2019 02 26 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
6:01 p.m. by Chairperson McCune.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright
and Chairperson McCune
ABSENT: Commissioner Quill
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Danny Castro, Assistant City
Attorney Travis Van Ligten, City Engineer Bryan McKinney,
Planning Manager Cheri L. Flores, Associate Planner Carlos
Flores, Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste, and
Commission Secretary Wanda Wise -Latta
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Wright 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
Chairperson McCune provided and spoke about a handout from the League of
California Cities entitled, "Public Service Values for Commissioners" which was
distributed to the Planning Commission prior to the meeting.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JANUARY 22, 2019
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Currie
to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt,
Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright and Chairperson McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Quill. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 FEBRUARY 26, 2019
1. GENERAL PLAN STATUS AND HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTS FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2018
Planning Manager Cheri L. Flores presented the staff report, which is on file in the
Design and Development Department.
Staff responded to Planning Commissioners' inquiries and comments regarding
making the report user-friendly by adding a table of contents and providing a table
listing abbreviations to assist a reader who may not be familiar with the
terminology in the report; housing element compliance; the city's progress towards
its Regional Housing Need Allocations (RHNA); the impact of the Washington Street
Apartments project on RHNA; opportunities to develop more low-income housing;
developer incentives such as state tax credits and the City's density bonus
provisions that may be available to developers of affordable housing projects; the
City's history of being proactive regarding affordable apartments and self-help
housing; the process by which RHNA numbers are determined; and SB 35.
Staff provided an update regarding Vista Santa Rosa.
MOTION: A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Currie
to recommend to the City Council that they authorize submittal of the General Plan
Annual Status Report and the Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the Office
of Planning and Research and State Department of Housing and Community
Development. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Proctor, Wright
and Chairperson McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Quill. ABSTAIN:
None. Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONTINUED FROM JANUARY 22, 2019 - ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
2018-0004 SUBMITTED BY THE CITY OF LA QUINTA PROPOSING TO AMEND
SECTIONS 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. [RESOLUTION 2019-0033
Consulting Planner Nicole Sauviat Criste presented the staff report, which is on file
in the Design and Development Department.
Ms. Criste explained that the item had been continued at the request of the
Planning Commission to allow staff time to research the Commission's inquiry about
the potential for small cell facilities to be located on IID utility poles. Ms. Criste
said the recommended ordinance text before the Commission had not changed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 26, 2019
Ms. Criste noted that the Planning Commission could impose quantified separation
standards which could impose a separation standard between small cell facilities or
a distance to a residential unit using the example of 50 feet.
Staff responded to Planning Commissioners' inquiries regarding the conditional use
permit (CUP) application and explained that the property owner's signature is
required on the CUP application or the property owner would need to provide a
letter authorizing a third party to make application; the use of other utility poles or
City -owned light and signal poles for placement of small cell facilities; the City
Manager's Office oversight of cell facility lease agreements; spoke about CUP
implementing the standards that are in the revised ordinance; and the City's
requirement of the property owner's consent before moving forward with a CUP;
and City standards related to poles.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:47 P.M.
CHAIRPERSON MCCUNE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:47 P.M.
MOTION: A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Caldwell/Currie to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2019-003 recommending to the City Council
approval of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0004 approving amendments to
Sections 9.170.020 Definitions and 9.170.060 Approval Standards of the Municipal
Code to add standards for small cell antennas and adding a provision to Section
9.170.060D that small cell facilities would not be allowed within 50 feet of a
residential unit and find Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2018-0004 exempt from
Environmental review under CEQA pursuant to Section 15061 (b)(3), review for
exemptions - Common Sense Rule. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell,
Currie, Proctor, Wright and Chairperson McCune. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Quill. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed.
STUDY SESSION - None
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - None
COMMISSIONERS' ITEMS
Commissioner Bettencourt spoke about the City Council's discussion regarding
electric scooters.
STAFF ITEMS
1. The 2019 Village Parking Survey report was presented by Associate Planner
Carlos Flores.
Planning Commissioner Quill joined the Planning Commission meeting at 6:59 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 26, 2019
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Proctor/Quill to adjourn this meeting at 7:01 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
WANDA WISE-LATTA, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 FEBRUARY 26, 2019