HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 10 28 PC MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 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 Bohlinger, Guerrero, Hundt, McCune, Nieto, and
Chairperson Hassett
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STAFF PRESENT: Interim Design and Development Director Cheri Flores, Public Works
Director Bryan McKinney, Assistant Planner Jack Lima, Deputy City
Attorney Jessica Sanders, and Commission Secretary Tania Flores
CONSULTANTS: Nicole Criste, Consulting Planner, with Terra Nova Planning and
Research, Inc.
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 Chairperson Hassett/Commissioner
Guerrero to confirm the agenda as published.
Motion passed: ayes — 6, noes — 0, absent — 1 (Hernandez), abstain — 0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRESENTATIONS, AND WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS — None
CONSENT CALENDAR — None
BUSINESS SESSION — None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE TENTATIVE TRACT MAP
2025-0001 (TTM 39058), SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2025-0001, AND SITE
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2025-0002 TO ALLOW THE SUBDIVISION OF THE 384
ACRE SITE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE, PERIMETER
LANDSCAPE, AND SALES CENTER WITHIN THE CORAL MOUNTAIN CLUB
PROJECT; CEQA: THE APPLICATIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE CORAL
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MOUNTAIN RESORT EIR (EA 2019-0010, SCH #2021020310) AND NO FURTHER
REVIEW IS REQUIRED; PROJECT: CORAL MOUNTAIN CLUB; LOCATION:
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF AVENUE 58 AND MADISON STREET
DECLARATIONS OF COMMISSION CONTACT OR CONFLICTS: None.
Consulting Planner Criste, President and CEO with Terra Nova Planning & Research,
Inc., presented the staff report, which is on file in the Design and Development
Department.
The Commission discussed anticipated locations of back -of -house operations, golf
maintenance facilities, cart barn, and other ancillary buildings, which will be subject to
Commission consideration in the future via a separate site development permit
application; access points addressing golf maintenance and resident traffic; the intent of
the proposed temporary sales center site after sales have concluded; access to
subdivision to the south, off of Calle Conchita; and future architectural and design
entitlements needed for the site.
CHAIRPERSON HASSETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN AT 5:25 P.M.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Garrett Simon, Partner with Meriwether Companies (Project
Developer) — introduced himself and provided a brief presentation on the history and
future of the proposed project and addressed questions regarding density, golf course
and subdivision design, incorporating trails and nature landscapes, water efficiency,
roadway and infrastructure improvements, long-term plans for the sales center site, and
timeline and phasing of the project.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Nick Crump, Landscape Architect for Hart Howerton — introduced
himself and provided a brief overview of the landscape framework and design for the
proposed Coral Mountain Club development, and more specifically, the sales site center.
Commission Secretary Flores said WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS were received from
the resident listed below, which were distributed to the Planning Commission, made
public, published on the City's website, and included in the public record of this meeting:
• Mary Mann, La Quinta — opposed the project due to environmental, historical, and
societal concerns.
The following residents submitted "Request to Speak" forms, indicating they did not wish
to speak, but left the following WRITTEN COMMENTS:
• Anonymous — requested an adjustment to the location of the maintenance areas
and to maintain the existing horse trails near the project site.
• Brian DeCoster, La Quinta — provided comments regarding the location of the
project entrance and maintenance facility.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Alena Callimanis, La Quinta (received donated time from Sam Coll)
— opposed the project due to water consumption and impacts to air quality; and read into
the record written comments by resident Mary Mann opposing the project due to
environmental, historical, and societal impacts.
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PUBLIC SPEAKER: Brian DeCoster, La Quinta — expressed concerns regarding the
location of the maintenance facility, which is proposed to be in close proximity to his
property on Calle Conchita, including negative visual impacts, increased traffic, and
equine accessibility to trails in the area.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: David Turner, La Quinta — expressed support and appreciation for
the design of the project and the communication he has had with the developer; and cited
concerns regarding the proposed locations of the maintenance facility and back -of -house
operations, which are proposed to be in close proximity to his property on Calle Conchita,
including negative visual impacts and increased traffic.
Commission asked questions of the project developer and discussed project
infrastructure matters, including power supply, the proposed Imperial Irrigation District
(IID) substation upgrade, Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) drainage, emergency
access, and the timing of the perimeter wall construction; project design and site planning
issues, including the reduction in units, project timing and phasing, clubhouse location,
future plans for the sales office and commercial corner, the location and size of the
maintenance facility, golf course topography and proposed grading reductions, landscape
design and plant palette, and the proposed comfort station (half -way house);
environmental and resource considerations, including Environmentally Sensitive Area
(ESA) designations and protections, the design and installation of the bighorn sheep
fence as approved by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), public
access to existing de facto pedestrian trails, and the potential historic designation of the
original homestead adobe building located on the site; vehicular access, traffic circulation,
and connectivity considerations, including commercial retail center connectivity,
maintenance facility access, and traffic mitigation; project amenities and programming,
including health- and wellness -focused amenities, additional golf course uses such as
short courses and pedestrian or park -like uses, and recreational lake access with
permitted non -motorized uses including kayaking and paddleboarding, and lifeguard
presence; operational and temporary uses for the modular buildings comprising the
temporary sales center and permanent use of modular buildings for commercial uses;
and community outreach to surrounding neighborhoods, including Andalusia and Sunrise.
PUBLIC SPEAKER: Julian De La Torre, President / Principal Engineer with MSA
Consulting — provided additional details regarding the amenity lake, type of water source,
and its use for golf course irrigation, as well as indirect contact recreational uses.
CHAIRPERSON HASSETT DECLARED THE PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 6:35 P.M.
Staff addressed comments made, including claims of negative air quality impacts from
"idling buses," the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) analysis, and
the CDFW's consultation and approval of the proposed bighorn sheep barrier fence and
its effects on the de facto trail use, the project only addresses trails on private property in
question, not nearby public lands.
The Commission expressed a general consensus in support of the project; appreciation
for the planned protection of the ESAs and the use of desert -friendly landscaping to
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES Page 3 of 4 OCTOBER 28, 2025
conserve water; project consistency with the originally approved project entitlements and
the current General Plan; the health -focused wellness amenities; the open
communication between the developer and the Calle Conchita residents; concerns over
maintenance facility location, access, and design; safety of ancillary activities allowed on
the golf course; and the use of temporary prefabricated buildings as long-term buildings.
MOTION — A motion was made and seconded by Commissioner Guerrero/Chairperson
Hassett to adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-012 approving Tentative
Tract Map 2025-0001, Site Development Permit 2025-0001, and Site Development
Permit 2025-0002, for the Coral Mountain Club project, allowing the subdivision of the
entire site and the development of the golf course, perimeter landscaping, and sales
center, and find that the proposed applications are consistent with the Coral Mountain
EIR (EA 2019-0010), as presented:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LA
QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A TENTATIVE TRACT MAP AND TWO
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A GOLF COURSE,
PERIMETER LANDSCAPING AND SALES CENTER FOR THE CORAL
MOUNTAIN CLUB, AND FIND THAT THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE
CORAL MOUNTAIN RESORT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EA 2019-
0010, SCH #2021020310) AND REQUIRES NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL
REVIEW, CONSISTENT WITH CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15162
CASE NUMBERS: TENTATIVE TRACT MAP 2025-0001 (TTM 39058);
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2025-0001;
SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 2025-0002
PROJECT: CORAL MOUNTAIN CLUB
APPLICANT: CM WAVE DEVELOPMENT LLC
Motion passed: ayes — 6, noes — 0, absent — 1 (Hernandez), abstain — 0.
STUDY SESSION — None
STAFF ITEMS — None
COMMISSIONER ITEMS — None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, a motion was made and seconded by Commissioner
Bohlinger/Chairperson Hassett to adjourn this meeting at 7:34 p.m.
Motion passed: ayes — 6, noes — 0, absent — 1 (Hernandez), abstain — 0.
Respectfully submitted,
TANIA FLORES, Commission Secretary
City of La Quinta, California
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