2018 04 10 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 APRIL 10, 2018
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00
p.m. by Vice Chairperson McCune.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Proctor, Wright and Vice
Chairperson McCune.
ABSENT: Chairperson Quill and Commissioner Currie
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Attorney Morgan Gallagher, Planning Manager
Gabriel Perez, Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste,
Commission Secretary Wanda Wise-Latta and Office Assistant
Mirta Lerma
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Wright led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 27, 2018
2. APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2018-0001 REQUESTING A TWO-YEAR
TIME EXTENSION OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2013-152 TO ALLOW THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AT 77-210 LOMA VISTA WITHIN
THE ENCLAVE MOUNTAIN ESTATES
Commissioner Bettencourt asked if there was any new discretionary action expected
of the Commission regarding Consent Calendar No. 2. Consulting Planner Nicole Criste
explained that because there was no change to the Conditions of Approval and the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 APRIL 10, 2018
matter is out of the applicant’s control, staff felt that the request for an extention of
time could go before the Commission as a consent item.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Caldwell/Wright to
approve the Consent Calendar as recommended, with Item No. 2 adopting Resolution
No. 2018-003. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Proctor, Wright and Vice
Chairperson McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Quill and Commissioner
Currie. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
STUDY SESSION - None
PUBLIC HEARING
1. CONTINUED FROM MARCH 27, 2018 - VARIANCE 2018-0001 SUBMITTED BY LA
QUINTA KINGDOM HALL OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES PROPOSING A VARIANCE
TO ALLOW FOR A NINE-FOOT FRONT YARD SETBACK FOR THE EXISTING
BUILDING, ALLOW EXISTING MONUMENT SIGN TO ENCROACH INTO THE
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. CEQA: EXEMPT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15301 IN
THAT THE PROPOSED PROJECT CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS AN EXISTING
FACILITY. LOCATION: 46300 DUNE PALMS ROAD.
Prior to the meeting, an email was received and distributed to the Commission by
Planning Manager Perez. The email from the applicant’s legal representative asked to
continue the item in order to allow the Kingdom Hall congregation time to issue an
endorsement of the variance request.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: None
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Caldwell to
continue Variance 2018-0001 submitted by the La Quinta Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s
Witnesses to the April 24, 2018 Planning Commission meeting in order to allow the
Kingdom Hall congregation time to issue an endorsement of the variance request.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Proctor, Wright and Vice Chairperson
McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Quill and Commissioner Currie. ABSTAIN:
None. Motion passed.
2. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2018-0003 SUBMITTED BY THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA PROPOSING A ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT TO AMEND TITLE 9 BY
ADDITION OF SECTION 9.50.100 AND AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9.60.100
OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR
MODIFICATION OF EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS THAT RESULT IN
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 APRIL 10, 2018
ADDITIONAL BEDROOMS. CEQA: EXEMPT PURSUANT TO SECTION
15061(B)(3), REVIEW FOR EXEMPTIONS – GENERAL RULE.
It was noted by Planning Manager Perez that a handout entitled, “Representative
Single-Family Dwelling Space Analysis”, had been distributed to the Commission prior
to the meeting.
Planning Manager Perez presented the staff report, which is on file in the Design and
Development Department and reviewed the single-family dwelling space analysis that
was provided to the Commission.
Commission discussion followed regarding setting a maximum bedroom count,
jurisdiction regarding airspace condominiums; and clarification that new standards for
non-bedroom conversion applied to existing homes and not new home construction.
Planning Manager Perez advised the Commission that the City’s Short Term Vacation
Rental Team is preparing amendments to Title 3 of the Municipal Code.
A Commissioner asked if there were any applications before the City from aggrieved
families whose ability to live in their home had been constrained by existing codes and
Planning Manager Perez responded that there were not.
Commission discussion continued regarding homes over 3,500 square feet and likely
to be found in gated communities with homeowners associations that have their own
rules and regulations; the impact of short term vacation rentals on neighborhoods;
parking; and rental of guest homes or casitas.
Vice Chairperson McCune declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 6:47 p.m.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: None.
Commission discussed additional amendments to be considered including lifting the
deed restriction on guesthomes as a rental unit; setting a maximum limit of eight
bedrooms for homes greater than 3,500 square feet in living area; additional parking
requirement based on additional bedrooms added resulting in four or more bedrooms;
additional garage space would not require additional curb cuts from the street; and
modifying the maximum bedroom coverage to 35% consistent with the maximum
bedroom coverage observed in approved La Quinta single-family residential plans.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners McCune/Bettencourt
to continue Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0003 submitted by the City of La
Quinta to the April 24, 2018 Planning Commission meeting. AYES: Commissioners
Bettencourt, Caldwell, Proctor, Wright and Vice Chairperson McCune. NOES: None.
ABSENT: Chairperson Quill and Commissioner Currie. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 APRIL 10, 2018
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS
1. Commissioner Caldwell presented a report on the League of California Cities
Planning Commissioners Academy held in Monterey April 4-6, 2018.
2. Vice Chairperson McCune presented a report on the April 9, 2018 meeting of the
SilverRock Event Site Ad Hoc Committee
STAFF ITEMS
Planning Manager Perez advised the Commission of futre items coming before them
for consideration.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Bettencourt to adjourn this meeting at 7:14 p.m. AYES: Commissioners
Bettencourt, Caldwel, Proctor, Wright and Vice Chairperson McCune. NOES: None.
ABSENT: Chairperson Quill and Commissioner Currie. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
WANDA WISE-LATTA, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California