HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-08-01 PC Regular Meeting Minutes PLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA
MINUTES
Tuesday, August 1, 6:00 p.m.
2023 Regular Meeting
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, August 1, 2023, at 6:03 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners John Greenwood, Ron Gregory, Vice-Chair Joseph Pradetto, and
Chair Nancy DeLuna.
Absent: Commissioner Holt.
Staff
Present: Robert Hargreaves, City Attorney; Richard D. Cannone, Director of Development
Services; Nick Melloni, Principal Planner; Carlos Flores, Senior Planner, and
Monica O'Reilly, Executive Administrative Assistant.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Greenwood 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: https://www.palmdesert.gov/our-
city/committees-and-commissions/commission-information.
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Planning Commission Minutes August 1 2023
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Planning Commission Study Session minutes of July
18, 2023.
City staff interjected that there is a revision to the recommendation. The recommendation
should read, "Approve the Planning Commission Regular minutes of July 18, 2023."
MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR PRADETTO, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER GREENWOOD,
CARRIED 4-0 (HOLT ABSENT), to approve the Planning Commission Regular Meeting
minutes of July 18, 2023.
CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER:
None.
6. ACTION CALENDAR
A. SELECTION of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson.
RECOMMENDATION: Nominate and appoint positions.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER GREENWOOD, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
GREGORY, CARRIED 4-0 (HOLT ABSENT), to appoint Vice-Chair Pradetto to
Chairperson.
At this time, the newly appointed Chair Pradetto continued with the meeting and
thanked Commissioner DeLuna for leading the Planning Commission for the past
year.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DE LUNA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
GREENWOOD, CARRIED 4-0 (HOLT ABSENT), to appoint Commissioner Gregory
to Vice-Chairperson.
B. SELECTION of Commission liaisons for the Cultural Arts Committee and Parks and
Recreation Commission.
RECOMMENDATION: Nominate and appoint positions.
MOTION BY COMMISSIONER DE LUNA, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER
GREENWOOD, for Commissioner Holt and Commissioner Gregory to continue their
assignments as liaisons for both Commissions.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
The staff report(s) and Zoom video of the meeting are available on the City's
website. Click on the following link to access: https://www.palmdesert.gov/our-
city/committees-and-commissions/commission-information.
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Planninq Commission Minutes August 1, 2023
A. CONSIDERATION OF A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO ADOPT A
MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA); AND APPROVAL OF A SPECIFIC PLAN
AMENDMENT, PRECISE PLAN, AND TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP TO DEVELOP A
PHASED 114,700-SQUARE-FOOT MEDICAL OFFICE PARK WITH RELATED ON-
SITE AND OFF-SITE IMPROVEMENTS, AND SUBDIVIDE A 10.47-ACRE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF GERALD FORD DRIVE AND
TECHNOLOGY DRIVE (ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NUMBERS 694-580-026 AND -027)
Commissioner Greenwood announced that Prest Vuksic Greenwood Architects (PVG) is
the architectural firm working on the project and recused himself from this item.
Principal Planner Melloni reported that at the request by the applicant, City staff
recommended continuing this item to a date uncertain. He mentioned staff emailed a
comment letter to the Planning Commission and made it available as part of the record.
City Attorney recommended opening the Public Hearing for comments.
Chair Pradetto opened the Public Hearing.
Kelilah Federman, on behalf of Californians Allied for a Responsible Economy,
commented that the continuance should be used to prepare an Environmental Impact
Report and noted that the Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration does not adequately
analyze or mitigate the project's environmental impacts.
City staff responded to questions from the Planning Commission. The City Attorney added
that Ms. Federman agrees with the staff's recommendation to continue this item, and it
gives the Planning Commission time to review the letter that was emailed to the
Commission.
There being no others desiring to speak, the Public Hearing was closed.
MOTION BY VICE-CHAIR GREGORY, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER DE LUNA,
CARRIED 4-0 (HOLT ABSENT), to continue Case Nos. SP/EA22-0002, PP22-0009, and
TPM 38728 to a date uncertain.
Commissioner Greenwood returned to the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
8. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS & COMMENTS
A. SUMMARY OF CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS
None.
B. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES
1. Cultural Arts Committee
None.
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Planning Commission Minutes August 1 2023
2. Parks and Recreation Commission
None.
C. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner DeLuna thanked the City and fellow Planning Commissioners for allowing
her to serve as Chairperson for the past year.
D. CITY STAFF
Principal Planner Melloni reported staff is working on the Objective Design Standards and
there has been an adjustment to the timeline. Staff planned to have a Joint Study Session
with the Planning Commission and Architectural Review Commission on Monday, August
21, at 12:30 p.m. Additionally, staff would reach out to both Commissions regarding
availability.
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 6:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Monica O'Reilly, Executive Admobtrative Assistant
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Richard D. Cannone, AICP, Director of Development Services
Secretary
APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION: 9/05/2023
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