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2015 09 22 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Wilkinson. PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wright, and Chairperson Wilkinson ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, Principal Planner Jay Wuu, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney, Executive Assistant Monika Radeva, and Administrative Technician Dianne Hansen Commissioner Fitzpatrick led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT - None Ms. Andrea Spirtos, La Quinta resident, CA - introduced herself and commended the Commission for their careful review of projects within their purview and for questioning boiler plate conditions of approval. She encouraged staff to be more constructive in their feedback and to exercise caution going forward and to only apply pertinent conditions of approval to each project. This would eliminate posing unnecessary time and budgetary constraints on the applicant and/or developer. CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bette ncourt/Fitzpatrick to approve the Planning Commission minutes of July 28, 2015 as submitted with the deletion of the last sentence on page two, paragraph one, under Presentations, as the item was merely informational: Motion passed unanimously. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Environmental Assessment 2015-0001, Specific Plan 2015-0001 (SP 2002-058, Amendment 1), and Village Use Permit 2015-0001 submitted by Marvin Investments, Inc. proposing the development of Phase One of a mixed-use project including 40 condominium units and 13,000 square feet of commercial space on approximately 1.68 acres. Project: Villas at Old Town - Phase One. CEQA: exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15332 (Class 32) In -Fill Development. Location: southeast corner of Calle Tampico and Desert Club Drive. Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:06 p.m. Public Speaker: Mr. Wells Marvin, Applicant and President of Marvin Investments, Inc., La Quinta, CA - introduced himself and said that he would have liked to have seen the project go before the Commission tonight; however, additional time was needed to review the recommended conditions of approval. Thus, staff requested that the item be continued to the next Planning Commission meeting. He noted that this matter was very close to a resolution. Commission discussion followed regarding the importance of ensuring that boiler plate and discretionary proposed conditions of approval by staff are pertinent and explicitly tailored to each project. This would increase the credibility of the City's development review process, protect the public's interest, and portray the City of La Quinta as a developer -friendly city. Staff noted that the City is currently undergoing efforts to refine and improve the development code as well as to streamline and enhance the development review process. Though not within the scope of the Development Code Tune Up, the existing standard conditions of approval would be reviewed and staff will report on this effort to the Planning Commission. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick/Bettencourt to continue Public Hearing Number 1 for the Villas at Old Town project to the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting on October 13, 2015. Motion passed unanimously. 2. Site Development Permit 2015-0003 (SDP 2013-926, Extension 1) submitted by the La Quinta Housing Authority requesting a first two-year time extension for development plans of 72 one -bedroom apartment units on approximately four acres of land. Project: Washington Street Apartments Final Phase. CEQA: previously reviewed under Environmental Assessment 2013-627; no further analysis required pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166. Location: southeast corner of Washington Street and Hidden River Road. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 Commissioner Wright said he is the President of the Board of Directors for the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and recused himself due to a conflict of interest. Principal Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department. Vice Chairperson Bettencourt asked staff to follow up with the Supervisor John J. Benoit Fourth District office to ensure that the Riverside County's records properly identify the annexation of the Washington Street Apartments project into the boundaries of the City of La Quinta. General discussion followed regarding the project's reduced parking requirements due to density bonus received, collection of nuisance water and the retention basin, and landscape specifications. Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:28 p.m. Public Speaker: Mr. Jon McMillen, President of Tall Man Group, Valley Center, CA - introduced himself, gave a detailed description of the project, and answered the Commission's questions with regards to the project's funding through the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition tax credits program, United States Department of Agriculture housing assistance program, residents profile, parking, sustainability requirements to warrant eligibility for the tax credits program, and overall cost per unit. Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 7:42 p.m. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Blum to adopt Resolution No. 2015-008 approving Site Development Permit 2015-0003 (SDP 2013-926, Extension 1) approving a first two-year time extension for Washington Street Apartments Final Phase as submitted with staff's recommendations. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, and Fitzpatrick. NOES: Chairperson Wilkinson. ABSENT: Commissioner Wright. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed. BUSINESS SESSION - None. COMMISSIONER ITEMS 1. Report on City Council meetings of August 4 and September 15, 2015. 2. Vice Chairperson Bettencourt is scheduled to attend the October 6, 2015 Council meeting. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 SEPTEMBER 22, 2015 3. Planning Manager Perez said the Ad-hoc Committee tasked to review and provide feedback to staff for the Development Code Tune Up review efforts met on September 9 and staff was currently undergoing the community outreach phase of this project. A stakeholder community outreach meeting was scheduled for October 13 at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall. Staff anticipates the release of an online survey on September 30 seeking to obtain citizen's comments related to these efforts. The second Ad-hoc Committee meeting has been scheduled for October 29 at 5:00 p.m. in the Study Session room. 4. Staff noted that eTRAKiT, the online permitting customer portal of the City's development permitting software was launched successfully in September. 5. Vice Chairperson Bettencourt asked staff to follow up with Supervisor John J. Benoit Fourth District office to ensure that the Washington Street Apartments project is properly recorded and the county's records reflect its annexation from Bermuda Dunes into the boundaries of the City of La Quinta. DIRECTOR'S ITEMS - None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Bette ncourt/Wright to adjourn this meeting at 7:53 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, _CA MONIKA RADEVA, Executive Assistant City of La Quinta, California PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 SEPTEMBER 22, 2015