2020 10 27 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 OCTOBER 27, 2020
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
5:05 p.m. by Chairperson Proctor.
This meeting was held by teleconference pursuant to Executive Orders N-25-20, N-
29-20, N-33-20, and N-35-20, executed by the Governor of California in response
to the state of emergency relating to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
and enabling teleconferencing accommodations by suspending or waiving specified
provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.).
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettenceourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner,
Nieto, and Chairperson Proctor
ABSENT: Commissioner McCune
STAFF PRESENT: Design & Development Director Danny Castro, Planning Manager
Cheri L. Flores, Senior Planner Carlos Flores, Commission
Secretary Sijifredo Fernandez
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Nieto led the Planning Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
There were no requests to speak under the ‘Public Comment on Matters Not on the
Agenda’ section of the meeting and Staff continued to monitor emails should
written comments or requests for verbal comments be received.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – CONFIRMED
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION-
NONE
CONSENT CALENDAR
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 27, 2020
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED JUNE 23, 2020
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Caldwell/Libolt
Varner to approve the Consent Calendar as submitted. AYES: Commissioners
Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner, Nieto, and Chairperson Proctor.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner McCune. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed
unanimously.
Chairperson Proctor announced the withdrawal of public hearing item number 2.
The item was publicly noticed but the applicant decided to withdraw the item prior
to this public hearing.
DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACTS – No public contact
to report.
BUSINESS SESSION- NONE
STUDY SESSION- NONE
PUBLIC HEARINGS
COMMISSIONER MCCUNE ARRIVED TO THE MEETING AT 5:12 P.M.
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY
WITHIN THE HIDEAWAY GOLF CLUB AND DETERMINE THE PROJECT IS
EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT. LOCATION:
80440 HIDEAWAY CLUB COURT (WITHIN HIDEAWAY GOLF CLUB)
Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and
Development Department.
Staff responded to Commission inquiries and comments regarding:
• The applicant providing staff with a direct contact for the project.
• The co-location requirements and provisions for future carriers.
• Adding a condition of approval to remove the brick accent wrapping the
bottom of the tower element.
• Adding a condition relocating the cable tray to a location not visible to public
view.
• The project, despite being located on private property, would still be part of
staff’s annual compliance review.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 27, 2020
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Victor Flores, J5 Infrastructure Partners- noted that they
would relocate the cable tray as requested and remove the brick veneer at the
bottom of the tower element.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Currie
to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2020-008 approving Conditional Use
Permit 2020-0003 and determine that the project is exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) subject to the Findings and Conditions of
Approval and with the addition of the following Conditions of Approval:
• The cable tray equipment shall be moved out of view from the public by
moving it further west, behind the cupola. This shall be reflected on final
building plans and confirmed during inspection(s).
• The base of the cupola shall be smooth stucco all the way to its base. No
additional materials are approved to be installed on the base of the cupola.
2. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0002
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MONOPALM WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION
FACILITY WITHIN THE MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTRY CLUB AND DETERMINE THE
PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
LOCATION: 80345 POMELO (WITHIN MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTRY CLUB)—
WITHDRAWN
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS UPDATE
Planning Manager Flores presented a verbal report on upcoming projects.
Staff responded to Commission inquiries and comments regarding:
• Information on the Wave project and the next steps of the CEQA process.
• Potential RHNA impacts by reducing the numbers of housing units for the
Travertine project.
• Clarification on what will be reviewed in the following Planning Commission
meeting for the Pavilion Palms Shopping Center project. The meeting will
only be addressing the height of the buildings located within the image
corridor and not the project as a whole.
• The status of the Desert Club Apartments project and the undergrounding
waiver issued by Council.
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS – NONE
STAFF ITEMS
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 OCTOBER 27, 2020
Director Castro gave a short update on the work of the Short-term Vacation Rental
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
McCune/Bettencourt to adjourn at 5:55 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
SIJIFREDO FERNANDEZ, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California