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Home My WebLink About2017-10-17 PC Regular Meeting Minutes " CITY OF PALM DESERT le fl• �� fr, PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION b.� z � . ";+�tiry : MINUTES s / ,,. = Foa 0::.•••' TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2017 — 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Nancy DeLuna called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioner Lindsay Holt Commissioner Ron Gregory Commissioner John Greenwood Vice Chair Joseph Pradetto Chair Nancy DeLuna Staff Present: Jill Tremblay, City Attorney Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Ron Moreno, Senior Engineer/City Surveyor Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Kevin Swartz, Associate Planner Monica O'Reilly, Administrative Secretary III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Ron Gregory led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Director of Community Development Ryan Stendell summarized pertinent October 12, 2017, City Council actions. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2017 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Planning Commission meeting of October 3, 2017. Rec: Continue to the next regular scheduled meeting. B. APPROVAL of a one-year time extension for Precise Plan 06-18 and Conditional Use Permit 06-15 for an 88-room hotel and restaurant pad located at 75-144 Gerald Ford Drive. Case Nos. PP 06-18/CUP 06-15 (John C. Wang, Yorba Linda, California, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve a one-year time extension for Case Nos. PP 06-18/CUP 06-15 until November 8, 2018. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Pradetto, second by Commissioner Gregory, and a 5-0 vote of the Planning Commission, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. NEW BUSINESS None IX. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a precise plan of design and a tentative parcel map to construct a new 6,800-square-foot retail building on a new .18-acre parcel; and approval of a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. Case Nos. PP 16-396/TPM 37320 (PCG Palm Desert, LLC., El Segundo, California, Applicant). Associate Planner Kevin Swartz outlined the salient points in the staff report (staff report is available at www.cityofpalmdesert.org). He noted the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) approved the retail building design and staff recommended approval. He offered to answer any questions. Chair DeLuna asked staff to point out the entrance to the buildings. Mr. Swartz referred to the exhibit and noted the south elevation is the entrance to the suites. Chair DeLuna inquired if there are no other entrances. Mr. Swartz replied that is correct. 2 G:\Planning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2017\Minutes\10-17-17.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2017 Commissioner Gregory inquired if decreasing the parking ratio is a reactive measure on the City's decision to go in that direction or a proactive decision. Mr. Swartz believed the City was being proactive and reactive. In the past, the big box tenants would state that they needed five to six parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. However, that much parking is not needed. He noted a parking study was done during the General Plan update. Mr. Stendell added that the Citizens' Sustainability Committee discussed and reviewed parking requirements about five years ago. Chair DeLuna mentioned she visited the project site at 5:00 p.m. and there was no one parked in the stalls. Commissioner Greenwood asked if the exhibits were updated since it went before the ARC. Mr. Swartz replied yes. Commissioner Greenwood pointed to the north elevation on the color and black and white exhibits. He asked if a trellis was omitted from the color exhibit. He also asked if there would be landscape on the trellises. Mr. Swartz responded that the trellises would be landscaped. He believed a trellis was omitted on the color north elevation exhibit. Commissioner Greenwood asked what will happen with the property wall that separates the gas station and the proposed new building pad. Mr. Swartz replied that the wall would not be altered. Commissioner Greenwood asked what the separation from the building to the property line is or it is a zero property line condition. Mr. Swartz replied yes. Commissioner Greenwood asked if the wall is on the property line. Mr. Swartz believed the wall is more on the gas station property line. Commissioner Gregory asked which exhibit prevails, the color or the black and white exhibit. Mr. Swartz replied the black and white exhibit prevails. Commissioner Gregory stated he looked at the landscape plan and noted there should be an additional Arabian Jasmine vine for the third trellis. 3 G:\Planning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2017\Minutes\10-17-17.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2017 Chair DeLuna declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. MR. BRAD RABLE, El Segundo, California, commented his group owns the Walmart Center and the pad for the proposed new building. He mentioned they have been working on the project for 10 months. He offered to answer any questions and noted his architect was also available to answer questions. Commissioner Greenwood referred to the conceptual grading plan and mentioned that the wall separating the gas station and the pad is on the property line, and suggested the applicant take a look at the west elevation. MR. RABLE believed the wall is on the gas station property, but would have to check with the surveyor. He indicated there is approximately a foot separation between the wall and the building edge. Senior Engineer/Surveyor Ron Moreno reaffirmed that the property line for the new parcel would be one foot from the wall. Commissioner Greenwood inquired if the west elevation will also have the Jasmine landscaping. MR. RABLE replied he did not believe so due to the constructability of getting the irrigation channel into the area. The trellises on the west elevation will only be an architectural feature. 111 Chair DeLuna asked how tall the wall on the west elevation is. Mr. Moreno replied that the wall starts at four feet and steps up to six feet. With no further testimony offered, Chair DeLuna declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Gregory commented it is a simple project and the applicant has done a nice job. Commissioner Greenwood mentioned he was on the Citizens' Sustainability Committee when they did the parking lot study. He felt the proposed project is a great result in looking at developments that were over parked. It is a nice building and will be a good addition to the Walmart Center. Chair DeLuna was happy to see some retail going into the area, and the proposed project is a nice complement to the existing uses on the parcel and a good use of space. Commissioner Greenwood moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2709, approving Case Nos. PP 16-396/TPM 37320, subject to conditions. Motion was seconded by Vice Chair Pradetto and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). 4 G:\Planning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2017\Minutes\10-17-17.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2017 Chair DeLuna thanked the applicant for continuing to do business in Palm Desert. B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to allow a new church with up to 400 members, within an existing 13,000-square-foot building located at 36-927 Cook Street; and approval of a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. Case No. CUP 17-148 (Church 212, Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Mr. Swartz recommended that this item be continued to the next scheduled Planning Commission meeting of November 7. The reason for the continuance is due to staff not receiving all feedback from the other departments and the legal notice had been mailed out. Vice Chair Pradetto moved to, by Minute Motion, continue Case No. CUP 17-148 to November 7, 2017. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Greenwood and carried by a 5- 0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). XI. MISCELLANEOUS None XII. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES None B. PARKS & RECREATION None XIII. COMMENTS Vice Chair Pradetto asked if the Sheriff's Department will be present at every Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Stendell responded that a deputy from the Sheriff's Department will be present for a six-month trial period to find out if they are really needed. Vice Chair Pradetto stated he is not convinced the Sheriff's Department needs to be present. He said possibly they could be present for only contentious agenda items. He felt having the Sheriff's Department present at every meeting is not a good use of city resources. He voiced that the idea of having a deputy present to comfort the Commission is a little selfish instead of them comforting the people they serve. Chair DeLuna and Commissioner Gregory disagreed. They both felt it is calming and comforting to have a Sheriff's deputy present. They cannot anticipate someone getting out of line. 5 G:\Planning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2017\Minutes\10-17-17.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION OCTOBER 17, 2017 Commissioner Gregory commented possibly staff could anticipate when the Sheriff's Department is needed. Mr. Stendell responded that they will continue to have a deputy present and evaluate if they are needed. Staff will make that recommendation to the Planning Commission If they need to change it to an as-needed basis. Chair DeLuna stated people seem to be more emotional and angry. She felt having a calming influence for a while is positive, so they can establish a sense of order. Commissioner Greenwood asked if there are funds to send a Planning Commissioner to the League of California Cities (LOCC) conference. Mr. Stendell replied that there are funds available for the LOCC Planning Commissioners Academy being held on April 4-6, 2018. On a different note, he mentioned the City Manager and City Clerk have implemented a new staff report format and noted staff and applicant information is on the last page of the report. He also noted staff anticipates canceling the November 21 Planning Commission meeting. XIV. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chair DeLuna adjourned the meeting at 6:36 p.m. NANCY D� 'LU��ff NA, CHAIR ATTEST: RYAN STENDELL, SECRETARY PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION r� ( I MONICA O'REILLY, RECORDING CRETARY 6 G:\Planning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2017\Minutes\10-17-17.docx