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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1105 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY - NOVEMBER 5, 1996 7:00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Beaty called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Campbell led in the pledge of allegiance. III. ROLL CALL Members Present: Paul Beaty, Chairperson Sonia Campbell Jim Ferguson George Fernandez Sabby Jonathan Members Absent: None Staff Present: Phil Drell Sandy Jacobson Tonya Monroe IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Consideration of the October 15, 1996 meeting minutes. Action: Moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Ferguson, approving the October 15, 1996 minutes as submitted. Carried 5-0. V. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION: Mr. Drell summarized pertinent October 24, 1996 City Council action. VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1996 VII. CONSENT CALENDAR MW A. Case No. PMW 96-21 - ROBERT L. MAYER TRUST, Applicant Request for approval of a lot line adjustment for lot nos. 55 and 56 located on Corte San Marco in Tract 27882-2. B. Case No. PMW 96-22 - ROBERT L. MAYER TRUST, Applicant Request for approval of a lot line adjustment for lot nos. 52 and 53 located on Corte San Marco in Tract 27882-2. C. Case No. PMW 96-25 - ROBERT L. MAYER TRUST, Applicant Request for approval of a lot line adjustment for lot nos. 43 and 44 located on Strada Nova in Tract 27882-2. D. Case No. PMW 96-39 - MAINIERO, SMITH AND ASSOCIATES, INC., Applicant Request for approval to reconfigure three existing parcels into three lots due to recent acquisition of Cook Street overpass right- of-way and resultant geometry for property described as APN 653-390-021 , 653-390-023, 653-390-024, 653-390-026, 653- 390-27, and 653-390-029. Agenda: Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez, adopting the consent calendar by minute motion. Carried 4-0-1 (Commissioner Ferguson abstained). Vill. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Case No. CUP 96-29 - JIMMY SHOU FOR CHINA GARDEN RESTAURANT, Applicant Approval of conditional use permit to allow a 315 square foot addition to the existing restaurant at the northwest corner of Highway 1 1 1 and San Marcos. 2 •�/► MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1996 Action: None. Application was withdrawn. IX. MISCELLANEOUS A. Request for a determination of use to allow a 25,000 square foot athletic club as a conditional use in the C-1 General Commercial District. Project to be located on 2.18 acres at the southeast corner of Monterey and San Gorgonio. Mr. Drell stated that this particular site was approved with a precise plan for a 36,000 square foot building: 18,000 square feet of retail and 18,000 square feet of office use. He noted that the plans were on display and indicated that the question before the commission was if a health club is a recreation establishment. He said that past precedent would say that a health club qualifies. The former Wise Club, now Sports Club, was approved as a conditional use permit in an R-3 zone as a private recreational facility. He felt it would be prudent to have the commission make this determination, which was simply whether or not the applicant could make an application for a conditional use permit for this use at this location. r.. Mr. Rick Muro, 73-944 Olive Court in Palm Desert, addressed the commission and said that he was open for any questions by the commission. He said that basically, they took what was originally proposed at Fred Waring and Monterey and moved it into the commercial zone. They expanded it by a few thousand square feet. The only reason for that was they were planning to do a basketball court and add an additional racquetball court. It was almost identical to the other proposal. He said that the original plans that Dr. Gary Lyons had submitted and received approval on were brought to him by Dick Baxley and it seemed that it would work out almost identically to what the building was originally approved for. The facade would change a little, but other than that they were projecting to have a health and wellness plaza. They had both a dentist and an orthopedic surgeon that want to locate in this complex. He felt it would be a nice, unique use and a good mix for that area. Commissioner Campbell noted that the facility would have other uses besides the athletic club; Mr. Muro concurred. a.r 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1996 i Commissioner Ferguson asked if that was within the 25,000 square feet they were talking about earlier with the other uses; Mr. Muro replied no, that they were looking at 31 ,000 to 32,000 square feet total and they would occupy 70% to 75% of the plaza. Commissioner Ferguson asked how many square feet Mr. Muro's athletic facility would be; Mr. Muro replied approximately 25,000 square feet. Commissioner Ferguson asked for clarification as to the square footage approved for the Dr. Lyon's project; Mr. Drell replied that it was approved for 35,900 square feet. Commissioner Ferguson said that he thought Mr. Drell might have mentioned earlier that there could be a reduction in building size; Mr. Drell replied that ultimately, based on how the parking requirement was analyzed in that the parking requirement for a health club was greater than retail, certain things like a racquetball court added fewer spaces per square foot than an aerobics room, but staff would be doing an analysis. Depending on the amount of parking produced, it might reduce the overall amount of square footage. If Mr. Muro is contemplating 31 ,000 square feet, that would be a reduction of approximately 5,000-6,000 square feet. Commissioner Ferguson noted that the question before the commission was whether an athletic club or health club fits within a recreational facility according to the C-1 zone, of which no other definition exists. Mr. Drell s concurred noting that the one the precedent was approved in 1980-81 under that same definition of recreation. Commissioner Ferguson indicated that under the original application, Mr. Muro had aerobics classes, a racquetball court, and a wall climbing area. He asked if those would still be included. Mr. Muro replied that it was identical to what they proposed earlier with the addition of a basketball court and possibly one other racquetball court. Everything else besides square footage was identical because the racquetball court was about 1 ,000 square feet and the basketball court was about 6,000 square feet. They originally proposed a little more than 18,000 square feet which together totaled 25,000 square feet. Commissioner Ferguson asked if he would have weight machines in addition to the other uses mentioned; Mr. Muro agreed and indicated that they would have a gym facility for not only body. building, advanced free-weight training, but also circuit training equipment, locker rooms with sauna, jacuzzi, steam, massage and within those parameters a hair salon at more than 1 ,000 square feet, a pro shop and a 1 ,000 square foot child care facility, as well as the coffee, juice and yogurt bar. Commissioner Jonathan clarified that this was the site that was previously approved as a two-story retail use; Mr. Drell concurred. He noted that there 4 ur/ MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1996 was a condemnation that the city went through to get the back half of the one property that refused to sell. Commissioner Jonathan asked if this use would wrap around that house; Mr. Drell showed on the map the perimeter of the project. Commissioner Jonathan asked about the design being proposed; Mr. Drell indicated that the design on display was the one originally approved, but it would be modified and adapted to Mr. Muro's use. Mr. Muro said that other than taking out the breezeway, which was unnecessary between the two buildings and making it all one unit, it would be relatively identical. Commissioner Jonathan noted that Mr. Muro was not coming before the commission with a precise plan, he was just asking if this was conceptually a permitted use. Mr. Muro concurred. Commissioner Jonathan asked about the status of the athletic club moving into the former Circuit City location. Mr. Muro replied that they had obtained a buy-out agreement to buy that building and have Circuit City buy themselves out of that lease, but they found it very difficult to get some of the other tenants to sign off on the athletic club usage. Unfortunately, in their CC&Rs it said retail use only, except for a small portion for restaurant usage (i.e. Outback Steakhouse) and some other cases like Barnes & Noble that were trying to get out of that situation and were using them as a crutch to do that. He said that location was only 21 ,000 square feet and he felt the project at Monterey and San Gorgonio would too provide a magnificent facility and a full amenity club. This location was definitely their first choice. Chairperson Beaty said that they would have to deal with parking, the neighbors, etc., but the issue tonight was the determination of use. He said that he had no personal problem with the use as long as the surrounding neighborhood accepts it and the parking is worked out. Commissioner Ferguson indicated that he didn't know what to call this particular type of use other than recreational under our code and if they provide racquetball, basketball, wall climbing, aerobics and if that was the only question before the commission, he felt that they were a recreational facility and he didn't see any reason why they couldn't submit an application for the C-1 zone. Commissioner Campbell concurred with Commissioner Ferguson that this was a recreational use and she didn't have an objection. Chairperson Beaty called for a motion. ftm 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 1996 Action: Moved by Commissioner Ferguson, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, by minute motion determining that a health club qualifies as a recreation establishment as identified in Section 25.28.030 Conditional Uses in the C-1 General Commercial District. Carried 5-0. X. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE None. XI. COMMENTS None. XII. ADJOURNMENT Moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez, adjourning the meeting by minute motion. Carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m. PHILIP DRELLI Secretary ATTEST: r PAUL R. BEATY, Chairperso Palm Desert Planning Commission Am 6