2016 04 26 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016
A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 6:01
p.m. by Chairperson Wilkinson.
PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson
Wilkinson
ABSENT: Commissioner Wright
STAFF PRESENT: Design and Development Director Tim Jonasson, Assistant City
Attorney Michelle Molko, Planning Manager Gabriel Perez, Principal
Engineer Bryan McKinney, Executive Assistant Wanda Wise -Latta,
Deputy City Clerk Monika Radeva, and Office Assistant Carley
Votaw
Commissioner Bettencourt led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT - None
CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA - Confirmed
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of the minutes of March 8, 2016.
Staff said the "PRESENT" section under Call to Order on page 1 should read as follows:
"PRESENT: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum Fitzpatrick, Wright, and
Chairperson Wilkinson"
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick/Blum to
approve the Planning Commission minutes of March 8, 2016, as submitted including
the above stated amendment by staff. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum,
Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT:
Commissioner Wright. Motion passed.
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 APRIL 26, 2016
2. Approval of the minutes of March 22, 2016.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick /Bettencourt
to approve the Planning Commission minutes of March 22, 2016, as submitted. AYES:
Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson Wilkinson. NOES:
None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wright. Motion passed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Environmental Assessment 2015-0004, General Plan Amendment 2015-0001,
Zone Change 2015-0002, Tentative Parcel Map 2015-0007, Conditional Use
Permit 2015-0002, and Site Development Permit 2015-0005 submitted by
Chandi Group, USA proposing the construction of a 52,800 square -foot
commercial center on 7.6 acres. Project: Washington 50. CEQA: Mitigated
Negative Declaration of environmental impact and associated Mitigation
Monitoring Program. Location: southeast corner of Washington Street and
Avenue 50.
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.
Planning Manager Perez said a "Notice of Correction and Clarification to Staff Report
for Public Hearing Item No. 1" was distributed to the Commission prior to the meeting.
He presented the contents of the notice and noted that it would be included as part of
the agenda packet.
A memorandum, containing additional comments regarding Public Hearing Item No. 1
received after the dissemination of the agenda packet, was distributed to the
Commission prior to the meeting. The correspondence included the following:
Comments in opposition of the project:
1. Richard R. Fredericks, La Quinta, CA
2. Angelo and Bernie Alioto, La Quinta, CA
3. Evie Connell Sproul, La Quinta, CA
4. Richard Drucker, MD, La Quinta, CA
5. Kemper Eakle, La Quinta, CA
6. Ray C. Largo, La Quinta, C
Comments in support of the project:
1. Shawn Harkness, La Quinta, CA
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 APRIL 26, 2016
Planning Manager Perez stated that staff received correspondence from the applicant
stating he was unable to attend today's meeting due to extenuating circumstances
and was requesting that the item be continued to the May 10, 2016 Planning
Commission meeting. Staff was in support of the continuance.
Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 6:10 p.m.
Public Speaker: Tom Freeman, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
Officer of Chandi Group USA - introduced himself and said that Mr. Chandi was out of
town due to a family emergency. He stated the applicant had submitted a request to
continue the item to the May 10, 2016, Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Freeman
explained the applicant regretted not being able to attend and commended the
community for the comments received regarding the project.
Mr. Freeman stated that after careful consideration, the applicant would like to
request withdraw of the project at this time, but hoped to work with staff and the
community to identify a more suitable location.
Public Speaker: Rex McLennan, La Quinta, CA - introduced himself, said he
represented the "NO Washington 50" group, and expressed his gratitude to the
applicant for withdrawing the proposed project.
Public Speaker: Ms. Neeta Quinn, La Quinta, CA - introduced herself and stated that
she wished to remind the Commission of the City's Community Vision contained within
the City of La Quinta's 2035 General Plan.
Public Speaker: Dennis Lubas, La Quinta, CA - introduced himself and expressed
concerns regarding development of only the lucrative parcels within a project, and the
developers' tendency to sell the Tess lucrative ones.
Public Speaker: Christi Salamone, La Quinta, CA - introduced herself and requested
clarification on the withdrawal of the project.
Assistant City Attorney Michelle Molko explained the withdrawal process as identified
by the La Quinta Municipal Code. She stated that if the withdrawal was approved, all
applications for this project become null and void and the status of the property is as if
no applications have ever been submitted. If same or another applicant wished to
initiate a new application, nothing would preclude them from doing so.
Chairperson Wilkerson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 6:27 p.m.
Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Bettencourt/Blum to
approve the applicants request to withdraw the project. AYES: Commissioners
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 APRIL 26, 2016
Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wright. Motion passed.
BUSINESS SESSION - None
COMMISSIONER ITEMS - None
DIRECTOR'S ITEMS - None
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
Fitzpatrick/Blum to adjourn this meeting at 6:32 p.m. AYES: Commissioners
Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Chairperson Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSTAIN:
None. ABSENT: Commissioner Wright. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
MONIKA RADEVA, Deputy City Clerk
City of La Quinta, California
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 APRIL 26, 2016