HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2025-056RESOLUTION NO. 2025-056
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESEERT, CALIFORNIA APPROVING A CHANGE OF ZONE FROM
PLANNED RESIDENTIAL TO OFFICE PROFESSIONAL FOR A 2.21
ACRE PROPERTY ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF FRED WARING
DRIVE AND FAIRHAVEN AVENUE AND MAKING A FINDING OF
EXEMPTION UNDER CEQA. (ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 640-
040-016)
CASE NOS. CZ24-0002
WHEREAS, Dignity Investment Group (“Applicant”), submitted a request to
change the general plan land use designation and zoning designation of a 2.21-acre
parcel located at the northwest corner of Fred Waring Drive and Fairhaven Avenue from
Small Town Neighborhood to Neighborhood Center and Planned Residential – 7 units
per acre to Office Professional, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Project site has a land use designation of Small Town
Neighborhood in the Palm Desert General Plan adopted on November 10, 2016, and a
zoning designation of Planned Residential – 7 units per acre (PR-7); and
WHEREAS, the Project Site has been developed with existing improvements
which generally consist of a single unoccupied building previously occupied by a church,
related parking lot and landscaping, and is adequately served by existing public utilities
and services; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Change of Zone would not create any nonconforming
uses or structures on site; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Change of Zone would allow the site to remain suitable
for residential uses at a maximum density of 15 units per acre; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Change of Zone would make the land use consistent
with the adjacent property to the west and allow the site to continue existing vehicular
connectivity to said project site; and
WHEREAS, under Section 21067 of the Public Resources Code, Section 15367
of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs.,
tit. 14, § 15000 et seq.) and the City of Palm Desert’s (“City’s”) Local CEQA Guidelines,
the City is the lead agency for the Project; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the requirements of the CEQA, the State Guidelines for
Implementation of CEQA (State CEQA Guidelines), and the City of Palm Desert CEQA
Implementation Requirements, the City of Palm Desert Development Services
Department has determined that the Project will not have a significant impact on the
environment and that the Project is categorically exempt under Article 19, Section 15301
Existing Facilities (Class 1) of the CEQA Guidelines; therefore, no further environmental
review is necessary; and
Docusign Envelope ID: 030C2353-7D68-4ACA-969E-650E1C6B6400
Resolution No. 2025-056 Page 2
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert, California, did
on the 20th day of May 2025, hold a duly noticed public hearing to consider the request
by the Applicant for approval of the above-noted Project request and adopted Planning
Commission Resolution 2891 recommending the City Council approve of said Project;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, did on the 26th
day of June 2025, hold a duly noticed public hearing to consider the request by the
Applicant for approval of the above-noted Project request; and
WHEREAS, at the said public hearing, upon hearing and considering all testimony
and arguments, if any, of all interested persons desiring to be heard, the Planning
Commission did find the following facts and reasons, which are outlined in the staff report,
exist to justify approval of said request:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The City Council hereby finds that the foregoing recitals are
true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this Resolution.
SECTION 2. General Plan Consistency. There is a substantial public benefit to be
derived from such Change of Zone and the proposed amendment furthers the goals of the
General Plan.
The Project is in the public’s interest as it will maintain the character of Fred Waring Drive
by creating consistency in land use designation on the north side of Fred Waring, west of
Fairhaven Drive. The project site has existed for decades as the site of a church with a
parking lot that connects to an existing medical office park directly to the west. The
proposed Change of Zone allows the site to establish non-residential uses that serve the
needs of the neighborhood, meanwhile retaining its ability to have residential uses. The
intent of Neighborhood Center is to provide a concentration of commercial businesses
and civic amenities within walking and biking distances of neighborhoods, and the
location off Fred Waring where this project site is located is ideal for this designation and
uses based off its proximity to surrounding residential and a major thoroughfare (Fred
Waring).
SECTION 3. CEQA Determination. The City Council finds that the Project is
exempt from CEQA per Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines as the Project is a Class
1 Exemption for “Existing Facilities” development. Class 1 applies to projects involving
the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of
existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical
features involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The proposed
project change of land use would impact existing facilities and allow for their operation
with additional uses. Additionally, the Project does not qualify for any of the exceptions
pursuant to Article 19 of the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 for “Exceptions.”
Docusign Envelope ID: 030C2353-7D68-4ACA-969E-650E1C6B6400
Resolution No. 2025-056 Page 3
SECTION 4. Change of Zone. The City Council approves the Change of Zone
presented, as depicted in Exhibit “A.”
SECTION 5. Based upon the foregoing findings and facts incorporated herein, the
City Council hereby approves CZ24-0002.
ADOPTED ON JUNE 26, 2025.
JAN C. HARNIK
MAYOR
ATTEST:
ANTHONY J. MEJIA
CITY CLERK
I, Anthony J. Mejia, City Clerk of the City of Palm Desert, hereby certify that
Resolution No. 2025-056 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Desert on June 26, 2025, by the
following vote:
AYES: NESTANDE, PRADETTO, QUINTANILLA, TRUBEE, AND HARNIK
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
RECUSED: NONE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the
City of Palm Desert, California, on ___________________.
ANTHONY J. MEJIA
CITY CLERK
Docusign Envelope ID: 030C2353-7D68-4ACA-969E-650E1C6B6400
6/27/2025
Arboleda Avenue
F
a
i
r
h
a
v
e
n
D
r
i
v
e
Vista
Bo
ni
t
a
F red W a r i ng D r i v e
Adonis
D
ri
v
e
Arboleda Avenue
F
a
i
r
h
a
v
e
n
D
r
i
v
e
Vista
Bo
nit
a
F r e d W a r i n g D ri v e
Adonis
D
ri
v
e
Existing
P.R. - Planned Residential O.P. - Office Professional
Proposed
Proposed Zone Change for
APN: 640-040-016
From Planned Residential 7 Units per acre to Office Professional
±
±
Docusign Envelope ID: 030C2353-7D68-4ACA-969E-650E1C6B6400