HomeMy WebLinkAbout0405 MINUTES
PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING
, T[JESDAY - APRIL 5, 1994
7 :00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER
73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Spiegel called the meeting to order at 7 : 00 p.m.
II . PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Beaty led in the pledge of allegiance.
III . ROLL CALL
Members Present: Bob Spiegel, Chairman
Paul Beaty
Sabby Jonathan
Carol Whitlock
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Ray Diaz Gregg Holtz
Bob Hargreaves Tonya Monroe
Steve Smith
IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION:
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Mr. Diaz summarized pertinent city council actions of March
10 and 24, 1994 .
V. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Case No. PMW 94-1 - ROBERT VARNER, MANSELL & GILLIAN
SPEDDING, AND JOHN & PHYLIS GRUBEN, Applicants
Request for approval of a parcel map
waiver to aZlow lot line adjustments for
Lots 12, 13, 14, 15 and a portion of Lot
16 and 17 on Jones Drive in Tract 13940-
1 to accommodate larger residential
units.
Action:
Moved by Commissioner Whitlock, seconded by Commissioner
Beaty, approving the consent calendar by minute motion.
Carried 4-0 .
VI . APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Consideration of the March 1, 1994 meeting minutes . Chairman
....
Spiegel noted a correction on page 5 .
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PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION
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Action: �
Moved by Commissioner Whitlock, seconded by Commissioner
Jonathan, approving the March 1 meeting minutes as amended.
Carried 4-0 .
VII . PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Case No. CUP 94-2 (amending CUP 89-14) - MICHAEL
CASTELLI, Applicant
Request for consideration of an
amendment to an existing conditional use
permit to allow an 1800 square foot
expansion of the existing Andreinos
restaurant at 73-098 Highway 111 .
Mr. Smith stated that he spoke with Mr. Castelli that
afternoon and Mr. Castelli indicated he would be at the
meeting. Staff explained that the request was to expand the
existing restaurant by 1800 square feet. Prior to Andreinos
going into this facility there were a series of less than
successful operations, but this one has been quite
successful . The initial conditional use permit granted in
1989 to Mr. Castelli gave him the right to operate in what ,�
was a 700 square foot main dining area, plus his patio area.
In order to get the conditional use permit, he needed to
provide at least six off-street parking spaces within 300
feet of the restaurant. He acquired the right, and still had
it, to use the dental office parking immediately to the east
and it had 13 official spaces, but 15 were avaiiable. Mr.
Castelli provided valet parking on the street and utilized
the off-street parking lot as well as extensive on-street
parking. Mr. Smith drove by there on the way to the meeting
and felt it was evident that patrons would street park before
valet parking if space was close enough. The current request
was for an 1800 square foot expansion to be used to expand
the kitchen facility, provide an indoor waiting area and
increase the seating capacity from 86 to 126 seats . The
restaurant currently served dinner only and in talking with
the applicant that was all he cared to do; he had no
intention to serve anything other than dinner at this time.
Mr. Smith explained that the area to the north across the
alleyway from this property at some point in the future might
become a parking lot. That property acquisition was
continuing. What staff was suggesting was that the applicant
be allowed to do his 1800 square foot expansion if he could
come up with an additional 11 off-street parking spaces
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PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION
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r,.� within 300 feet of the restaurant. In talking with Mr.
Castelli that afternoon, he was working with two property
owners and a third one. He would be required to provide the
city with a copy of the lease before a building permit would
be issued. It worked last time where the city conditioned
that Mr. Castelli come in with six parking spaces and he
brought 13 and a copy of the leasing agreement. Staff
recommended approval of the expansion subject to conditions .
Commissioner Whitlock asked if Mr. Smith meant to say
veterinary clinic for the parking facility; Mr. Smith
concurred.
Chairman Spiegel asked how far away the parking lot was for
lst Bank; Mr. Smith replied that it would be within the 300
feet. Chairman Spiegel asked if it would be possible to
place a condition that the restaurant not be open for lunch;
Mr. Smith replied that it was possible, but questioned if it
was something the city wanted to do. In the past the
commission tried to stay away from doing that because they
didn't want to put themselves in the position that if someone
came to the commission and said they had to be open for lunch
or the business would die, that was a tough position to be
in, but it could be added. He suggested that the applicant
r,.. speak to the issue of being open for lunch.
Chairman Spiegel opened the public testimony and asked the
applicant to address the commission.
MR. MICHAEL CASTELLI, owner of Andreinos Restaurant,
stated that he would never do lunches . He noted that if
the proposed expansion went through, he planned to
eventually purchase the building. He said he was trying
to work with Gary Lyons and the bank to lease parking
for night use only. He was the only business open
except for China Garden at the end of the street. He
rented the pet hospital parking when he enclosed the
patio.
Chairman Spiegel asked if Mr. Castelli had any objection to
a condition that Andreinos not be open for lunch; Mr.
Castelli said that was no problem with him.
Commissioner Beaty indicated that Andreinos would not be open
for lunch, but Mr. Castelli could come back at a future time
if he decided to serve lunch.
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PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION
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Chairman Spiegel noted no one was present to speak in FAVOR rnr
or OPPOSITION to the proposal and closed the public
testimony.
Action:
Moved by Commissioner Whitlock, seconded by Commissioner
Beaty, approving the findings as presented by staff.
Commissioner Jonathan spoke to the motion and asked that the
condition be added specifying that the condition of no lunch
applied until the applicant came in with a request for a
change or additional parking was made available. Motion
carried 4-0 .
Moved by Commissioner Whitlock, seconded by Commissioner
Beaty, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1641,
approving CUP 94-2 amending CUP 89-14, subject to conditions
as amended. Carried 4-0.
Mr. Smith noted that the condition would read that the
restaurant would not open prior to 5:00 p.m.
VIII . ORAL COMMUNICATIONS �
None. �
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
None.
X. COMMENTS
1 . Mr. Diaz asked if there were any items the commission
would want on the joint council/commission agenda
besides appointment of a new planning commissioner.
Commissioner Whitlock stated that she would like a
status of existing development agreements and future
development agreements .
Commissioner Jonathan said he would like to find out
what the council was working on in terms of specific
businesses that the city was trying to attract to Palm
Desert or that have already been attracted, including
their effort to bring in the transportation industry and
how it would impact the city.
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PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION
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.,�, Chairman Spiegel noted that at one time the commission
was getting various copies of local news reports on
information on the Coachella Valley, specifically
Wheelers Desert Letter, and he found that very helpful
to the planning commissioners to know what was going on
in the desert and wanted that to be an item for
discussion. He said he would also like to know how the
council felt about expanding the sphere of influence for
Palm Desert across I-10 to the north. He also wanted to
know if the city council was interested in any planning
commissioners being present at council meetings where
there was a decision made by the planning commission
that might not be agreed with 100$ by the community.
When something went to city council and they had a lot
of people out there, would they like a representative of
planning commission present to discuss the decision made
by the commission and why they made that decision. Mr.
Diaz asked if that was outside of when the staff
recommendation disagreed with the commission. Chairman
Spiegel said that was correct. Mr. Diaz clarified that
if there was a staff recommendation that was not the
same as the planning commission decision, then the
chairperson was asked to attend the council meeting.
... Commissioner Whitlock asked if the commission could
receive information on the Weimer situation and where it
stood.
Chairman Spiegel also wanted to discuss the philosophy
the council seemed to have that if a developer wanted to
become involved in the city, that they forgot about the
planning commission altogether and went directly to the
city council. The commission should be privy to any
conversation that the council has with any developers
prior to getting the item on the planning commission
agenda so that the right hand would know what the left
hand was doing. Chairman Spiegel said that when the
council put together an agenda for the joint meeting,
the commission would like it mailed to them so they
would have an idea of what they would like to talk
about. He noted that there were a few days before it
went to council and suggested that if the commission
came up with any other agenda items, they give Mr. Diaz
a call. Chairman Spiegel noted that the meeting would
be April 20 at 5 : 30 p.m. at the Daily Grill.
2 . Commissioner Jonathan said that in the Lucky' s shopping
center at Country Club and Sagewood, where Kenny Roger' s
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PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION
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Chicken was located, there was a trash bin right on Country �
Club that was not enclosed and every day by the mid-dinner
hour it was overflowing onto the ground. He was sure that
was in violation of some code. Mr. Diaz said that staff
would contact code enforcement. Commissioner Jonathan noted
that the location was very visible and did not feel that this
was the image the city wanted. Also, out in front there were
trash trucks and delivery trucks and as he recalled, they
were not supposed to be out front. Mr. Diaz indicated there
was a road in the rear. Commissioner Jonathan questioned if
there was a condition on the center that any trucks, trash or
delivery, use the rear access . Commissioner Jonathan said
that there was a problem with delivery vehicles blocking
moving traffic. Mr. Diaz said that from the private sector
standpoint it was unwise of them to have the deliveries in
front. He said there were no conditions that they must
deliver from the rear; the only condition related to hours of
delivery in the rear to protect the homeowners from noise.
He said that the resolution could be brought to the
commission. He said Commissioner Jonathan was right and the
businesses would want the deliveries made in the rear to not
clog traffic circulation, which was already bad.
Commissioner Jonathan indicated that he might be thinking of
the Mervyn's center and the conditions for the grocery store
when there was a set route, delivery times, and the types of �„r
engines the trucks would have. Chairman Spiegel said maybe
that should be brought to the attention of the developer/
owner. Mr. Diaz indicated that staff could contact the owner
and tell them that there was a bad circulation problem and
suggest deliveries in the rear.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner Beaty, seconded by Commissioner
Whitlock, adjourning the meeting to April 19, 1994 y minute
motion. Carried 4-0 . The meeting was adjourned : 31 p.m.
RAM N A. DIAZ, ary
ATTEST: •
ROBER A. PIEGEL,
Palm Desert Planning Com iSsion
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