191114 Section 11.0 INTRODUCTION
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INTRODUCTION
1.1 Purpose and Intent
This Specific Plan Amendment document is prepared to guide development of the site by setting forth a
development plan, phasing plan, infrastructure plans, development standards, recreation plan, and design
guidelines for architecture, landscaping, and other design elements for the Travertine project. This is an
amendment to the original specific plan and reduces project area from original. In addition, the grading
design of the site is planned to provide aesthetically enhanced views of the community both from within
the project and from off-site locations. Project design elements are intended to create visual harmony with
the surrounding natural environment.
1.2 Authority and Requirements
The Amendment creates a master-planned Resort/Spa community with a balanced mix of land uses and a
quality environment through comprehensive planning regulations, standards, and design guidelines.
The purpose of this document is to provide a foundation for a variety of land uses on the Travertine
property through the application of regulations, standards, and design guidelines. This Specific Plan
Amendment, when adopted by Resolution, serves both planning and regulatory functions, and establishes
infrastructure service needs. The Specific Plan will serve for implementing the General Plan.
California Government Code Section 65450 et seq. grants local planning agencies the authority to prepare
specific plans for any area covered by a General Plan for the purpose of establishing systematic methods
of implementation of the General Plan. A specific plan is designed to address site specific issues such as
existing onsite conditions relative to topography and existing environmental concerns, site design and
layout, including setbacks and visual appearance, as well as circulation, utility provisions and infrastructure
financing alternatives.
The California Government Code establishes the authority and procedures to adopt a specific plan;
identifies the required contents of a specific plan; mandates consistency with the General Plan; and also
mandates consistency of any future projects or zoning ordinance amendments with a specific plan. Section
9.240.010 of the City of La Quinta Zoning Code states the purpose and intent of specific plans. The City’s
Municipal Code will act as a supplement for those areas and issues not covered by this Specific Plan’s
regulations for administration review procedures, environmental review, and others.
Section 65451 of the Government Code mandates what a specific plan shall contain including a text and
diagram or diagrams which specify all the following in detail:
• The distribution, location, and text of the uses of land, including open space, within the area
covered by the plan.
• The proposed distribution, location and extent and intensity of major components of public and
private transportation, sewage, water, drainage, solid waste disposal, energy, and other facilities
proposed to be located within the area covered by the plan and needed to support the land uses
describe in the plan.
• Standards and criteria by which development will proceed, and standards for the conservation,
development, and utilization of natural resources, where applicable. DRAFT
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• A program of implementation measures including regulations, programs, and financing measures
necessary to carry out the Travertine project.
• The specific plan shall include a statement of its relationship to the General Plan.
The local authority and procedures for the review and adoption of the Specific Plan are described in Chapter
9.240 of the Municipal Code. The Specific Plan shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of
Article 8, Specific Plans, and Section 65450 et seq. of the California Government Code.
The Specific Plan, and the F inal EIR shall be used in the review of all project proposals in the Specific
Plan area. Said mitigation measures shall be referenced in the Conditions of Approval for subsequent
entitlements and are included in this Specific Plan as appendices.
1.3 Specific Plan Amendment Components
This Specific Plan is organized into the following sections in addition to Section 1, Introduction.
Section 2. Land Use Plan: The Land Use Plan Section describes residential planning areas, proposed
housing types, open space areas, and the parks and trails planned within the community.
Section 3. Design Guidelines: This section is intended to direct the site planning, landscaping, and
architectural quality of the development. Streetscapes, entries, edge treatments, walls and fencing,
lighting, signage, and architectural design are some of the features addressed in the Design Guidelines
Section 4. Infrastructure: This section provides information on circulation improvements, planned
backbone water, sewer, and storm drain systems, the grading concept for the development of the project,
and public utilities serving Travertine.
Section 5. Implementation Measures & Administration: The governing policies and procedures for the
review and approval by the City of specific development proposals within the Specific Plan area are
described in this section. This section provides the methods and procedures for interpreting and amending
the Specific Plan, a summary of project financing, and the planned maintenance responsibilities for new
development within the Specific Plan area.
1.4 Project Description
The Travertine development is a master planned residential community with a Resort/Spa located in the
City of La Quinta on the southern edge of the Coachella Valley at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The project is generally bounded by the extension of Avenue 60 on the north; the extension of Avenue 64
to the south; CVWD Dike No. 4 on the east; and Jefferson Street on the west. The proposed project
includes development of a mix of uses including up to 1,200 dwelling units of varying residential product
types, a resort facility with up to 100 rooms or villas, recreational uses such as a golf facility featuring a
clubhouse and a skills golf course (9 holes), a number of neighborhood parks, a public trail system and
recreational open space, and natural open space for conservation.
1.4.1 Project Setting and Surrounding Land Uses
The property is located in the City of La Quinta on the southern edge of the Coachella Valley at the base
of the Santa Rosa Mountains. The project is generally bounded by the extension of Avenue 60 on the DRAFT
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north; the extension of Avenue 64 to the south; CVWD Dike No. 4 on the east; and Jefferson Street on
the west. (Exhibit 1.1 ,1.2, and 1.3) The project site consists of the following Assessor Parcel Numbers:
766-110-002, -003, -004, -005,-007, and -009; 766-120-001, -002, -003, -006, -015, -016, -018, and -021,
753-040-014, 016, and -017, 753-050-007, -013, and -029; and 753-060-003.
1.4.1.1 North
• Coral Mountain and Coral Mountain Park immediately north of the project site
• Lake Cahuilla County Park and Lake Cahuilla approximately 1-mile north
• Golf course communities including Andalusia and PGA West approximately 1 mile north of
the site
1.4.1.2 South
• BLM (Martinez Slide) – Open Space/Wilderness Area and CVMSHCP Santa Rosa and San
Jacinto Mountains Conservation Area
1.4.1.3 East
• Vacant Land owned by
o Bureau of Reclamation (BOR)
o Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)
o Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Private vacant lands are directly adjacent to the eastern boundary of the site
• The Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta is approximately 2,500 feet northeast of the intersection of
Madison and Avenue 62
1.4.1.4 West
• Vacant, private lands
• BLM - Open Space/Wilderness and CVMSHCP Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
Conservation Area
• BLM and BOR (Guadalupe Channel), managed and maintained by CVWD
The site lies on an alluvial fan made up of material deposited by drainages emanating from the Santa Rosa
Mountains. To convey alluvial fan flow conditions, a perimeter flood protection barrier will be used along
the western and southern boundaries. These flood protection barriers solve four problems: they will
intercept alluvial fan flows, incised canyon flows, and will control associated debris load; and they will
allow planned conveyance features around the project.
As depicted in Exhibit 1.4, the Travertine property is comprised of broad, gently sloping terrain that is
typical of the western portions of the Coachella Valley. These gentle slopes originate in the Santa Rosa
Mountains which border the Coachella Valley and the project site on the west side. The steeper areas,
those with slopes greater than 20% as delineated on Exhibit 1.4 and Table 1, are confined to limited
fractions of the project site, and are generally located in the southern portions of the property.
The vegetation which presently occupies the project site can be characterized as a sparse desert biotic
community. The native plant life found on upland portions of the site is comprised primarily of Creosote
Bush, White Bursage, and Mesquite. The natural arroyo drainages support a Dry Wash Woodland DRAFT
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community, which includes scattered Palo Verde, Smoketree, and Cat-Claw Acacia, which comprises
most of the site, while several types of cactus are scattered across the alluvial fan. A cultivated vineyard
once occupied most of the northern portion of the project site, but has been abandoned since 2007. None
of the flora is considered significant.
Archaeology and paleontology were evaluated during the initial CEQA process and subsequent certified
final EIR and again during the EA process in 2006. As a result, the site was designed and planned to avoid
those areas that were found to have cultural and paleontological sensitivity. Several mitigation measures
were adopted that will be applied during the construction phase of the project to monitor for any buried
deposits. Further technical studies are being prepared for the EIR in conjunction with this Specific Plan.
1.5 Overall Plan Objectives
The Specific Plan is prepared to serve as an overall framework to conscientiously guide development of
this significant landmark project. To ensure the functional integrity, economic viability, environmental
sensitivity, and positive aesthetic impact of the project, planning and development goals were established
and supported through an extensive analysis. The analysis includes an examination of project
environmental constraints, engineering feasibility, market acceptance, economic viability, City General
Plan goals, development phasing, and local community goals.
The Specific Plan serves as a regulatory document for development of the 876-acre site into a high-quality,
master planned residential community containing a Resort/Spa, varied residential uses, golf and various
open space and recreational uses. This document will provide guidance to the City of La Quinta, builders,
developers, architects, and designers in implementing an exciting new collection of neighborhoods that
will quickly become some of La Quinta’s most sought-after residential areas.
The physical design for Travertine is based on the fundamental principles of good community form, a
logical pattern of organization of the site, and the sites’ natural form; all elements of the physical design,
including but not limited to, roads, pads, slopes and lotting will reflect a pattern of urbanization that
compliments the city of La Quinta. To ensure the successful interpretation and implementation of these
ideas, the community design goals and principles have been distilled down to the following primary
principles for this Specific Plan Amendment:
1. Enhance the existing Boo Hoff trail system by adding a staging area at the northernly point of the
project with parking area and access from the proposed extension of Jefferson.
2. Provide an interpretive trail element that circumnavigates the project and identifies the unique
features both historical and current within the project setting.
3. To focus the activities for the community on walking and hiking as well as providing a major
recreational facility along the eastern edge of the project
4. The primary goal of the Amendment is to reduce the overall intensity of the 1995 approved Specific
Plan.
5. Establish a distinctive community character through place-making elements that embrace and
respect the site’s special physical attributes, as well as authentic architecture that reflects local
heritage.
6. Provide a comprehensive system of parks and recreation facilities and services that meet the active
and passive needs of all residents and visitors.
7. Contribute to the preservation, conservation and management of open space lands and scenic DRAFT
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resources for enhanced recreation, environmental and economic purposes.
8. Provide protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the community from flooding and
hydrological hazards.
Travertine will offer a variety of housing sizes and styles designed to meet the needs of all age groups. This
Specific Plan incorporates carefully crafted neighborhood design principles to ensure that the community
develops with a “sense of place” that promotes security, strong neighborhood ties, and a lifestyle rich in
amenities. The community’s design draws on inspiration from the surrounding topography and
opportunities for views, neighborhood-building design strategies and sustainability principles.
Travertine will offer a range of amenities that will be accessible to neighborhood homeowners and the
public. These recreational amenities include a 2-mile-long public trail that will be developed around the
perimeter of the project site to connect to the Boo Hoff trail to the northwest; a central private spine trail
that bisects the residential areas of the property; on-street biking trails; preservation of natural open space;
and additional private parks located within the development areas. A skills golf course and driving range
with club facilities such as banquet facilities and wellness facility, will be open to residents, citizens of La
Quinta and tourists . A resort and spa with restaurants, shops and activities will attract both residents and
visitors to the community.
1.6 Environmental Conditions
The site lies on an alluvial fan made up of material deposited by drainages emanating from the Santa Rosa
Mountains. The Travertine property is comprised of broad, gently sloping terrain that is typical of the
western portions of the Coachella Valley. The vegetation which presently occupies the project site can be
characterized as a sparse desert biotic community. The native plant life found on upland portions of the
site is comprised primarily of Creosote Bush, White Bursage, and Mesquite. A cultivated vineyard once
occupied most of the northern portion of the project site, but has been abandoned since 2007. None of the
flora is considered significant. Archaeology and paleontology were evaluated during the initial CEQA
process and subsequent certified final EIR, SCH 1994112047, and again during the EA process in 2006.
As a result, the site was designed and planned to avoid those areas that were found to have cultural and
paleontological sensitivity. Several mitigation measures were adopted that will be applied during the
construction phase of the project to monitor for any buried deposits. Further technical studies are being
prepared for the EIR in conjunction with this Specific Plan.
1.7 Existing Infrastructure
Infrastructure on the project site is very limited as the site has not been previously developed, and only
the former vineyard area was provided with water from three privately owned on-site wells. In addition
to the Master Planned Roadway system, the project also includes a master plan for infrastructure including
drainage features, underground utilities, and water tanks. Section 5 contains detailed descriptions of
infrastructure.
Water System
The Travertine project domestic water will be served by Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), it will
be incumbent on the applicant to go through an assessment process with CVWD to determine the number
of offsite wells that will be required for the project based on a water supply assessment. The offsite wells
will be entitled by the applicant. The site contains three existing privately-owned wells used when the
vineyard was active. DRAFT
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Wastewater System
The closest Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) sewer connection currently exists at Monroe Street
and Avenue 62. CVWD’s preliminary analysis, Travertine Development Preliminary Hydraulic
Modeling Results, Project No. ST0143, showed that the size and capacity of the existing and proposed
sewer lines is adequate to accommodate the estimated project flows. Ultimately flows will discharge into
CVWD’s Water Reclamation Plant No. 4 in Thermal. Currently, the project is processing the 2nd round of
review by CVWD for a hydraulic model.
Electricity
The site is currently served with electrical power from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). Power from
this source was used when the vineyard was last active (2007) to pump irrigation water from three existing
privately-owned wells.
IID has indicated that the proposed project will require the development of a new electrical substation and
provide rights-of-way and easements for any electrical infrastructure needed to serve the project. The future
IID substation will be located off-site and within a 2.5-mile radius of the project area and transport 13 kv
transmission lines to the site to the site.
To demonstrate consistency with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, the installation of energy efficient
green roofs and solar panels on buildings within the community will be promoted. See the design guidelines
for green roofs in Section 3.
Natural Gas
Natural gas will be provided to the site by Southern California Gas Company through the extension of
natural gas infrastructure via Avenue 62 over Dike #4. Currently there is no natural gas provided on site.
1.8 Project History
The project site is located on an alluvial fan emanating from the Santa Rosa Mountains in the southeast
portion of the City of La Quinta. The only known land use of the site can be seen in an area near the center
of the site, see Exhibit 1.3; this area was used as a vineyard that included, grape vines, irrigation lines,
access roads. The vineyard is no longer active and appears to have ceased operation sometime in 2005-
2006.
In 1988-1989 the project site was part of a proposed land exchange, the Toro Canyon Land Exchange,
between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nature Conservancy, to dispose of public lands
that would be more suitable for development in exchange for private land further to the south that provides
important habitat for Bighorn Sheep. An EA was prepared for the land exchange. The EA concluded that
the private land offered in the exchange would now be protected as federal resources in support of Bighorn
Sheep and critical habitat. Also, as part of the land exchange, the Travertine project site would be available
for development in accordance with the land use planning designations imposed by the City of La Quinta.
The exchange consisted of the following:
• Five sections of land within the Santa Rosa Mountains, four sections owned by Travertine property
owners and one section owned by the Nature Conservancy; together comprising 3,207 acres within
the Santa Rosa Mountain National Scenic Area, offered to the BLM.
• One section of land owned by the BLM comprising approximately 639 acres offered to the
Travertine property owners. DRAFT
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• Upon approval of the Toro Canyon land exchange, the 639 acres were combined with approximately
270 acres of adjacent acres to create the Travertine project site for a total of approximately 909 acres
of developable land.
The County of Riverside included the Travertine project site within its Eastern Coachella Valley
Community Plan (ECVCP). The ECVCP land use designation for the site’s lower elevation - the flatter
portions of the site - was “Planned Residential Reserve”. This designation was intended to allow for large
scale, self-contained Resort/Spa communities. The steeper portions of the site were designated as
“Mountainous Areas” in the ECVCP where limited land uses permitted in areas covered by this designation
included Open Space, limited recreational uses, limited single family residential, landfills and resource
development.
Once the Toro Canyon land exchange was approved, the City of La Quinta began annexation proceedings
with the county if Riverside for the Travertine project site. The annexation was completed in 1993 with
the project site designated as Low Density Residential (LDR, 2 to 4 du/ac) and Open Space (1 du/ac) land
uses.
In June 1995, the Travertine and Green Specific Plan was approved and an EIR was certified by the La
Quinta City Council by adoption of Resolution 95-39, subject to conditions of approval and a Mitigation
Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). Along with the Specific Plan, the corresponding General
Plan Amendment and Change of Zone were also approved. The Specific Plan identified a number of land
uses including:
• Very Low Density Residential
• Medium Residential
• Medium High Residential
• Neighborhood Commercial
• Tourist Commercial
• Golf Course Open Space
In June 1999, the La Quinta Planning Commission re-approved the Specific Plan for the Travertine project
site to allow for an indefinite extension of time by adoption of Resolution 99-061.
In June 2004, a request was submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to initiate a Section
7 consultation regarding the impacts to the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and its designated critical habitat.
A Biological Opinion (BO) was completed by the USFWS in December 2005 that evaluated the biological
resources on the project site in a Biological Assessments (BA). The Travertine property owners had
acquired several areas off-site to preserve open space habitat for the Bighorn Sheep and had proposed
several mitigation measures in the time between the initial Specific Plan approval (1995) and the start of
the Section 7 consultations (2005). The BO concluded that the mitigation measures proposed by
Travertine, including the setbacks from habitat and the types of vegetation allowed near the southern and
western property lines, would be appropriate for the preservation of any critical habitat that existed in the
area and that the development of the site as previously approved, would not interfere with the Bighorn
Sheep or its critical habitat (Exhibit 1.5). To view existing fault zones near the site, see Exhibit 1.6.
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Implementation of the Specific Plan also required the acquisition of additional right-of-way along the major
roadways (Jefferson Street, Madison Street, and Avenue 62) from the Bureau of Land Management and the
Bureau of Reclamation. This resulted in the need for another federal Environmental Assessment (EA No.
CA-600-06-28) to be prepared and circulated. This EA was certified in 2006.
Archaeological/paleontological surveys and a jurisdictional delineation were both completed as part of this
EA process in addition to other special studies to evaluate the impacts of project development. The
consultations with the agencies and related documentation resulted in several recommended mitigation
measures that the project proponent was required to incorporate into the project.
During this time the project proponent also worked closely with the Coachella Valley Association of
Governments (CVAG) to ensure that the proposed land uses were compatible with the Coachella Valley
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP). Development of the project site is considered
a “Covered Activity,” as long as the following measures are retained in the design of the project Fish and
Wildlife ERIV – 2735.3:
• The Specific Plan authorized disturbance must stay outside the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains Conservation Area.
• The remainder of the property within the Specific Plan area and inside the Conservation Area will
be preserved and undisturbed in perpetuity.
• The project proponent committed to providing a no interest loan to the Coachella Valley
Conservation Commission to acquire essential Big Horn Sheep habitat in the project area if needed.
• The project proponent was to provide additional fees for Bighorn Sheep monitoring and research.
In 2007, the project proponent continued to work through the Conditions of Approval and Mitigation
Measures by authorizing the completion of a Cultural Resources Inventory and Evaluation (2006),
including limited subsurface testing on the project site. No prehistoric or historic-era resources were
identified within the project site. As part of this effort, four local Native-American tribes were contacted
for comment regarding their knowledge of cultural resources in the area. The Torres-Martinez Desert
Cahuilla Indians indicated awareness of several cultural resources in close proximity to the project site and
requested a Native-American monitor be present during any ground disturbing activities.
Also, during 2007, a report on the status of the vineyards within the project site was conducted. In addition,
a Supplemental Cultural Resources Survey Report was prepared to evaluate the access road from the
extension of Madison Street and access road from the extension of Jefferson Street. Results for both areas
were negative for prehistoric and historic-era resources. As a result of all three surveys, the Specific Plan
Land Use Plan and other plans (circulation, infrastructure) were designed to avoid areas that were found
to have cultural and paleontological sensitivity. See Exhibit 1.7 for soils on the site.
1.9 Comparison of Approved Specific Plan and Specific Plan Amendment
This Specific Plan reduces the maximum development from 2,300 dwelling units to 1,200 dwelling units,
reduces the size of the golf course from 36 holes to a golf facility featuring a clubhouse and a skills course,
removes the tennis club, modifies land use configurations, and reduces the Resort/Spa hotel from 500 keys
to 100 keys, including a clubhouse restaurant and a banquet facility. The following table, Table 1,
summarizes the differences between the previously approved Specific Plan and this Amendment.
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Table 1: Approved Specific Plan and Proposed Specific Plan Amendment
Previously Approved Specific Plan Proposed Specific Plan Amendment
Bounded by Avenue 60 to the North, Avenue
64and BLM Land to the South, Madison
Street to East and Jefferson Street to the
West
Bounded by Avenue 60 to the North, Avenue 64
and BLM Land to the South, Madison
Street to East and Jefferson Street to the
West
909-acres 876-acres
2,300 Residential Dwelling Units 1,200 Residential Dwelling Units
10-acres of Commercial 100 Room Resort / Wellness Center and Golf
Club with associated Recreation /
Commercial Elements 500 Room Resort / Hotel
36 – Hole Golf Course 9 Hole Skills Golf Course
Tennis Club Tennis Club Removed
Private Recreation in Individual Developments Private Recreation in Individual Developments
378-acres of Open Space (including golf course) 380-acres Open Space / Golf / Recreational &
Restricted
1.10 Relationship to the City General Plan
Specific Plan will modify the Land Use Plan to: Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential,
Resort/Spa Mixed Use, Tourist Commercial, and Open Space.
1.11 General Plan Amendments
As a part of the project, the City will consider the approval of General Plan Amendments changing certain
provisions of the City’s General Plan to provide for the development of Specific Plan. The city adopted
General Plan Amendment will change the General Plan as discussed below:
1.12 Land Use Map
The General Plan Amendment will change the General Plan Land Use Map for the project area to: Low
Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Resort/Spa Mixed Use, Tourist Commercial, and Open
Space.
1.12.1 Circulation Plan
The General Plan Amendment will also change the General Plan Circulation Map of the General Plan as
follows:
• The removal of Jefferson Street as a General Plan roadway south of the hypothetical westerly
extension of Avenue 60.
• The removal of Avenue 62 west of the hypothetical southerly extension of Madison Street.
• The removal of Madison Street as a General Plan Roadway from south of Avenue 60 to Avenue
62.
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1.13 Zoning Code
The City of La Quinta Zoning Code, section 9.240.010 Specific plan review states the following:
The following Required findings shall be made by the City Council prior to approval of any specific plan
or specific plan amendment: Consistency with General Plan. The plan or amendment is consistent with the
goals, objectives, and policies of the general plan.
• Public Welfare. Approval of the plan or amendment will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare.
• Land Use Compatibility. The specific plan is compatible with zoning on adjacent properties.
• Property Suitability. The specific plan is suitable and appropriate for the subject property.
1.14 Relationship to CEQA
An Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared and certified by the City of La Quinta for this
Specific Plan in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, (CEQA) to provide a detailed
analysis of potential environmental impacts associated with the development of the project area. The EIR
includes recommended mitigation measures for the project and addresses alternatives. Mitigation measures
are provided in the Appendix.
1.15 General Plan and Zoning History
The approved Specific Plan (SP 94-026) was originally approved by the City Council on June 6, 1995
subject to conditions of approval. The original Specific Plan included the following land designations: Very
Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Medium High Density Residential, Neighborhood
Commercial, Tourist Commercial and Golf Course Open Space. These designations became the official
zoning designations for the Travertine project site upon approval of the project (Exhibit 1.7 & 1.8).
This Specific Plan will modify the land use plan to include the following General Plan Designations: Low
Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Resort/Spa Mixed Use, Tourist Commercial, and Open
Space. This Specific Plan will modify the Zoning of the development to include the following Zoning
Designations: Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Tourist Commercial, Golf Course
and Open Space. A General Plan Amendment (GPA 08-113) and a Zone Change (ZC 08-133) will also be
submitted for approval concurrent with the Specific Plan. Section 1, Exhibit 1.9 & 1.10, shows the
proposed changes to the General Plan Land Use Map and Zoning Map..
1.16 Amendment
This document is an Amendment to the Travertine Specific Plan (hereafter, “Amendment” or “Specific
Plan Amendment”) and serves as the regulatory document for the planned Travertine project located in La
Quinta, California. The Amendment contains the detailed development standards and design guidelines
needed to ensure a comprehensively planned project. California law requires that the Amendment be
consistent with the City of La Quinta General Plan. In turn, tentative maps and other implementing plans
must be consistent with the Amendment to obtain City approval. DRAFT