Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout0106 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1998 7:00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER ,.,, 73-510 FRED WARlNG DRIVE * * � .� � * * � �. * �. � � � * � � � .� � * �. * � * .� .� * � � * * �. � �. * � * � � � .� � I. CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairperson Campbeil cailed the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Fernandez led in the pledge of allegiance. Iil. ROLL CALL Members Present: Sonia Campbell, Acting Chairperson Paul Beaty George Fernandez Sabby Jonathan Members Absent: None •.. Staff Present: Phil Drell Martin Alvarez Bob Hargreaves Tonya Monroe IV. APPROVAL OF MiNUTES: Consideration of the December 16, 1997 meeting minutes. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Beaty, approving the December 16, 1997 minutes as submitted. Motion carried 4-0. V. AWARDS/PRESENTATIONS Planning Commission presented Planning Commission Resolution No. 1843 to James Cato Ferguson commending him for his participation on the Planning Commission and in numerous programs improving city planning and the city of Palm Desert. �.- MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 � VI. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION None. VII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. VIII. CONSENT CALENDAR None. IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS Anyone who challenges any hearing matter in court may be limited to raising only those issues he/she or someone else raised at the public hearing described herein, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hea�ing. A. Case No. TT 28658 and PP 97-17 - WESTWIND DEVELOPMENT, � Applicant Request for approval of a Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact, Tentative Tract Map to subdivide two existing parcels into six parcels, and a Precise Plan to build five condominium units each 1 ,550 square feet. Mr. Alvarez stated that the subject property consists of two parcels zoned R-3 multifamily residential located at the southeast corner of Abronia Trail and Sunset Lane. The two parcels totaled 16,700 square feet. Six parcels would be created by the tract map and parcel numbers one through five would be 2,100 square foot lotts, each having a 1 ,550 square foot condominium. Lot 6 would be a common lot containing landscaping and a common pool area. The five condominiums would be divided into two clusters. The first cluster would have two units fronting on Abronia Trail and the second cluster would have three units fronting on Sunset Lane. The 1 ,550 square foot condominiums would have building heights not exceeding 24 feet. Mr. Alvarez stated that the precise plan and tract map met all city standards. The � : 2 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 v�.. Architectural Review Commission granted preliminary approval subject to the submittal of a landscaping plan. Mr. Alvarez explained that the landscape plan was submitted on November 25, 1997. For purposes of CEQA, this project wou)d not have a significant negative impact on the environment and a Negative Declaration was prepared. Staff recommended approval of the tentative tract and precise plan, subject to the conditions contained in the draft resolution. Commissioner Jonathan noted that the staff report indicated that the proposed driveways would be 18 or 20 feet wide and pointed out that in the Fire Marshal's conditions (specifically number 1 1 on page 8) required 24 foot wide driveways. He asked if that was a conflict. Mr. Alvarez suggested that it be amended to meet that requirement, although he was fairly certain that it should be 20 feet. Mr. Drel( exp(ained that the condition appeared to be for a circulation aisle in a parking lot since it didn't allow parallel parking, and carports and garages were allowed on one side only. He said that typically residential driveways were 16 feet wide. He recommended that the condition be amended by adding the words "or as approved by the Fire Marshal" and � that would allow for some clarification or modification by the Fire Marshal. Commissioner Jonathan said he didn't have a problem with the 18 foot wide driveway he just saw a conflict within the conditions. He concurred with the amended language. Acting Chairperson Campbell opened the public hearing and asked the applicant to address the commission. MR. A.R. WOOLWORTH, Western Development, 44-817 Del Dios Court in Indian Wells, addressed the commission and said he was present to answer any questions. There were no questions for the applicant. Acting Chairperson Campbell asked if anyone wished to speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposed project. There was no one and the public hearing was closed. Commissioner Fernandez said he was in favor of the project and felt it would be a great project. ` 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 ; � � � Commissioner Jonathan concurred with Commissioner Fernandez but asked for clarification by ARC. He noted that they have not yet approved the landscaping plan and it was scheduled for their January 16 meeting. Mr. Alvarez concurred. Commissioner Jonathan asked for confirmation that approval by the Planning Commission would be with the conditions as amended and subject to the approval of the landscape plan by ARC. Mr. Alvarez concurred. Acting Chairperson Campbell concurred with the other commissioners and was in favor of the project. She asked for a motion. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Beaty, approving the findings as presented by staff. Motion carried 4-0. It was moved by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Commissioner Beaty, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 1845, approving TT 28658 and PP 97-17, subject to conditions as amended. Motion carried 4-0. i � X. MISCELLANEOUS "'� None. XI. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. CIVIC CENTER STEERING COMMITTEE - None B. DESERT WILLOW COMMITTEE - None C. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE - (December 18, 1997) Commissioner Jonathan informed commission that he had a copy of the EDAC agenda if anyone wished to review it. He felt the most relevant item for the Planning Commission was the discussion of a business improvement or assessment district for the Cook Street area. He explained that there would be various advantages in doing that with the main one being upgrading the area, both in terms of its physical ; 5 4 � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 �.. appearance as well as a central coordinated marketing effort with all ihe businesses there. He said it was very much in the discussion stages but at this point the EDAC seemed to be very much in favor of it and recommended that the process move forward. Acting Chairperson Campbell asked if they discussed the economic development of the Chamber. Commissioner Jonathan concurred, but explained that it was an ongoing effort and one that for the time being was being spearheaded by the Chamber to bring in new businesses. He said that particularly they were looking at golf club manufacturing. They were looking at doing a targeted mailing list with specific follow up. He noted that Councilman Spiegel suggested that once they narrowed it down to a few good businesses that there might be personal trips and a sincere effort made to bring some of these companies to Palm Desert. D. PROJECT AREA 4 COMMITTEE - None E. PALM DESERT/RANCHO MIRAGE MONTEREY AVENUE CORRtDOR �" PLANNING WORK GROUP - None F. ZONING ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE - (December 17, 1997) Acting Chairperson Campbell asked Mr. Hargreaves to give a brief description of the political sign discussion. Mr. Hargreaves explained that there was a rather lengthy discussion about the constitutional parameters for regulating political signs and the weaknesses in our current ordinance. He said he received some suggestions on the committee's view on what kind of an ordinance they would like, which would be basically something that could be enforced. They didn't seem to be particularly interested in "pushing the envelope" in terms of regulating political signs so they were going back to come up with a draft that complies well within the margins with the current law. He said that one problem was that there has been a lot of changes and it was still somewhat in flux. He said they would also go back and look briefly at the regulation of commercial signs within the same constitutional parameters. He felt it was a very interesting discussion in terms of first amendment rights, aesthetics and zoning. Acting ``r 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 � � � Chairperson Campbell asked if he would keep the commission updated as reseach was completed. Mr. Hargreaves concurred. XII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE LIAISONS A. Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Acti n: It was moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Beaty, electing Sonia Campbell as Chairperson and moved by Commissioner Fernandez, seconded by Chairperson Campbell, electing Sabby Jonathan as Vice Chairperson by minute motion. Motion carried 4-0. B. Appointment of a Civic Center Steering Committee Representative, Appointment of a Desert Willow Committee Representative, Appointment of an Economic Development Advisory Committee Representative, Appointment of a Project Area 4 Committee ' Representative, Appointment of a Representative to the Palm � Desert/Rancho Mirage Monterey Avenue Corridor Planning Work Group, and Appointment of a Zoning Ordinance Review Committee Representative. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Jonathan, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez, by minute motion appointing Commissioner Beaty as the Civic Center Steering Committee representative, appointing Commissioner Beaty as the Desert Willow Committee representative and Chairperson Campbell as the alternate, appointing Commissioner Jonathan as the Economic Development Advisory Committee representative and Chairperson Campbell as the alternate, appointing Commissioner Fernandez as the Project Area 4 Committee representative and Chairperson Campbell as the alternate, appointing Commissioner Jonathan as the Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage Monterey Avenue Corridor Planning Work Group representative and Chairperson Campbell as the alternate, and appointing Chairperson Campbell as the ZORC representative. Motion carried 4-0. 6 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JANUARY 6, 1998 •.. XIII. COMMENTS Commissioner Jonathan asked about the status of the report that he requested at the (ast meeting from Mr. Smith regarding Planning Commission approval versus what was being built and if it was going to be postponed to the next meeting since Mr. Smith was not present. Mr. Alvarez informed commission that he would have a report ready for the next meeting. XIV. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner Beaty, seconded by Commissioner Fernandez, adjourning the meeting by minute motion. Motion carried 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:37 p.m. (Ms. Julie Adamen of Adamen Associates introduced herself and indicated that she was interested in the vacant Planning Commission seat.) r.r. PHILIP DRELL, Secre#��_- ATTEST: -�- �� ��.-s, .�-E'�� ONIA M. CAMPBELL, Chairperson Palm Desert Planning Commission /tm � �