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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0517 ����� MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY - MAY 17, 2005 � . 6:00 P.M. - CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBER 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Tschopp called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Jonathan led in the pledge of allegiance. III. ROLL CALL Members Present: Dave Tschopp, Chairperson Sonia Campbell Cindy Finerty Sabby Jonathan � Members Absent: Jim Lopez, Vice Chairperson Staff Present: Phil Drell, Director of Community Development Bob Hargreaves, City Attorney Francisco Urbina, Associate Planner Phil Joy, Associate Transportation Planner Tonya Monroe, Administrative Secretary IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Request for consideration of the April 19, 2005 meeting minutes. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Finerty, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, approving the April 19, 2005 meeting minutes. Motion carried 4-0. V. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Mr. Drell summarized pertinent April 28 and May 12, 2005 City Council meeting actions. � MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 .� VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS � None. VII. CONSENT CALENDAR Commissioner Jonathan requested that the items be addressed separately. Chairperson Tschopp concurred. A. Case No. CUP 04-12 - HOLDEN & JOHNSON ARCHITECTS for THE LIVING DESERT, Applicant Request for approval of a first one-year time extension to allow construction of a finro-story 19,075 square foot administration building at 47-900 Portola Avenue within the Living Desert. Commissioner Jonathan stated that he is familiar with that area and the traffic situation was intolerable, particularly when there are special events, which was quite frequent (during the Wild Lights period which is two weeks ; or more, and other special events). But in general, between the increased number of homes in Ironwood, construction, and all the construction trade "'� lining up and jamming up at the entrance at Vintage, that whole situation has gotten untenable and it was his belief that adding 19,000 square feet of administration and the additional traffic that would create was simply not a good idea without addressing the infrastructure issue and the traffic problem. So he would be voting against the one-year time extension. Commissioner Campbell noted that this was previously approved and the request was just for an extension of time. Commissioner Jonathan clarified that circumstances have changed so that the extension was not warranted. He recognized that he might be a minority of one, but he thought that was a reason that applications have a tirne limit and come back to the Planning Commission for approval of an extension because certain circumstances might change and he thought they have. The situation has gotten bad enough that this project is not a good idea. He wasn't saying it couldn't happen, but that there are other considerations that will have to be taken into consideration. That was just his opinion. Commissioner Campbell was in favor of granting the extension and moved for approval. � 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 � Action: It was moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Finerty, approving a first one-year time extension for Case No. CUP 04-12. Motion carried 3-1-1 (Commissioner Jonathan voted no, Commissioner Lopez absent). B. Case No. PMW 05-04 - MORGAN AND CHARLENE MURPHY AND WILLIAM AND MARLYS GAZECKI, Applicants Request for approval of a parcel map waiver to allow a lot line adjustment between Lots 8 and 7 of Tract 4018 within Avondale Country Club. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Finerty, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, approving Case No. PMW 05-04 by minute motion. Motion carried 4-0. �+ VIII. 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 hearing. A. Case No.TPM 33646-SCOTELLE DEVELOPMENT, LLC,Applicant Request for approval of a tentative parcel map to subdivide a 4.27-acre parcel into seven parcels located at 39-800 Portola Avenue. Mr. Drell explained that there was an error in the legal notice; therefore, staff was recommending tabling it and coming back after it was properly noticed. Mr. Hargreaves said the notice may or may not have been adequate. What they could do is open the public hearing and continue it. Mr. Drell said the notice had a very good map that showed the location unequivocally, but the verbiage was incorrect. The applicant was not necessarily in a huge rush, so she consented to the continuance. So if in fact they could have a public � 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 : � hearing, then they would open the public hearing and recommend a � continuance to June 7, 2005. Commissioner Jonathan asked if they could open the public hearing, if they could also take action. Mr. Hargreaves said yes, they could go ahead and act, but someone in the future could challenge it based on the inadequacy of the notice. In an abundance of caution, they would continue the matter. He noted that there was no one present. Either way, it was just a formality at this point. Chairperson Tschopp opened the public hearing, noted there was no one present to speak in FAVOR or OPPOSITION, and asked for Commission comments. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Finerty, seconded by Commissioner Jonathan, continuing Case No. TPM 33646 to June 7, 2005. Motion carried 4-0. � � B. Case No. PP 05-02 - CMC WHITE CAP, Applicant '�' Request for a recommendation to City Council of approval of a precise plan of design to allow construction of a 13,696 square foot industrial building, including a 2,500 square foot mezzanine, a height exception up to 34'6", and outdoor storage of building materials on a 3.43-acre site located on the north side of Dinah Shore Drive, east of Leilani Way at 73-600 Dinah Shore Drive. Commissioner Jonathan informed the Commission that he has an ownership interest in property that he believed was greater than 500 feet away from this particular application, but in an abundance of caution he would abstain and left the room. Mr. Francisco Urbina reviewed the staff report. He also noted that the City Council wanted staff to look into making Dinah Shore six lanes versus four lanes between Portola and Monterey. As a result of that directive from Council, staff was recommending the addition of a sentence to Public Works Department Condition No. 11, "The property owner shall dedicate and � � 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 � improve Dinah Shore Drive to a half-street width of up to 51 feet on 75 feet of right-of-way." This would allow staff the flexibility to require the property owner to make half-street improvements to facilitate six lanes if that was what the Council decided in the future. With the amendment to that condition, staff recommended that Planning Commission recommend to City Council approval of Case No. PP 05-02 based on the findings and conditions in the draft resolution. Commissioner Campbell asked what kinds of construction materials would be stored outdoors. Mr. Urbina explained it would include lumber and masonry materials; stone products. He said the current business is located in an industrial park in Thousand Palms and wanted to relocate into this area of Palm Desert. Given the possibility of going to six lanes, Chairperson Tschopp asked for the number of feet that would be dedicated. The reason he asked was because the front setback only varied from 43 feet to 60 feet from curb to building right now. Mr. Urbina said that right now it is a 50-foot half street. The recorded industrial parcel map for this area that created the project site parcel had a width of 31 feet of pavement from the curb on the median to the `� outside curb 31 feet. That could only accommodate two travel lanes. To accommodate three travel lanes, the Public Works Department was looking at increasing that 31 feet to 42 feet which would allow for three 12-foot wide travel lanes plus a six-foot wide bike lane. Mr. Drell said the answer was it would be widened 11 feet. Fortunately with this project, that 40-60 foot existing setback was still quite adequate to absorb that 11 feet. Commissioner Campbell noted that the setback would still be about 22 feet minimum if the third lane was added. Mr. Drell thought the landscaping would be more than 30 feet and confirmed it was still adequate. There were no other questions for staff and Chairperson Tschopp opened the public hearing and asked the applicant to address the Commission. MR. THOMAS SUN, Ware Malcomb Architects on behalf of CMC Incorporated, informed Commission that they are the architects of record for this project. At this time they had no objections to the conditions as stated. � 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 � � � Chairperson Tschopp asked for any testimony in FAVOR or OPPOSITION � to the proposed project. There was no one and the public hearing was closed. Chairperson Tschopp asked for Commission comments. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Finerty, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, approving the findings as presented by staff. Motion carried 3-0-1- 1 (Commissioner Lopez absent, Commissioner Jonathan abstained). It was moved by Commissioner Finerty, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 2332, recommending to City Council approval of Case No. PP 05-02, subject to conditions as amended. Motion carried 3-0-1-1 (Commissioner Lopez absent, Commissioner Jonathan abstained). COMMISSIONER JONATHAN REJOINED THE MEETING. IX. MISCELLANEOUS j None. � X. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Commissioner Campbell reported that the last meeting was informational. B. LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE Commissioner Finerty said she wasn't in attendance, but was told the meeting was informational. C. PROJECT AREA 4 COMMITTEE Commissioner Finerty said she wasn't in attendance, but was told the meeting was informational. Mr. Drell informed Commission that Palm Desert Country Club was moving forward. Since the only one who had money now to fund the project at this time was the existing owner � of the golf course, Mr. Cho, City Council approved adding Mr. Cho to :� � � 6 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MAY 17 2005 � the development agreement, which would allow them to execute the agreement and the maintenance agreement. So he was funding, at least temporarily until a suitable investment team could be reformulated. So the project was proceeding and the prognosis for the completion of the renovation of the golf course and the clubhouse, he believed, was sometime in November or December. Commissioner Finerty noted there was a lot of work to do. Mr. Drell concurred. He believed the demo would begin within a couple of weeks on the clubhouse, as well as the maintenance building and yard. They hired a team of security people to try and secure the golf course while it's under construction. So they were back on track. XI. COMMENTS None. XII. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Finerty, adjourning the meeting by minute motion. Motion carried 4-0. The '� meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m. �� n,,t_� PHILIP DRELL Secretary ATTEST: � , -- AVID E. TSCHOPP, Chairperson Palm Desert Planning Commission /tm � 7