Loading...
2014 12 09 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2014 A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Wright. PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wilkinson, and Chairperson Wright ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Les Johnson, Deputy City Attorney Kathy Jenson, Planning Manager David Sawyer, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney, Consultant Principal Planner Nicole Criste, Associate Planner Jay Wuu, and Executive Assistant Monika Radeva Commissioner Fitzpatrick 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 Bettencourt/Blum to approve the Planning Commission Minutes of November 25, 2014, as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Environmental Assessment 2014-638, General Plan Amendment 2014-127, Zone Change 2014-145, Specific Plan 2003-069, Amendment No. 1, Tentative Tract Map 36762, and Site Development Permit 2014-942 submitted by Beazer Homes Holdings Corp. proposing the development of a single family subdivision consisting of 82 units, as well as common area facilities on 20.8 acres. Project: Watermark Villas. CEQA: consideration of a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 DECEMBER 9, 2014 Impact and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program. Location: northwest corner of Jefferson Street and Avenue 52. Consultant Principal Planner Nicole Criste presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:18 p.m. Public Speaker: Mr. Robert Kroll, Citrus Club resident, La Quinta, CA — introduced himself and said he was generally in support of the project. He expressed concerns with regards to the large size of the proposed homes on relatively small lots with minimal setbacks and asked the Commission to consider the architectural enhancements suggested by staff in the staff report to mitigate the above. He noted he was also concerned with the findings identified in the Initial Study, more specifically with the aesthetic portion of the study, stating that it was a single - story development. He said the site plan identifies five homes, bordering the northern and western portion of the property, which would be adjacent to the Citrus community, to have an optional two-story feature, thus, making it inconsistent with the findings in the Initial Study. Public Speaker: Mr. Paul DePalatis, AICP, Director of Planning Services with MSA Consulting, Inc., Palm Desert, CA — introduced himself, gave a brief description of the project, and answered the Commission's questions. Commissioner Blum said he would like the applicant to enhance the architectural design of all homes by adding a minimum 18 inch eave/overhang on all roofs. Public Speaker: Mr. Zsombor Nagy, Architect with Bassenian Lagoni, Newport Beach, CA — introduced himself and answered the Commission's questions with regards to the proposed color palette, ceramic tile pattern, brick, and the line -of - sight from the Citrus Club in relation to the height and width of the optional two- story loft element along the northern boundary of the site, as identified by floor plan 1-X in the Site Development Permit Booklet. Public Speaker: Mr. David Neault, Landscape Architect with Neault Associates Inc., Temecula, CA — introduced himself and answered the Commission's questions regarding the proposed fencing along the pedestrian paseos. He explained the applicant had elected to use solid walls in order to ensure the privacy of the homeowners. He noted the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board's recommendation was to increase the wall height from six to seven feet, but to enhance the paseo path by adding a variety of landscaping, benches, dog - friendly facilities, and trees. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 DECEMBER 9, 2014 Public Speaker: Mr. Nick Streeter, Civil Engineer for the project with Adams - Streeter Civil Engineers, Inc., Irvine, CA — introduced himself and answered the Commission's questions with regards to the retention basin. He explained that completing the loop of the proposed paseo path all the way around the basin would negatively impact the basin's retention capacity. Public Speaker: Ms. Jennifer Jenkins, La Quinta resident and Director of Marketing and Membership Sales with the Club at PGA West, the La Quinta Resort, and The Citrus Club, La Quinta, CA — introduced herself and spoke in favor of the project. She indicated that the applicant, Beazer Homes Holdings Corp., has been working closely with the surrounding communities and has developed positive relationships with the homeowner associations. She stated the above mentioned communities were very pleased that the vacant lot would be developed. Public Speaker: Mr. Robert Kroll said that based on the site plan, out of the 18 homes proposed along the westerly and northerly side of the property, only five homes were identified with an optional two-story element. He expressed a concern that if these homes were in fact developed as two-story, it could have an impact on the view corridors. He asked the Commission to consider restricting two-story homes along the above mentioned perimeters. Public Speaker: Mr. Paul DePalatis said the applicant had indicated a willingness to architecturally enhance the north elevations of the homes abutting the northern boundary of the site facing the Citrus Club as discussed by the Commission. Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:57 p.m. Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick recommending to the City Council approval of Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program under Environmental Assessment 2014-638, as submitted with staff's recommendations. Motion carried unanimously. Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2014-028 recommending to the City Council approval of General Plan Amendment 2014-127, as submitted with staff's recommendations. Motion carried unanimously. Motion — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2014-029 recommending to the City Council approval of Zone Change 2014-145, as submitted with staff's recommendations. Motion carried unanimously. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 DECEMBER 9, 2014 Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2014-030 recommending to the City Council approval of Specific Plan 2003-069, Amendment No. 1, as submitted with staff's recommendations and the addition of the following conditions of approval: • All homes shall be designed with a minimum 18 inch eave/overhang of the roof. • Homes abutting the northern boundary of the site, and homes sited on lots 1 and 50 (adjacent to the project entry) shall be single story models. • Home abutting the northern boundary of the site shall be provided architectural enhancements on their northern elevation facing the Citrus. Motion carried unanimously. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2014-031 recommending to the City Council approval of Tentative Tract Map 36762, as submitted with staff's recommendations and the addition of the following conditions of approval: • All homes shall be designed with a minimum 18 inch eave/overhang of the roof. • Homes abutting the northern boundary of the site, and homes sited on lots 1 and 50 (adjacent to the project entry) shall be single story models. • Home abutting the northern boundary of the site shall be provided architectural enhancements on their northern elevation facing the Citrus. Motion carried unanimously. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bette ncourt/Fitz patrick to adopt Resolution 2014-032 recommending to the City Council approval of Site Development Permit 2014-942, as submitted with staff's recommendations and the addition of the following conditions of approval: • All homes shall be designed with a minimum 18 inch eave/overhang of the roof. • Homes abutting the northern boundary of the site, and homes sited on lots 1 and 50 (adjacent to the project entry) shall be single story models. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 DECEMBER 9, 2014 • Home abutting the northern boundary of the site shall be provided architectural enhancements on their northern elevation facing the Citrus. Motion carried unanimously. 2. Specific Plan 1996-027, Amendment No. 2, and Site Development Permit 2013- 936 submitted by Bedros Darkjian proposing the construction of a 6,720 square - foot tire retail and installation store on a 0.89 -acre vacant pad within the Jefferson Square commercial center. Project: American Tire Depot. CEQA: exempt for environmental review pursuant to Section 15332 (Class 32, In -Fill Development.) Location: north of Highway 1 1 1 , between Jefferson Street and Dune Palms Road (79-840 Highway 1 1 1). Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 8:21 p.m. Public Speaker: Mr. Bedros Darkjian, AIA, Project Manager with Darkjian Associates, Pasadena, CA - introduced himself, gave a brief overview of the project, and answered the Commission's questions. Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:26 p.m. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Wilkinson to adopt Resolution 2014-033 recommending to the City Council approval of Specific Plan 1996-027, Amendment No. 2, and Site Development Permit 2013-936 for the American Tire Depot project as submitted with staff's recommendations. Motion carried unanimously. 3. Environmental Assessment 2014-1002, Tentative Parcel Map 2014-1003 (TPM 36791), Site Development Permit 2014-1005, Minor Adjustment 2014-0008, Minor Adjustment 2014-0009, and Sign Permit Application 2014-1001 submitted by Prest Vuksic Architects proposing the construction of a new commercial retail center, including a 17,020 square -foot market (ALDI), a 3,750 square -foot drive- through restaurant (In -N -Out Burger), and a 8,500 square -foot retail pad for future commercial development. Project: La Quinta Square. CEQA: consideration of a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program. Location: south of Highway 1 1 1 , along Simon Drive (78- 611 Highway 1 1 1). Associate Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 DECEMBER 9, 2014 Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 8:45 p.m. Public Speaker: Mr. Kevin Staley, Property Owner and Principal with The Magellan Group, Inc., Los Angles, CA - introduced himself and said that the architect for the project as well as representatives from ALDI and In -N -Out Burger were present at the Commission and available to answer any questions. Public Speaker: Mr. David Drake, Project Manager with Prest Vuksic Architects, Palm Desert, CA - introduced himself, gave a brief description of the project, and answered the Commission's questions. Public Speaker: Mr. Skip Janes, Director of Real Estate with ALDI Inc, Riverside, CA - introduced himself, said ALDI is an US as well as an international limited assortment grocery store chain and explained the company's business model to the Commission. Public Speaker: Mr. Michael Shovlin, Property Owner of the One Eleven La Quinta Commercial Center and President of Shovlin Companies, LLC., La Quinta, CA - introduced himself and said he was very much in favor of the proposed project. Chairperson Wright declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:58 p.m. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wilkinson/Fitzpatrick to adopt Resolution 2014-034 approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program under Environmental Assessment 2014-1002, Tentative Parcel Map 2014-1003 (TPM 36791), Site Development Permit 2014-1005, Minor Adjustment 2014-0008, Minor Adjustment 2014-0009, and Sign Permit Application 2014-1001, for the La Quinta Square project as submitted with staff's recommendations. Motion carried unanimously. BUSINESS SESSION - None CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL - None COMMISSIONER ITEMS 1 . Report on City Council meeting of December 2, 2014. 2. Commissioner Fitzpatrick is scheduled to attend the December 16, 2014, City Council meeting. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 DECEMBER 9, 2014 DIRECTOR'S ITEMS 1 . Community Development Director Les Johnson said that Planning Manager David Sawyer will be retiring effective the following week, he expressed his gratitude for his service, and invited the Commission to join city staff for coffee and deserts in celebration of Mr. Sawyer's retirement on Monday, December 15, 2014, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at La Quinta City Hall. 2. Staff said that on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, the City will be hosting an Open House event from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., and encouraged the Commission to attend. 3. Staff said City Council will hold an interactive workshop to discuss a multitude of city items and projects on Saturday, January 10, 2015, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the La Quinta Museum, and encouraged the Commission to attend. 4. Staff said City Council is moving forward with implementing electronic agenda packets and going away with the traditional paper packets. Staff would like to do the same with the Planning Commission packets and would welcome the Commission's feedback on how this transition can best be achieved. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was Bettencourt/Wilkinson to adjourn this unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Gr *-A4�z MONIKA RADEVA, Executive Assistant City of La Quinta, California moved and seconded by Commissioners meeting at 9:14 p.m. Motion carried PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 7 DECEMBER 9, 2014