2018 06 12 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, DUNE 12, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00
p.m. by Chairperson Quill.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright and
Chairperson Quill
ABSENT: Commissioner McCune
STAFF PRESENT: Assistant City Attorney Travis Van Ligten, Finance Director Karla
Campos, Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, City Engineer Bryan
McKinney, Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste, Assistant
Planner Carlos Flores, Commission Secretary Wanda Wise -Latta
and Administrative Assistant Mirta Lerma
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Caldwell led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA - None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA -
Planning Manager Perez stated that the item listed under Commissioners' Items
would be presented under Staff Items due to Commissioner McCune's absence.
Agenda confirmed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MAY 8, 2018
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Proctor to
approve the Consent Calendar as submitted with the addition of the following
amendments to the Planning Commission Minutes of May 8, 2018:
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 JUNE 12, 2018
Page 6, Paragraph 1 to read:
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:21 p.m.
Page 6, Paragraph 6 to read:
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:34 p.m.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright and Chairperson
Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner McCune: ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
STUDY SESSION - None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2017-0009, GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2017-
0001, ZONE CHANGE 2017-0001, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2017-0007 (TTM
37359), SPECIFIC PLAN 2017-0003 AND SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2017-0002
SUBMITTED BY SHOPOFF REALTY INVESTMENTS LP PROPOSING FOR A 22-ACRE
SITE 131 RESIDENTIAL UNITS ON 19.8 ACRES, AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
ON 2.2 ACRES. PROJECT: THE CENTRE AT LA QUINTA. CEQA: A MITIGATED
NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND ASSOCIATED
MITGATION MONITORING PROGRAM HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR CONSIDERATION.
LOCATION: SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AUTO CENTER DRIVE AND LA QUINTA
DRIVE.
Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste presented the staff report, which is on file in
the Design and Development Department.
Commission discussed tribal monitoring, the maintenance of the existing drainage
basin, and the fiscal analysis of The Centre at La Quinta project.
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 6:23 p.m.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: James O'Malley, Shopoff Realty Investments, Irvine, CA - introduced
himself and presented additional information and a power point regarding The Centre
at La Quinta project.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Jeff Chelwick, WHA Architects, Santa Ana, CA - introduced himself
and presented additional information regarding the architecture and design of The
Centre at Lo Quinta project.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 JUNE 12, 2018
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Ms. Suzanne Albert, La Quinta - stated she was a resident in Lake La
Quinta and spoke in opposition to The Centre at Lo Quinta project due to the
architectural design, traffic, and the entrances and exits to the project.
Commission discussed phasing of construction of the homes and recreation amenities
and conditioning the project to ensure recreational amenities are constructed in a
timely manner.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: James O'Malley - addressed the Commission's questions regarding
the construction of the recreation amenities and stated that they were amenable to
the recreation areas being constructed during the early phases of the project
construction. He stated that the applicant's representatives met with Lake La Quinta
HOA board members and as a result adjusted the project's main entrance so as not to
be directly across from the Lake La Quinta's entrance on Adams Street.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Peter Duarte, Studio PAD Landscape Architects, Laguna Hills, CA -
introduced himself and provided additional information regarding the proposed
landscaped setback from the walkways along the west side of The Centre at La Quinta
project along Adams Street.
Consulting Planner Criste stated that the landscaping in the parkway along Adams
Street between the proposed project entrance and the project's south edge is part of a
master association and would not change as a result of the project. She stated that
as a residential project, The Centre at La Quinta would not become part of the master
association and that the applicant was interested in gaining access to the parkway in
order to make improvements, but the master association was non -responsive.
Commission discussed the challenges of enforcing landscape maintenance and legal
staff indicated that in addition to working with code enforcement, there are other
options available and they would work with City staff regarding what the next steps
might be.
Commission discussion continued regarding guest and homeowner vehicle parking,
hotel site, line of site with regards to the homes in Lake La Quinta along Adams Street,
and recreation area swimming pool size.
Planning Manager Perez stated that the development agreement that is attached to
the entire specific plan expired in 2010.
At the request of the Commission, Finance Director Campos provided an overview of
the fiscal analysis of The Centre at La Quinta project.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Barry Snowbarger, La Quinta - shared concerns regarding projects
that have not been completed and are not maintained.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 JUNE 12, 2018
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:32 p.m.
Commission discussed that should rights be provided by the master association and
given that the applicant had stated their willingness to do so, that a condition of
approval be added that the applicant will provide landscape installation and ongoing
maintenance on the Adams Street parkway to the west of the project.
Commissioner Bettencourt asked that it be noted on the record that at the invitation
of the applicant, he met with their representatives regarding The Centre at La Quinta
project.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Currie to
adopt Resolution No. 2018-007 of the La Quinta Planning Commission recommending
to the City Council approval of Environmental Assessment 2017-0009, General Plan
Specific Amendment 2017-0001, Zone Change 2017-0001, Tentative Tract Map 2017-
0007, Specific Plan 2017-0003 and Site Development Permit 2017-0012 for the Centre
at La Quinta located at the southwest corner of Auto Center Drive and La Quinta Drive
as submitted with staffs recommendations and with the following conditions as they
relate to Specific Plan 2017-0003, Tentative Tract Map 2017-0007 and Site
Development Permit 2017-0012:
1. Prior to City Council consideration, the applicant and staff shall develop an
acceptable phasing plan for the construction of the Recreation Center and
associated facilities.
2. Should the City or applicant receive the right to install landscaping and provide
ongoing maintenance of the landscaped parkway on the east side of Adams
Street, from the project entrance south to the southern project boundary, then
the applicant or homeowner's association would be responsible for the parkway
maintenance.
3. The City shall be listed as a third party beneficiary in the Conditions, Covenants,
and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and the City Attorney's office shall review and approve
the CC&Rs prior to recordation against the property and that the CC&Rs cannot
be amended without prior approval of the City.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright and Chairperson
Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner McCune: ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
2. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2017-0005 SUBMITTED BY THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT AMENDMENTS TO
SECTION 9.50.090 OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPT SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN GUIDELINES. CEQA: EXEMPT
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 JUNE 12, 2018
FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 15061 (B)(3) REVIEW
FOR EXEMPTIONS - GENERAL RULE. [RESOLUTION NO. 2018-0081
Associate Planner Carlos Flores presented the staff report, which is on file in the
Design and Development Department.
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:49 p.m.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: None
Chairperson Quill declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:49 p.m.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Caldwell/Currie to
adopt Resolution No. 2018-008 of the La Quinta Planning Commission recommending
City Council amend Section 9.50.090 of the La Quinta Municipal Code and adopt Single
Family Residential Architectural Design Guidelines and find the proposed zoning code
amendments exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as presented by
staff. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright and
Chairperson Quill. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner McCune: ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None
COMMISSIONERS' ITEMS - None
STAFF ITEMS
1. Planning Manager Perez gave an update of the April 23, 2018 SilverRock Event
Site Ad Hoc Committee meeting and presented information about the project
timeline and site plan.
Facilities Director Steve Howlett provided additional information regarding the
event site and said presentations were made to the Community Resources
Commission and will be made to the Financial Advisory Commission.
2. The Commission by consensus agreed to cancel the August 28, 2018 Planning
Commission meeting.
3. Planning Manager Perez announced that Danny Castro was selected as the new
Design and Development Director effective July 16, 2018.
Planning Manager Perez introduced Assistant City Attorney Travis Van Ligten and
thanked him for his attendance.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 JUNE 12, 2018
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Wright/Proctor to adjourn this meeting at 8:08 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
WANDA WISE-LATTA, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 JUNE 12, 2018