2013 02 13 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 12. 2013
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
7:01 p.m. by Chairperson Barrows.
PRESENT: Commissioners Alderson, Weber, Wilkinson, and Chairperson
Barrows
ABSENT: Vice Chairman Wright
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Les Johnson, Planning
Manager David Sawyer, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, and
Secretary Monika Radeva
Chairperson Barrows led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Weber /Alderson to
approve the Planning Commission Minutes of November 27, 2012, as submitted.
AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Weber, Wilkinson, and Chairperson Barrows
NOES: None ABSENT: Vice Chairman Wright ABSTAIN: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Consideration of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2013 -112 - Certain
Amendments to the La Quinta Municipal Code; Chapter 9.60.300, Compatibility
Review for Partially Developed Subdivision. Location: City -wide.
Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file
in the Community Development Department.
Chairperson Barrows asked if there were any questions of staff.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 FEBRUARY 12, 2013
Commissioner Weber asked staff to clarify why the proposed threshold of 10%
for the code amendment was appropriate and how it compared to the
neighboring cities. Associate Planner Wuu answered the question.
Commissioner Wilkinson asked how the 10% deviation in plans would affect the
final product aesthetically. Associate Planner Wuu said the deviation only
affected the square footage of the proposed development plans, not the
architectural style.
Chairperson Barrows declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:14 p.m.
Public Speaker: Mr. Jim Thompson, Newport Beach - Mr. Thompson spoke of
his past experiences as a developer within the City of La Quinta, the recent
changes in the housing market and the effect on unfinished developments; he
spoke about the proposed code amendment, and expressed his support for it.
General discussion followed regarding the Westward Shadows development
located at the southwest corner of Westward Ho and Roudel Lane.
Community Development Director Johnson noted that the proposed code
amendment was not site specific, if approved by the City Council, this zoning
code amendment would merely provide developers with a mechanism for
compatibility review which currently the code did not allow for. He explained
that if a developer was interested, they would still need to submit a site
development permit application with the Community Development Department
and go through the established approval process.
General discussion followed regarding the proposed amendment and the
approval process.
There being no further questions or discussion, Chairperson Barrows declared
the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:32 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Alderson /Wilkinson to adopt Resolution 2013 -001 recommending approval of
Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2013 -112 as submitted.
AYES: Commissioners Alderson, Weber, Wilkinson, and Chairperson Barrows
NOES: None ABSENT: Vice Chairman Wright ABSTAIN: None
BUSINESS SESSION - None
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 12, 2013
CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL - None
1. Report on City Council meetings of December 4 and 18, 2012, January 2 and
15, 2013, and February 5, 2013. The following items were reviewed as
discussed by the City Council.
a. General Plan Update (GPU)
b. Service Delivery Option
c. Reorganization
d. One Stop Permit Center
e. Go Request
f. Short-Term Vacation Rentals
g. Outdoor Storage and Display
h. Housing Element Update
i. City's Development Impact Fee (DIF) and Transportation Uniform
Mitigation Fee (TUMF) programs
j. Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Coachella Music
Festival
k. Composting Cal Biomass facility outside of the City's jurisdiction
Discussion followed regarding possible tax increases on maintenance park fees
and perimeter landscaping fees, as currently the City is using General Fund
dollars to help cover the shortfall of fees being collected due to increased
maintenance costs.
Commissioner Alderson commended Community Development Director Johnson
on his efforts addressing the Cal Biomass issue and mentioned that the City
Council had given staff direction to move forward, if necessary, with legal
action.
General discussion followed regarding the Cal Biomass facility, its benefits and
downfalls; however, the overall importance of having such a facility was
acknowledged.
2. Upcoming Council meeting attendance: Vice Chair Wright - April 16, 2013,
Commissioner Alderson - May 7, 2013, and Chairwoman Barrows - May 21,
2013.
Chairperson Barrows thanked staff for its efforts and said the Commission
regretted to hear about the loss of staff and realized the extra responsibilities that
were shifted onto the remaining staff.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 12, 2013
PLANNING STAFF ITEMS - None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Alderson /Wilkinson to adjourn this meeting at 8:07 p.m. AYES: Commissioners
Alderson, Weber, Wilkinson, and Chairwoman Barrows. NOES: None ABSENT:
Vice Chairman Wright. ABSTAIN: None.
Respectfully sub itted,
r
MONI A RADEVA, Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 FEBRUARY 12, 2013