2025 02 25 PC Minutes
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 1 of 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2025
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission (Commission) was called to
order at 5:00 p.m. by Chairperson Hassett.
PRESENT: Commissioners Guerrero, Hernandez, Hundt, McCune, Nieto,
Tyerman, and Chairperson Hassett
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Danny Castro, Public Works
Director Bryan McKinney, Planning Manager Cheri Flores, Associate
Planner Siji Fernandez, Assistant Planner Jack Lima, Deputy City
Attorney Jessica Sanders, and Commission Secretary Tania Flores
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Hundt 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 Guerrero/Tyerman to
confirm the agenda as published. Motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS – None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES DATED NOVEMBER 12, 2024
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Nieto/Hernandez to
approve the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION – None.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 2 of 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2025
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT (CUP) 2024-0003 AND SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2024-0004 FOR
EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING MARKET AND EXISTING FUEL STATION; CEQA:
THIS PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO
SECTION 15301 (CLASS 1) EXISTING FACILITIES AND SECTION 15332 (CLASS
32) IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LOCATION; 77985 AVENIDA
MONTEZUMA
DECLARATIONS OF COMMISSION PUBLIC CONTACT OR CONFLICTS: Chairperson
Hassett said that he met and spoke to the applicant at an unrelated event in which the
project was mentioned but that there was no conflict on his part.
Associate Planner Fernandez presented the staff report, which is on file in the Design
and Development Department.
The Commission discussed the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Screening Analysis;
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) thresholds defining “minor” expansion
exemptions; terms of the current lease between the United States Post Office (Post
Office) and Tower Energy Group for the existing building on the south parcel of the
proposed project; number and location of additional parking spaces proposed and
required with the proposed expansion; public comment received regarding the project;
proposed landscape improvements; fuel storage tank replacement and monitoring; and
fuel pump relocation and proposed orientation of fuel pumps.
CHAIRPERSON HASSETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 5:18 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Mark Vasey, Vice President with Tower Energy Group – introduced
himself and answered questions regarding the current lease and communications had
with the Post Office; fuel tank replacement, size of new tanks, updated monitoring
processes, and disposal of contaminated soils; number of electric vehicle charging
stations included in the project; fuel truck servicing and operations; availability of diesel
fuel and grades of gasoline; plans for increasing hours of operation or adding carwash
facilities within Tower Markets; expected increase in customers; details of floor plan and
parking expansion; sound and light mitigation measures; and details regarding the
perimeter wall at southern property border.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Nick Fullerton, Founder and Principal with Fullerton Architects –
provided the location of public air and water filling stations.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Rich Clark, Civil Engineer with RTM Engineering Consultants –
provided information regarding changes to the grading and sloping of the south parcel;
and realignment plan and communications with Imperial Irrigation District for power to the
project.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 3 of 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2025
Commission Secretary Flores said that the City received no public comment on this item
and no requests to speak.
CHAIRPERSON HASSETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 5:35 P.M.
Commission discussion followed regarding the lack of public comment received due to
the loss of the Post Office and expansion of fueling stations: appropriateness of location;
demand for this expansion; hours of operations as defined in the CUP; the loss of a local
Post Office location and public outreach and notifications to the community; additional
VMT due to Post Office closure not included in the VMT analysis; consistency with the
Village atmosphere; noise and visual impact and mitigation at the southern property line;
and additional architectural design and embellishments needed in the proposed building
addition.
Deputy City Attorney Sanders provided information on federal guidelines and noticing
requirements for Post Office closures; public noticing requirements for the demotion of
existing buildings; the ability of the Commission to continue the item and request
additional noticing prior to consideration.
CHAIRPERSON HASSETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING RE-OPENED AT 6:02 P.M.
Mr. Vasey expressed willingness to make architectural changes discussed by
Commission, including additional height and noise mitigation at the south perimeter wall
and design features and embellishment of the building addition.
Mr. Fullerton identified proposed seating inside the market available to customers and
stated there would be no outside seating.
The Commission reached a consensus to include additional Conditions of Approval in the
proposed resolution to ensure additional design elements and embellishments were
added to the east, south, and west elevations and additional noise mitigations at the south
perimeter are constructed including additional masonry wall height and landscaping.
MOTION – A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners McCune/Tyerman to
adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-001 approving Conditional Use Permit
2024-0003 and Site Development Permit 2024-0004 as amended to include additional
Conditions of Approval, as noted in the discussion above and listed below:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT FOR THE EXPANSION OF AN EXISTING
MARKET AND EXISTING FUEL STATION LOCATED ON THE SOUTHWEST
CORNER OF AVENIDA MONTEZUMA AND AVENIDA BERMUDAS AND
FIND THAT THE PROJECT IS EXEMPT FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15301 EXISTING FACILITIES AND SECTION
15332 IN-FILL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 4 of 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2025
CASE NUMBERS: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2024-0003; SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2024-0004
PROJECT: TOWER MARKET EXPANSION
APPLICANT: JOHN MCFARLAND; RTM ENGINEERING
As amended to include the following additional Conditions of Approval under “PLANNING
COMMISSION” as items Nos. 84 and 85:
84. The applicant shall add precast concrete to door recessed area on the east
elevation and raise the wainscoting on the east, south, and west to match the
north elevation to the satisfaction of the Planning Manager.
85. The applicant shall construct a masonry wall up to 6 feet on the Tower Market
side with landscaping along the south wall for sound attenuation and screening.
Motion passed unanimously.
STUDY SESSION – None.
STAFF ITEMS
1. GENERAL PROJECT UPDATE
Planning Manager Flores provided information on: (1) upcoming projects, including La
Quinta Dental Campus, Highway 111/Adams Drive Thru, PGA West Infill Lots, Cell Tower
Permit Extensions, and the Club at Coral Mountain Golf Course; (2) recently approved
projects including Bravo Estates, Calle Estado Mixed Use, and McQuaid Studio Mixed
Use project; (3) projects under construction including Chick-fil-A and QuickQuack
Carwash, Daiso, Rancho La Quinta Fitness Center, Oasis Residential Project, and
Jefferson Street Apartments; (4) recently completed projects including Point Happy
residential project and the La Quinta Resort Adult Pool Remodel; (5) status updates of
the Sphere of Influence annexation and the Highway 111 Corridor Specific Plan.
Commission discussion followed regarding the timeline for Highway 111/Adams Drive
Through with the Highway 111 Corridor plan; Robert’s Rules of Order process for the
Commission to make a motion to reconsider an item approved during the same meeting;
additional outreach planned regarding pending Post Office closure; the cost of building
affordable housing units (example: Arroyo Crossings Apartments in Indio); and the date
of the annual Boards and Commissions Joint meeting with Council scheduled for March
20, 2025, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the La Quinta Wellness Center.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Commissioner Tyerman announced his resignation from the Planning Commission as of
March 27, 2025, and expressed his appreciation to the Commission and staff.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 5 of 5 FEBRUARY 25, 2025
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Chairperson
Hasset/Commissioner Guerrero to adjourn this meeting at 6:51 p.m. Motion passed
unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California