2013 04 09 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 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, Wright, and
Chairperson Barrows
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Les Johnson, Planning
Manager David Sawyer, Michelle Molko with Rutan and Tucker,
LLP, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, Assistant Planner Eric Ceja,
and Secretary Monika Radeva.
Commissioner Weber 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 February 12, 2012, as submitted
with a correction on Page No. 4, under Adjournment, to reflect that Chairwoman
Barrows was in attendance and Vice Chairman Wright was absent. Motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Zone Change 2012 -142 and Conditional Use Permit 2012 -146 submitted by
Rock N Roll Mini Golf, LLC., proposing to rezone and convert an existing 15,933
square -foot building into an indoor miniature golf recreational facility. Location:
southwest corner of Dune Palms Road and Corporate Center Drive.
Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file
in the Community Development Department.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 APRIL 9, 2013
Chairperson Barrows asked if there were any questions for staff.
Commissioner Alderson asked staff if there had been any feedback received
from the adjacent property /business owners in favor of or in opposition to the
proposed changes. Staff noted that the public hearing was published in the
paper and anyone within a five - hundred feet radius of the parcel was notified
ten days prior to this hearing and no comments, written or verbal, had been
received. Also, the applicant had done outreach and could further report on
that.
Chairperson Barrows declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:10 p.m.
Mr. Jody Erdahl, Vice President of Rock N Roll Mini Golf, LLC., 43 -115 Moore
Circle, Bermuda Dunes, CA, introduced himself and said he was available to
answer any questions the Commission might have.
Commissioner Alderson asked for an explanation on what the applicant meant
by redemption games in his proposal. Mr. Erdahl replied redemption games
were when the player redeems a ticket for a prize.
Commissioner Alderson said the proposed tenant improvements were quite
substantial and asked what the target opening date was and if the sale of
alcohol would be permitted on the premises. Mr. Erdahl replied September of
2013 and that no alcohol would be sold.
There being no further questions or discussion, Chairperson Barrows declared
the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:12 p.m.
Commissioner Weber thanked staff and the applicant for including a business
plan of the proposed operation making it easier for the Commission to gain a
better understanding of what exactly was being proposed.
Commissioner Wright said he was pleased to see that such use will be coming
to the City of La Quinta giving entertainment variety to the youth in the City.
Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Alderson /Weber
to adopt Resolution 2013 -002 recommending approval of Zone Change 2012-
142 as submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Alderson/Weber
to adopt Resolution 2013 -003 recommending approval of Conditional Use
Permit 2012 -146 as submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 APRIL 9, 2013
2. Sign Application 2013 -1686 submitted by Sign -A -Rama proposing to establish a
sign program for Figue Mediterranean Restaurant. Location: northeast corner of
Washington Street and Lake La Quinta Drive (47 -474 Washington Street).
Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file
in the Community Development Department.
Chairperson Barrows asked if there were any questions for staff.
There being no questions for staff, Chairperson Barrows declared the PUBLIC
HEARING OPEN at 7:18 p.m.
Mr. Jeff Grady with Sign -A -Rama, 43 -611 Corte Del Oro, La Quinta, CA,
introduced himself and said he was available to answer any questions the
Commission might have.
Commissioner Alderson commented that the name of the restaurant was
difficult to pronounce and the general public might be confused as to the correct
pronunciation. He said the letters of the sign did not clearly stand out on the
background.
Commissioner Weber noted that the sign letters would stand out better than the
renderings submitted with the staff report because the sign was backlit.
There being no further questions or discussion, Chairperson Barrows declared
the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:21 p.m.
Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wilkinson /Weber
to adopt Minute Motion 2013 -001 approving Sign Application 2013 -1686 as
submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Conditional Use Permit 2012 -147 submitted by Cable Engineering Services to
allow for the placement of a seventy -two foot tall AT &T monopalm tower and
an equipment enclosure within Storquest Self Storage. Location: northeast
corner of Adams Street and Corporate Center Drive (46 -600 Adams Street).
Assistant Planner Eric Ceja presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file
in the Community Development Department.
Chairperson Barrows asked if there were any questions for staff.
Commissioner Weber asked staff to explain the maintenance requirements for
the proposed monopalms and palm trees.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 APRIL 9, 2013
Commissioner Alderson asked if the applicant was in agreement with staff's
request to add two additional 52 -foot tall palm trees next to the monopalm to
make it appear more natural. Staff asked that the Commission address the
applicant with this question.
Chairperson Barrows declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN "at 7:28 p.m.
Mr. Robert Searcy, Planning and Leasing Manager with Cable Engineering
Services, 10640 Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite No. 1, Mission Hills, CA,
introduced himself and said he was available to answer any questions the
Commission might have.
Commissioner Weber asked who owned the monopalm. Mr. Searcy said AT &T
Mobile was the current owner and Cable Engineering Services was acting as an
agent for the owner.
Commissioner Weber said he liked the idea of blending in the monopalm with
the two palm trees recommended by staff. He asked the applicant to suggest
an appropriate height for the palm trees. Mr. Searcy replied the height should
be anywhere between 20 and 30 feet and there should be a variation in height
for a more natural appearance.
Vice Chairman Wright said that he was in agreement with the applicant's
recommendation for the palm trees height. He explained that a 50 -foot tall
palm tree was near the end of its life and could potentially pose maintenance
issues as it might have to be replaced every four to five years. Further, he
noted that a palm tree of that height would also pose a liability due to the
strong wind storms characteristic to that area. He recommended the height of
the palm tree be anywhere between 30 and 40 feet, but definitely not over 40
feet.
Commissioner Alderson said he supported Vice Chairman Wright's comment
regarding the height and briefly discussed the possible maintenance issues with
watering the palm trees and the benefits the monopalm would provide to the
residents at the City of La Quinta.
Commissioner Wilkinson asked if historically maintenance issues had been
addressed as indicated within three to five days. Staff replied that the turn-
around time had been fairly quick.
There being no further questions or discussion, Chairperson Barrows declared
the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:42 p.m. and opened the item for
Commission discussion.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 APRIL 9, 2013
Commission discussion followed regarding the appropriate height for the two
additional palm trees recommended by staff.
Chairwoman Barrows asked that staff ensure that the conditions of approval
properly identified the current owner as the responsible party for maintenance of
the monopalm and the palm trees. Staff concurred and noted that a global
check would be made to the conditions of approval to ensure that the current
owner would be held responsible for maintaining the site.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright /Weber to
adopt Resolution 2013 -004 approving Conditional Use Permit 2012 -147 as
submitted, with the recommendation that the current owner of the site would
be held responsible for operational and maintenance issues and changing the
recommended height of the two palm trees addressed in Condition of Approval
No. 16 to be a minimum of 35 feet tall. Motion passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
1. Housing Element Workshop on Wednesday, April 10, 2013. There would be
two separate sessions, the first from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m., and the second
session from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
1. Report on City Council meetings of February 12, March 5 and 19, and April 2,
2013. The following items were reviewed as discussed by the City Council.
a. Discussion of selecting a SilverRock Developer
b. Discussion of Police Services
c. Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2013-112 - certain amendments to the
La Quinta Municipal Code; Chapter 9.60.300, Compatibility Review
for partially developed subdivision
d. City Council meetings are being videotaped as of March 19, 2013,
and are available to view on YouTube
e. Presentation and discussion regarding the City's current financial
status
f. Discussion of the City's Capital Improvement Program
g. Update to the City's User and Regulatory Fees (permit fees for
entitlement and administration), which were last updated in 1997
h. Discussion regarding the implementation, benefits and impacts of the
Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee program, of which the City is
now a part
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 APRIL 9, 2013
Commissioner Weber inquired about Interstate 1 -10 and Jefferson Street
freeway interchange shared cost and signage. Staff replied this is a Coachella
Valley Association of Governments project and is partially state and federally
funded and noted there is a study underway to determine obligation for the
remainder of the project cost. Staff also said the signage for the interchange
was still being discussed.
2. Upcoming Council meeting attendance: Vice Chairman Wright — April 16,
2013, Commissioner Alderson — May 7, 2013, and Chairperson Barrows — May
21, 2013.
PLANNING STAFF ITEMS — None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Weber to adjourn this meeting at 8:06 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully bmitted,
MONIKA ADEVA, Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 APRIL 9, 2013