La Quinta for living up to the responsibility of continuing to provide quality low- income housing in spite of the current economic impediments. Chairman Alderson stated he would like to make sure the shrubbery would continue to be maintained. Staff responded the property owner would maintain the shrubbery. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows /Weber to adopt Resolution 2012 -003 recommending approval of Environmental Assessment 2011 -613 as conditioned in the staff report. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman Alderson. NOES; Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows /Wright to adopt Resolution 2012 -004 recommending approval of Tentative Parcel Map 36421 as conditioned in the staff report. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman Alderson. NOES: Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows /Weber to adopt Resolution 2012 -005 recommending approval of Conditional Use Permit 2011- 135 as conditioned in the staff report. AYES: Commissioners Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Chairman Alderson. NOES; Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. There being no further questions or discussion, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Barrows /Weber to adopt Resolution 2012 -006 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2011- -5- Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 920 as conditioned in the staff Barrows, Weber, Wright, and Commissioner Wilkinson. ABSENT VI. BUSINESS ITEM: A. None. report. AYES: Commissioners Chairman Alderson. NOES; None. ABSTAIN: None. VII. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL: A. None. VIII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS: A. Report of the City Council Meeting of February 7, 2012. B. Commissioner Wilkinson is scheduled to report back on the February 21, 2012, City Council meeting. C. Chairman Alderson commented that he was proud to see that there were four Planning Commissioners in attendance at the Council meeting of February 7'. D. Commissioner Wright said the La Quinta City Museum would be holding an event on February 17, 2012, from 5:00 to 7:00, which would include a discussion on the History of La Quinta led by some historical figures: Judy Vossler, Tom Kennedy and Barbara Irwin. E. Commissioner Barrows invited everyone to join the Wildflower Nature Hike, on the Bear Creek Nature Trail, February 18, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. IX: DIRECTOR ITEMS: A. None. X. ADJOURNMENT: I There being no further business, it was moved by Commissioners Wright /Weber to adjourn this regular meeting of the Planning Commission to the next regular meeting to be held on February 28, 2012. This regular meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m. on February 14, 2012. .M Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 2012 Respectfully submitted, Carolyn o y Executive Secretary City of La Quinta, California