HomeMy WebLinkAboutA. Case No. CUP/PP 08-263 - The Living Desert CITY OF, PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Approval of a request by the Living Desert, located at 47900 Portola
Avenue, for a Conditional Use Permit per Municipal Code Section
25.38 and for a Precise Plan Amendment. The request would revise
the original Living Desert plan to construct, (in four phases), new
zoological exhibits and a new entry complex as follows: Phase 1:
African lion, meerkat, rock hyrax enclosures, Phase 2: crocodile,
tortoise, lovebird, serval enclosures, Phase 3: future entry
complex/events building, Phase 4: future hyena and rhinoceros
enclosures.
A Mitigated Negative Declaration resulting from an Environmental
Assessment pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) has been prepared for the proposed project.
SUBMITTED BY: Renee Schrader, Associate Planner
APPLICANT: The Living Desert
47900 Portola Avenue
Palm Desert, CA
ARCHITECT: Scott Ramser, AIA
WDM Architects
105 N. Washington
Wichita, Kansas
CASE NO(s): CUP/PP 08-263
DATE: January 6, 2008
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its December 2, 2008 Planning Commission meeting, staff presented a report
and findings regarding a request to revise the original Living Desert plan with a
project in four phases. Some of the proposed various new exhibits for the 6.5
acre project included a lion exhibit and future special events building. After
listening to testimony from the public attending the December 2, 2008 meeting,
the Planning Commission continued decisive action for CUP/PP 08-263 to the
January 6, 2008 meeting. The continuance would provide staff and the
Staff Report
Case No.s CUP/PP 08-263
January 6, 2008
Page 2 of 2
commission with sufficient background to address the individual public
comments stated in opposition of the project.
The project proponents, Terrie Correll, COO, The Living Desert, and Scott
Ramser, AIA, WDM Architects, were unable to respond to the Commission's
continued date until they checked their respective calendars the following day.
As a result they were unable to express during said Planning Commission
meeting that they were unavailable to attend the January 6, 2008 meeting.
II. CONCLUSION:
After careful examination of the project issues raised by neighbors at the
December 2, 2008 hearing, and reflecting on the optimum dates for each of the
applicants and their respective schedules; the Living Desert proponents have
respectfully requested that the meeting be continued to the February 17, 2008
Planning Commission hearing.
III. RECOMMENDATION:
That the Planning Commission continue the public hearing to the February 17,
2009 Planning Commission meeting.
IV. ATTACHMENTS:
A. DRAFT Minutes of the December 2, 2008 Planning Commission meeting
Submitted by: Department Head:
Renee Sch ad r Lauri A laian
Associate Planner Director of Community Development
Approval:
Homer Croy
ACM for Dev: op ent Services