2023 06 13 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2023
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 5:00 p.m.
by Chairperson Currie.
PRESENT: Commissioners Caldwell, Guerrero, Hassett, McCune, Nieto,
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, Associate Planner Siji Fernandez, and Commission
Secretary Tania Flores
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Guerrero 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 Caldwell/Hassett to
confirm the Agenda as published. Motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATION — None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Consent Calendar Item No. 3 — Commission asked if the land proposed to be vacated
could be built on; staff responded the land was dedicated to the City for street
improvements and it cannot be built on, however, it would be taken into account when
required setbacks for the property it is being reverted back to are determined.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Hassett/Guerrero to
approve the Consent Calendar as recommended. Motion passed unanimously.
STUDY SESSION — None.
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONSIDER RESOLUTIONS FOR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2021-0001,
ZONE CHANGE 2021-0001, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0004, (TTM 37950),
AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2021-0002 (PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT)
FOR AN 80 -UNIT SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL PROJECT; CEQA: DESIGN
AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PREPARED A MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION (EA2021-0006) CONSISTENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT; LOCATION: SOUTH OF AVENUE 58
BETWEEN MADISON STREET AND MONROE STREET
DECLARATIONS REGARDING COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACT — Commissioners
Caldwell, Guerrero, Hassett, McCune, Nieto, Tyerman, and Chairperson Currie reported
they attended the project presentation held by the developer on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
Associate Planner Fernandez presented the staff report which is on file in the Design and
Development Department.
Staff answered questions regarding the benefits of the proposed General Plan
Amendment; letters of support received; Tentative Tract Map subdividing two current lots
into 80 individual lots; side yard setbacks and equipment location; front yard setbacks
and driveway access to units; building height of units located along Avenue 58 and near
the retention basin; Zone Change implications for the proposed project or other possible
future projects; available parking and parking standards; other Planned Unit
Developments (PUD) with cluster style tract plans; and power demand and ability for
Imperial Irrigation District to service this area.
CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 5:32 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Applicant, Kris Pinero, Project Manager for Rodeo Credit
Enterprises, LLC, introduced herself and project team members, and provided responses
to Commission questions regarding line of sight impacts, setbacks, building heights, and
retention basin; public outreach, comments received, and public concerns addressed;
typical cluster plans and driveway access to units; garage depth and garage dimension
standards; perimeter and unit walls/fences, front and rear yard landscaping, and space
for pools on individual lots; homeowner and guest parking spaces, curb inlets, parking
enforcement, and public transportation in the area; and electric vehicle (EV) charging
stations for each unit or guest parking.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Jeff Addison of Kevin L. Crook Architects, Inc., Architect on the
project, answered questions regarding garage dimensions and utility/mechanical
equipment placement and encroachment within garage space.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Joe Hammer, La Quinta — stated that he is the owner of property that
is in close proximity and adjacent to the proposed project site and expressed general
support for the project due to the need for housing and development in this area; voiced
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 2 of 4 JUNE 13, 2023
understanding of the Commission's concerns regarding parking, impact of views, and
density, and added that any new project would have similar qualities and concerns, but
that he supported the project as presented; and provided additional information regarding
other properties in close proximity to the project site.
CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 5:56 P.M.
Commission expressed a general consensus in support of the project and commented on
the need for additional housing; concerns regarding density and the proposed zone
change; the unique cluster design and architectural variety of the proposed project;
appreciation for building incorporation with perimeter wall and lower building heights at
the public facing front street; use of a PUD permit relaxing setbacks within the proposed
zoning, crowding at clusters and lack of driveway space or front yard setbacks; and
concerns with lack of parking, driveways, or inlets, and lack of public transportation in the
vicinity of the project site.
Commissioner Guerrero expressed disapproval of the proposed project due to location
and lack of available public transportation and commerce in the area; limited parking on-
site with no street or driveway parking accessibility; and the project's high density for the
site. Commissioner Hassett expressed disapproval of the project due to lack of parking
and curb inlets on-site.
CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING RE -OPENED AT 6:08 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Nazarian Henrik of D&D Engineering, Project Engineer, provided
additional information regarding available parking and parking enforcement; EV charging
stations and availability per unit; front and rear yard setbacks, sidewalks, and
landscaping; and garage size and variance policies for parking larger vehicles.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Joe Hammer, La Quinta — provided additional comments regarding
economic development and approval processes for proposed projects in relation to public
transportation infrastructure; reduced space for backyard pools consistent with water
conservation efforts desired by the community in previous public meetings; and higher
density communities being proposed throughout the area.
CHAIRPERSON CURRIE DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 6:30 P.M.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioner Caldwell/Chairperson
Currie to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-010 as recommended:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR A PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF 80 DWELLING UNITS LOCATED SOUTH OF
AVENUE 58 BETWEEN MADISON STREET AND MONROE STREET
CASE NUMBER: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2021-0006
APPLICANT: ROYAL INVESTORS GROUP LLC
Motion passed unanimously.
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MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioner Nieto/Chairperson
Currie to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2023-011 as amended adding a
Condition of Approval to the Conditional Use Permit changing the minimum front yard
setback be changed from zero (0) feet to three (3) feet to accommodate driveway area
and landscaping prior to Council consideration of the project:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, ZONE CHANGE, TENTATIVE
TRACT MAP, AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A PLANNED UNIT
DEVELOPMENT CONSISTING OF 80 DWELLING UNITS LOCATED SOUTH OF
AVENUE 58 BETWEEN MADISON STREET AND MONROE STREET
CASE NUMBERS: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT 2021-0001, ZONE CHANGE
2021-0001, TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2021-0004, AND CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT 2021-0002
APPLICANT: ROYAL INVESTORS GROUP
Motion passed: ayes — 5, noes — 2 (Guerrero, Hassett), absent — 0, abstain — 0.
STAFF ITEMS
Planning Manager Flores discussed with the Commission the possible cancellations of
regular Planning Commission meetings in the month of August, as has been customary
in recent years, and polled the Commission on availability; Commission provided a
general consensus of availability and advised staff not to preemptively cancel the
meetings in August to allow for possible project consideration. Staff confirmed the
upcoming Joint City Council and Planning Commission Study Session on July 18, 2023,
regarding the Highway 111 Corridor Area.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS — None.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Commissioners
Caldwell/Hassett to adjourn at 6:38 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
CA- --
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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