2021 02 17 PC Minutes - Special Meeting (Pavillion Palms)PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 FEBRUARY 17, 2021
PLANNING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
6:01 p.m. by Vice Chair Nieto, in the absence of 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, and N-60-20, 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,
McCune, Vice Chair Nieto
ABSENT: Chairperson Proctor
STAFF PRESENT: Design & Development Director Danny Castro, Planning Manager
Cheri Flores, Senior Planner Carlos Flores, Commission
Secretary Tania Flores, City Attorney William Ihrke
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner McCune led the Planning Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
PUBLIC SPEAKER: None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
Vice Chair Nieto recommended taking Business Session Item No. 2 first, out of
respect for the time of the applicant and team as they were in attendance at the
start of the meeting.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Bettencourt/Caldwell to approve the Agenda with recommendation to take Business
Session Item No. 2 first.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner, McCune, and
Vice Chair Nieto. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Proctor. ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed ayes 6, noes 0, absent 1 (Proctor).
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 FEBRUARY 17, 2021
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION - None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES DATED DECEMBER 8, 2020
Commissioner Bettencourt recommended changes be made to the language in
discussion section of STUDY SESSION ITEM NO. 1 UPDATE ON PREPARATION OF
THE 6TH CYCLE HOUSING ELEMENT FOR THE OCTOBER 2021-OCTOBER 2029
PLANNING PERIOD.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Libolt
Varner/McCune to approve Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of December 8,
2020 as ammended.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner, McCune, and
Vice Chair Nieto. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Proctor. ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed ayes 6, noes 0, absent 1 (Proctor).
BUSINESS SESSION
Business Session Item No. 2 was taken first and out of order as recommended
during the confirmation of agenda.
DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACTS – Commissioner
Libolt Varner recused herself from discussion and vote on Business Session Item
No. 2 due to potential conflict of interest stemming from a business relationship
with her previous employer, MSA Consulting.
2.ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL A MODIFIED
DESIGN OF THE SITE AT THE CORNER OF JEFFERSON STREET AND AVENUE
50 WITHIN THE PROPOSED PAVILION PALMS SHOPPING CENTER; CEQA: THE
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS PREPARED A MITIGATED
NEGATIVE DECLARATION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT; LOCATION: NORTHWEST CORNER OR AVENUE 50 AND JEFFERSON
STREET
Planning Manager Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design
and Development Department.
Staff answered questions regarding requirements of Specific Plan regulatory
documents and the scope of what is included in the recommendation being
presented at this meeting, which is limited to the design of the Jefferson Street
and Avenue 50 corner of the site. City Attorney Ihrke stated that the materials
presented to the Commission at this meeting are sufficient for the Commission to
make their recommendation to Council. Other questions addressed were
regardinglocations of HVAC systems; power pole location and undergrounding
possibilities; phasing of the development.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 FEBRUARY 17, 2021
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY: Mills, Richard (Resident) –
Expressed concerns regarding ingress and regress from the development, traffic
circulation, and disguising the fuel station portion of the project to increase
aesthetics.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELEPHONIC ACCESSIBILITY: Namvar Leila, (Resident) –
Speaker was unable to be reached for public comment via the telephone number
provided to staff.
Applicant answered questions regarding design of the project and the utility pole
located on the corner; exterior open space and interior/exterior open space
options; HVAC unit locations; phasing of the project; architectural design
including vertical and lighting elements; approval of specific types of drive-thru
establishments; proposed glass and glazing of the buildings; exterior and interior
shading components; landscaping and building color palette options; interior
plaza and courtyard patio and shade opportunities.
Due to technical difficulties, Commissioner Bettencourt’s connection was
compromised intermittently during discussion; a quorum of the Commission was
present during the entirety of the discussion and meeting.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Nieto/Currie to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2021-0004 as recommended:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL
A MODIFIED SITE DESIGN AT THE CORNER OF JEFFERSON STREET
AND AVENUE 50 WITHIN THE PROPOSED PAVILION PALMS
SHOPPING CENTER LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF
JEFFERSON STREET AND AVENUE 50; CASE NUMBERS: SPECIFIC
PLAN 2017-0002, TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP 2017-0003, SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2017-0009; APPLICANT: LUNDIN
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, McCune, and Vice Chair Nieto.
NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Proctor and Commissioner Libolt Varner.
ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed ayes 5, noes 0, absent 2 (Proctor and Libolt Varner)
Commissioner Libolt Varner returned to the meeting following the vote.
1.GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORTS FOR CALENDAR
YEAR 2020
Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and
Development Department.
Staff answered questions regarding initiatives and funding opportunities provided
to developers for creating very low and low income housing within the
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 FEBRUARY 17, 2021
community; encouraging mixed-use developments; possible repercussions of not
meeting affordable housing requirements; status of the density study and
affordable housing site study; codification of affordable housing efforts; studies or
measurable improvements to show the effictiveness of the addition of the
roundabouts throughout the city.
Commissioner Libolt Varner commended staff for meeting the RHNA allocation for
low and very low income housing.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Libolt
Varner to recommend that the City Council authorize submittal of the General Plan
Annual Progress Report and the Housing Element Annual Progress Report to the
Office of Planning and Research and the State Department of Housing and
Community Development.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner, McCune, and
Vice Chair Nieto. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Proctor. ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed ayes 6, noes 0, absent 1 (Proctor)
STUDY SESSION - NONE
PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS - NONE
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS - NONE
STAFF ITEMS
1.2021 LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES PLANNING COMMISSIONER
ACADEMY
Planning Manager Flores provided information regarding the 2021 League of
California Cities Planning Commissioner Academy registration.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Commissioners Nieto/Caldwell to adjourn the meeting at 7:46 p.m.
AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Caldwell, Currie, Libolt Varner, McCune and
Vice Chair Nieto. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairpersons Proctor. ABSTAIN: None.
Motion passed ayes 6, noes 0, absent 1 (Proctor)
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California