Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout0915 MINUTES PLANNING COn.4MISSION MEETING September 15, 1975 City Hall Council Chambers I . CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Palm Desert Planning Commission was called to order by the Chairman at 7 : 03 p .m. on September 15 , 1975 in the City Hall Council Chambers. II . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III . ROLL CALL Present Commissioners GEORGE BERKEY, ED MULLINS , WILLIAM SEIDLER, MARY VAN DE MARK, S . ROY WILSON Also Present Paul Williams - Dir. of Environmental Services Steve Fleshman - Associate Planner IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. The minutes of August 18 , 1975 were amended on page 3 , paragraph 4 , to reflect 60' wide lots instead of 50 ' wide lots . Commissioner Berkey moved, Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried unanimously. B. The minutes of September 2 , 1975 were amended on page 2 , paragraph 1 , by revising the first two sentences to read. . . "Chairman Seidler directed Staff to write back that no action would be taken to increase the density in that area. " On page 5, paragraph 2 , "the applicant was requesting" was deleted for clarity. Commissioner Wilson moved, Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion to approve the minutes as amended. Motion carried unanimously. bow V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS - None VI . PUBLIC HEARING A. _Case No. C/Z 01-73 GERALD MOSS PROPERTIES : Request for change of zone from W-2 (Controlled Development ) and R-2-5000 (Multiple Family Dwellings) to C-P-S (Scenic Highway Commercial) , R-3 (Residential) , and N-A (Natural Assets) on property located west of Painters Path and south of the westerly extension of Avenue 44. Before opening the Public Hearing , Chairman Seidler noted that all items on the Agenda had been reviewed and discussed prior to the meeting for the purpose of obtaining a full understanding of staff ' s reports . No decisions are made during Study Session ; and they are open to the public. Chairman Seidler explained the public hearing procedures and opened the hearing for the first case. Paul Williams reviewed a request from John L. Sanborn , re- presentative of Gerald Moss, to continue the public hearing on the change of land use until after hearings on the city-wide Zoning Ordinance. Based upon this request , Staff recommended that this matter be continued until the last meeting of February , 1976 . All adjacent property owners would be renoticed prior to the hearing. There being no comments, Chairman Seidler closed the public hearing. Commissioner Mullins moved, Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion to continue this case until the last Planning Commission meeting in February, 1976. Motion carried unanimously. F MINUTES -2- September 15, 1975 VII . OLD BUSINESS A. Case No. 10C BERNIE LEUNG, AIA-Applicant : Request for approval of Theatre Marquee for Palms to Pines, Phase III . Steve Fleshman presented the staff report ; and recommended approval by Planning Commission Resolution No. 80 , subject to the attached conditions . After a review of the marquee drawings, Chair- man Seidler asked if the color and materials used for the sign sup- ports were specified under the conditions of approval. Mr . Fleshman replied no. Chairman Seidler recommended that this condition be added to the conditions of approval . Commissioner Van de Mark commented that the sign was an awfully long expanse of signage and suggested that perhaps it could be staggered in three sections. Chairman Seidler asked the applicant to present the material he had concerning the lighting of the sign . Mr. Fleshman advised that Palm Springs ' standard for light intensity was a maximum of 10 candlepower at 10 feet ; and suggested the Commission use this standard as a guideline. FRED STEIN, 511 Chino Canyon Road, Palm Springs, Chairman of the Board for Century Cinemas , commented that he had no objection with staggering the sign or any other design. His main concern was that the threatre would have three distinctive , readable signs to advertise the films playing. He then presented two samples of plastic colors (ivory and dark cream) with the actual 92" black letters. BERNIE LEUNG, 73960 El Paseo , Palm Desert , project architect , demonstrated the light intensity using each sample. After a brief discussion , Commissioner Wilson asked if the applicant had any objection with changing the color of the letters to dark brown instead of black, to maintain a more harmonious color scheme with the colors of the sign. Both Mr. Stein and Mr. Leung were in agreement with Commissioner Wilson ' s suggestion for the color change. Commissioner Van De Mark asked Mr . Leung if there would be any aesthetic value in staggering the signs in some way instead of straight across. Mr. Leung explained that when they went through the design process for the sign , they had several designs including staggering the panels. After a lengthy study, they decided that a very simple design concept , as presented, was the best approach. He then ex- plained the design problems involved if the panels were to be staggered. After Mr. Leung ' s explanation, Commissioner Van de Mark agreed that the present design concept of the sign was the most appropriate. Chairman Seidler closed the public hearing . A lengthy discussion then ensued regarding lettering, materials , height , colors, and landscaping surrounding the sign. The Planning Commission recommended the following changes and additions to the conditions of approval : Condition #6 Colors were changed to dark brown , 9z" letters on an ivory colored background. Condition #8 The light intensity of the sign shall be a maximum of 10 candlepower at a distance of 10 feet . Condition #9 Wood members of the sign shall be dark brown as per material board. f MINUTES -3- September 15, 1975 Condition #10 Casing shall be metal and painted a dark brown to be compatible with the other colors of the sign. Commissioner Wilson moved that Resolution No. 80 be approved with the attached conditions as amended. Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion which carried unanimously. VIII . NEW BUSINESS A. Case No. PM 7078 IRIS CARMEL-Applicant : Request for lot consolidation of three 50 ' x 207 ' parcels (Lots 4 , 5 , & 6) into one 150 ' x 207' parcel and a waiver of the final map, on the north side of El Paseo, between Portola and San Luis Rey. Steve Fleshman presented the staff report . It was staff ' s recommendation that the Planning Commission approve the parcel con- solidation and waiver of the final map by Planning Commission Resolution No. 81 with the attached conditions. After a review of the conditions , Chairman Seidler asked for comments from the applicant , if present . The applicant was not present and there were no further comments. Commissioner Mullins moved, Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion to approve Resolution No. 81 with the attached conditions. Motion carried unanimously. B. Case No. 20C EL PASEO PROPERTIES-Applicant : Request for approval of a 12, 730 square foot medical building with 65 parking spaces, located on the north side of El Paseo between Portola and Highway 111 . Steve Fleshman presented the staff report and recommended approval of the plot plan and architectural drawings by Planning Commission Resolution No. 82 subject to the attached conditions . He added that this case had been reviewed and approved by the Design Review Board as submitted. After reviewing the 16 conditions of approval , Mr. Fleshman recommended the addition of Condition #17 stipulating that the applicant shall grant an easement to the City or other appropriate agency for the entire parking area. Chairman Seidler asked for comments from the applicant . ROBERT RICCIARDI , 73700 Highway 111 , Palm Desert , project architect , commented that the applicant was agreeable to all the con- ditions except #10 regarding the trash storage area. He explained that this property was part of another piece of property owned by the same people. There was a very large trash storage area in exis- tence which was adequate for use by both the existing building and the proposed building. Therefore, he recommended that the Planning Commission consider the deletion of Condition #10. Staff advised that this request would be appropriate , however , the pickup frequency may have to be increased to suit the needs of both buildings. Commissioner Mullins moved, Commissioner Berkey seconded the motion to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 82 subject to the attached conditions as amended (deletion of Condition #10 .. and the addition of Condition #17) . Motion carried unanimously. I MINUTES -4- September 15, 1975 C. Review of Resolution on HILLSIDE DEVELOPMENT GUIDELINES. (Development Standard No. 1) Paul Williams gave a summary of the Hillside Development Guidelines indicating that they were to be applied as part of the Hillside Overlay Zone in the new Zoning Ordinance. He advised the Commission that a more formal presentation would be made at a subsequent Planning Commission meeting. After some discussion the Commission accepted Mr. Williams ' report . D. Revision #8 of the Planning Schedule After a review of the proposed schedule for upcoming planning activities, two meetings were set at a later date , those being the review of the Prototype Block Program with Property Owners in the Block and with the Project Area Committee. Both meetings were re- scheduled to February, 1976. E. Report on Scheduling of Development Projects Paul Williams advised that the City was coming up to a very important milestone in the Commission ' s process of implementing the General Plan. At the same time , the City was receiving a number of requests to be reviewed by the Commission. Under the normal schedule , these requests would come up for hearing during the first meeting of October. With the present schedule of upcoming hearings on the General Plan amendments and implementation tools , staff pro- posed to schedule these requests around the Planning Commission ' s schedule. This would give both Staff and the Commission adequate time to review requests and still do the work required for Ordinance changes. Chairman Seidler asked if Staff had scheduled any of these requests for the September 29, 1975 meeting. vow Paul Williams replied, yes . Staff had received four requests to be heard; and recommended that two requests be heard at the September 29th meeting and the remaining two at their next meeting. Staff felt this would be the best time frame ; and asked the Commission for their comments. Chairman Seidler stressed the fact that it was the Planning Commission ' s understanding that the September 29th meeting would be a public hearing for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the Zoning Ordinance and EIR of the various General Plan Amendments only. He then recommended that this schedule be adhered to and that a special meeting be called to review these requests . After a brief discussion, Commissioner Van de Mark moved, Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion to hold a special meeting on October 6, 1975, which would be a continuation from the meeting of September 29 to review these requests. Motion carried unanimously. The Planning Commissioners then discussed previous plans to abide by a more strict and rigid planning review schedule . The first meeting of the month was to be held for the purpose of reviewing only applications for change of zone, variances , conditional use permits , tentative tract maps , public use permits , time extensions , plot plan approvals , parcel maps , and other items that required a noticed hearing or other routine planning matters. The second meeting of w the month would be held specifically to review and discuss various ordinances , specific plans, and other long range planning . However, it was the general consensus of the Commission that if staff felt , in their judgment , it was necessary to bring a request before the Planning Commission during the second meeting , or other routine matters which would not take a great deal of time , the Commission would have an open door policy for such requests . MINUTES -5- September 15 , 1975 F. Discussion of Petaluma Growth Management Concept Paul Williams gave a history of the Petaluma Limited Growth Concept and its applications to the City of Palm Desert . It was generally determined by the Commission that the circumstances re- lating to Petnluma did not apply to Palm Desert . Paul Williams then advised the Commission , that in February, 1975 , the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 69 which removed the Restriction on Development for the commercial area of Palm Desert as a result of the adoption of the Interim Core Area Plan . Since the City was embarking upon the crucial program of adopting the implemen- tation tools to the General Plan ; and since the approval of projects in the commercial area, at this time , could present as much of a pro- blem as approval of residential projects , Staff recommended that the Planning Commission strongly consider a recommendation to the City Council of reestablishing the restriction on development for the total community until adoption of the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map. Chairman Seidler commented that the Commission was not willing to review projects that deviated significantly from the present Zoning Ordinance . After a lengthy discussion , it was the consensus of the Com- mission that a Restriction on Development was appropriate only to the effect that no development should occur anywhere in the community that did not conform to the proposed Zoning Ordinance and 'lap. After additional discussion , the finding was qualified to exclude single family residences on individual lots . The Secretary was directed to prepare an Ordinance reflecting this position to the City Council . Chairman Seidler strongly urged that this be done as quickly as possible . XI . DESIGN REVIEW BOARD ITEMS : Review of cases heard by Design .. Review Board at its meeting of September 9 , 1975 . The Planning Commission had no comments regarding the cases heard at this meeting. XII . ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None XIII . COMMENTS A. City Staff - None B. Planning Commissioners - None XIV. ADJOURNMENT The Planning Commission meeting adjourned at 9 : 20 p .m. PAUL A. WILLIAMS , SECRETARY A T ,S ism '1 jfl IL IAM R. SEI CHAIRMAN