2015 10 13 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 OCTOBER 13, 2015
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
by Chairperson Wilkinson.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wright, and
Chairperson Wilkinson
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, Assistant City Attorney Michelle
Molko, Principal Planner Jay Wuu, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney,
Executive Assistant Monika Radeva, and Administrative Technician
Dianne Hansen
Commissioner Wright led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT – None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA – Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Bettencourt to
approve the Planning Commission Minutes of July 28, 2015 as submitted. Motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Continued from September 22, 2015 – 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.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 OCTOBER 13, 2015
Principal Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a
copy of which is on file in the Community Development Department.
Principal Planner Wuu noted that a memorandum dated October 13, 2015 providing
additional information regarding Public Hearing Item No. 1 was distributed to the
Commission and made available to the public.
Staff addressed the Commission’s questions with regards to the consistency of the
proposed project with the existing Purchase and Sale Agreement between the
Applicant and the City of La Quinta, the parking lot, the retention basin currently
under construction as part of a City’s capital improvement project, and the future
maintenance responsibility of both, the parking lot and retention basin.
Public Speaker: Mr. Wells Marvin, Applicant and President of Marvin Investments, Inc.,
La Quinta, CA – introduced himself and commended the Commission for its
constructive comments and careful review of the project. He said it had been a long
and difficult path to get this far and he was pleased the project was before the
Commission tonight for review and consideration. Mr. Marvin also commended staff
for their work, guidance, and cooperation throughout this process. He gave a
detailed presentation of the project and its history, and answered the Commission’s
questions with regards to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement being
consistent with the project and the proposed conditions of approval; the undergoing
and future retention basin improvements; parking requirements; phasing of the
project; the project’s pedestrian connectivity to the adjacent Old Town La Quinta
commercial center and the Civic Center campus; the residential and commercial
private garages; on-street parking availability; the construction of additional 42
parking spaces for Old Town La Quinta on a vacant site located at the southeast
corner of Avenida Bermudas and Calle Tampico, previously approved for a 27,000
square-foot building; the expansion of the La Quinta Library’s parking lot; golf cart
parking; security access for the residential units; recreational amenities and outdoor
space; specific plan amendments; types of uses for the ground-level commercial
units underneath the residential ones, the use of permeable paving; storm drainage;
and blanket special events allowance for Old Town La Quinta.
Public Speaker: Mr. David Turner, Engineer with Coachella Valley Engineers, Palm
Desert, CA – introduced himself and answered the Commission’s questions regarding
the drainage and the ability of the site to handle 100-year storm.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 8:24 p.m.
Commissioner Wright said he was pleased to see this project come before the
Commission.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 OCTOBER 13, 2015
Motion – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Bettencourt to
adopt Planning Resolution No. 2015-009 recommending that City Council deem the
project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Environmental
Assessment 2015-0001), and further recommend approval of Specific Plan 2015-
0001 Amendment (SP 2002-058, Amendment 1) and Village Use Permit 2015-0001
for the Villas at Old Town project as submitted with staff’s recommendations. Motion
passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION – None
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
1. Report on City Council meeting of October 6, 2015.
2. Commissioner Blum is scheduled to attend the October 20, 2015 City Council
meeting.
3. Summary of the Development Code Tune Up Stakeholders community outreach
meeting held on October 13 regarding staff’s efforts to streamline the development
code and improve the approval processes. Staff said a Development Review
Services Survey is available online until October 16 and encouraged the Commission
to provide feedback by completing the survey.
DIRECTOR’S ITEMS – None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to adjourn this meeting at 8:40 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, Executive Assistant
City of La Quinta, California