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Home My WebLink About0304 /"'�� MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION . TUESDAY - MARCH 4, 2008 * * * * * * * * * # * * � * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ,� * * * * * * * * * I. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Tschopp called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Dave Tschopp, Chair Van Tanner, Vice Chair Sonia Campbell Connor Limont Mari Schmidt Members Absent: None Staff Present: Lauri Aylaian, Director of Community Development Bob Hargreaves, Deputy City Attorney Tony Bagato, Principal Planner Renee Schrader, Associate Planner Tonya Monroe, Administrative Secretary III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Schmidt led in the pledge of allegiance. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Request for consideration of the February 19, 2008 meeting minutes. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Limont, approving the February 19, 2008 meeting minutes. Motion carried 5- 0. V. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Ms. Aylaian summarized pertinent February 28, 2008 City Council actions. MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 4. 2008 VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. VII. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Case No. TPM 34211 - WILSON JOHNSON DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT, Applicant Request for approval of a first one-year time extension for TPM 34211 that approved a parcel map subdividing 83.2 acres into 22 parcels located between Portola Avenue and Cook Street north of Gerald Ford (Technology Drivel. B. Case No. TT 32655 - PALM DESERT FUNDING COMPANY, LP, Applicant Requesfi for approval of a second one-year time extension for TPM 32655 that approved a parcel map subdividing a 69.26-acre site into 270 single-family lots, modified setbacks and lot sizes for the 270 lots, and a Negative Declaration af Environmental Impact for property located between Portola Avenue and Cook Street south of Gerafd Ford Drive. C. Case No. TT 34055 - PALM DESERT FUNDING COMPANY, LP, Applicant Request for approval of a first one-year time extension for TT 34055 which subdivided a 42.2-acre site into 242 single- family lots, modified setbacks and lot sizes for the 242 lots for property located at the southeast corner of Portola Avenue and Gerald Ford Drive, 74-255 Gerald Ford Drive. D. Case No. TT 34057 - PALM DESERT FUNDING COMPANY, LP, Applicant Request for approval of a first one-year time extension for TT 34057 which subdivided a 29.5-acre site into 141 single- family lots, modified setbacks and lot sizes for the 141 lots for property located at the southeast corner of Gerald Ford Drive and Pacific Avenue, 36-200 Pacific Avenue. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 4 2008 E. Case No. TT 34074 - PALM DESERT FUNDING COMPANY, LP, Applicant Request for approval of a first one-year time extension for TT 34074 which subdivided a 10.6-acre site into 72 single- family lots, modified setbacks and lot sizes for the 72 lots on property located south of Gerald Ford Drive east of Pacific Avenue, 74-300 College Drive. Commissioner Limont commented that these were the same developers that came to them last April or May and basically stood in front of the Planning Commission and said if they didn't get approval that evening, the projects wouldn't go forward. The following day she went to the Landscape Committee meeting only to find out through discussion that the project across the street, The Vineyards, didn't have a final grading permit and didn't have an affordable housing permit. She just wanted to bring that up. For her it was a learning experience. She understood that these guys are in business and need to move their projects forward, but sometimes she thought they had to be extremely careful with them. The names here were very familiar and she went back over her notes and there they were. It was just an informational comment. Action: It was moved by Commissioner Tanner, seconded by Commissioner Campbell, approving the Consent Calendar by minute motion. Motion carried 5-0. VIII. PUBLtC 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. Reports and documents relating to each of the following items listed on the agenda are on file in the Department of Community Development and are available for public inspection during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., 73510 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert, CA 92260, (760) 346-069�. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 4. 2008 A. Case No. CUP 07-13 - OMNIPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC., Applicant Request for approval of a new T-Mobile telecommunications facility to be comprised of 12 new panel antennas and one parabolic dish mounted inside a new pineapple on a 65-foot high mono-palm; and construction of a new 209 square foot CMU wall enclosure 6-feet 6-inches tall to house four accessory equipment cabinets, one GPA unit and attendant utility panels with an emergency generator receptacle to be installed at the Holiday Inn Palm Desert property located at 74- 675 Highway 111. Ms. Schrader reviewed the request and recommended approval based on the findings contained in the report. Commissioner Schmidt asked about the existing tower on the same property. Ms. Schrader clarified that it is a different property; the Southern California Edison substation is approximately 250 feet away, but it was already preparing to bring in another tenant on that site, so T-Mobile wouldn't be able to put an antenna on that particular mono-palm. Commissioner Schmidt asked if the existing mono-palm was 65 feet tall. Ms. Schrader replied 75 feet. Commissioner Limont asked if this tower would be comparable to others such as the ones at St. MargareYs where the pineapple is enclosed and houses the equipment inside. Ms. Schrader said it would be visually comparable in every way. It will be enclosed and the trunk material was similar. She was assured by the applicant that everything about it would be the same. However, the pineapple will appear a little larger than those at St. Margaret's Church, but would have the same outside structure. Everything would be enciosed within the pineapple and there would be no visible technological features on the outside. There were no other questions for staff. Chairperson Tschopp opened the public hearing and asked the applicant to address the Commission. MS. LAURA BISHOP, a representative of T-Mobile, said that staff did a pretty good job of introducing the project and asked for any questions. Her address for the record was 22751 EI Prado #2313 in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, 92688. There were no questions for the applicant. Chairperson Tschopp asked for any testimony in FAVOR or OPPOSITION to the proposed project. There 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLQNNING COMMISSION MQRCH 4. 2008 was none and Chairperson Tschopp closed the public hearing and asked for Commission comments or action. Commissioner Campbell stated that it blends in very well and the 65-foot tower would be nicely balanced with the taller and shorter palms. Action: Commissioner Campbell moved for approval. Commissioner Limont asked Ms. Aylaian about existing palm tree towers, noting the location of one close to the Del Taco on Highway 111 and one near Country Club and Cook towards The �akes; both had dying palm trees. Ms. Aylaian said she spoke with Spencer Knight (the City's Landscape Manager) and he was at the Del Taco site last week and said that in the past there have been dying trees that have been replaced several times and continued to be a struggle, but those were in good shape right now. Commissioner Limont asked if this project was approved with a conditiona! use permit, what measures they would have to enforce and make certain the landscaping would be maintained. Ms. Aylaian indicated that in the past there hadn't always been conditions of approval attached to a CUP that would allow the City to revoke the CUP if the landscaping wasn't maintained. Since that hadn't always been done in the past, there are existing sites where the landscaping isn't at the level staff would like. However, for recent projects conditions of approval were included which would allow them to take action and revoke the CUP if the landscaping is not maintained, and that was what they were proposing here. Chairperson Tschopp asked if there was a second to the motion. It was seconded by Commissioner Tanner. Chairperson Tschopp asked for any other comments; there were none and he called for the vote. Motion carried 5-0. It was moved by Commissioner Campbell, seconded by Commissioner Tanner, adopting Planning Commission Resolution No. 2469 approving Case CUP 07-13, subject to conditions. Motion carried 5-0. IX. MISCELLANEOUS None. 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MARCH 4. 2008 X. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES Commissioner Campbell reported on the last meeting. B. LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION Commissioner Limont said she would give an update at the next meeting. C. PROJECT AREA 4 COMMITTEE Commissioner Schmidt noted that they have not yet met. D. PARKS & RECREATION Commissioner Tanner reviewed the items discussed at their last meeting. XI. COMMENTS Ms. Aylaian advised that there were no public hearing items scheduled for the next meeting, March 18, 2008. XII. ADJOURNMENT It was moved by Chairperson Tschopp, seconded by Commissioner Tanner, adjourning the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:18 p.m. LAURI AYLAIAN, Secretsry ATTEST: —_ � � � � S DAVID E. TSCHOPP, Chair Palm Desert Planning Commission /tm � 6