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Home My WebLink About0402 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING " � TUESDAY - APRIL 2, 1991 � 7:00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER i 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE ! � * � * * � � � � * � � � � � * * � � * � * * � * ! � I. CALL TO ORDER i I Chairperson Whitlock called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. I II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner powns led in the pledge of allegiance. III. ROLL CALL Members Present: Carol Whitlock, Chairperson Bob Downs Rick Erwood Sabby Jonathan Jim Richards Members Absent: None Staff Present: Ray Diaz Dick Folkers Kandy Allen Phil Drell Phil Joy Tonya Monroe IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: � Consideration of the March 19, 1991 meeting minutes. Action• Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner Erwood, approving the March 19, 1991 meeting minutes as submitted. Carried 5-0. V. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Mr. Diaz summarized pertinent March 25, 1991 council actions. VI. CONSENT CALENDAR None. VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Case No. PP 91-2 - GEORGE RITTER, Applicant Request for approval of a 9, 916 square foot industrial office building northeast of Ritter Circle and Merle Drive. � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Mr. Joy outlined the salient points of the staff report and noted one change to public works condition #14. Staff � recommended approval. Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked the applicant to address the commission. MR. GEORGE RITTER, 73-899 Highway 111, urged commission to approve his proposal . He questioned the need for public works condition #5 requiring a six foot wide sidewalk, noting that adjacent areas had landscaping, not sidewalk. Mr. Folkers informed commission that this area was originally in the county and stated that in the past sidewalks were not required, but felt it would be necessary eventually. Staff indicated that this was something they could check into and commission should authorize the director to determine if it were necessary. Mr. Ritter concurred. Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposal . There was no one and the public testimony was closed. Commissioner Jonathan felt the proposal was consistent with the surrounding neighborhood. ,� Commissioner Richards noted that it was council ' s policy to require sidewalks, but agreed with Mr. Folkers because this was an area that had been annexed into the city. Action• Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Downs, approving the findings as presented by staff. Carried 5-0. Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Downs, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1503, approving PP 91-2 subject to conditions as amended. Carried 5-0. B. Case Nos. C/Z 90-14, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562 - PACIFIC GOLF RESORTS, Applicant Request for certification of an Environmental Impact Report and approval of a precise plan, conditional use permit, 2 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 � � ; I � change of zone and tentative tract map for a 687 unit residential development, 18 a """" hole golf course and 225 suite hotel on ; 420 acres located east of Portola Avenue � north of Frank Sinatra Drive. � Mr. Drell outlined the salient points of the staff report, noting that the only exception was the 40 foot height on the ', main hotel structure, which staff felt was warranted. Staff , recommended approval. � ; Commissioner Jonathan asked for and received clarification as ; to the two-story town houses proposed in comparison to other ' developments. Commission and staff discussed traffic issues and Mr. Folkers requested amendment of public works condition #7 relating to i Cook Street to require paving at 55 feet up to 62 feet to be , determined by the director of public works. ' Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked the applicant to address the commission. MR. WILLIAM SWANK, a principal in Portola Development , Company and Pacific Golf Resorts, 41-865 Boardwalk, Suite 102 in Palm Desert, stated that he had been working on , �' this project for over one year and informed commission ' that they own the land free and clear. He indicated that � their architectural team consisted of Corbin Yamafugi, CYP; Urrutia Architects; Robert Bein/William Frost Associates; and Tom Lagier was present to address ; engineering questions. Mr. Maurice Johns was their project manager. He indicated that the golf course was designed by Fred Bliss, formerly with Ron Friem Associates who did the Desert Falls golf course and � Temecula' s Red Hawk course. He felt the 40 foot height would provide a more interesting building facade and would not be a problem with the setbacks being provided. He stated that they have an agreement with Kapinski to manage the hotel and the hotel would be delayed until Cook Street went to the freeway. Commissioner Jonathan asked for and received clarification regarding when the hotel would be constructed, when the project would be built, and height. Mr. Drell noted that the project had received conceptual architectural commission approval for the design. 3 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR ,� or OPPOSITION to the proposal . MR. MAURICE JOHNS, project manager, stated that he was present to answer any questions. Commissioner Erwood noted that the letter from the South Coast Air Quality Management District raised concerns and was interested in the applicant ' s response, particularly in regard to page two of the letter attachment where they discussed the emission factors and the EMFAC7C used in the draft EIR and noted that some other quotient figures or method should have been used. MR. JOHN CRIST informed commission that the district has a handbook which was still being updated that provides procedures and methodology for assessing air guality impacts of various project aspects ( i.e. traffic, fugitive dust, construction, etc. ) and they had not received this new update from the district. He stated that they would be reassessing the impacts based on the new methodology, but this was the first instance of any environmental documents in the last six months that they had asked for a new approach. � Commissioner Erwood commented on the issues of cumulative impacts and transportation and the fact that SCAG' s general complaint was that they didn' t think this draft EIR fully addressed the issues they cited in their attachment. Mr. Crist indicated that this was somewhat inconsistent with the handbook which didn't feel that the analysis they did or the traffic study took into account the cumulative impacts. There was some haggling within the district regarding the methodology they want to be used that were actually compounding the emissions, rather than accurately accounting for all the emissions that were generated from the project, or double counting. He stated that they would be in touch with the district to see if they have a fixed methodology on assessing the cumulative impacts and the generation of traffic associated with support services, induced growth and issues like that. He confirmed that this would be included in the final EIR whether that would effect any of their recommendations. 4 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 Chairperson Whitlock closed the public hearing and asked for � commission comments. Commissioner Richards felt that it was a fine project and with the lower density and amount of green area this project was acceptable. He stated that he would move for approval . Commissioner Erwood agreed and felt the draft EIR was very well done. He felt this project would be a fine addition. Commissioner powns also concurred that they did a fine job. He stated that he would second the motion. Commissioner Jonathan asked staff if this project was sensitive to the issue of water conservation. Mr. Drell stated that it would be and this was an issue before the architectural commission and was being conditioned that all drought tolerant plants and irrigation technologies be used, including the utilization of high-tech water recovery. Chairperson Whitlock stated that she liked the project and was impressed with the materials received. Action: Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner � Downs, approving the findings as presented by staff. Carried 5-0. Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Downs, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1504, recommending to council certification of the Environmental Impact Report, PP/CUP 90-27, TT 26562, C/Z 90-14, and conditions as amended. Carried 5-0. VIII. MISCELLANEOUS None. IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. X. COMMENTS Commissioner powns informed commission and staff that he would be hesitant to approve any additional projects on E1 Paseo 5 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 2, 1991 until the parking problem was resolved. Commission and staff discussed concerns and staff stated that they would look at ,� regulations relating to cars that park in the lots for extended periods of time ( i.e. associated with travel agency tours) and bring back the issue as a public hearing item. XI. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner Downs, adjourning the meeting. Carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7: 50 p.m. . . ,,�,�;� RAMON A. DIAZ, ec ary ATTEST: ��.a,�� .(,��,f'��o��_ CAROL WHITLOCK, Chairperson /tm � 6 �