2022 06 14 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order
at 5:03 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:
ABSENT:
Commissioners Currie, Hassett, McCune, Proctor, Tyerman,
and Chairperson Nieto
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, and City Attorney Bill Ihrke
CONSULTANTS: Planning Consultant Nicole Criste with Terra Nova Planning
& Research, Inc.
CHAIRPERSON NIETO REQUESTED THAT VICE CHAIRPERSON CURRIE
PRESIDE OVER THIS MEETING DUE TO HIS NEED TO ATTEND VIA
TELECONFERENCE (ZOOM)
City Attorney Ihrke provided rules of procedure regarding assigning a member
of the Commission, other than the Chairperson, to preside over a public
meeting when the Chairperson remains present.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioner
Proctor/Tyerman to appoint Vice Chairperson Currie as the presiding officer
(Chairperson Pro Tem) for the remainder of this meeting, per Chairperson
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Nieto's verbal request due to his attendance via teleconference. Motion
passed: ayes - 6; noes - 0; absent - 1 (Caldwell); abstain - 0.
VICE CHAIRPERSON CURRIE ASSUMED PRESIDING OFFICER
RESPONSIBILITIES AS CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE MEETING
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
Proctor/McCune to confirm the agenda as presented. Motion passed: ayes -
6; noes - 0; absent - 1 (Caldwell); abstain - 0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
- None.
CONSENT CALENDAR - None.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. APPROVE CANCELLING THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
MEETINGS OF AUGUST 9 AND 23, 2022
Commission waived presentation of the staff report.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
McCune/Proctor to approve cancellation of the regular Planning Commission
meetings of August 9 and 23, 2022. Motion passed: ayes - 6; noes - 0; absent
- 1 (Caldwell); abstain - 0.
STUDY SESSION
1. DISCUSS CITYWIDE HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE
COMMISSIONER HASSETT, ATTENDING VIA TELECONFERENCE, LEFT
THE MEETING AT 5:30 P.M. AND REJOINED THE MEETING AT 5:50 P.M.
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Senior Planner Flores presented the staff report which is on file in the Design
and Development Department.
Wendy Tinsley Becker, Principal of Urbana Preservation and Planning, gave a
brief presentation on the Historical Survey Update project including project
goals, code and policy revision recommendations, historic -era
tracts/neighborhoods identified, previously surveyed properties, newly
identified properties, local history references used, and next
steps/deliverables.
Discussion followed regarding properties personally known to the Commission
and the criteria required to identify additional properties as historical
resources; information resources, outreach, and processes used to identify
historical properties and how designation affects the building permitting
process; stakeholders involved in the project and approval process; City
property records and ability for staff to participate or facilitate this project;
and Historical Society involvement and discussions regarding historic
monuments and properties.
PUBLIC HEARING
1. ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RECOMMEND CITY COUNCIL
APPROVAL OF ZONE CHANGE 2022-0001, ADDING THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING OVERLAY (AHO) TO SPECIFIC PARCELS
IDENTIFIED IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT; AND ZONING
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2022-0001, MAKING TEXT
AMENDMENTS NECESSARY FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE
HOUSING ELEMENT. CEQA: REQUEST HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY
ANALYZED AS PART OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
2021-0010. 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 mixed -use projects;
affordable housing financing and funding processes; impacts of historical
properties; and standards and design guidelines for mobile homes.
CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT
6:19 P.M.
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PUBLIC SPEAKER IN -PERSON: Will Friesen, La Quinta - questioned the
applicability of the housing element and how it relates to proposed projects
that include affordable housing aspects.
Staff responded to public comment regarding the housing element and the
applicability and impacts to proposed projects with affordable housing
components.
COMMISSIONER HASSETT LEFT THE MEETING AT 6:22 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER IN -PERSON: Sandy Robbins, La Quinta - expressed
concerns of housing element impacts on proposed projects that include
affordable housing components.
CHAIRPERSON PRO TEM CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
AT 6:26 P.M.
Commission discussion followed regarding the purpose of the zoning changes
to conform to the housing element and City's obligation to conform to state
law.
MOTION - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Proctor/Tyerman to adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2022-016
recommending that the City Council approve Zoning Map amendments adding
the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) to specific parcels identified in the
Housing Element; approve Zoning Ordinance text amendments necessary for
consistency with the Housing Element; and find that these map and text
amendments were previously analyzed as part of Environmental Assessment
2021-0010.
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE ZONE CHANGE 2022-0001 AND ZONING
ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2022-0001 ADDING THE AFFORDABLE
HOUSING OVERLAY (AHO) TO SPECIFIC PARCELS IDENTIFIED IN
THE HOUSING ELEMENT; AND ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS
NECESSARY FOR CONSISTENCY WITH THE HOUSING ELEMENT
Motion passed: ayes - 5; noes - 0; absent - 2 (Caldwell and Hassett); abstain
- 0.
STAFF ITEMS - None.
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COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Commission requested that staff provide updates on projects recently
approved by the Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by
Commissioners Proctor/McCune to adjourn at 6:33 P.M. Motion passed: ayes
- 5; noes - 0; absent - 2 (Caldwell and Hassett); abstain - 0.
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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