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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0930 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING September 30, 1974 MIDDLE SCHOOL - 7: 00 P.M. I . CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Palm Desert Planning Com- mission was called to order by the Chairman at 7: 00 .. P.M. on September 30, 1974, at the Palm Desert Middle School. II . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III . ROLL CALL Present : Commissioners : ED MULLINS , WILLIAM SEIDLER S. ROY WILSON, C. ROBERT HUBBARD Absent : Commissioners: MARY K. VAN DE MARK Others Present : Director of Environmental Services - Paul A. Williams City Attorney - Dave Erwin Assistant Planner - Sam Freed IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. The minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of September 16, 1974 were approved as submitted. .w V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None VI . PUBLIC HEARINGS Chairman Hubbard explained the public hearing proce- dure. A. Continued Case No. Conditional Use Permit - 12-74-PD - SUMMERFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORP. - A Consideration of a request for a CUP for a 142- unit planned residential development to be located on appriximately 20. 6 acres south of State High- way 111, east of Driftwood, north of Candlewood, and west of the City of Indian Wells. (Continued from meeting of September 3, 1974. ) - R-l+ and R-3+. Mr. Williams stated that this matter has been contin- ued from the September 3, 1974 meeting. He referred to a letter from the applicant stating that the appli- cant wishes to withdraw the request. Staff recommended the matter be withdrawn at this time. Commissioner Mullins made such a motion, Commissioner m Seidler seconded the motion, and the motion was un- animously carried. Commissioner Mary K. Van de Mark arrived at 7 : 07 P.M. B. Case No. ICAP Amendment - 01-74-PD - Mr. Joseph Blumenfeld - Consideration of a request to amend the Interim Palm Desert Core Area Plan to change Planning Commission Meeting -2- September 30, 1974 the land-use designation from Hotel/Motel/Eat- ing/Entertainment Commercial to Service Commer- cial and to change the plan design to indicate a community shopping center on 8. 98 acres lo- cated south of Avenue 44, west of the Palm Valley Storm Channel , and N. E. of State Highway 111 - C-P-S. Mr. Williams summarized the Staff Report , indicating the attached letter from Robert Ricciardi expressed the position of the applicant. Mr. Williams stated that the request does meet the recently adopted park- ing ordinance . Staff recommended approval by Com- mission Resolution No. 11 for the reasons stated in the Staff Report . Chairman Hubbard asked if there were any questions of Staff . There being none, he asked if the appli- cant was in attendance. Mr. Robert Ricciardi - 73-700 Highway 111 , represent- ing the applicant , stated the real issue is the traf- fic. He stated that their feeling is that their lo- cation would be a better site than the one across the street because of the matter of right turns vs. left turns. He explained the traffic circulation on the map. He stated that the applicant has agreed to landscape 30 feet on to his property adjacent to Highway 111. The applicant would be glad to put in or build anything the City would require in terms of bicycle path, etc. Chairman Hubbard explained to Mr. Ricciardi that the „f„o Commission was only considering the Core Area Plan revision tonight . Commissioner Seidler asked if 30 feet would be land- scaped from Highway 111, and also what does the Core Area Plan recommend as far as the setback from the highway. Mr. Williams answered 40 to 60 feet in width. Chairman Hubbard asked if he could clarify. Mr. Williams stated that 40 to 60 feet was shown starting from Rancho Mirage. The purpose is to have noise buffering and landscape buffering. Chairman Hubbard asked if there were any other ques- tions. There being none, he declared the public hear- ing closed. Commissioner Wilson stated he felt this is a legiti- mate location for a neighborhood shopping center rather than this site indicated to the north on the Core Area Plan. w.. Commissioner Wilson moved, Commissioner Mullins sec- onded that Resolution No. 11 be adopted recommending the revision of the Core Area Plan on the subject property to the City Council. The motion was carried by the following vote: AYES : MULLINS , SEIDLER, VAN DE MARK, WILSON, HUBBARD NOES : NONE Planning Commission Meeting -3- September 30, 1974 Commissioner Seidler asked that before going on, he would like to ask a question concerning what do we do with the other parcel presently shown as service commercial north of 44th Avenue. He suggested Staff give the Commission some recommendation on what to do with this additional area that is now designated for service commercial . He stated the Commission would like to resolve this, and would like the Staff to review what we do with that parcel . Chairman Hubbard asked if anyone else wished to com- ment on this matter. Commissioner Mullins stated we would like to see some recommendation. Give us some ideas on what will be done on that . Commissioner Wilson asked Mr. Williams that if the amendment were approved, would it be logical that Wilsey & Ham would restudy this particular area. Mr. Williams stated that it is outside the scope of Wilsey & Ham' s present contract . However, they were embarking on a redevelopment program. He stated he would recommend that the Commission direct him to send Wilsey & Ham a recommendation that as a part of the redevelopment program a possible new use be recommended for the parcel presently designated as service commer- cial north of 44th Avenue. Chairman Hubbard stated it was a wise move. He indi- cated that he personally questioned the appropriate- ness of Hotel/Motel uses in this area. tow Commissioner Van de Mark stated there is quite a bit of R-1 in that area at the present time. Perhaps it could be considered that maybe it could be turned into residential instead of Hotel/Motel/Eating/En- tertainment as is presently shown in the Core Area Plan. VII . OLD BUSINESS A. Continued Case No. P.P. 13MF - SAFREN DEVELOPMENT COMPANY - Consideration of a Plot Plan for 68- unit planned residential development located on 21. 5 acres situated west of Cook Street and south- erly from State Highway 111 - R-1-10,000. Mr. Williams stated that the development previously considered in May had received approval for a 92-unit development . The new applicants thought it appro- priate to reduce the number of units and change the recreation uses to include a 9-hole golf course. The applicants submitted a revised plot plan. Mr. Williams recommended approval subject to some 8 conditions, the most important of which was condi- tion "g" requiring undergrounding of an existing line along Cook Street . The applicant totally agrees with Staff that the utilities should be underground, but his loans are committed. He has requested that after the sale of the last 46 units, he could not occupy another unit until the undergrounding occurred. He is in complete agreement with this requirement . Planning Commission Meeting -4- September 30, 1974 Staff recommends approval subject to the recommended conditions. Chairman Hubbard asked Dave Erwin if he felt there would be any problem with the condition on under- grounding. City Attorney Erwin stated that they are not phasing the project , there should be no problem. tow Chairman Hubbard asked Mr. Williams if this area had been cleared with the Flood Control District . Mr. Williams replies that such considerations were covered under the tentative map. Chairman Hubbard asked if there were any questions the commissioners wished to ask of the Staff . Commissioner Seidler stated that he had two comments. One concerned the 6 foot wall under construction. He stated he would like to see Condition "c" expan- ded. He requested that Staff discuss with the de- veloper to see if he couldn' t put in things like sections of wrought iron, etc. , to give a more open look to the project . He stated he would like to have the Director of Environmental Services review this before approval. Second, he stated concern with the great size of the waterways within the project . He suggested reducing the amount of water, and that Staff should have the opportunity to discuss this with the developer. ,., Mr. Williams stated that the wall was discussed in some detail and approved under the previous considera- tion. Under the required provision, the wall was reviewed by the City and received approval . However, he stated he would talk to the developer about some change in the wall. Chairman Hubbard responded to the waterways on the project . He stated he would like to suggest that the Commission do not get into this cutting down of waterways and lakes. He stated that the City is go- ing to have these on every development . Commissioner Seidler moved, Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion to approve Reso- lution No. 12 subject to Staff conditions, the motion was carried by the following vote : AYES : MULLINS , SEIDLER, VAN DE MARK, WILSON, HUBBARD NOES: NONE VIII . NEW BUSINESS A. Case No. P.P. 1073 - DESTINATION RESORT CORPORA- TION - Consideration of landscaping, grading, exterior lighting, amenities , trash storage, walk- way layout , and irrigation plans for Phase 1 of the Shadow Mountain Resort and Racquet Club, which was required as a condition from the previously- approved Plot Plan - R-3-4000. Planning Commission Meeting -5- September 30, 1974 Mr. Williams read the Staff Report and Condition No. 4 of the original Conditions of Approval, which required submittal of plans. He stated that the Staff found the plans acceptable. Chairman Hubbard stated that he had looked at the plot plan, and said that this is going to make a great difference to the adjacent Shadow Mountain Country Club. It would appear that we should have the golf club see the plot plan. It is not manda- tory, but it should be something we should do since the contractor did not plan to start before Spring. Mr. Williams stated the developers seem anxious to move ahead. He suggested that the most appropriate way to go would be to delegate the final approval of the plans to the Staff and request that the con- tractor meet with the Board of Directors of the country club and verify the plans are acceptable to the country club. Chairman Hubbard asked if the country club was no- ticed on the original approval . Mr. Williams stated that he was not aware of their being notified. Mr. Erwin stated he assumed they were in on the orig- inal C.U.P. and tentative tract . Chairman Hubbard stated we should be sure the directors have seen the plans, and give them the opportunity to say "yes, we ' ve seen them" . Chairman Hubbard feels that if they have an objection the plans, there will be many people involved. Commissioner Seidler stated that this plan was ap- proved many months ago. The City has made every legal attempt to see that everyone in the area was aware of it , and it would not be appropriate to hold up the approval of landscape plans for the project . Chairman Hubbard asked, "if they haven' t seen it , is it too late?" Commissioner Seidler stated he thought it was too late several months ago. Chairman Hubbard stressed that he was of the opinion that the Planning Commission should lean over back- wards to be sure the residents have ample notice and are aware of it . A two-week delay wouldn ' t hurt any- thing. Mr. Williams stated that the Planning Commission was getting somewhat off the track. Tonight the Commis- sion is only considering the landscape, lighting and grading plans. He indicated that we should not hold up this element , if landscaping is sufficient , light- ing is adequate, etc. Commissioner Wilson suggested that we should move approval based on the Staff ' s recommendation and per- haps Mr. Williams should meet with the club to make sure. Planning Commission Meeting -6- September 30, 1974 Chairman Hubbard asked if the representative of the country club could appeal. Mr. Erwin stated that the appeal time on the orig- inal plot plan approval had run out. The approval has been given the project . It was suggested that Chairman Hubbard, since he is friendly with the president of the board of directors wow of the country club, speak to him personally to find out if the country club is aware of what ' s going on. Commissioner Seidler moved, Commissioner Wilson seconded the motion that based on Staff ' s review and report , that Commission approve the plans as submitted. The motion was carried by the following vote : AYES : MULLINS, SEIDLER, VAN DE MARK, WILSON NOES : NONE ABSTAIN: HUBBARD B. Requesting the Determination of Proposed Public Works Projects in the City of Palm Desert . Mr. Williams read the four sewer projects within Palm Desert. He recommended that the Planning Com- mission find the projects in conformance with Cove Communities General Plan. Chairman Hubbard asked if there were any questions tow to the Staff regarding this item on the agenda. There being none, Commissioner Van de Mark moved, Commis- sioner Wilson seconded the motion approving Planning Commission Resolution No. 13 which carried by the following vote: AYES : MULLINS , SEIDLER, VAN DE MARK, WILSON, HUBBARD NOES : NONE IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None X. COMMENTS A. City Staff - None B. City Attorney - None C. Planning Commissioners - None XI . ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Van de Mark moved and Commissioner Mul- lins seconded the meeting be adjourned. The motion boo was unanimously carried. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 55 P.M. Planning Commission Meeting -7- September 30, 1974 UL A. WILLIAMS, Secretary ATTEST: B RT ARD, Chairman *M %No