HomeMy WebLinkAbout0716 CITY OF PALM DESERT
MINUTES
JOINT PLANNING COMMISSION/CITY COUNCIL
STUDY SESSION - JULY 16 , 1975
Present : Councilman McPherson
Councilman Brush
Councilman Aston
Commissioner Seidler
Commissioner Wilson
Commissioner Berkey
Commissioner Mullins
Harvey Hurlburt , City Manager
Paul Williams , Director of Environmental Services
Sam Freed, Assistant Planner
The meeting was called to order at 7 : 35 P .M. , in the City Hall
Conference Room.
Commissioner SEIDLER made the following comments on the operation
of the current DRB:
- not very organized; they still haven' t elected a per-
manent chairman.
- comments of some DRB members appear to have an abrasive
effect on the applicants .
- an applicant should be present in the same .room when
the DRB is discussing that applicant ' s case.
- single-family homes should be turned over to staff for
approval .
Councilman ASTON stated that having an applicant in the room when
his project was being discussed could turn a meeting into a
"horse-trading" session.
It was the consensus of the group that the Mayor should send
a letter to the DRB directing them to appoint a chairman and
vice-chairman at their next meeting. The letter should also
indicate that the DRB meetings should be open to the appli-
cants for their input, and the DRB should make every effort
to complete the development standards within the next 60 days .
Councilman McPHERSON felt that the most important improvement that
could be made was for the DRB to adopt a set of design stand-
ards . Process is too arbitrary at present .
City Manager HURLBURT distributed a handout which noted the vast
difference in review time for a single-family home in Palm
Desert versus Rancho Mirage or Palm Springs .
Councilman ASTON questioned whether or not the DRB could be made
an advisory body to staff.
City Manager HURLBURT summarized other problems with the DRB, such
... as difficulty in getting a quorum and the inconsistency that
results when a project is reviewed by the Staff, then by the
DRB, then goes to Planning Commission.
Councilman SEIDLER recommended that current staff members on the
DRB be made voting members . Consensus of the group was that
staff on DRB should become voting members ; single-family homes
should be reviewed only by staff; and the DRB should concen-
trate on adopting design standards within 60 days .
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Staff was directed to propose the necessary amendments
to the DRB Ordinance to accomplish these changes .
A discussion then ensued regarding the philosophy of requiring
developers to pay for public improvements .
Commissioner SEIDLER commented that the City' s philosophy
appeared to be to make the developer pay as much as possible.
This being due to the fact that a large part of the City
budget goes to pay for development-oriented services . He
wanted to know if Council wanted the Planning Commission to
follow the same approach. Council members present responded
r. affirmatively. He also requested that the PC be advised of
other Council policy matters .
Councilman ASTON suggested that Staff provide the liaison between
Council and the PC when new policy is established.
Councilman BRUSH commented on the recent remodeling of a building
by Toni O'Malley and explained the previous City policy on
traffic access onto Highway 111.
Commissioner SEIDLER questioned Council members as to their
position on City acquisition of property for parking and
circulation improvements in the prototype block.
Councilman BRUSH responded that Council was close to the beginning
of property acquisition procedures .
Meeting adjourned at 9 :45 P.M.
/�2rz e/
`SAM FREED, Assistant Planner
ATTEST:
IAl^
HARVEY L. URLBU ity Manager
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