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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-19 PC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2018 — 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Joseph Pradetto called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioner Lindsay Holt Commissioner John Greenwood Commissioner Nancy DeLuna Vice Chairman Ron Gregory Chairman Joseph Pradetto Staff Present: Jill Tremblay, Assistant City Attorney Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Christina Canales, Assistant Engineer Monica O'Reilly, Administrative Secretary Justus Swajian, Community Development Intern III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairman Pradetto led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Director of Community Development Ryan Stendell summarized pertinent June 14, 2018, City Council actions. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2018 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of June 5, 2018. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Vice Chairman Gregory, second by Commissioner DeLuna, 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). VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None Vlll. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION of a request for approval of Tentative Tract Maps 37240, 37241, and 37242 for condominium purposes to establish 69 condominium units on approximately 30 acres located within Palm Desert Country Club (PDCC). Case Nos.TTM 37240,TTM 37241, &TTM 37242 (Chris McFadden Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Principal Planner Eric Ceja presented the staff report (staff report is available at www.cit ofofpalmdesert.org). Staff recommended approval and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner John Greenwood inquired if there were any changes to the maps, in terms of what was presented to the City Council and the Planning Commission. Mr. Ceja replied that there were no changes. Commissioner Lindsay Holt asked what was the resolution in regard to the fencing and walls. Mr. Ceja responded that the fencing and walls were discussed at the City Council meeting. It was settled that the areas where fencing and walls would be built five feet off of residents' property lines, there would be an easement for access and use. Therefore, property owners would be able to use the five feet as their property. He noted the easement will not be transferred to the property owner because it would trigger a reassessment of their property value. Commissioner Holt inquired about the three options for the wall types. Mr. Ceja answered that it is up to the property owner to decide from the three options; a solid wall, wrought iron fence, or combination of a solid wall and wrought iron fence. Chairman Pradetto declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. 2 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2018\Minutes\6-19-18.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2018 MR. CHRIS MC FADDEN, McFadden Architects, Applicant, St. Charles Place, Palm Desert, California, stated he did not have anything to add to the record. He offered to answer any questions from the Planning Commission and/or from the public hearing. MS. SHARON LASKIN, California Drive, Palm Desert, California, inquired if there is a timeline for breaking ground and completion of the project, and which parcel will they first start constructing. MS. ANNIE ANDERSON, Colorado Street, Palm Desert, California, asked how tall the project will be, would the view of the mountains be blocked, and where are the air conditioning units going to be located. Chairman Pradetto asked staff or the applicant to address the questions from Ms. Laskin and Ms. Anderson. MR. MC FADDEN responded that they have terraced the lots and views are primarily to the south and are the most protected. He said they terraced the site from the properties to the north and benchmarked everything on the lots about half of the height differential, which is roughly 16 feet. As a result, there is an eight-foot step-down on the pad height from the homes to the north to the pads on the site to the condominiums to the south. Regarding the air conditioning units, the units will be roof mounted and will not be visible from the street. He said the ridge of the building is higher than the element that holds the air conditioning systems, which were reviewed by the Architectural Review Commission, the Planning Commission, and the City Council. Lastly, they plan to break ground in the summer of 2019, beginning with Site B. They have budgeted to complete the whole project in 18 to 24 months. With no further testimony offered, Chairman Pradetto declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Greenwood felt the project was consistent with the previous approvals by the Planning Commission and moved for approval. Vice Chairman Ron Gregory concurred with Commissioner Greenwood. Commissioner Greenwood moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2721, approving Case Nos. TTM 37240, TTM 37241, and TTM 37242, subject to conditions. Motion was seconded by Commissioner DeLuna and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to adopt resolutions recommending approval to the City Council to amend the Palm Desert Municipal Code and to create Section 25.28.130 "Open Space/Residential Overlay Zone" and apply said zoning to three parcels of land as they relate to the Palm Desert Country Club project (APNs 637- 190-021, 637-190-024, and 637-190-027). Case No. ZOA 18-0003 (City of Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Mr. Ceja outlined the salient points from the staff report (staff report is available at www.cityofpalmdesert.org). He noted there is an error in Exhibit A, under Item D. Procedure; B. Community Options. The word "with" should be added to "The golf 3 GAPlanning\Monica OPeilly\Planning Commission\2018\Minutes\6-19-18.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2018 course ownership shall work with . ." Additionally, under Item E. Development Standards; Item A. The percentage is forty-five percent (45%). Therefore, the change should be "At a minimum, all golf course conversion projects shall retain or provide forty-five percent (45% open space . . ." He mentioned the proposed overlay zone would be applied on top of the zoning designation for the PDCC project. Lastly, he noted the parcels are zoned R-2 (Mixed-Residential), which does not allow short-term rentals. Vice Chairman Gregory referred to the percentage of open space and asked how the percentage is comparable to the PDCC project. Mr. Ceja replied that the PDCC project is at 49 percent. Commissioner Holt clarified that the proposed overlay zone would be established when there is a rezone from an Open Space zone to an R-2 zone to accommodate residential development. She asked if that is the sole purpose of the overlay. Mr. Ceja replied that is correct. The overlay zone would be applied to the PDCC project. In the future, if there are other golf course conversion applications, the City will apply the overlay zone standards to the project. Commissioner Holt asked if the proposed overlay zone would work with a mixed-use or commercial development. Mr. Ceja responded that staff attempted not to tailor the overlay zone in which the City could only have one type of project on the golf course conversion. He said an applicant must demonstrate support for a reduction of the open space percentage of the impacted community. Chairman Pradetto asked what the threshold is to demonstrate the support from the community. Mr. Ceja answered he was unsure. However, through the community hearing process and community meetings, people would communicate if they are in favor or opposed to the reduction of the 45 percent open space standard. Commissioner Holt inquired if there were any recommendations made in regard to recreational amenities. She asked if it is correct that the amenities in the PDCC project are not open to the public. Mr. Ceja responded that the project will have community pools that will not be open to the general public. The project will have a trail system, exercise equipment, and gazebos that will be available to the public. He stated the City will look for input from the community that would be impacted by the development proposal. Mr. Stendell interjected that the Community Development Department's Management Analyst is the staff liaison for the Parks and Recreation Commission. If there were a recreational amenity that is controversial, City staff could refer the project to the Parks Commission. 4 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2018\Minutes\6-19-18.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2018 Chairman Pradetto declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. With no testimony offered, Chairman Pradetto declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Greenwood moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution Nos. 2722 and 2723, recommending to the City Council approval of Case No. ZOA 18-0003, with the two modifications to Resolution No. 2722 (Items D and E of Exhibit A) as noted by staff. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Holt and carried by a 5- 0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). IX. MISCELLANEOUS A. REQUEST to receive and file information related to the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for projects to be undertaken for the 2018/2019 fiscal year. Mr. Ceja provided a brief report regarding the CIPs for the 2018/2019 fiscal year. Commissioner DeLuna pointed out that the City is relying on the gas tax as a source of funds. If the gas tax is repealed, she asked how much of an impact would it be to the City. Mr. Stendell responded that the Finance Department and Public Works Department staff will solve the problem if the gas tax is repealed. He noted the City has not spent any money from the gas tax fund. Commissioner Greenwood asked where the San Pablo Avenue improvements are located in the report. Commissioner Holt replied that the San Pablo Avenue improvements are on sheet five. She asked staff what is the schedule for the improvements. Mr. Ceja responded that the City hired an engineering consultant and they are currently working on the construction documents. The documents should be completed in September or October of this year, with construction to begin in early 2019. Commissioner Holt asked for an update on the Portola Avenue Interchange. Mr. Ceja replied that the dates keep changing but work on the interchange could begin in 2020. Commissioner Greenwood referred to the San Pablo Avenue improvements. He inquired if staff is open to presenting the completed documents to the Planning Commission. Mr. Ceja replied yes. Commissioner Greenwood asked for the name of the event that the City hosted on San Pablo Avenue. He inquired if there are plans to have another event. 5 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2018\Minutes\6-19-18.docx MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION JUNE 19, 2018 Mr. Ceja replied that the name of the event was "Vision San Pablo." He said staff discussed having some type of "kick-off" or "release" party so the community could re- engage with the project once the project is ready to breakground. Chairman Pradetto moved, by Minute Motion, to receive and file the report. Motion was seconded by Commissioner DeLuna and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). X. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES None B. PARKS & RECREATION None XI. COMMENTS Mr. Stendell introduced summer intern Justus Swajian. Mr. Swajain recently graduated from the University of California with a degree in Public Policy. The Planning Commission congratulated Mr. Ceja for an award he would be receiving from the Palm Desert Area Chamber of Commerce. XII. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chairman Pradetto adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m. i JOSEPH PRADETTO, CHAIRMAN ATTEST: RYAN STEN EL , SECRETARY PALM DESE'T PLANNING COMMISSION '4 MONICA O'REILLY, RECOR SECRETARY 6 GAPlanning\Monica OReilly\Planning Commission\2018\Minutes\6-19-18.docx