2020 11 24 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 NOVEMBER 24, 2020
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2020
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
5:00 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 Bettencourt, 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 Libolt Varner 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
Commission concurred and the agenda was confirmed.
Commissioner Libolt Varner said she would recuse herself from discussion
and vote on Business Session No. 2 and Public Hearing No. 1 due to a
potential conflict of interest stemming from a business relationship with
her previous employer, MSA Consulting.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 NOVEMBER 24, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION-
NONE
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED OCTOBER 27, 2020
Commissioner Bettencourt shared his disappointment of staff not providing
additional details on the minutes regarding the Wave project considering the
magnitude of the project.
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.
DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACTS – No public contact
to report.
BUSINESS SESSION- NONE
1. APPROVE CANCELLATION OF REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS OF
DECEMBER 22, 2020 AND JANUARY 12, 2021
Planning Manager Cheri L. Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the
Design and Development Department.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Caldwell/Nieto to
approve the cancellation of regular planning commission meeting of December 22,
2020 and January 12, 2021. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie,
Libolt Varner, Nieto, and Chairperson Proctor. NOES: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner McCune. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed unanimously.
2. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADD A
PROVISION TO SPECIFIC PLAN 2017-0002 TO ALLOW FOR TALLER BUILDING
HEIGHT ALONG IMAGE CORRIDORS FOR THE PAVILION PALMS SHOPPING
CENTER PROJECT; CEQA: THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS
PREPARED A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT; LOCATION: NORTHWEST CORNER OF
AVENUE 50 AND JEFFERSON STREET
Planning Manager Cheri L. Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the
Design and Development Department.
Staff responded to Commission inquiries and comments regarding:
The scope of what is being recommend by this resolution.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 NOVEMBER 24, 2020
The impacts of the change in language will have other buildings on site.
If it would be possible for the applicant to provide a line of sight exhibit from
Pamilla to determine the visual impact of the additional height.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Philip Spencer, La Quinta – shared his concern about the
increase in height to the buildings blocking the visibility to the Pavilion Store. Mr.
Spencer questioned why the developer is looking to make changes to the Specific
Plan this late in the project. He mentioned La Quinta is a destination location and
this was a miss use of a prominent corner.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Ms. Leila Namvar, La Quinta - shared her concern with the
revision to height of the buildings in the corner, Ms. Namvar stated this revision
does not match the purpose and intent of human scale architecture. She had
concerns with the parking and drive-through stacking along building one. Ms.
Namvar also questioned whether the gas station had been removed from the
project.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Greg Bever, applicant, Lundin Development Company
Rancho Mirage – introduced himself and introduced the Project architect Jeff Herbst
of MCG Architecture.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Jeff Herbst, MCG Architecture – addressed questions and
concerns regarding visibility of the slanted roof and material, which is a white TPO
application (thermoplastic roof). He stated that no mechanical equipment shall be
placed on top of the slanted roof section. The proposed glass material is a spandrel
glass application and allows for creative color applications and the spandrel glass
allows for the reduction in heat.
Commissioner Currie shared her concerns about the space in between the two
buildings appears to be more of an alley way rather than a plaza, the architectural
design is inconsistent with the general area and the increase in height is not in
keeping with the image corridor.
Chairperson Proctor stated that the proposed scale and volume of these corner
buildings are overwhelming and are out of proportion and that this corner was
meant to be meant to be iconic, but these buildings will be iconic for the wrong
reasons.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Caldwell
to adopt a resolution recommending to the City Council to add a provision to the
Specific Plan 2017-0002 to allow for taller building height along image corridors for
the pavilion palms shopping center project. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt and
Caldwell. NOES: Commissioners Currie, Nieto, and Chairperson Proctor. ABSENT:
Commissioners Libolt Varner and McCune. ABSTAIN: None. Motion did not pass.
STUDY SESSION- NONE
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 NOVEMBER 24, 2020
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF SITE DEVELOPMENT
PERMIT 2020-0006 (SDP 2013-924, AMENDMENT 1) TO AMEND SIGNATURE
AT PGA WEST SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PLANS CEQA: THE PROJECT IS
CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT REPORT COMPLETED FOR EDEN ROCK AT PGA WEST SPECIFIC PLAN.
LOCATION: WITHIN THE PGA WEST SPECIFIC PLAN AREA.
Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and
Development Department.
Staff responded to Commission questions regarding the cause of this application not
being a staff level decision, that it exceeded the thresholds of being conducted at a
staff level; clarified how units can be plotted in the development; clarified that
development standards aren’t changing.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Todd Cunningham, applicant – addressed questions
regarding changes to the project
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Ms. Jennifer Jenkins, PGA West HOA Representative – spoke in
support of the project
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Domenic Provenzano, PGA West – spoke in support of the
project
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mr. Ben Dobbs, PGA West Representative – was unable to be
reached by staff but Mr. Dobbs was in support of the project
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Bettencourt/Caldwell to adopt Planning Commission Resolution approving Site
Development Permit 2020-0006 and determine that the project is consistent with
previously certified subsequent environmental impact report California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) subject to the Findings and Conditions of
Approval. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell Currie, Nieto, and
Chairperson Proctor. NOES: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Libolt Varner and
McCune. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed unanimously.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - NONE
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS
Commissioner Bettencourt requested staff to provide a status update regarding the
adjacent Vista Santa Rosa and Bermuda Dunes communities. He also requested
information on a proposed project in Vista Santa Rosa and, if possible, to invite the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 NOVEMBER 24, 2020
chair of the local agency formation commission to speak about their work. Staff will
return with information regarding the community meetings on a future agenda.
STAFF ITEMS – NONE
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Caldwell/Nieto to adjourn at 6:25 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
SIJIFREDO FERNANDEZ, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California