2022 04 12 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 1 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at
5:00 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 Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and
Chairperson Nieto
ABSENT: Commissioner Caldwell
STAFF PRESENT: Design & Development Director Danny Castro, Public Works
Director/City Engineer Bryan McKinney, Planning Manager Cheri
L. Flores, Senior Planner Carlos Flores, Commission Secretary
Tania Flores, City Attorney Bill Ihrke
CONSULTANTS: Planning Consultant Nicole Criste with Terra Nova Planning &
Research, Inc.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner McCune led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON THE AGENDA – None.
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Currie/Proctor to
confirm the Agenda as presented. AYES (6): Commissioners Currie, Hassett,
McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and Chairperson Nieto. NOES (0): None. ABSENT (1):
Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN (0): None. Motion passed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION – None.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 2 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 8, 2022
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Chairperson Nieto/Commissioner
Proctor to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. AYES (6): Commissioners
Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and Chairperson Nieto. NOES (0):
None. ABSENT (1): Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN (0): None. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION – None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONTINUED FROM MARCH 22, 2022: ADOPT RESOLUTIONS TO
RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CERTIFY ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT 2019-0010, AND APPROVE SPECIFIC PLAN 2019-0003
(AMENDMENT V TO ANDALUSIA SPECIFIC PLAN), GENERAL PLAN
AMENDMENT 2019-0002, ZONE CHANGE 2019-0004, SPECIFIC PLAN
2020-0002, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2019-0005, DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT 2021-0002 AND SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2021-
0001; CEQA: CORAL MOUNTAIN RESORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT (SCH #2021020310); LOCATION: SOUTH OF AVENUE 58,
NORTH OF AVENUE 60 AND EAST AND WEST OF MADISON STREET
CHAIRPERSON NIETO NOTED THE PUBLIC HEARING REMAINED OPEN FROM THE
MARCH 22, 2022, MEETING
Consulting Planner Criste presented the staff report which is on file in the Design
and Development Department.
Staff answered questions from the Commission regarding the financial analysis of
prospective transient occupancy tax revenues and hotel versus short-term vacation
rental (STVR) revenues; public access, timeline, and ownership information for the
Desert Recreation District’s (DRD) Coral Mountain Park and associated trails;
visibility of wave basin lighting from surrounding communities; contractual
language to allow enforcement of penalties or forfeitures against the developer in
the event the project fails to meet phasing deadlines; contractual language for
alternative uses of the wave basin in the event of wave component failure; process
of Development Agreement negotiations, standard term length, and performance
schedule timeline and phasing; special event permits within the Development
Agreement; possibility and effects of reducing the light pole heights; and special
use permit procedures for processing and approval of each event.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 3 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: Project Applicant John Gamlin, President, CM Wave
Development, introduced himself and provided a brief presentation on the project’s
alignment and collaboration with DRD to provide the open space area park and
multi-use trails, ownership of land for park location, and other agencies involved
in that area of the project; development business plan, funding, and alternative
uses for the wave basin in the event of failure; timeline of build-out and phasing
of the project; and provided addition information regarding STVR management,
compliance, and additional revenue projections.
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: James Vaughn, Esq., CEQA and land use counsel for
the project introduced himself and provided additional information on light testing,
visibility, and light pole height; impacts of STVRs including complaints in exempt
versus nonexempt areas, revenues, and prospective future decline in permits due
to ban on new permits.
The PUBLIC SPEAKERS listed below in the order in which they spoke, provided
comments, in-person and via teleconference (Zoom), as follows:
• La Quinta Residents for Responsible Development – opposed to the project:
o Lynda Lyman, La Quinta (in-person) – noise and light pollution,
negative environmental impacts, use of natural resources, greenhouse
gas emissions
o Lori Kilburn, La Quinta (in-person) – increased traffic, light and noise
pollution
o Don Huber, La Quinta (in-person) – water usage, current and future
drought conditions
o Robert Lasser, La Quinta (in-person) – inconsistency with surrounding
communities, water usage, STVRs, increased traffic, light and noise
pollution, current and future drought conditions
o Rick Roth, La Quinta (in-person) – unmitigated negative environmental
impacts, high failure risk
o Mike Roizen, La Quinta (in-person) – increased particulates causing
negative health effects
o Judy Hovjacky, La Quinta (in-person) – noise pollution
o Sheila Warren, La Quinta (in-person) – noise pollution
o B. Scott Brown, La Quinta (in-person) – noise pollution
o Alena Callimanis, La Quinta (in-person) – STVRs, inconsistency with
surrounding communities, inconsistency with the General Plan
• Tracy Bartlett, La Quinta (in-person) – opposed the project due to current
and future drought conditions and water usage
• Kathy Weiss, La Quinta (in-person) – opposed the project due to negative
environmental impacts, phasing and timeline of revenue generating
components, risk of wave basin failure, STVRs, light and noise pollution,
increased traffic, and neighborhood incompatibility
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 4 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
• Richard Gray, La Quinta (in-person) – opposed the project due to
inconsistency with surrounding communities, water usage, and noise
pollution
• Karen Thomas, La Quinta (in-person) – opposed the project due to
inconsistency with surrounding communities, light pollution, risk of failure,
and hotel industry staffing shortage
• Penny Boehm, La Quinta (in-person) – supports the project based on the EIR
analysis, economic impacts, and city and development growth
• Steve Cherry, La Quinta (in-person) – recommended the Commission
disallow repetitive comments on light and noise pollution, water usage,
hiking trails, STVRs
• Connie Varelli, La Quinta (in-person) – support the project based on
economic and development growth
• Omar Cobian, Southwest Carpenters (via Zoom) - encouraged the
Commission to add a Condition of Approval requiring the developers use local
skilled laborers for the project
• Bettina Rosmarino, Palm Springs (via Zoom) – spoke on behalf of Oswit Land
Trust and Palm Springs Wildlife Advocates – opposed the project due to
negative impact to wildlife, water usage, and current and future drought
conditions
• Richard Dale, La Quinta (via Zoom) – opposed the project due to noise and
air pollution, increased crime, negative environmental impacts, increased
traffic, and risk of project failure
Mr. Gamlin provided responses to public comments regarding the Mitigated
Negative Declaration, environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and
energy sustainability measures; new technological advances to the wave basin and
wave making equipment; and STVRs and compatibility with land use.
Environmental Planning Consultant Tony Locacciato of Meridian Consultants
provided additional information regarding the noise studies. Mr. Vaughn provided
additional information regarding water use, current and future drought conditions,
CVWD water plan, Water Supply Assessment (WSA) calculations, cumulative
impacts, and general plan changes and consistency. Mr. Locacciato answered
Commission questions regarding noise studies, calculations of noise levels, and
sound reverberation.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Tyerman
to continue this Public Hearing to a date certain of April 26, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.,
due to Commissioner Caldwell’s absence. AYES (6): Commissioners Currie,
Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and Chairperson Nieto. NOES (0): None.
ABSENT (1): Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN (0): None. Motion passed.
CHAIR NIETO CALLED FOR A BRIEF RECESS AT 7:55 P.M.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 5 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
CHAIR NIETO RECONVENED THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING AT 8:15
P.M. WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT, EXCEPT COMMISSIONER CALDWELL
2. ADOPT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
2021-0008 AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0005 FOR 50
RESIDENTIAL LOTS ON 26.12 ACRES; CEQA: DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS DETERMINED THE PROJECT IS
CONSISTENT WITH EA 2003-483; LOCATION: NORTH OF AVENUE 60,
EAST OF MADISON STREET, AND WEST OF MONROE STREET
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 questions from the Commission regarding the status of individual
parcels and vacant land within the tentative tract map; and ADU definition,
requirements, and rental availability.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 8:30 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN-PERSON: Applicant Nolan Sparks introduced himself and
answered questions regarding perimeter landscaping, commercial parcel and
vacant lots within the project area, ADU desirability, plan types and square footage
of homes and villas within the project, and build-out timeline.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 8:38 P.M.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Currie to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2022-008 to approve Site Development
Permit 2021-0008 and Tentative Tract Map 2021-0005 (TTM 38188) subject to the
Findings and Conditions of Approval and find the project consistent with previously
adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment 2003-483:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND
TENTATIVE TRACT MAP FOR FIFTY RESIDENTIAL LOTS WITHIN THE
ANDALUSIA DEVELOPMENT, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CONSISTENT
WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2003-483
CASE NUMBERS: SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2021-0008; TENTATIVE
TRACT MAP 2021-0005 (TTM 38188)
APPLICANT: SUNRISE LQ, LLC
AYES (6): Commissioners Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and
Chairperson Nieto. NOES (0): None. ABSENT (1): Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN
(0): None. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 6 of 6 APRIL 12, 2022
STAFF ITEMS – None.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS – None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Commissioners Proctor/Currie to adjourn at 8:42 p.m. AYES (6): Commissioners
Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman, and Chairperson Nieto. NOES (0):
None. ABSENT (1): Commissioner Caldwell. ABSTAIN (0): None. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California