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2022 07 26 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson Currie. PRESENT: Commissioners Caldwell (via teleconference), Hassett, McCune, Nieto, Proctor, Tyerman, and Chairperson Currie ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Design & 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, and City Attorney Bill Ihrke CONSULTANTS: Planning Consultant Nicole Criste, CEO with Terra Nova Planning & Research, Inc. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Hassett 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 Hassett/Proctor to confirm the agenda as presented. Motion passed unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION - None. CONSENT CALENDAR - None. BUSINESS SESSION - None. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 1 of 6 JULY 26, 2022 STUDY SESSION - None. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT REVISIONS TO THE HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE (GPA 2020-0001) TO ADDRESS FINAL REQUESTS FROM THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT; CEQA: THE HOUSING ELEMENT WAS PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED UNDER EA2021-0010; LOCATION: CITY- WIDE DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACT - None. Consulting Planner Criste presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and Development Department. Staff answered Commission questions regarding the history of compliance with the State regulated Housing Element and Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) requirements; areas to focus affordable housing projects; the Highway 111 Corridor revisioning project and prospective housing sites along the corridor; sweat -equity projects within the City; barriers to providing affordable housing units including financing and processing projects; and the City's ability to achieve increased housing allocation in the future due to capacity. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 5:16 P.M. PUBLIC SPEAKERS: None. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 5:16 P.M. MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Nieto to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2022-018 recommending that the City Council adopt revisions to the Housing Element (GPA2020-0001) to address final requests from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and find that these amendments have been previously analyzed under EA2021-0010: A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF REVISIONS OF THE 2022-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE CASE NUMBER: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2020-0001 APPLICANT: CITY OF LA QUINTA Motion passed unanimously. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 2 of 6 JULY 26, 2022 2. ADOPT RESOLUTIONS TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2019-0003 AND APPROVE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2019-0001 (AMENDMENT TO CUP 2006-097), SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2019-0004, AND MINOR ADJUSTMENT 2022-0006 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A 27,334 SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION FOR NEW BUILDINGS AT ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH; CEQA: DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS PREPARED A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION; LOCATION: 47225 WASHINGTON 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 Commission questions regarding traffic/parking impacts and analysis; ownership and status of projects on surrounding properties; terms within the proposed Conditional Use Permit (CUP) including the concurrent use restrictions placed on the new buildings; consequences of violations of the CUP restrictions and possible remedy should the owner desire to amend the restrictions; loading/unloading zones for ballroom/conference rooms; grading and landscaping along sloped edge of the property near the new parking lot; accessibility for fire and safety vehicles/personnel; and retention basin drainage plans with increased buildout. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 6:04 P.M. PUBLIC SPEAKERS: Applicant representatives Christos Hardt of Miller Architects and Building and Real Estate Manager David Meier for Catholic Diocese of San Bernardino, answered Commission questions regarding history of attendance and overflow during holiday and religious observances; computer rendering accuracy in relation to vision for actual construction plans; timeline and phasing of the project in relation to funding/financing for the project; public and surrounding property owner outreach; traffic, parking, loading and unloading areas during special events and ballroom/conference room usage; landscaping and erosion concerns near parking lot/property edge. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 6:14 P.M. Commission discussion and comments followed including compliments on the project design and architecture; continued concerns for landscaping at property edge and transition to natural landscape in those areas; CUP PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 3 of 6 JULY 26, 2022 restrictions, concurrent use and environmental impacts; and special events permitting and processing. MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Hassett to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2022-019 to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration for EA2019-0003. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH PARISH HALL EXPANSION LOCATED AT 47225 WASHINGTON STREET CASE NUMBER: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2019-0003 APPLICANT: FREDERICK SAUNDERS Motion passed unanimously. MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Nieto to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2022-020 to approve CUP2019- 0001 (Amendment to CUP2006-097), SDP2019-0004, and MA2022-0006 for construction of a 27,334 square foot expansion at St. Francis of Assisi Church. A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AMENDMENT, SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND MINOR ADJUSTMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 27,334 SQUARE FOOT EXPANSION FOR NEW BUILDINGS AT EXISTING ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH AT 47225 WASHINGTON STREET CASE NUMBERS: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2019-0001; SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2019-0004; MINOR ADJUSTMENT 2022-0006 APPLICANT: FREDERICK SAUNDERS Motion passed unanimously. 3. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2022-0005 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY MONOPOLE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY WITHIN THE LA QUINTA RESORT PROPERTY; CEQA: THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15303, NEW CONSTRUCTION OR CONVERSION OF SMALL STRUCTURES; LOCATION: 49499 EISENHOWER DRIVE DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACT - None. Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and Development Department. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 4 of 6 JULY 26, 2022 Staff answered Commission questions regarding the recommendation by staff and the reasons for expedited processing with limited information available; wind loading analysis; and possible alternative locations. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 6:43 P.M. PUBLIC SPEAKER: Applicant Damien Pichardo of Coastal Business Group answered Commission questions regarding the history of the project and explained the need for a temporary monopole at this location; provided additional architecture and design details of the monopole as well as location and accessibility; reasons for the expedited timeline of the project; possibility of network and cellular service loss if the project is not approved; additional camouflage of the monopole if approved; construction time frame for the project including setting the temporary monopole, construction of the permanent facility, and demolition of temporary setting; status of permanent site leasing negotiations. Staff answered additional questions regarding the inclusion of consequences and liabilities to the applicant and recourse the City has if the permanent telecommunications facility is not completed at the expiration of the temporary facility permit; and status and expiration date of the current telecommunication facility's CUP. PUBLIC SPEAKER: Jan Farrell, La Quinta - questioned/recommended installation of a story pole at the site to show residents what the temporary monopole would look like should the project be approved. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:20 P.M. Commission discussion and comments followed regarding the need for this project and continued cellular network coverage in this area; the negative aesthetics of the project; possible alternative locations; and the possibility of adding conditions of approval requiring applicant to provide status updates every two weeks. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING RE -OPEN AT 7:26 P.M. PUBLIC SPEAKER: Dermot Connelly, General Manager, La Quinta Resort and Club - answered Commission questions regarding current telecommunications facility and site location; reasons the lease was not extended and the need to move the facility to an alternate location; status contract negotiations with both current lease and applicant; and permanent site suitability. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 5 of 6 JULY 26, 2022 Mr. Pichardo answered additional questions regarding current and future lease negotiations. PUBLIC SPEAKER: Ken Farrell, La Quinta - spoke in opposition of the project as presented; and in favor of instructing the applicant to renegotiate a lease extension. CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 7:44 P.M. MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Tyerman to deny Conditional Use Permit 2022-0005 for the construction of a temporary wireless communication facility within the La Quinta Resort property. Motion passed unanimously. STAFF ITEMS 1. WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS INVENTORY UPDATE Associate Planner Fernandez presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and Development Department. Staff answered questions regarding stealthing and camouflaging of monopalm telecommunication facilities. COMMISSIONER ITEMS - None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Proctor/Hassett to adjourn at 7:54 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary City of La Quinta, California PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 6 of 6 JULY 26, 2022