2016 11 22 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22,_1016
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00
p.m. by Chairperson Bettencourt.
PRESENT: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, Hansen, McCune, Quill, Wright
and Chairperson Bettencourt
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Timothy R. Jonasson, Assistant
City Attorney Morgan Wazlaw, Planning Manager Gabriel Perez,
Principal Planner Jay Wuu, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney,
Consultant Principal Planner Nicole Criste and Executive Assistant
Wanda Wise -Latta.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chairperson Bettencourt introduced new Commissioners McCune and Hansen. He also
congratulated Commissioner Fitzpatrick on her apparent election to the City Council
and Commissioner Blum upon his recognition at the City's Veteran's Day celebration
for his service in the United States Army.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
Executive Assistant Wanda Wise -Latta stated that the Environmental Assessment
referenced in Public Hearing No. 2 was identified incorrectly and should be identified
as Environmental Assessment 2016-0012.
Agenda confirmed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Blum to
approve the Planning Commission Minutes of October 25, 2016 as submitted with the
following amendments:
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 NOVEMBER 22, 2016
Amendment to Page 2, paragraph 3, sentence 2 to read, "regarding the
mitigation installation of a fence" and "Site Development Permit 2016-0005 until
installation of a fence and this should occur before there is any grading activity
on site."
Amendment to page 2, paragraph 4, sentence 1 to read, "Coachella Valley
Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSHCP)."
Amendment to page 2, paragraph 4, sentence 5 to read, "an EIR is being
prepared by the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission and should be
completed in November."
AYES: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, Quill, Wright and Chairperson Bettencourt.
NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: Commissioners Hansen and McCune. Motion
passed.
Commissioner Wright said he is the President of the Board of Directors for the
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and recused himself due to a conflict of interest
regarding Public Hearing No. 1.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Site Development Permit 2011-920, Extension No. 2, submitted by the La
Quinta Housing Authority requesting a two-year extension for the previously
approved Washington Street Apartments project. The proposal is for the
rehabilitation of the existing 72 one -bedroom apartment units located on
approximately 4.7 acres of land, the construction of 26 new apartment units,
and additional common area and facilities improvements. The project was
previously assessed under the adoption of Environmental Assessment 2011-
613. Location: southeast corner of Washington Street and Hidden River Road.
Principal Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff
report, which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Public Speaker: Jon McMillan, Tall Man Group - introduced himself and provided
an update regarding the proposed project.
Chairperson Bettencourt declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 6:19 p.m.
Public Speakers: None.
Chairperson Bettencourt declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 6:19 p.m.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 22, 2016
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Fitzpatrick
to adopt Resolution No. 2016-017 approving a second time extension for Site
Development Permit 2011-920 for Site, Architectural, and Landscaping Plans for
the Washington Street Apartments. AYES: Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick,
Hansen, McCune, Quill, and Chairperson Bettencourt. NOES: None. ABSENT:
None. ABSTAIN: Commissioner Wright. Motion passed.
2. Environmental Assessment 2016-0012 and Zoning Ordinance Amendment
2016-0005 submitted by the City of La Quinta requesting adoption of a
resolution recommending that the City Council certify the Village Build -Out Plan
Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2015101019) and adopt amendments to
Title 9 of the La Quinta Municipal Code relating to the Build -Out Plan for the La
Quinta Village, including various development standards associated thereto.
CEQA: the proposed Zoning Code Amendments were identified as a project
under the CEQA. The City prepared an EIR (EA 2016-0012, SCH #2015101019),
and has determined that although impacts associated with the project can be
mitigated to less than significant levels in most cases, impacts associated with
air quality, cultural resources, greenhouse gas emissions and traffic and
circulation cannot be mitigated to a less than significant level. Findings and a
state of overriding considerations are proposed. Location: generally located
east of Eisenhower Drive, west of Washington Street, north of Avenue 52 and
south of the La Quinta Evacuation Channel.
Consultant Principal Planner Nicole Criste presented the information contained
in the staff report, which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Public Speaker: John Braginton, The Altum Group, Palm Desert, CA - introduced
himself and explained in further detail information in the report specific to the
Environmental Impact Report.
Consultant Principal Planner Criste stated that under CEQA, the lead agency has
the ability to determine whether or not the benefits of a project outweigh the
impacts that have been identified if those impacts cannot be mitigated to less
than significant levels. She said that impacts have been identified for traffic, air
quality and greenhouse gases and the EIR has proposed as many feasible
mitigation measures as are available to the city to reduce those impacts to the
greatest extent possible. She stated that those impacts cannot be reduced to a
less than significant level as defined by CEQA and there is a need for findings
and a statement of overriding consideration. She asked that the Commission
consider the benefits of the project over the significant impacts and direct staff
to prepare the statement of overriding consideration should the Commission
choose to recommend approval by the City Council.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 NOVEMBER 22, 2016
Discussion followed regarding an explanation of traffic ratings, traffic flow,
traffic calming options, building height limit in the village area, roundabouts,
linking the village area to the CV Link, possible future IID local substation,
notification of availability of draft EIR to various agencies and their comments,
preservation and mitigation of an identified historic building and its
photographic record, filling the gaps of discontinuous sidewalks, notification to
Desert Sands Unified School District of all new development and redevelopment
projects that may generate hazardous waste, and storm drain evacuation
system in the Village Buildout Project area
Chairperson Bettencourt declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:18 p.m.
Public Speakers: None
Chairperson Bettencourt declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:19 p.m.
Further discussion followed regarding the density eligibility of a qualified
building, building height requirements, and staff approval of commercial
projects of less than 10,000 square feet.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Fitzpatrick
to adopt Resolution No. 2016-018 recommending that the City Council certify
the Village Build -Out Plan Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2015101019)
and adopt amendments to Title 9 of the La Quinta Municipal Code relating to
the Build -Out Plan including the various development standards. AYES:
Commissioners Blum, Fitzpatrick, Hansen, McCune, Quill, Wright and
Chairperson Bettencourt. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion
passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL - None
COMMISSIONER ITEM
Commissioner Quill commented upon the Imperial Irrigation District looking at
meeting future service needs.
Commissioner Wright stated that IID has a new governmental affairs officer and IID
has joined the board of the East Valley Coalition.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick thanked the Commission and staff for their efforts during
her time on the Planning Commission.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 NOVEMBER 22, 2016
STAFF ITEMS
1. League of California Cities Planning Commission Academy will be held in March
2017.
2. Appeal of the SilverRock Site Development Permit 2016-0009 to the City
Council.
3. Possible December 27, 2016 Planning Commission meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Blum to adjourn this meeting at 7:40 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
lu
V
WANDA WISE-LATTA, Executive Assistant
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 22, 2016