2019 01 22 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
6:00 p.m. by Chairperson McCune.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Currie, Proctor, Quill, Wright and
Chairperson McCune
ABSENT: Commissioner Caldwell
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Danny Castro, Assistant City
Attorney Morgan Gallagher, City Engineer Bryan McKinney,
Planning Manager Cheri L. Flores, Associate Planner Carlos
Flores, Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste, Commission
Secretary Wanda Wise -Latta and Administrative Assistant Mirta
Lerma
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Proctor led the Planning Commission 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 DATED JANUARY 8, 2019
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Currie/Proctor to
approve the Consent Calendar as submitted. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt,
Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Quill, Wright and Chairperson McCune. NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
Design and Development Director Danny Castro introduced Cheri L. Flores as the
City's new Planning Manager.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 JANUARY 22, 2019
STUDY SESSION - None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
DECLARATIONS REGARDING PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACTS - None
to report.
1. ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2018-0004 SUBMITTED BY THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA PROPOSING TO AMEND CHAPTER 9.170.020 DEFINITIONS AND
9.170.060 APPROVAL STANDARDS OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE TO
ADD STANDARDS FOR SMALL CELL ANTENNAS. CEQA: EXEMPT FROM
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15061 (B)(3), REVIEW FOR
EXEMPTIONS - COMMON SENSE RULE. LOCATION: CITY-WIDE.
Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste presented the staff report, which is on file
in the Design and Development Department.
Staff responded to Planning Commissioners' inquiries regarding structural and wind
load requirements of existing light poles or other vertical poles within the city upon
which small cell antennas might be placed; recent enactments by the Federal
Communication Commission related to small cell antennas; public right-of-way; and
use of Imperial Irrigation District (IID)-owned utility poles located within an
easement or the use of private property as a site for small cell antennas.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:24 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Elisa Guerrero, La Quinta - introduced herself and spoke about
utility easements and rights -of -way.
Commissioner Quill stated that more information was needed to determine IID's
rights to lease their utility pole within an easement or public right-of-way for
locating small cell antennas.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:28 P.M.
City Engineer McKinney stated that he has seen locations where Frontier
Communication and Spectrum have co -located their equipment on IID utility poles.
MOTION: A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Bettencourt to
continue Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0004 submitted by the City of La
Quinta to the February 26, 2019 Planning Commission meeting. AYES:
Commissioners Bettencourt, Currie, Proctor, Quill, Wright and Chairperson McCune.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 JANUARY 22, 2019
2. SPECIFIC PLAN 2018-0002 (SP 2008-085 AMENDMENT 1) SUBMITTED BY
THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, PROPOSING TO AMEND SPECIFIC PLAN 2008-085
FOR THE HIGHWAY 111 AND DUNE PALMS SPECIFIC PLAN TO ALLOW FOR
COMMERCIAL AND/OR MIXED -USE DEVELOPMENT ON THE NORTHERN ±10
ACRE PORTION OF THE SPECIFIC PLAN AREA, AND REVISE DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS. CEQA: RECOMMEND CERTIFICATION OF A MITIGATED
NEGATIVE DECLARATION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT. LOCATION: SOUTH SIDE OF HIGHWAY 111, APPROXIMATELY
300 FEET EAST OF DUNE PALMS ROAD.
Associate Planner Carlos Flores presented the staff report, which is on file in the
Design and Development Department. Mr. Flores noted that staff proposed an
additional development standard that would allow construction of parking lots and
drive aisles within the landscape setback, between the landscaped area and
building. He stated that correspondence had been received from the South Coast
Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and had been distributed to the
Planning Commission prior to the start of the meeting.
Staff responded to Planning Commissioners' inquiries regarding SQAQMD's
recommended mitigation measures; proposed elimination of parkway adjacent to
Highway 111 allowing for parking lots and drive aisles within the landscape
setback; proposed 60-foot height maximum; and floor ratio retail space.
Planning Manager Flores stated there is a mixed -use overlay in the Highway 111
area which allows buildings up to 60 feet in height as well as mixed -use residential
and commercial along the Highway 111 Corridor and would apply to any vacant site
in the Highway 111 Corridor.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:01 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Barry Snowbarger, La Quinta - spoke about the commercial
corridor along Highway 111, vacancies along Highway 111, opposition to the 60-
foot height maximum, and opposition to changes in the landscape setback.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:06 P.M.
MOTION: A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Quill/Wright to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2019-002 recommending that City
Council certify a Mitigated Negative Declaration and further recommend to the City
Council approval of Specific Plan 2018-0002 amending Specific Plan 2008-085 for
the Highway 111 and Dune Palms Specific Plan to allow for commercial and/or
mixed use development on the northern ±10 acre portion of the specific plan area
and strike language that would allow parking and drive aisles within the landscape
setback along Highway 111 and strike any language that removes the site from the
image corridor height requirements. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Currie,
Proctor, Quill, Wright and Chairperson McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 JANUARY 22, 2019
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None
COMMISSIONERS' ITEMS
Commissioner Bettencourt inquired about the status of the Morrow matter.
Commissioner Quill spoke about urban planning/smart street concepts being
implemented and expressed concern about the roundabouts to be located at Calle
Tampico and Eisenhower and at Avenida Montezuma and Eisenhower.
Commissioner Proctor commented about the proposed Pavilion Palms commercial
site regarding infill dirt dumped on the site that was graded and dust -control
measures applied.
STAFF ITEMS
1. Design and Development Director Castro presented a summary of the
Community Workshop held at the La Quinta Wellness Center on January 12,
2019.
2. Staff presented a verbal report regarding the League of California Cities
Planning Commission Academy to be held March 6-8, 2019 in Long Beach.
Commissioners Quill and Wright stated they were unable to attend due to
scheduling conflicts. Commissioners Bettencourt, Currie, Proctor and
Chairperson McCune expressed interest in attending.
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There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Bettencourt/Wright to adjourn this meeting at 7:29 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
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WANDA WISE-LATTA, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 JANUARY 22, 2019