HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes No 2895PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2895
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PALM
DESERT, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE
A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
TO MODIFY THE CITY CENTER/DOWNTOWN SECTION OF THE
GENERAL PLAN AND TITLE 25 (ZONING) OF THE PALM DESERT
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REMOVE MINIMUM DENSITY REQUIREMENTS
AND ADD SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CARE CENTERS AS
AN ALLOWED LAND USE TYPE
CASE NOS. GPA/ZOA 25-0001
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65800 et seq. provides for the amendment
of any and all adopted City of Palm Desert (“City”) zoning laws, ordinances, rules and
regulations;
WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordinance Amendment and General Plan Amendment
(“Project”) is initiated by the City of Palm Desert Development Services Department and
modifies the City Center/Downtown Section of the General Plan and Title 25 (Zoning) of the
Palm Desert Municipal Code to remove minimum density requirements and adds single family
residential and day care centers as allowed land use types; and
WHEREAS, the City has complied with the requirements of the Local Planning and
Zoning Law (Government Code section 65100 et seq.), and the City’s applicable ordinances
and resolutions with respect to approval of amendments to Title 25 of the Palm Desert
Municipal Code (“Zoning Ordinance”); and
WHEREAS, the proposed Project would not create any nonconforming uses or
structures and makes the Municipal Code and General Plan consistent with existing
structures and uses; 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 under
Section 15061(b)(3) General Rule of the CEQA Guidelines of the CEQA Guidelines;
therefore, no further environmental review is necessary; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert, California, did on
the 15th day of July 2025, hold a duly noticed public hearing for approval of the above-noted
Project request, in compliance with Government Code Sections 65854 and 65090; 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:
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2895
2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the City of
Palm Desert, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Recitals. The Planning Commission hereby finds that the foregoing
recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this
Resolution.
SECTION 2. General Plan Amendment. As required by Palm Desert Municipal Code
“PDMC” Section 25.78.070, the following findings to approve a General Plan Amendment:
There is a substantial public benefit to be derived from such amendment and the proposed
amendment furthers the goals of the General Plan.
The provided General Plan Amendment clarifies that single family residential units are
allowed within the City Center/Downtown designation, which is consistent with the Palm
Desert Municipal Code and with existing single family residential units constructed and used
within the area. The removal of a minimum density allows additional opportunities for
development of sites within the area to increase the amount of housing units. The General
Plan Amendment does not introduce significant change but instead clarifies original intention
and existing uses for the City Center/Downtown.
SECTION 3. Zoning Ordinance Amendment (ZOA25-0001). As required by Palm Desert
Municipal Code “PDMC” Section 25.78.030, the Zoning Ordinance is amended to permit single-
family dwellings by right and day care centers with approval of a Conditional Use Permit within
the Downtown Edge Transition Overlay (DE-O) zone.
SECTION 4. CEQA Determination. The Planning Commission does recommend that
the City Council finds that this is not a “project,” as defined in the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical
change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment and concerns general policy and procedures.
SECTION 5. Project Recommendations. The Planning Commission hereby
recommends the City Council approve the General Plan Amendment (GPA25-0001), as
depicted in Exhibit “A”, attached hereto;; and
SECTION 6. Project Recommendations. The Planning Commission hereby
recommends the City Council approve the Zoning Text Amendment (ZOA25-0001), as
depicted in Exhibit “B”, attached hereto and
SECTION 7. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the
record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at the City’s office at
73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Rosie Lua, the Secretary to the Palm
Desert Planning Commission, is the custodian of the record of proceedings.
SECTION 8. Execution of Resolution. The Chairperson of the Planning Commission
signs this Resolution, and the Secretary to the Commission shall attest and certify to the
passage and adoption thereof.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2895
3
SECTION 9. Recitals. The Planning Commission hereby finds that the foregoing
recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein as substantive findings of this
Resolution.
ADOPTED ON July 15, 2025.
LINDSAY HOLT
CHAIRPERSON
ATTEST:
ROSIE LUA
SECRETARY
I, Rosie Lua, Secretary of the City of Palm Desert Planning Commission, hereby certify
that Resolution No. 2895 is a full, true, and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular
meeting of the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Desert on July 15, 2025, by the
following vote:
AYES: GREENWOOD, HOLT, MEYERHOFF, NICKERSON
NOES: COLLUM
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 August _26_, 2025.
ROSIE LUA
SECRETARY
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2895
4
EXHIBIT A
C R :GENERAL PLAN
|Y F M T
y n
t &e
To provide moderate to high-intensity mixed-use development anchored by civic,
cultural, entertainment, hotel,retail and dining activity that features a variety of
building sizes and housing choices.
Develo pmen t
DU/AC: 12.0 Up to 40
Commercial FAR: Up to 2.5
Allo w ed d s
A variety of civic, cultural, entertainment, retail, restaurant, and commercial services
activity along with multi-family dwellings organized along walkable streetscapes.
Single family residential may be located in areas of downtown abutting existing
neighborhoods near Alessandro Drive, Shadow Mountain Drive and Tumbleweed
Lane. Ground floor uses include retail, restaurant, service, and office uses, while
upper floors may accommodate residential and/or office uses. Residential uses are
generally prohibited on building ground floors fronting El Paseo and Highway 111.
I nt en ded l
e d
Streetscapes are urban with formal street tree arrangements, on-street parking and
are highly interconnected.
Par ks d n
Open space is primarily provided through the generous streetscapes and variety of
plaza open spaces at key gathering areas. Within larger mixed-use or multi-family
buildings, open space is provided in the form of courtyards which are shaded by the
buildings.
Buil t m d
Buildings are near or at the sidewalk to shape the commercial streetscapes, support
outdoor dining and for easy view of storefronts. Smaller buildings face streets and
public gathering spaces. Buildings are typically mixed-use up to 3 stories with taller
buildings up to 5 stories focused at key intersections and/or public open space. A
variety of housing choices, including lodging, up to 5 stories, are also allowed.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 2895
5
EXHIBIT B
4
*"/# *"#.)'0#-1'.#)#*0/
*./92
+@2$.A?6E3<?<D;A<D;6@A?60A@612;A6362@.99<D21B@2@.;10<??2@=<;16;4
=2?:6A?2>B6?2:2;A@3<?A521<D;A<D;16@A?60A@.;1.99<A52?=?<C6@6<;@<3A56@A6A922@0?6=A6<;@
1236;6A6<;@ <3 A52 9.;1 B@2@ 0.; /2 3<B;1 6; 5.=A2? 236;6A6<;@ *52 @=206.9 B@2
=?<C6@6<;@ 0<9B:; 6; A52 A./92 612;A6362@ A52 @=206360 05.=A2?<? @20A6<; D52?2 .116A6<;.9
?24B9.A6<;@3<?A5.AB@2AF=2.?29<0.A21D6A56;A56@A6A92
+@2@ A5.A .?2 ;<A 96@A21 .?2 ;<A =2?:6AA21 <D2C2? A52 <::6@@6<; :.F :.82 . B@2
12A2?:6;.A6<;.@<BA96;216;)20A6<; +@22A2?:6;.A6<;@
' B@2=2?:6AA21/F?645A
B@2?2>B6?2@.1:6;6@A?.A6C2B@2=2?:6A
B@2?2>B6?2@.==?<C.9<30<;16A6<;.9B@2=2?:6A
% B@2;<A=2?:6AA21
*"/#
+*#,#!' (/#
.+2'/'+*/
#/'"#*0' (/#/
002@@<?F1D2996;4B;6A ' ' ' '
@@6@A21#6C6;4 % % %
<;1<:6;6B:
D2996;41B=92E
'
D2996;4:B9A63.:69F
'
D2996;4@6;4923.:69F
%3
?<B=5<:2
%
!B;6<?.002@@<?F1D2996;4B;6A ' ' ' '
<:2/.@21/B@6;2@@ '
'
'
'
%.'!1(01.##( 0#"/#/
.?12;=?6C.A2
% '
?22;5<B@2=?6C.A2 % % '
<?A60B9AB?2=?6C.A2 % % '
#!.# 0'+*#/+1.!#/.#/#.2 0'+*,#*, !# *"1 ('! //#) (3/#/
9B/=?6C.A2 % % %
.F0.?202;A2?
%%
.F0.?29.?423.:69F % % % '
.F0.?2@:.993.:69F % % % '
;@A6ABA6<;21B0.A6<;.9 % %
6AF<3'.9:2@2?A
<D;9<.1213?<:5AA=@20<12 0<:'
<;
*"/#
+*#,#!' (/#
.+2'/'+*/
;@A6ABA6<;42;2?.9 % %
;@A6ABA6<;?29646<B@ % %
$205.;60.9<?2920A?<;604.:2@
'
'
' %
$205.;60.9<?2920A?<;604.:2@
%
(20?2.A6<;.93.0696AF6;0612;A.9 % % %
(20?2.A6<;3.0696AF=?6C.A2 % % % '
(20?2.A6<;3.0696AF=B/960 % % %
#0 '(#.2'!# *"$$'!#/#/
002@@<?F:.@@.422@A./96@5:2;A@ ' ' ' %
;0699.?F0<::2?06.9 % % %
;6:.996;60
%
?A4.992?F ' ' '
?A@AB16< '
'
<<8.;10.?1@5<=@ ' ' % %
21.;1/?2.83.@A % %
.;;./6@@A<?23?<;A?2A.69 % %
.;;./6@A2@A6;4.;1?2@2.?05
9./<?.A<?F
% % % %
9<A56;4.;1.==.?29@5<=@ ' ' ' %
<;C2;A6<;.;1C6@6A<?@/B?2.B '
'
%
?B4@A<?2 '
'
% %
6;.;06.96;@A6ABA6<; '
'
%
B?;6AB?2@A<?2@.;15<:23B?;6@56;4@ ' ' ' %
63A.;1.002@@<?62@/<BA6>B2@
6;09B16;4@:.99.;A6>B2@
' ' ' %
?<02?F@A<?2 )
% %
2.9A509B/4F:@<?@AB16<@
%
<A29
;12=2;12;A@A.;1.9<;2:.@@.42
2@A./96@5:2;A@
'
'
%
!2D29?F@5<=@ ' ' ' %
#6>B<?@A<?2 '
'
% %
#6>B<?/2C2?.42.;13<<16A2:@@5<= '
'
% %
#B44.42@5<=@ ' ' ' %
$2160.9096;60 '
'
' %
6AF<3'.9:2@2?A
G
G
<D;9<.1213?<:5AA=@20<12 0<:'
<;
*"/#
+*#,#!' (/#
.+2'/'+*/
$2160.9<33602 '
'
'
$2160.95<@=6A.9 '
'
$2160.99./<?.A<?F % % ' %
$<?AB.?F
% %
&33602=?<32@@6<;.9 ' ' ' '
&336029<0.94<C2?;:2;A '
'
' %
&33602;2645/<?5<<14<C2?;:2;A % % %
&33602A?.C29.42;0F ' ' ' %
"
&BA1<<?@.92@
%
'2?@<;.9@2?C602@ ' ' ' %
(2@A.B?.;A
%
(2A.69 ' ' ' %
(2A.69/B98F6A2:@ '
'
%
(2A.69 <930.?A@.;1;2645/<?5<<1
2920A?60C256092@% ,
% %
)=. ' ' '
)B;1?62@@5<=@42;2?.9:2?05.;16@2 ' ' ' %
*6:2@5.?2=?<720A
% %
0'('03. */,+.0 0'+*1 ('! !'('03 *"
+))1*'! 0'+*/#/
6?2@A.A6<;
<::2?06.90<::B;60.A6<;A<D2?
<::2?06.9=.?86;49<A ' '
&33602=.?86;49<A % % %
#
'B/960@2?C6023.0696AF % % %
+A696AF3.0696AF % % %
+A696AF6;@A.99.A6<; % %
10+)+ '(# *"#&'!(#/#/
BA<:<A6C2?2;A.9.42;0F ' ' %
BA<:<A6C2@2?C602@A.A6<; % %
#),+. .3/#/)22)20A6<;
+@2@=?<56/6A21.9<;4 9'.@2<3.06;44?<B;139<<?3?<;A.42@
*522@A./96@5:2;A:.F/2=2?:6AA21D6A5.;.1:6;6@A?.A6C2B@2=2?:6A/BA:.F/2292C.A21A<.0<;16A6<;.9
B@2=2?:6A.AA5216@0?2A6<;<3A52-/.@21<;=.?86;4A?.3360<?<A52?6:=.0A@
&33602=?<32@@6<;.9B@2@.9<;4 9'.@2<3.06;44?<B;139<<?3?<;A.42@D6A56;A52 9'.@2<&C2?9.F16@A?60A:.F
/2.99<D21@B/720AA<.0<;16A6<;.9B@2=2?:6A=2?)20A6<;
9'.@2<&C2?9.F16@A?60A
6AF<3'.9:2@2?A
G
G
<D;9<.1213?<:5AA=@20<12 0<:'
<;
<:2 <00B=.A6<; B@2@ .?2 =2?:6AA21 6; ?2@612;A6.9 1D2996;4 B;6A@ 6; .==?<C21 ?2@612;A6.9 .;1 :6E21B@2
12C29<=:2;A@
$2160.9<33602@2E6@A6;4.;1<=2?.A6;4D6A5.;.==?<=?6.A26AF/B@6;2@@9602;@2=?6<?A< .?2=2?:6AA21
/F?645AA<0<;A6;B2<=2?.A6;4D6A5<BA?2>B6?6;4.;.1:6;6@A?.A6C2B@2=2?:6A
+@2<;9F=2?:6AA21<;=?<=2?A62@D6A53?<;A.42.9<;4 645D.F
&?1
&?1
G
&?1
G
&?1
G &?1
G
&?1
G &?1%<
6AF<3'.9:2@2?A
G
G
<D;9<.1213?<:5AA=@20<12 0<:'
<;