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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1111 a Y. MINUTES ADJOURNED PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING November 11 , 1975 7:00 p.m. - City Hall I. CALL TO ORDER The adjourned meeting of the Palm Desert Planning Commission was called to order on November 11 , 1975 at 7:03 p.m. by the Chairman. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE III . ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners GEORGE BERKEY, ED MULLINS, WILLIAM SEIDLER, MARY K. VAN DE MARK, S. ROY WILSON Others Present: Paul A. Williams - Director of Environmental Services Steve Fleshman - Associate Planner Sam Freed - Assistant Planner IV. MINUTES A. The minutes of the meeting of November 3, 1975 were scheduled for review at the Planning Commission's November 18, 1975 meeting. V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS A. Petition from Ms. Rose Sweet regarding stop signs at Shadow Mountain Drive and Tumbleweed Lane. Paul Williams reviewed a petition received from Ms. Rose Sweet and four other petitions residing at 73-219 Shadow Mountain Drive, which was addressed to the Planning Commission. Their request for a modification of the stop sign situation was reviewed by the City's Traffic Advisory Committee on October 24, 1975; and after careful consideration, it was the recommendation of the Traffic Committee that the stop sign situation remain as it present was. However, they did recommend a followup on line-of-sight adjustments to the landscaping at the intersection. An inspection by the Planning Division staff indicated that most of the difficulty existed because of the landscaping at 73-219 Shadow Mountain Drive, a motel-apartment complex known as the Twin Palms Lodge. It was staff's recommendation that the Planning Commission direct staff to begin line-of-sight abatement measures in cooperation with the property owners at 73-219 Shadow Mountain Drive. It was also staff's recommendation that this matter be accepted as information and forwarded to the City Council , since the Council was the appropriate body to review traffic matters. The Planning Commission concurred with staff's recommendations. VI. PUBLIC HEARING - None VII. OLD BUSINESS - None VIII . NEW BUSINESS Before reviewing the first item under New Business, Mr. Williams recommended that it may be appropriate to hear these matters in accordance to attendance; and suggested that the Commission begin VAM• with a review of Item C, case No. 14C. The Commission concurred. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -2- November 11 , 1975 VIII. NEW BUSINESS (continued) A. Case No. 14C, VILLAGE BOOTLEGGER: Review of two on-site identification signs for a liquor store located on the north side of Highway 111 , west of San Pablo. Steve Fleshman presented the staff report. The applicant was requesting approval of the construction plans for two business identification signs for the Village Bootlegger Liquor Store. The first sign was illuminated with an overall size of 26' x 4' to be located on the facia along Highway 111 . The second sign was illuminated with an overall size of 4' x 5' to be located on the facia facing San Pablo. Both signs were approved by the Design Review Board on October 21 , 1975, subject to eight conditions. The applicant was advised at that time by the members of the DRB that the large sign on Highway 111 , although legal at present, might become non-conforming in a short while because of the new Sign Ordinance proposed for the City. The applicant indicated he would be more than happy to comply to any new standards that might be adopted, but wished to retain the current design for maximum advertising purposes. Staff, in Planning Commission Resolution No. 93, recommended that the project be approved in that the signs did conform to the existing Sign Ordinance. The Planning Commission briefly discussed their concerns regarding the size, color, and the signs' purpose in terms of identification versus advertising. Chairman Seidler then asked if the applicant wished to address the Commission. TOM HINES, 73-460 Highway 111 , applicant for the project, commented on the previous reviews by the DRB pertaining to the design and location of his signs. He emphasized the need for a larger sign as he had identi- fication problems due to the location of his store. It was his feeling that the sign, as proposed, would attract people traveling both east and west on Highway 111 . He further stated that he felt he had fully co- operated with the DRB in an effort to have a sign which would be in good tast for the City; and had sufficiently met all requirements specified in the City's present Sign Ordinance in doing so. Chairman Seidler stated that the Commission appreciated Mr. Hines' effort in designing the sign. Chairman Seidler advised that he didn't believe the applicant had had the opportunity to sit through any prior Commission discussions on signage. Historically, a very strong consideration of the Planning Commission had been that a sign should be for identification purposes only. It was the consensus of the Commission that their concern was not a question of the makeup of the sign or the colors, but the size of the 26' sign. Chairman Seidler welcomed any further comments Mr. Hines might have regarding a reduction in the size of this sign. Mr. Hines commented that with the location of the store and the identi- fication problems he had experience, he needed this maximum amount of signage. After further discussion, rather than redesign the sign, it was the consensus of the Commission that there was a problem with the size of the 26' sign; and the applicant should be allowed additional time to come up with a solution. tow Commissioner Berkey moved that the matter be continued to December 2, 1975. Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Chairman Seidler noted that the intent of the motion made was to indicate there was a problem with the size of the sign. He also added that further DRB approval was not necessary. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -3- November 11 , 1975 B. Case No. C/Z 1974 - PAUL BOWIE: Review of proposed County change of zone case to change a 10-acre and an 8-acre site from R-1-1 and W-1 to W-2, located in the Cahuilla Hills area. Paul Williams reviewed the staff report. He advised that the property had been previously reviewed as a part of the Commission's discussions on the recent General Plan Amendment which resulted in the establishment of an Equestrian Center in the Cahuilla Hills area on the 10-acre parcel . Regarding citizen input, the County Planning staff had forwarded a form letter with signatures of approximately 40 residents of the Cahuilla Hills area expressing problems which they felt might arise associated with the boarding of horses. Mr. Williams advised that under the W-2 zone designation, the applicant would be required to obtain a Conditional Use Permit to use the property as planned, thus providing the County with greater control over project design and operation, than which existed with the present zoning. A condition regulating health problems such as odor and flies would be included as a condition of the CUP. Commissioner Berkey noted that the Commission was not approving the project, but was indicating approval of the General Plan Amendment approving the proposed use for the 10-acre site. Chairman Seidler asked for comments from the applicant. PAUL BOWIE, 71-774 Chuckawalla, applicant for the project, addressed the Commission. The specific reason he had requested a change of zone was for the purpose of operating equestrian activities. Regarding the complaints which had been lodged with the County, he stated he had maintained horses within 330 feet of the proposed site for three years, during which time he had received no official complaints of any of the problems referred to in the letters from the Cahuilla Hills residents. He felt the complaints that had been lodged were really not true in fact and law. In summary, Mr. Bowie felt the establishment of an equestrian center in this area would far exceed anything that had been done in the Valley. No other persons came forward to give testimony. Commissioner Mullins moved that staff be directed to forward a letter to the County Planning Commission indicating City approval of the General Plan Amendment approving proposed use for the 10-acre site. Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion which carried unanimously. C. Review of Conformance of Proposed Sewer Line Extension on San Luis Rey and Shadow Mountain Drive to the Palm Desert General Plan. It was staff's recommendation that the Planning Commission approve Resolution No. 93 indicating that the proposed sewer line extension was in conformance with the Palm Desert General Plan. Commissioner Berkey moved, Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion which carried unanimously. D. Case No. Tract 5567-MERCURY ENTERPRISES: Request for a 12-month time extension of a 326-unit Tentative Map covering 65 acres east of Highway 74 and south of Homestead Road. Paul Williams reviewed the Tentative Map approved shortly after incor- poration by the Planning Commission and the City Council . Under the provisions of the Map Act, the applicant was reaching a time when this map would expire. Therefore, the applicant was asking for an extension NOW of time on the Tentative Map so that he could file for a Final Map which would allow construction of the total subdivision. After a review of the Tentative Map, it was staff's recommendation that the Planning Commission deny this request for extension by Planning Commission Resolution No. 94. Justification was based upon: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -4- November 11 , 1975 1 . The project presented several circulation problems that needed to be more adequately addressed and would require some modification to the Tentative Map. 2. The overall design including parking did not meet the requirements of the new Zoning Ordinance; and therefore, the CUP would become invalid with the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance. Staff found no evidence to indicate an extension of Tentative Tract 5567 should be granted, even though the project was within the scope of the Palm Desert General Plan, as the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance would require significant modifications to this project. Staff felt that a more appropriate design within the range of 5 dwelling units per acre and conforming to the new Zoning Ordinance was in order for this project. After discussion by the Commission, Chairman Seidler asked for comments from the applicant. ED WRIGHT, 71-430 Halgar, Rancho Mirage, represented the applicant. He indicated that it was his understanding that the initial City approval of the subject Tentative Map would expire on December 13, 1973; and that the Conditional Use Permit for this Tract was in effect until July 24, 1977. Adverse financial and market conditions had caused delays in the commence- ment of subdivision maps and construction since these approvals were granted. In light of recent improvements in these areas, Mercury Enter- prises was now planning to go ahead with this project in the near future. Mr. Wright then outlined the parking breakdown and indicated he saw no problem with the parking deficiency based upon the fact that more people did not utilized their carports. Based upon the design and layout of the parking provided, he felt there would be no problems with either parking or circulation. For these reasons, therefore, he recommended that the Commission not deny this application for an extention of the Tentative Map at this time. �... After further discussion, it was the general consensus of the Commission that based upon the problem areas including deficient parking, circulation, relationship of parking to units and impact of the development on Highway 74, the Commission had no other alternative but to accept staff' s recom- mendation to deny the extension. Commissioner Wilson moved, Commissioner Berkey seconded the motion to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 94 denying the extension of time for Tentative Tract 5567. Motion carried unanimously. E. Case No. 21C-TONI O'MALLEY: Consideration of a plot plan approval for a one story office building on the east side of Las Palmas Avenue and north of Highway 111 . Steve Fleshman presented the staff report. The proposed office project represented a continuation of the commercial development of the O'Malley property located north of Highway 111 , between San Pablo and Las Palmas. The site was bounded on the north and west by developed multi-family residential projects and on the south and east by commercial related uses. Staff regarded the proposed office building use as an appropriate buffer, separating the residential and commercial areas. This matter was reviewed by the DRB and approved subject to the 16 conditions of approval attached to Planning Commission Resolution No. 95, law which staff was recommending for approval by the Planning Commission. After a review by the Commission of the conditions and plot plan, the Commission recommended the following changes: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -5- November 11 , 1975 Condition #5 was revised to read. . . 5. All utility services lines shall be placed underground. Condition #7 was revised to read. . . 7. Landscaping (with irrigation system) shall be provided as approved by the Design Review Board for installation prior to final inspections. Commissioner Mullins moved, Commissioner Van de Mark seconded the motion to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 95, subject to the attached 16 conditions as amended. Motion carried unanimously. F. Case No. IOC ROY CARVER: Consideration of an appeal of the DRB rejection of the landscape plan for Phase III of the Palms-to-Pines Shopping Center. Steve Fleshman presented the staff report. This was a request that the Planning Commission assume jurisdiction of the landscape plan for Palms- to-Pines, Phase III as the Design Review Board had been unable to render a decision. The landscape plan to be reviewed by the Commission was the fourth re- vision which had been reviewed by staff once and the DRB twice. Staff felt the landscaping proposed was compatible with the existing landscaping of Phase I and II; and when completed would be an asset to the appearance of the overall development. Steve Fleshman proceeded to review the changes that were incorporated in the fourth revision of the landscape plan. Staff recommended approval of the landscape plan by Planning Commission Resolution No. 96 with the justification based upon: 1 . The plan conformed to the requirements of the City of Palm Desert. 2. The revised plan met the intent and concerns expressed by the DRB. Commissioner Berkey asked the applicant to comment on proposed land- scaping for the north side of the theatre building. BILL CARVER, 120 W. Las Tunas, San Gabriel , applicant for the project, described in detail the landscaping proposed for the north side of the complex; and briefly reviewed the overall landscape theme. Commissioner Van de Mark moved, Commissioner Mullins seconded the motion to approve Planning Commission Resolution No. 96. Motion was carried unanimously. IX. DESIGN REVIEW BOARD ITEMS A. October 7, 1975 Meeting: The Commission expressed its concern with the fact that no action had taken place at the October 7 or the October 21 meeting to elect a new Chairman for the DRB. Mr. Fleshman replied that the new Ordinance No. 81 was not in effect until this week, which included a change in the DRB membership. The election of a new Chairman would be scheduled for the November 25 meeting of the DRB. B. October 21 , 1975 Meeting: As an editorial note, Chairman Seidler suggested that the DRB minutes be expanded to give a more thorough description of the cases being heard in addition to the case number. Regarding No. VI, Case No. 10C (5), Commissioner Berkey felt that such concerns should be more specifically expressed. C. October 28, 1975 Meeting: No minutes were submitted at this time, as the DRB reviewed the-development standards which were to be forwarded to the Commission for review prior to the December 2, meeting. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -6- November 11 , 1975 X. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Bill Carver, on behalf of himself and tenants of the El Paseo Square, asked for the Commission's suggestions relative to signs which were now obscured from view from Highway 111 for various stores as a result of the location of the Tiebreaker Restaurant and the Kentucky Fried Chicken building. The tenants of El Paseo Square which were affected, felt a directory sign might be appropriate since they had a very definite identification problem. Chairman Seidler commented that if these tenants had any ideas on how to alleviate this problem, the Commission would be glad to review their proposal . XI. COMMENTS A. City Staff - None B. City Attorney - None C. Planning Commission - None XII . ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Van de Mark moved, Chairman Seidler seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m. Motion was carried unanimously. JA L .AWILLIAMS, SECRETARY ATTE T: - r L i------------------ �, WI LIAM R. SEI HAIRMAN