HomeMy WebLinkAbout0416 MINUTES
PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY - APRIL 16, 1991
7:00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER
73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE
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� I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Whitlock called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Jonathan 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: Phil Drell Phil Joy
Kandy Al1en Gregg Holtz
Steve Smith Tonya Monroe
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
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Consideration of the April 2, 1991 meeting minutes.
Action•
Moved by Commissioner Erwood, seconded by Commissioner powns,
approving the April 2, 1991 meeting minutes as submitted.
Carried 5-0.
V. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION
Mr. Drell summarized pertinent April 11, 1991 council action.
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Case No. PP/CUP 90-1 - TRAVIS A. DEAL, Applicant
Request for approval of a one-year time
extension for a 10, 000 square foot office
building and associated parking lot and
greenbelt located at 73-330 Highway 111
and 44-885 San Benito Circle. This is the
first request.
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B. Case No. CUP 89-15 - KENT J. ATTRIDGE, Applicant
Request for approval of a one-year time �
extension for a church facility on 4. 7
acres on the south side of Hovley Lane,
2300 feet east of Manterey Avenue. This
is the first request.
Action•
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Jonathan, approving the consent calendar by minute motion.
Carried 5-0.
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Case Nos. PP 90-20, PM 26609, AND VAR 90-7 - NELCON,
INC. , Applicant
Request for approval of a precise plan of
design, parcel map and variance to the
minimum lot size limit for an 11 unit
apartment project and proposal to re-
subdivide the recently merged property
into three lots, one of which will be
below the 10, 000 square foot minimum for
the R-3 zoned property at the northeast "'r
corner of Abronia Trail and Sunset Lane.
Mr. Smith outlined the salient points of the staff report and
recommended approval subject to the conditions. He clarified
that the lot line was being redone and the elevations were
previously approved by the architectural commission.
Chairperson Whitlock o ened the public testimony and asked if
the applicant wished to address the commission.
MR. DAVID NELSON, 74-475 Driftwood in Palm Desert, nated
that there was an 11 unit project approved on the site,
but he felt his proposal was a better project. He stated
that he wanted to have the lot lines put back to where
they were before the other project was approved. He felt
his project would be beneficial to the neighborhood.
Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR
or OPPOSITION to the proposal .
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MR. GLEN WALLER, owner of apartments next to Mr. Nelson' s
pro�ect, was in favor of the proposal and felt it would
`"" enhance the neighborhood and property values.
MR. VICTOR LOREN VILLENEUVE, project engineer, stated
that he felt this was a good proposal for this site.
Chairperson Whitlock closed the public testimony.
Commission felt this was a good project and moved for
approval .
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. 1505,
approving PP 90-20, sub�ect to conditions. Carried 5-0.
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. 1506,
approving VAR 90-7. Carried 5-0.
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. 1507,
approving PM 26609, subject to conditions. Carried 5-0.
B. Case No. PM 26929 - BILL WILSON JR. , Applicant
Request for approval to split a previously
consolidated lot north of Calliandra, 300
feet east of Alamo.
Mr. Joy outlined the salient points of the staff report and
informed commission that the applicant and engineer were
present.
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Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked if
the applicant wished to address the commission. �
MR. BILL WILSON, applicant, informed commission that he
was requesting commission to return the lot to its
original configuration.
Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to address the
commission. There was no one. Chairperson Whitlock closed
the public testimony.
Action:
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, approving the findings as presented by staff.
Carried 5-0.
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1508,
approving PM 26929, subject to conditions. Carried 5-0.
C. Case No. TT 26760 - WESTINGHOUSE DESERT COMMUNITIES,
Applicant
Request for approval of a 232 lot single
family subdivision and negative �,
declaration of environmental impact on 82
acres southeast of Highway 74 and Cahuilla
Way.
Mr. Joy informed commission that the applicant was requesting
a continuance and noted that letters had been received from
the Sierra Club, Del Gagnon and a legal institute.
Commissioner Jonathan questioned the procedure and EIR process
and Mr. Joy indicated that during the month continuance they
would study the findings of the second EIR, which would be
made public by that time.
Upon questioning by commission, Ms. Allen indicated that it
was appropriate to "piggy back" EIR' s covering the same area
with specific issues addressed. Commissioner Richards felt
this should be done to hasten the procedural process. Mr. Joy
stated that they were intending to do that.
Chairperson Whitlock noted that it was commission' s policy to
open the public testimony for those in the audience who might
wish to address the commission, since this was a publicly
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noticed hearing. After discussion, Chairperson Whitlock
opened the public testimony and asked if anyone wished to
""' address the commission in FAVOR or OPPOSITION. There was no
one. Chairperson Whitlock asked for a motion of continuance.
Action:
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, continuing TT 26760 to May 21, 1991. Carried 5-0.
D. Case No. CUP 91-5 - RAYMOND W. HAAS, Applicant
Request for approval of a conditional use
permit and associated development
agreement to allow construction of a 14
unit senior apartment project on a . 61
acre site at 73-666 and 73-688 Santa Rosa
Way.
Mr. Drell outlined the salient points of the staff report and
indicated that the city attorney had an addition to the
development agreement relative to time limits. He noted that
there would be a two year initial time limit to commence
construction. Ms. Allen noted that the city council at its
discretion showing just cause could grant up to three one year
time extensions for a five year maximum and added subsection
'�" ( e ) to Section 15, "Property Owner' s failure to commence
construction within the time limits set forth in section 9 (j )
herein, " which related to default. Mr. Drell also noted that
the architectural commission had no problem with the plan
subject to the addition of some architectural detail . Mr.
Drell explained the that the senior overlay zone created
incentive to developers to offer lower rents and the number
of units was determined by a procedure using averaging of
actual residents.
Commissioner Jonathan questioned the design of the trash
enclosures on Santa Rosa. Mr. Drell explained that the
enclosure would have a six foot block wall and the trash bins
would have to be pulled out to be picked up.
Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked if
the applicant wished to address the commission.
MR. KENT ATTRIDGE, architect for the facility, described
the canopies and details that would be added and asked
for questions.
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Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR
or OPPOSITION to the proposal . There was no ane and the „�
public testimony was closed.
Commissioner powns felt this was one of the better projects
of this type he had seen.
Action:
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner Erwood,
approving the findings as presented by staff. Carried 5-0.
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner Erwood,
adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1509, approving
CUP 91-5 and recommending to city council approval of the
associated development agreement. Carried 5-0.
Commissioner Richards and staff discussed the development
agreement and time limits. It was clarified that commission
could still deny the time extension requests if they deemed
it necessary.
E. Case No. RV 91-1 - WILLIAM HODGE, Applicant
An appeal to a decision by the Zoning
Administrator denying a request to park
a recreational vehicle in the front �-ard �
area on private property at 72-818 Sks ;ard
Way.
Mr. Drell explained that under the new ordinance there was a
provision by which people with recreational vehicles might
obtain a permit for parking them in the front yard. He
indicated that the process required that the zoning
administrator hold a public hearing. He stated that several
letters in opposition were received and the request was
denied. The hearing before the planning commission was an
appeal to the zoning administrator' s denial . Based on an
observation of the facts and correspondence received, staff
did not feel this site was physically suitable to meet the
screening requirement of the ordinance and recommended denial.
Commissioner powns was a member of the committee establishing
this procedure and felt that staff had followed the intent of
the ordinance and a permit was not obtainable without
appropriate screening. Further discussion ensued with
commission referring to a picture of the travel trailer in the
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front yard. They did not feel it would be possible to screen
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in this case without ruining the look of the house.
Chairperson Whitlock opened the public testimony and asked if
the applicant wished to address the commission. There was no
response. Chairperson Whitlock asked if anyone wished to
speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposal .
MS. JEAN MICHAEL, 72-848 Skyward Way, next door to Mr.
Hodge. She stated that she could not sell her home and
a mortgage broker was interested but felt the Hodge
trailer on one side and the Armstrong motor home on the
other side devalued her property too much. She stated
that Mr. Armstrong was utilizing six feet of her property
because the builder put in the wall six feet within her
property line, so he could use that portion of it and
with her being uphill from him, it was adequately
screened, but she felt Mr. Hodge 's trailer was a problem
and was devaluing her property.
Chairperson Whitlock closed the public testimony.
Commissioner powns felt the ordinance worked as intended and
moved for denial of the request.
Commissioner Richards clarified that the trailer was sitting
� in a place where it could not be screened because of the size
and configuration of the lot. Chairperson Whitlock concurred.
Action•
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, approving the findings as presented by staff.
Carried 5-0.
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1510,
denying RV 91-1. Carried 5-0.
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
A. Consideration of an agreement between the City and the
Coachella Valley Water District with respect to
undergrounding certain utilities for Valley Zone
Reservoir 5690.
Mr. John Corella, an engineer with the Coachella Valley Water
District, described the proposal and was present to answer
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questions. After discussion, Mr. Corella clarified that the
utilities would be undergrounded at the time of development �,
of adjacent areas.
Mr. Richard Fromme, owner of the lot south of the water tank,
asked if there would be any change to the elevations or
access. Mr. Corella stated that the utilities would wrap
around the reservoir at the same elevation and access would
be as agreed upon.
Commissioner powns suggested that the water district help Mr.
Fromme with some in-fill .
Action:
Moved by Commissioner Richards, seconded by Commissioner
Downs, approving an agreement between the City and the
Coachella Valley Water District with respect to undergrounding
certain utilities for Valley Zone Reservoir 5690 by minute
motion. Carried 5-0.
IX. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
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X. COMMENTS
None.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner powns, seconded by Commissioner
Richards, ad,journing the meeting. Carried 5-0. The meeting
ad�ourned at 7: 53 p.m.
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ATTEST:
C�2��`z�i���lil/(��,�-
CAROL WHITLOCK, Chairperson
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