ORD 594 Title 9 Administrative ZOA2020-0001
ORDINANCE NO. 594
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING
SECTIONS 9.50.090 AND 9.200.015 OF TITLE 9
OF THE LA QUINTA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED
TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND RENUMBERING
MODIFICATIONS
PROJECT:
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2021-0001
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of La Quinta, California did, on
the 18th day of May 2021, hold a duly noticed public hearing for review of a
City-initiated request of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2021-0001 to amend
sections of Title 9 of the La Quinta Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, previous to said Public Hearing, the Planning Commission
of the City of La Quinta did, on April 27, 2021, held a duly noticed public
hearing, and after review and consideration of this item, and hearing all public
testimony, adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2021-005 to recommend to
the City Council adoption of said code amendments; and
WHEREAS, the Design and Development Department published a public
hearing notice for this request in The Desert Sun newspaper on May 7, 2021,
as prescribed by the La Quinta Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, Sections 9.50.090 and 9.200.015 of Title 9 of the La Quinta
Municipal Code address architectural design standards and conceptual design
review, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning text amendments are necessary for
administration purposes; and
WHEREAS, the proposed zoning text amendments are necessary to
implement the General Plan 2035 adopted by the City Council at their regular
meeting on February 19, 2013; and
WHEREAS, at said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all
testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons wanting to be
heard, the City Council did make the following mandatory findings to justify
adoption of said Zoning Ordinance Amendment:
Ordinance No. 594
Amendments to Sections 9.50.090 AND 9.200.015 of the La Quinta Municipal Code
Adopted: June 1, 2021
Page 2 of 7
1. Consistency with General Plan
The code amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives and
policies of the General Plan. The proposed amendments are supported
by Policy LU-1.2 for land use decisions to be consistent with General
Plan policies and programs and uphold the rights and needs of property
owners and the public, Goal LU-2 for high quality design that
complements and enhances the City, and by Goal LU-5 to offer a broad
range of housing types and choices for all residents of the City.
2. Public Welfare
Approval of the code amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare. The
amendment streamlines the development review process and clarifies
language in the La Quinta Municipal Code and does not incorporate any
changes that affect the regulation and/or provision of public services,
utility systems, or other foreseeable health, safety and welfare
considerations.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of La Quinta does
ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Sections 9.50.090 and 9.200.015 of Title 9 shall be
amended as written in “Exhibit A” attached hereto and incorporated by this
reference.
SECTION 2. That the City Council does hereby approve Zoning
Ordinance Amendment 2021-0001, as set forth in enclosed “Exhibit A” for the
reasons set forth in this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. The proposed zone text amendment has complied with the
requirements of "The Rules to Implement the California Environmental Quality
Act of 1970" (CEQA) as amended (Resolution No. 83-63). The zone text
amendments are consistent with the previously approved findings of the
General Plan 2035 EIR (Environmental Assessment 2012-622) as the
proposed amendments implement the goals, policies, and programs of the
General Plan.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE: This Ordinance shall be in full force and
effect thirty (30) days after its adoption.
Ordinance No. 594
Amendments to Sections 9.50.090 AND 9.200.015 of the La Quinta Municipal Code
Adopted: June 1, 2021
Page 5 of 7
EXHIBIT A
9.50.090 Architectural Design standards.
In addition to the requirements of Chapter 9.30 (Residential Districts) and
Chapter 9.60 (Supplemental Residential Regulations) the following shall be
required for homes:
A. Requirements.
1. Architectural Design Guidelines. The city council shall, by
resolution, adopt architectural design guidelines to be used as
guidelines in reviewing landscape materials, architectural style,
exterior building materials, colors, and mass and scale;
2. Architectural Variety. Duplication of houses having the same
architectural design features on the front elevation of other houses
located within two hundred feet of each other shall make provisions
for architectural variety by using different colors, roof treatments,
window treatments, garage door treatments, and methods;
3. [Reserved]
4. [Reserved]
5. [Reserved]
6. [Reserved]
7. [Reserved]
8. Landscaping. All front and exterior side yards shall be landscaped
to property line;
9. The landscaping shall include trees, shrubs and ground cover of
sufficient size, spacing and variety to create an attractive and unifying
appearance;
10. An irrigation system shall be provided for all areas required to be
landscaped;
11. The landscaping shall be continuously maintained in a healthy and
viable condition;
12. Screening. Refuse containers and bottled gas tanks shall be
concealed by view-obscuring landscaping, fencing or walls, as
referenced in Screening Section 9.60.140(B)(1)(e);
13. [Reserved]
14. Lighting. All exterior lighting shall be located and directed so as
not to shine directly on adjacent properties, as referenced in Outdoor
Lighting Section 9.100.150(F)(4);
15. [Reserved]
Ordinance No. 594
Amendments to Sections 9.50.090 AND 9.200.015 of the La Quinta Municipal Code
Adopted: June 1, 2021
Page 6 of 7
16. Earth fill shall not exceed what is necessary to provide minimum
required drainage to the street.
9.200.015 Conceptual Design Review
A. Any potential project applicant has the option to file a conceptual design
review (CDR) to ascertain anticipated conditions, requirements and costs
associated with a proposal. This allows the applicant to be informed of any
potentially significant issues which may affect any decision to pursue the
project. This process offers the following advantages:
1. Provides a comprehensive overview of city applications, fees, and
other requirements necessary to obtain project approval, in writing;
2. Provides previous project background which can speed up the
formal approval process when the project is submitted;
3. The written information can be used as the basis for an estimate of
project costs, in order to determine a project’s viability.
Submittal for this process shall include completion of an application and
supplemental documentation as determined by the director.
B. Within thirty calendar days of receipt of a conceptual design review
application, a review letter shall be issued to the applicant, incorporating
all comments received during the review period.
Ordinance No. 594
Amendments to Sections 9.50.090 AND 9.200.015 of the La Quinta Municipal Code
Adopted: June 1, 2021
Page 7 of 7
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF LA QUINTA )
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby
certify the foregoing to be a full, true, and correct copy of Ordinance No. 594
which was introduced at a regular meeting on the 18th day of May, 2021, and
was adopted at a regular meeting held on the 1st day of June, 2021, not being
less than 5 days after the date of introduction thereof.
I further certify that the foregoing Ordinance was posted in three places within
the City of La Quinta as specified in the Rules of Procedure adopted by City
Council Resolution No. 2015-023.
_______________________
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
DECLARATION OF POSTING
I, MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk of the City of La Quinta, California, do hereby
certify that the foregoing ordinance was posted on June 2, 2021, pursuant to
Council Resolution 2015-023.
_______________________
MONIKA RADEVA, City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California