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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-12-06 PC Regular Meeting Minutes PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA MINUTES Tuesday, December 6, 6:00 p.m. 2022 Regular Meeting Pursuant to Assembly Bill 361, this meeting was conducted by teleconference, and there was in-person public access to the meeting location. 1. CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chair DeLuna on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners John Greenwood, Ron Gregory, Vice-Chair Joseph Pradetto, and Chair Nancy DeLuna. Commissioner Lindsay Holt arrived at 6:01 p.m. Absent: None. Staff Present: Robert Hargreaves, City Attorney, Richard D. Cannone, AICP, Director of Development Services; Rosie Lua, Deputy Director of Development Services; Nick Melloni, Senior Planner; and Monica O'Reilly, Executive Administrative Assistant. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chair DeLuna led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT: None. 5. CONSENT CALENDAR: The staff report(s) and Zoom video of the meeting are available on the City's website. Click on the following link to access: www.cityofpalmdesert.org/our- city/committees-and-commissions/commission-information. City of Palm Desert Page 1 Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 2022 A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Minutes of November 15, 2022. MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR PRADETTO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GREENWOOD, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the Planning Commission Regular Meeting minutes of November 15, 2022. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER: None. 6. ACTION CALENDAR None. 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA); AND APPROVAL OF A PRECISE PLAN TO DEVELOP AN APPROXIMATELY 52,528-SQUARE-FOOT SELF- STORAGE FACILITY ON A 1.87-ACRE SITE LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF DINAH SHORE DRIVE AND DICK KELLY DRIVE (APNs 694-240-009, 010, AND 021) Senior Planner Melloni presented the staff report and responded to Commissioner inquiries. Chair DeLuna opened the Public Hearing. Mr. Jim Fitzpatrick, the applicant, thanked City staff and stated they accept all the Conditions of Approvals as presented. He and his team were available to answer any questions. Mr. Josef Jonathan, a Palm Desert resident and business owner, voiced support for the project. There being no one desiring to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR PRADETTO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER HOLT, CARRIED 5-0, approving Planning Commission Resolution No. 2825 to: 1. Adopt a Notice of Exemption for a Class 32 Categorical Exemption in accordance with CEQA. 2. Approve Precise Plan (PP)/Environmental Assessment (EA) 22-0005 for the development of a 52,528-square-foot self-storage facility, including on-site and off-site improvements on a 1.87-acre site located at the northwest corner of Dinah Shore Drive and Dick Kelly Drive. City of Palm Desert Page 2 Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 2022 B. CONSIDERATION TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION PURSUANT TO CEQA; AND APPROVE A PRECISE PLAN AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A 394-UNIT MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT COMMUNITY CONSISTING OF 13 THREE-STORY(3) BUILDINGS, ONE(1)TWO-STORY FITNESS CENTER, ONE (1) SINGLE-STORY CLUBHOUSE,TWO(2) POOL AREAS, AND PRIVATE OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS ON AN 18.31-ACRE SITE LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF FRANK SINATRA DRIVE AND PORTOLA AVENUE (APNs 620-400-030 AND 620-400-031) Commissioner Gregory announced he had a conflict of interest due to his employer and recused himself. He left the meeting at 6:21 p.m. Senior Planner Melloni narrated a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Commission inquiries. Deputy Director of Development Services Lua mentioned comments from the public were attached to the staff report. Staff emailed comments to the Commission received after the agenda was posted and kept for the record. Ms. Lua addressed an inquiry regarding Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). Chair DeLuna opened the Public Hearing. Mr. Cody Dietrich, the applicant, introduced his team and presented a PowerPoint presentation about the project. Ms. Christine Pecard, the project architect, continued with the presentation, focusing on the project's architecture. The applicant and City staff responded to Commission inquiries. Mr. Mark Shabashov, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his opposition to the project. Mr. Don Mess, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his opposition to the project. Ms. Kathleen Kendrick, a Palm Desert resident, voiced her opposition to the project and asked why the comments and questions period was short. Ms. Cam Cameron, a Palm Desert resident, voiced her opposition to the project. Mr. Al Stanger, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his concern with zoning in the area that would allow high-density development and asked when the City changed the zoning. Mr. Dave Sams, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his opposition to the project. Ms. Edith Taylor, a Palm Desert resident, voiced her opposition to the project. Mr. Jeff Cameron, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his opposition to the project. Mr. Jeremy Cowley, a Palm Desert resident, voiced his opposition to the project. Ms. Pamela Hoekstra, a Palm Desert resident, voiced her opposition to the project. City of Palm Desert Page 3 Planning Commission Minutes December 6 2022 There being no others desiring to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. Deputy Director Lua interjected and asked Chair DeLuna to reopen the Public Hearing to allow City staff and the applicant to respond to questions. Chair DeLuna reopened the Public Hearing. Senior Planner Melloni responded to concerns/questions made by the public. Mr. Dietrich also responded to concerns/questions. City Attorney Hargreaves briefed the Planning Commission on the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) and responded to questions. At this point, there was discussion regarding land use and density, with staff responding to additional questions. The applicant responded to questions from the Commission. There being no others desiring to speak, the Public Hearing was closed. After comments made by Commissioner Pradetto, he moved for approval. Commissioner Holt interjected, stating that she would want to incorporate a Condition of Approval. Commissioner Pradetto withdrew his motion. Commissioner Greenwood added that he would also want to add a Condition of Approval to the landscape plans. City staff proposed wording for the Condition of Approvals, noting that the Planning Commission could revise it. Chair DeLuna reopened the Public Hearing. The applicant accepted the proposed additional Condition of Approvals and responded to questions about building color changes. There being no other comments, the Public Hearing was closed. Following Commissioner comments, MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GREENWOOD, SECOND BY VICE-CHAIR PRADETTO, CARRIED 4-0 (GREGORY RECUSE), approving Planning Commission Resolution No. 2826 to: 1. Adopting a Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program for the project pursuant to CEQA. 2. Approving PP/Conditional Use Permit (CUP)/EA 22-0006 for the development of a 394-unit multifamily apartment development at the southwest corner of Frank Sinatra Drive and Portola Avenue. City of Palm Desert Page 4 Planning Commission Minutes December 6, 2022 3. The applicant shall install additional landscaping for screening purposes along Frank Sinatra Drive, west of Portola Avenue, and east of Shepherd Lane; and the landscape plans shall be reviewed and approved by City staff and shall be installed prior to the Certificate of Occupancy of the first building. 4. Prior to the building permit issuance, the Applicant shall submit an alternative exterior color scheme for Building No. 2, as shown on the CUP Site Plan dated October 3, 2022, for review and approval by the Director of Development Services. 8. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS A. SUMMARY OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS None. B. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES 1. Cultural Arts Committee None. 2. Parks and Recreation Commission Senior Planner Melloni stated that there were no reportable actions, and City staff provided updates on existing parks. C. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS None. D. CITY STAFF Deputy Director Lua mentioned that there are no agenda items for the Planning Commission meeting of December 20. E. ATTENDANCE REPORT The attendance report was provided with the agenda materials. The Commission took no action on this matter. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission adjourned the meeting at 8:33 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Monica O'Reilly, Executive Admin' ative Assistant Recording Secretary City of Palm Desert Page 5 Planning Commission Minutes December 6 2022 ATTEST: Richard D. Cannone, AICP, Director of Development Services Secretary APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 01/17/2023 City of Palm Desert Page 6