The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2021-07-06 PC Regular Meeting Minutes••`:,°$Z �"� ice/ f/i��;rr CALL TO ORDER CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021 — 6:00 P.M. ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING Chair John Greenwood called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Chair John Greenwood Vice -Chair Nancy DeLuna Commissioner Ron Gregory Commissioner Joseph Pradetto Also Present: Absent: Commissioner Lindsay Holt Craig Hayes, Assistant City Attorney Eric Ceja, Interim Director of Development Services Nick Mellon!, Associate Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Monica O'Reilly, Management Specialist II III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair Greenwood led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTIONS None V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of June 15, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 6, 2021 Upon a motion by Commissioner Pradetto, seconded by Vice -Chair DeLuna, and a 3- , 0-1 vote of the Planning Commission, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, and Holt; NOES: None; ABSENT: Holt; ABSTAINED: Gregory). VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None Vill. NEW BUSINESS None IX. CONTINUED BUSINESS None X. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION for approval of Tentative Parcel Map 38120 to subdivide a former retention basin into two single-family lots within the Montecito subdivision, and adoption of a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Case No. TPM 38120 (Edward Yoder. Palm Desert, California. Applicant). Associate Planner Kevin Swartz presented the staff report (staff report(s) is available at , https://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/our-citv/committees-and-commissions/planning commission -information -center). Chair Greenwood declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. Mr. Allan Levin, the representative for the applicant, addressed and offered to answer any questions by the Planning Commission. The applicant and City staff responded to the Commission's questions. With no further testimony offered, Chair Greenwood declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Pradetto moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2794, approving Case No. TPM 38120, subject to the conditions of approval; and adopting a Notice of Exemption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gregory and carried by a 4-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: Holt). 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION 111111VA1-- ' 1?4l ' B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION of a recommendation to the City Council for the construction of a 269-unit affordable apartment project with a clubhouse, recreational amenities, and roadway improvements located on a 12-acre vacant parcel at the southwest corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Rembrandt Parkway; and adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Case No. PP/CUP 21-0004 (Pacific West Communities, Inc., Eagle, Idaho, Applicant). Commissioner Ron Gregory recused himself due to a conflict of interest and left the Zoom meeting. Mr. Melloni presented the staff report. Assistant City Attorney Craig Hayes briefly spoke on affordable housing statutes. Commissioner Joseph Pradetto disclosed that he attended one of the meetings between the residents and the developer. He stated that the Planning Commission was provided with all the materials from those meetings. After staff answered question(s) from the Planning Commission, Chair Greenwood declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. Mr. Darren Berberian, the applicant, and Mr. Paul Maksy, the landscape architect, presented a PowerPoint presentation. The applicant and City staff responded to the Commission's questions. The following individuals were in opposition to the proposed project due to the following concerns: The project's scale and size, the project is not consistent in promoting a walkable neighborhood, the project is not appropriate for the Town Center Neighborhood general plan land use designation, an increase in traffic, the project is too close to the Sheriff's Department, the 100% density of affordable housing, the project would bring blight to the area, lack of public transportation, too much affordable housing within a three- mile radius, lack of respect for the citizens from City staff, increase in crime, the density bonus, no schools nearby, not close to retail services, lack of communication or notice regarding the project, ingress and egress, and reconsider the density. Kent Hanson, Scholar Lane West, Palm Desert Cynthia Ward, Van Gogh Drive, Palm Desert Dudley Moses, Palm Desert Robin Landeck, Chinook Circle, Palm Desert Heather Behman, Cezanne Drive, Palm Desert Robert Baker, Vermeer Way, Palm Desert Stephen Nelson, Palm Desert Tom, Matisse Drive, Palm Desert ' Barbara Kline, Picasso Drive, Palm Desert Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, Palm Desert Ron De Genova, Vermeer Way, Palm Desert MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 6. 2021 Neal Victor, Kandinsky Way, Palm Desert ' Tom Lorphanpaibul, Vermeer Way, Palm Desert John Monell, Mondrian Place, Palm Desert Bridget Livingston, Palm Desert Mike Kline, Picasso Drive, Palm Desert Don Lindsey, Matisse Drive, Palm Desert Ron Barnhart, Scholar Lane, Palm Desert The following individual was in favor of the proposed project for the following reason: It is important to have safe and stable affordable housing for the people who keep the economy running. Taylor Libolt Varner, Indio With no further testimony offered, Chair Greenwood declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Pradetto moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2793, recommending approval to the City Council for Case No. PP/CUP 21-0004, subject to the conditions of approval; and adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration. The motion was seconded by Chair DeLuna and carried by a 3-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: Gregory and Holt). XI. MISCELLANEOUS None I XII. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES ►158MW B. PARKS & RECREATION Chair Greenwood shared that the City appointed three new commissioners to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Interim Director of Development Services Eric Ceja added that the City Council is establishing the Lupine Plaza space as a permanent outdoor plaza. The Council requested that various Commission members participate -in a new committee to review and provide input on the permanent plaza. He said that at the next Planning Commission meeting, staff would ask for a volunteer. XIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS Chair Greenwood voiced his excitement for the new San Pablo Avenue improvements I and the ability to go his typical way home. 0 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JULY 6, 2021 ' XIV. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chair Greenwood adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m. 1 IOHN EENAOOD, HAI �. ATTEST: ERIC CEJA, 6EPRETARY 0 MONICA O'REILLY, RECORDING ECRETARY