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2016 06 28 PC MinutesCALL TO ORDER PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 A regular meeting of the La Quinta Planning Commission was called to order at 6:00 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, Associate Planner Carlos Flores, Principal Engineer Bryan McKinney Executive Assistant Wanda Wise -Latta, Management Assistant Carla Triplett, and Office Assistant Carley Votaw Commissioner Wright led the Commission in the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT - None CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA- Confirmed APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the minutes of June 14, 2016. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Blum to approve the Planning Commission Minutes of June 14, 2016 as submitted with the following amendment to page 2, paragraph 6: Commissioner Wright stated his concern regarding the installation of landscaping not adhering to the approved Landscape Plan. AYES: Commissioners, Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, and Wright. NOES: None. ABSENT: Chairperson Wilkinson. ABSTAIN: Chairperson Wilkinson. Motion Passed. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 1 JUNE 28, 2016 PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Site Development Permit 2016-0003 submitted by VTL Palizada, LLC for the consideration of two recreational areas, landscaped common areas, walls, and entry gates within a proposed 320 residential lot development, Tracts 31732 and 31733, on approximately 78 acres. Project: Bellaseno. CEQA: adheres to previously approved Mitigated Negative Declarations for Environmental Assessment 2003-492 and 2003-493; no further analysis is required. Location: southeast corner of Monroe Street and Avenue 60. Planning Manager Gabriel Perez introduced Associate Planner Carlos Flores who presented the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Design and Development Department. Commissioner Bettencourt asked for clarification from staff regarding whether the applicant was responsible for the Monroe Street median. Staff said that the applicant is responsible for one half of the Monroe Street median, but are conditioned to construct the Monroe Street median and will receive funds from Trilogy to cover the other half of the median south of Avenue 60 to the next adjacent development. A reimbursement agreement will be drafted to provide the funds from Trilogy to this developer. Commissioner Bettencourt asked staff to explain to the Commission the utilization of an existing Environmental Assessment for this tract that is somewhat dated and asked how the Commission is exempted from addressing issues such as greenhouse gases regarding the determination before the Commission. Staff stated that the CEQA document for this project was approved in 2005 prior to a requirement addressing greenhouse gases and at the time the CEQA document was prepared it evaluated air quality, but as part of air quality some greenhouse gases were analyzed and it wasn't analyzed in a separate section like is done today. Staff noted that the City Attorney was consulted and a legal precedent exists for not including a greenhouse gas analysis in the original CEQA document and it does not require a new Mitigated Negative Declaration or additional analysis. Staff said the City Attorney was comfortable moving forward with this project under the existing CEQA document. Commissioner Bettencourt asked if the proposed landscaping meets the recently considered Landscape Ordinance that was recently considered by the Commission. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 2 JUNE 28, 2016 Staff stated that the landscaping material will be analyzed by staff with regards to aesthetics and CVWD will analyze the water efficiency of the landscaping material. The proposed landscaping utilizes as little turf as possible and is consistent with the City's existing ordinance. Commissioner Fitzpatrick noted that some of the non-native plants included in the plant palette, although they are water efficient varieties of the plants, they are not native to the desert. The Carissa is not a native plant. Staff stated that there are a few trees that CVWD identifies as meeting the threshold and citrus trees may not meet the water efficiency requirement of the Landscape Ordinance and the Commission may wish to look at more suitable alternatives to the citrus tree or any other inefficient tree. Staff addressed Commissioner Bettencourt's questions regarding consistency of the proposed onsite lighting and stated that the proposed lighting is completely consistent with the City's outdoor lighting requirements per the Municipal Code. It was also noted by staff that the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board recommended adding additional accent lighting along the trails. Staff addressed Commissioner Fitzpatrick's concerns regarding assurance that when the Final Landscaping Plan is submitted that staff assures that the plants are consistent with the plant palette and meet the water efficiency requirements set by CVWD. Commissioner Wright commended the developer for its plant palette and stated that he hoped the landscaping will be planted according to the approved plant palette. Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING OPEN at 6:25 p.m. Public Speaker: Leslie Locken, Bermuda Dunes, CA - introduced herself and stated that she is the Project Manager for Palizada and is with the Rilington Group. Public Speaker: Sarah Jimenez, Indio, CA - introduced herself and stated that she is with RGA Landscape Architects. Ms. Jimenez addressed the Commission's concerns regarding the retention basins in the south tract of the proposed project and described the proposed landscaping, trails, shade trees, use of native hydro seed, drainage with regards to the retention basins and surrounding areas; and unguarded entrance gates and gate access. Staff addressed the Commission's question with regards to the median noting that generally the median is turned over to the City after the one year warranty PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 3 JUNE 28, 2016 and the perimeter landscaping is maintained by the developer and is accepted into the Landscape and Lighting District. Public Speaker: Sarah Jimenez, Indio, CA - Ms. Jimenez responded to the Commission's question with regards to the hydro seed plan and the seed mix. Public Speaker: Judith Collins, La Quinta, CA - introduced herself and stated she is a resident at Trilogy. She shared her concerns regarding the height of the towers and potential for flooding at the Split Rock Gate at Trilogy during heavy rains due to the configuration of the surrounding area. Staff stated that the height of the towers is 18 feet 8 inches and that with regards to the drainage concern, the developer is responsible for the street drainage related to the half width of the street adjacent to the development and stated it would be engineered to a 100 -year flood standard. Chairperson Wilkinson declared the PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED at 6:37 p.m. Commissioner Bettencourt said he supported staff's recommendation. Commissioner Fitzpatrick stated that it is acceptable to her to have the 'resolution amended allowing staff to make the final determination on the plant palette and would like to see an annotation indicating that the landscaping for the retention basins in the southern tract mimic the landscaping for the retention basins in the northern tract. She also stated that her preference is not to see lighting installed along DG pathways. Commissioner Wright said he would like to see a comprehensive list of what will be in the hydro seed mix and concurred with Commissioner Fitzpatrick regarding the lighting of DG pathways. Staff requested Commission direction regarding the Final Perimeter Landscaping Plan as to whether the Commission would like the plan to come back to the Commission or be reviewed by the Architectural and Landscaping Review Board. The Commission concurred and directed staff to bring the Perimeter Landscaping Plan back to the Planning Commission at a future date. Motion - A motion was made and seconded by Commissioners Fitzpatrick/Bettencourt to approve Resolution 2016-009 recommending approval of Site Development Permit 2016-0003 with staff's recommendations, and with the addition of the following conditions: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 4 JUNE 28, 2016 1. The final decision on the plants in the Landscaping Plan as submitted will be made at the staff level; 2. Planning Commission will review and recommend for approval at a later date the Perimeter Landscaping Plan; 3. Condition 48 which requires the accent light along the pathways is to be removed from the resolution; and 4. There will be a notation on the landscaping plans that the retention basin landscaping in the southerly tract will mimic the design of the retention basin landscaping in the northerly tract. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wright and Chairperson Wilkenson. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. Motion passed unanimously. Commission Blum thanked the applicant for their efforts. BUSINESS SESSION - None COMMISSIONER ITEMS Commissioner Wright said he would like to recognize and thank Chairperson Robert Wilkinson for his ten years of service to the City of La Quinta on the Planning Commission. Chairperson Wilkinson thanked staff for their efforts during his tenure on the Planning Commission. STAFF ITEMS Planning Manager Perez stated that it is possible that SilverRock may come before the Planning Commission in August and staff will send an email inquiring about vacation plans that the Commissioners might have in place. The Commission indicated that most of them would be available in August. Planning Manager Perez announced that at the June 21 Council Meeting, Commissioner Wright was reappointed to the Planning Commission, new Commissioner Paul Quill's term will begin on July 1 and there will be an item on the July 12 Planning Commission agenda regarding the selection of officers. He also noted that the Council discussed potential consolidation of the ALRB with the Planning Commission. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 5 JUNE 28, 2016 Planning Manager Perez noted that at the last Planning Commission meeting the Commission had questions regarding landscape plans and what plants are installed at the project site and if they match the approved plans. He said that there have been discussions regarding streamlining the landscape review process; possibly utilizing existing inspectors who are familiar with landscape plant palettes and irrigation; and utilizing a currently contracted landscape architect who is familiar with the landscape water efficient ordinance and who could provide an additional professional review of the landscape plans. Landscape plans would still be review by the ALRB. Commissioner Blum stated that he would like to see some methodology put in place to verify that the developer is planting those plants that are on the approved landscaping plan and is still interested in hearing how the theatre performed with regards to the landscape plan and what was actually planted. Planning Manager Perez stated that there have been some discussions regarding potentially having the landscape architect who prepares the plans provide a certification of what was installed at a project site. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners Wright/Blum to adjourn this meeting at 6:59 p.m. AYES: Commissioners Bettencourt, Blum, Fitzpatrick, Wright and Chairperson Wilkinson. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. Motion Passed. Respectfully submitted, a,U, t 1,0 WANDA WISE-LATTA, Executive Assistant City of La Quinta, California PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES 6 JUNE 28, 2016