HomeMy WebLinkAbout0617 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
June 17, 1974
MIDDLE SCHOOL, 7:00 P.M.
I . CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Palm Desert Planning Commission was
called to order by the Chairman at 7: 05 P.M. on June 17, 1974 at the
Palm Desert Middle School .
II . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III . ROLL CALL
Present : Commissioners : JEAN BENSON, NOEL BRUSH, JIM
McPHERSON, HENRY CLARK
Absent : Commissioners: CHUCK ASTON
Others Present :
City Manager - Harvey L. Hurlburt
Director of Environmental Services - Paul A. Williams
City Attorney - Dave Erwin
Planning Assistant - Sam Freed
Building Inspector - James Hill
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of June 10,
1974 were approved as submitted.
V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None
VI . PUBLIC HEARING - None
VII . OLD BUSINESS
A. Case No. P.P. 1069 - R. Ricciardi - Request for revised Plot
Plan approval to construct a one-story building in the
existing Market Basket Complex located at the northwest
corner of the intersection of El Paseo and Larkspur Lane.
Mr. Williams presented the applicant ' s revised Plot Plan to
show additional landscaping and trees, and to provide additional pockets
of landscaping to enhance the appearance. He recommended staff ap-
proval subject to the four conditions enumerated in the recommended
conditions of approval.
Commissioner McPherson moved, Commissioner Benson seconded,
that Plot Plan 1069 be approved subject to staff conditions . Motion
carried unanimously.
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V I I I . NEW BUSINESS '
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A. Case No. P.P. 5MF - EL DORADO HOMES - Request for Plot
Plan approval to construct 236 condominium units , within
i 59 one and two story clusters as part of the Deep Canyon
Tennis Club , which is located easterly of State Hwy. 74
between Tamarisk and Haystack.
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Mr. Williams presented the request for construction of 180
additional condominium units, located in 45 buildings on the 55-acre
# project and reviewed basis for recommending denial as set forth in
1 items 1 and 2 of the Staff report .
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Applicant John Van Daele, General Manager, E1 Dorado homes ,
developers of Deep Canyon Tennis Club , commended Mr. Williams on his
s assessment of the project . He stated the application was filled out
for plot plan approval and under Ordinance 12 the owner has entitle-
ment to use and should not have to defend project . He further stated
that all grading had been completed, all sewers , water and engineering
work completed, representing an investment of one million dollars
worth of work; that an additional $450 , 000 has been spent for rec-
reational facilities and that $3 , 500,000 has been invested to date
in the project and the end result will be an 11 million dollar invest-
ment . In addition it was stated that the project had had difficulties,
but had approval of the Board of Supervisors of Riverside and that developers had worked wi County,
,,,, th the Palm Desert Property Owners '
Association on grading and elevations ; that the pads had been lowered
by 3 feet, and that the Architectural Review Board of the Association
gave approval . After the models were started, the Association decided
to hire John McCarthy, attorney, who obtained an injunction which was
followed by an appeal being filed by developers . Subsequently , the
Concerned Citizens took over the law suit and their attorney, John
McCarthy was paid $3,960 ultimately to drop appeal.
Mr. Van Daele further stated that present for the meeting
were Mr. Ulysses Bauer , in-house Architect with El Dorado Homes ,
Frank Peltrop , in-house pro with E1 Dorado Homes , and Wesley Hyland,
of the firm of Wilsey and Ham, Consultants.
Mr. Wesley Hyland, associate with Wilsey and Ham, Planning
Consultants , spoke stating the firm had been retained to make some
comments on grading plans and were not engineers for the project .
He presented a plan, that through grading and use of landscaping,
it was possible to retain some water and detain some, which would
not discharge on the sub-division . Basically , he stated when project
was graded and landscaped, it would take care of the flows that
would normally come from this area. He asked what Staff is asking
for in relation to objection of attorneys.
Mayor Clark asked if the retention basins and dispersing
1 basins were installed throughout the project.
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Mr. Hyland replied the firm was not the engineers of record,
but that the basins had been recommended, and at this point , the
project being newly landscaped, had necessitated more watering than
normally required.
Mr. Ulysses Bauer, Project Architect, spoke and presented
line of sight maps of the ten buildings on northerly side of the project
looking south from Tamarisk that are one and two stories in height .
Mr. Williams commented the map shows buildings from point
to point view and that it is out of perspective in terms of the full
impact of the mass of the two-story buildings.
Mr. Frank Peltrop, Recreation Director for the Project ,
spoke and said that Deep Canyon Tennis Club afforded recreation
facilities that were outstanding and the best in Palm Desert.
Mayor Clark commented the concerns were with view obstruction
and problems of water drainage.
George Ritter, member of the Palm Desert Property Owners '
Association, representing self, spoke that in the beginning the project
was done by another architect who had been consistently warned of
the water problem. One of the conditions was to see that a grading
plan be submitted providing for water storage and drainage , but that
it was never submitted for the Palm Desert Property Owners ' review.
Mayor Clark commented that the solution was within the project
itself for the handling of the major portion of water.
Commissioner Benson commented that the water flows like a
river down the streets . Commissioner Jim McPherson felt maybe the
street water system is the city ' s responsibility and not the developer's.
Commissioners asked other questions as to why retarding; water basins,
that would help control run-off, were not installed when project started.
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Mr. Van Daele agreed that there was a problem due to water
run-off and further agreed to correct the problem. lie also stated
that the water flow would be cciisiderably less when landscaping and
construction are completed. He further agreed, in hopes of im-
proving the adjacent homes ' view, to limit the ten controversial
condominiums to one story and pleaded hardship , requesting the
Planning; Commission to not delay (on the north side) approval of
the 180 units.
Mr. Bernard Leung, of the Palm Desert Property Owners '
Architectural Review Committee , stated that at the initial meeting
the Association was provided with profile grades cutting through
rr. north and south in order to see heights being designed. The first
profile drawing was out of scale, and a precise profile was never
submitted.
City Manager Hurlburt suggested a 30 day continuance to allow
developer time to work out drainage problems and suggested considera-
tion again on the Planning Commission agenda of July 15 , 1974.
Commissioner Benson moved to rehear matter on July 15 so
that problems regarding height and drainage could be worked out ;
Commissioner Brush seconded motion.Motion carried by the following vote :
AYES : Benson, Brush and Clark
NOES : McPherson
ABSENT: Aston
B. Case No. P. P. 6MF - Mrs . E . Davidson - Request for Plot Plan
approval to construct a 14-room addition to the Carousel
Resort Motel at 45-640 State Hwy. 74.
Mr. Williams presented the request for plot plan approval to
construct a 14-room addition to the Carousel Resort Motel and rec-
ommended approval subject to 8 conditions in Staff Report .
Commissioner Brush moved, Commissioner Benson seconded, that
the plot plan be approved subject to staff conditions as enumerated.
Commissioner Brush amended motion to include curb and gutter on
Hwy. 74 side of the project ; Commissioner Benson accepted amendment .
Motion, as amended, carried by the following vote :
AYES : Benson, Brush, McPherson and Clark
NOES: None
ABSENT:Aston
George Ritter stated curbs and gutters were planned on entire
project .
Mr. Williams stated Palm Desert Property Owners ' Association are
in favor of the project and that the west side curbs and gutters were
in and that the east side curbs and gutters were not in.
C. Case No. P. P. 7MF - Feature Homes , Inc. - Request for Plot
Plan approval to construct 24 single family residences , east
of Alamo between Somera and Bel Air.
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�. Mr. Williams presented the request for plot plan approval of 24
single family residences and recommended approval , subject to 6
staff conditions.
Commissioner McPherson moved, Commissioner Benson seconded,that
plot plan be approved subject to staff conditions as set forth. Motion
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unanimously carried.
IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None
X. COMMENTS
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A. City Staff
Recommendation of Wilsey and Ham on Sphere of Influence
It was reported that Hunter Cook, of Wilsey and Ham,
had completed a review of the areas surrounding Palm Desert and that
the firm has developed several options of the Sphere of Influence .
Recommended areas include A, B, C and E, providing quality planning
for development of Palm Desert .
Commissioner McPherson asked if Thousand Palms were included
and Mayor Clark stated that area was not included.
Mayor Clark recommended that the Planning Commission recommend
to the City Council that they adopt by Resolution the recommended
Sphere of Influence and send to the County for filing.
Commissioner Brush moved, and Commissioner McPherson sec-
onded, that we recommend to the Council preparation of a Resolution,
for submission to the County for filing, at the City Council meeting
following this meeting. Motion unanimously carried.
B. City Attorney - None
C. Planning Commissioners - None
XI . ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 8: 55 p.m.
Willetta G. Morris - Secretary
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AT EST:
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HENRY B. CLAK, MAYOR
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