2016 03 08 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2016
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 7:06 p.m.
by Chairperson Wilkinson.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wright, and
Chairperson Wilkinson
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT:
Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, Principal Planner Jay Wuu, Consultant
Principal Planner Nicole Criste, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney,
Assistant City Attorney Michelle Molko, Executive Assistant Wanda
Wise -Latta, and Deputy City Clerk Monika Radeva
Commissioner Fitzpatrick led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of the minutes of Special Joint City Council and Planning Commission
meeting of January 12, 2016.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Fitzpatrick to approve
the Special Joint City Council and Planning Commission minutes of January 12, 2016, as
submitted. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Approval of the minutes of January 12, 2016.
Staff said Director's Item No. 1 listed on page 3 will be amended to read as follow:
"Planning Manager Perez stated that the City will prepare an ordinance on water
efficient landscape measures consistent with Governor Brown's Drought Executive
Order, which will be presented to the Planning Commission. He noted the ordinance
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 MARCH 8, 2016
will include water reduction strategies discussed during the June 16, 2015, City
Council meeting."
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick/Wright to
approve the Planning Commission minutes of January 12, 2016 as submitted including the
above stated amendment by staff. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Approval of the minutes of February 23, 2016.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Bettencourt to
approve the Planning Commission minutes of February 23, 2016 as submitted. Motion
passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Environmental Assessment 2013-630 and Conditional Use Permit 2013-152
submitted by Case and Lisa Swenson proposing a 5,929 square -foot single family
home on 3.16 acre lot within the Enclave Mountain Estates. Project: Swenson
Residence. CEQA: adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration of environmental impact
and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program. Location: 77210 Loma Vista.
Consultant Principal Planner Nicole Criste presented the information contained in the staff
report, a copy of which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 7:29 p.m.
Public Speaker: Mr. Case Swenson, Owner, La Quinta, CA - introduced himself and
expressed his gratitude to City staff, the Commission, the Enclave homeowners, and the
Homeowners Association Chairman for their time and efforts on this project.
Public Speaker: Mr. John Vuksic, President with Prest Vuksic Architects, Palm Desert, CA -
introduced himself, said he was very excited to be the architect for the proposed Swenson
residence, and gave a detailed presentation of the project. He answered the
Commission's question regarding the pinnacle edge on the east side of the property and
the proposed residence photo simulations.
Commissioners Bettencourt, Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson Wilkinson said they individually
met with the Architect, John Vuksic, prior to the meeting and visited the site on their own.
Consultant Principal Planner Criste explained there were two Initial Studies circulated for
this project. The first one proposed a larger dwelling than what was presented before the
Commission tonight. The second one was circulated from December 30, 2015 through
January 20, 2016 after the project was amended based on comments received by the
Homeowners Association (HOA). The comments received and staff's responses to those
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 MARCH 8, 2016
comments are included as Exhibit A to the proposed resolution. She said the applicant is
also subject to compliance to the HOA requirements outlined in the settlement agreement
included as Attachment No. 7 to the staff report.
Staff and Mr. Vuksic answered the Commission's questions regarding driveway length,
parking, setbacks, and landscaping.
Assistant City Attorney Molko stated that three additional comments were received after
the agenda packet was prepared and disseminated. The comments were distributed to
the Commission before the meeting, incorporated into the packet, and made available to
the public. They included an opposition from Mr. Joseph McVeigh, and two support
comments from Robert and Mary Lou Alfini and Jon Harnish.
Public Speaker: The following speakers spoke in opposition of the Swenson residence
within The Enclave Mountain Estates:
1. Sean McVeigh, La Quinta
2. Joseph McVeigh, La Quinta - deferred his 3 minutes to Sean McVeigh
3. Jay Baden, La Quinta - deferred his 3 minutes to Sean McVeigh
4. Anna Baden, La Quinta - deferred his 3 minutes to Sean McVeigh
5. Patti Mergener, La Quinta
6. Michael Mergener, La Quinta
7. Mary Urquhart, La Quinta
8. Patrick Pratt, Palm Desert - representing Mr. and Mrs. Urquhart residing at 48705
Via Sierra
9. Dan O'Conner, La Quinta
10.Gael Margarites, La Quinta
11. Bea Hollfelder, La Quinta - Gael Margarites read a letter authored by Bea Hollfelder
12.Chris Margarites, La Quinta
13. Beverly Testwuide, La Quinta
14. Bill Covery, La Quinta
Public Speaker: The following speakers spoke in support of the Swenson residence within
The Enclave Mountain Estates:
1. Cece Boger, La Quinta
2. David Boger, La Quinta - President of The Enclave Mountain Estates HOA
3. Ed Weisenheimer, La Quinta - submitted only written comments
4. Gloria Dodd, La Quinta
5. Michele Lissberger, La Quinta
6. John Lissberger, La Quinta
7. Richard Grund, La Quinta
8. Victory Grund, La Quinta
9. Marilyn Johnston, La Quinta
10. Hal Wright, La Quinta
11.John Rosling, La Quinta
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Mr. Vuksic explained that story poles and strings were put up twice on the property to
show the dimensions of the proposed dwelling. Notifications of the story poles were sent
out and Mr. Vuksic gave a presentation on the site. He said he went to each property to
examine visibility of the neighborhood properties.
Public Speaker: Mr. Doug Franklin, President of the Altum Group, and the project's Civil
Engineer - introduced himself and explained the inconsistency in the hydrology report
brought up by Mr. McVeigh earlier was very minor with regards to offsite and onsite flows,
which has been address. He drainage and retention system as designed will meet WQMP
requirements.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 9:29 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to
adopt Planning Resolution No. 2016-002 adopting Environmental Assessment 2013-630
and Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act and
approving Conditional Use Permit 2013-152 for the Swenson residence within The Enclave
Mountain Estate. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson Wilkinson called for a short recess.
Chairperson Wilkinson reconvened the meeting at 9:43 p.m. with all Commissioners present.
2. Site Development Permit 2015-0006 submitted by PGA West II Residential
Association, Inc. proposing the construction of a permanent parking lot, storage
area, walls and landscaping improvements on approximately 0.5 acres. Project:
PGA West. CEQA: exempt from environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section 15332 (Class 32) In -Fill
Development Projects. Location: southern terminus of Interlachen at Hermitage,
north of Avenue 58.
Principal Planner Jay Wuu presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy
of which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Staff addressed the Commission's questions with regards to certified landscape architect
stamp requirements, emergency ingress and egress, and Fire Department's clearance and
striping requirements.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 9:50 p.m.
Public Speaker: Mr. Michael Rowe, Civil Engineer with MSA Consulting, Palm Desert, CA -
introduced himself and gave a brief description of the project.
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Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 9:51 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Fitzpatrick to
adopt Planning Resolution No. 2016-003 approving Site Development Permit 2015-0006
for storage and parking areas for PGA West and deem the project exempt from
environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section
15332 (Class 32) In -Fill Development Projects. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Sign Program Amendment 2015-0004 submitted by 3 Amigos Prop proposing a sign
program amendment for the Point Happy Shopping Center. Project: Point Happy.
CEQA: exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental
Quality Act pursuant to provisions of Section 15311 (a) in that this proposal includes
on -premise signs. Location: 78-468 Highway 111.
Planning Manager Gabriel Perez presented the information contained in the staff report, a
copy of which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 9:59 p.m.
Public Speaker: None
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 9:59 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Blum/Wright to adopt
Planning Resolution No. 2016-004 approving Sign Program Amendment 2015-0004 for the
Point Happy Shopping Center and deem the project exempt from environmental review
under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section 15311 (a) in that this
project includes on -premise signs. Motion passed unanimously.
4. Continued from the March 22, 2016 meeting - Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2016-
0001 submitted by the City of La Quinta recommending that the City Council amend
several chapters of Titles 2, 7, 8, 9, and 13 of the La Quinta Municipal Code, related to
streamlining of the development review process. CEQA: Exempt from environmental
review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section
15061(b)(3), Review for Exemptions - General Rule.
Planning Manager Gabriel Perez presented the information contained in the staff report, a
copy of which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 10:18 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Blum to adopt
Planning Resolution No. 2016-005 recommending to the City Council approval of Zoning
Ordinance Amendment 2016-0001 proposing amendment to several chapters of Titles 2,
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7, 8, 9, and 13 of the Municipal Code and deem the project exempt from environmental
review under the California Environmental Quality Act, pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3),
Review for Exemptions - General Rule. Motion passed unanimously.
BUSINESS SESSION
1. Recommend that the City Council amend the Planning Commission meeting start
time from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Planning Manager Perez presented the information contained in the staff report, a copy of
which is on file in the Design and Development Department.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Bettencourt
recommending to the City Council to change the Planning Commission meeting start time
from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
COMMISSIONER ITEMS
1. Commissioner Blum is scheduled to attend the March 15, 2016 City Council
meeting.
DIRECTOR'S ITEMS
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Fitzpatrick/Blum to adjourn this meeting at 10:28 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, Deputy City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
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