2022 03 08 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 5:01
p.m. by Chairperson Nieto.
This meeting provided teleconferencing accessibility pursuant to Executive Orders
N-60-20 and N-08-21 executed by the Governor of California, and subsequently
Assembly Bill 361 (AB 361, 2021), enacted 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 in
the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code § 54950 et seq.).
PRESENT: Commissioners Caldwell, Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor,
Tyerman, and Chairperson Nieto
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Danny Castro, Public Works
Director/City Engineer Bryan McKinney, Planning Manager Cheri
L. Flores, Senior Planner Carlos Flores, Associate Planner Siji
Fernandez, Commission Secretary Tania Flores, City Attorney Bill
Ihrke
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Tyerman led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner
Tyerman requested a moment of silence to acknowledge the victims of the current
war in Ukraine and Chairperson Nieto approved.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta – spoke on behalf of La
Quinta Residents for Responsible Development (LQRRD) – opposed Coral Mountain
Resort project due to water usage and climate change concerns.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Caldwell
to confirm the Agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
1. PRESENTATION BY CITY ATTORNEY BILL IHRKE REGARDING STATE SENATE
BILL 9
City Attorney Ihrke presented an overview of recently approved State Senate Bill 9 (2021);
the presentation is on file in the Design and Development Department.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 11, 2022
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Currie to
approve the Consent Calendar, as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. REVIEW GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS
REPORTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2021 AND RECOMMEND THAT CITY
COUNCIL AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL TO THE STATE
Planning Manager Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design
and Development Department.
Staff answered questions from the Commission regarding the submittal process
and comments received from the State; and the possibility of receiving Regional
Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) cycle credits from previous years.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Chairperson Nieto/Commissioner
Currie to recommend that the City Council authorize submittal of the General Plan
and the Housing Element Annual Progress Reports to the State Office of Planning
and Research (OPR) and Department of Housing and Community Development
(HCD), as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
STUDY SESSION – None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0002
AND SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2021-0004 FOR A NEW 8,337 SQUARE
FOOT COMMERCIAL CONDOMINIUM BUILDING ON VACANT LOT IN
CALEO BAY PARK COMMERCIAL CENTER; CEQA: DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THE PROJECT IS
CONSISTENT WITH EA 2004-528; LOCATION: NORTHWEST CORNER OF
AVENUE 48 AND CALEO BAY DRIVE
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 3 of 5 MARCH 8, 2022
DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACT – None.
Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and
Development Department.
Staff answered Commission questions regarding the existing monument sign;
mechanical room access; parcel lines notated on vicinity and tract maps; electric
vehicle charging stations; proposed architecture and design compatibility with
existing buildings; ownership of individual pads and buildings; responsible party
for property maintenance and landscaping; and existing parking shade structure.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 6:29 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: Robert Dietrich, La Quinta, representative of Caleo
Bay Safety and Security Association – expressed concerns regarding proposed
building and tower height; noise variances and excessive road noise; increased
traffic, lack of stop signs, multiple curves in the road including blind curves, and
recent near-accidents due to speeding; and recommended additional stop signs at
Lake La Quinta gates at north and south entrances and at Lake La Quinta Drive.
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: Anton Marinkovich, Applicant, Stracts Inc. –
answered questions regarding the existing monument sign; mechanical room
access; electric vehicle charging stations; covered parking structure; and
architecture and design consistency with existing buildings.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELECONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY: Dr. Steve Phan, Owner
– provided additional answers regarding adding clean air vehicle designated
parking, electric vehicle charging stations; potential new pad owner business
types; and building and pad ownership within the site.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 6:42 P.M.
Commission discussion followed regarding current landscaping concerns and future
landscape maintenance responsibilities; lack of bicycle racks and potential sites to
add them in an effort to promote alternative use of transit; compatibility with the
development standards of the community commercial zone, general plan,
surrounding developments and landscape, and the previous environmental
analysis; architectural style and height elements; potential design enhancements
of Building D; additional electric vehicle charging stations; traffic conditions and
traffic/speed calming efforts; and building height in relation to surrounding
residential views.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 4 of 5 MARCH 8, 2022
Staff provided additional comment regarding clean air vehicle parking and electric
vehicle charging stations including building code requirements, city standards, and
power usage in relation to the current Imperial Irrigation District’s (IID) will-serve
letter for this site.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING RE-OPEN AT 7:00 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELECONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY: Dr. Steve Phan, Owner
– answered additional Commission questions regarding the possibility of adding
additional vehicle charging stations.
PUBLIC SPEAKER VIA TELECONFERENCE ACCESSIBILITY: Onur Zilelioglu,
Engineer with Saxon Engineering Services, Inc. – provided engineering related
information regarding the addition of charging stations, electrical infrastructure
requirements, and disability parking standards.
Commission discussion followed regarding electrical infrastructure and solar
accessibility on existing parking structures; and parking counts, striping, and ADA
accessibility issues. Staff provided additional information regarding the speed and
traffic on Caleo Bay including recent analysis and adjustments made which reduced
speed limits.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:15 P.M.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Currie/Hassett to
adopt a resolution to approve Tentative Tract Map 2021-0002 (TTM 38062) and
Site Development Permit 2021-0004 subject to the Findings and Conditions of
Approval and find the project consistent with previously adopted Mitigated
Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment 2004-528.
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0002
(TTM 38062) AND SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2021-0004 FOR A NEW
8,337 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL CONDOMINIUM BUILDING ON
VACANT LOT IN CALEO BAY PARK COMMERCIAL CENTER ON
NORTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE 48 AND CALEO BAY DRIVE
CASE NUMBERS: TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0002 (TTM 38062); SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2021-0004
APPLICANT: DR. STEVE PHAN
Motion passed unanimously.
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STAFF ITEMS
1. VERBAL UPDATE ON CITYWIDE PROJECTS
Planning Manager Flores and the Planning Staff provided a brief overview of the
City’s current projects including the Highway 111 Specific Plan, Cultural Campus,
Historic Resources Survey; projects currently in the entitlement review process
including St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, Troutdale Village, Coral Mountain Resort,
Travertine, Andalusia Tract 38188, Avenue 58 Townhomes; recently approved
projects including Panera, The Peak, Jefferson Apartments, and Pavilion Palms;
projects currently in or preparing for construction including Talus, Carmela, Rancho
Santana, Floresta, Stone Creek Ranch, Cantera at Coral Mountain, Club at
Andalusia, and Centre at La Quinta Residential.
Staff answered additional questions regarding the Coral Mountain Resort project,
a proposed indoor driving range at Madison and Highway 111 (corrected by Staff
as a possible Top Golf center near the Residence Inn on Highway 111), and
Andalusia landscape improvements.
REPORTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS – None.
COMMISSIONERS’ ITEMS – None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Chairperson
Nieto/Commissioner Proctor to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 P.M. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California