Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-11-05 PC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019 — 6:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Ron Gregory called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. 11. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioner Joseph Pradetto Commissioner John Greenwood Commissioner Nancy DeLuna Vice-Chair Lindsay Holt Chair Ron Gregory Also Present: Craig Hayes, Assistant City Attorney Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Nick Melloni, Assistant Planner Monica O'Reilly, Management Specialist II 111. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice-Chair Lindsay Holt led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION None V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of October 15, 2019. Rec: Approve as presented. B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a one-year time extension for Tentative Tract Map 37157 and Precise Plan/Conditional Use Permit 16-188 for the Monterey Crossings Specific Plan located at the northeast corner of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive. Case Nos. TTM 37157 and PP/CUP 16-188 (Fountainhead Shrugged, LLC, Newport Beach, California, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve a one-year time extension for Case Nos. TTM 37157 and PP/CUP 16-188, until November 7, 2020. Upon a motion by Commissioner Pradetto, seconded by Commissioner Greenwood 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 VIII. NEW BUSINESS None IX. CONTINUED BUSINESS None X. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide a 1.14-acre residential lot into two parcels at 890 Crescent Falls within the BIGHORN Golf Club; and adopt a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Case No. TPM 37781 (Sandy Investments, LLC, Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Assistant Planner Nick Melloni presented the staff report (staff report(s) are available at www.cityofpalmdesert.org). Staff recommended approval of the above-noted and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner Nancy DeLuna inquired if the configuration of the lots are similar to the original two lots before they were merged. Mr. Melloni replied that the lots are an exact match. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Chair Gregory declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. With no testimony offered, Chair Gregory declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner Pradetto moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2765, approving Case No. TPM 37781, subject to the conditions of approval; and adopt a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Greenwood and carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a Precise Plan (PP) and Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to construct a new 13,325-square-foot building containing a brewery, restaurant, taproom, and beer garden for La Quinta Brewing Company at 74- 714 Technology Drive; and adopt a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA. Case No. PP/CUP 19-0007 (La Quinta Brewing Company, Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Mr. Melloni outlined the salient points of the staff report and recommended approval. Commissioner John Greenwood referred to the retention basin on the north side of the property, noting that there is no landscaping. He asked what the reason for no landscaping is. Mr. Melloni responded that the landscape condition is consistent with adjacent properties; therefore, no landscaping was proposed. Commissioner Greenwood asked if the retention basin is continuous along with adjacent developments. Mr. Melloni replied yes. For the exterior beer garden, Commissioner Greenwood inquired if there would be exterior seating. Mr. Melloni replied yes, adding that there would be a covered patio area. Chair Gregory asked what the percentage of landscaping the applicant proposes to provide. As proposed, Mr. Melloni responded that the percentage is 8.44 percent. As pointed out in the staff report, the percentage does not include the retention basin area. Chair Gregory voiced his concern with the reduced landscaped area. He noted there is a Ficus hedge; however, not much landscape from the street view. He felt the applicant has to do something better in front of the hedge. He asked if the Architectural Review Commission (ARC) discussed the landscaping. Mr. Melloni replied no. He said staff could work with the applicant on the final landscape drawing. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Chair Gregory asked staff if the citrus trees located at the back of the building meet the City's shading requirements. Based on the overall shade coverage, Mr. Melloni responded that the applicant technically met the requirements. Chair Gregory inquired if the applicant's staff would park at the back of the building. Mr. Melloni answered that there would be no parking restrictions. Parking would be open to the staff and the public. Commissioner Greenwood asked if there is a specific reason for the Ficus hedge. Mr. Melloni believed the hedge is to provide separation for the outdoor beer garden and the street. Chair Gregory declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. MR. RAMON GUTIERREZ, the designer of the brewery, Palm Desert, California, stated that the reason for the hedge was to give privacy to customers and to keep car noise down. Chair Gregory pointed out to Mr. Gutierrez that they are showing their rear yard to the street. He said the City usually looks at landscaping as an enhancement for the street, which is not happening with the proposed project. However, the applicant is creating privacy for the patrons. He questioned how comfortable is the Planning Commission with the proposed landscaping from the street view. MR. GUTIERREZ understood Chair Gregory's comment and stated that they have no problem working on a different landscape design for the frontage. Chair Gregory commented that the use of citrus trees in the back is very unusual. He inquired what the purpose of the citrus trees is. MR. GUTIERREZ replied that the intent is to use the fruit for the beer. Commissioner DeLuna noted that the staff report states it is a single-story building. She asked what the use of the second-story space is. MR. GUTIERREZ responded that the second story is for office space, and technically, the office space makes it a two-story building. Vice-Chair Holt inquired if the applicant looked at making the building energy-efficient or solar panels. MR. GUTIERREZ answered that he and his client have discussed adding solar panels. Vice-Chair Holt commented that she finds it interesting projects today do not involve carports with roof-mounted solar panels, which makes sense in the desert. 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Chair Gregory stated that he does not see lights on the street side of the Ficus hedge, and appears it is going to be dark. MR. GUTIERREZ noted that there would be some landscape lighting throughout the property. Chair Gregory asked Mr. Gutierrez to look at the lighting when looking at the landscape. Commissioner Greenwood commented that there is a wrought iron fence proposed adjacent to the retention basin. He asked how would there be access to maintain the retention basin. MR. GUTIERREZ responded that the fence only surrounds the property line, and there is no gate. Commissioner Greenwood said he wants to make sure they have access to maintain the retention basin. Vice-Chair Holt mentioned that the applicant would need access to the basin to install the riprap. Commissioner Greenwood commented that he only sees riprap where water drains from the lot in and does not see riprap in the rest of the basin. He stated he is not sure how the applicant is securing the slope. He believed the construction would be done first, and then they would install the fence. With no further testimony offered, Vice-Chair Holt declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner DeLuna shared Chair Gregory's concerns regarding the sparse landscaping in the front and the lack of lighting. Therefore, she would like the concerns to be addressed in the form of a condition for the applicant to meet with City staff. She did not believe the project would need to be brought back to the Commission for review and approval. Vice-Chair Holt noted that it does look like there is a 15-foot wide drainage easement to the west of the parcel, which should allow access to the retention basin. Commissioner DeLuna asked if a fire truck would be able to get in and out. Director of Community Development Ryan Stendell responded that the Fire Department has reviewed and approved the plan. Chair Gregory called for a motion. Commissioner Greenwood moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2766, approving Case No. PP/CUP 19-0007, subject to the conditions of approval, and requesting City staff meet with the applicant to review the landscaping and lighting along Technology Drive, the slope stabilization, and access to the retention basin for maintenance. The motion was seconded by Commissioner DeLuna and 5 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 carried by a 5-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). The Planning Commission congratulated and welcomed the applicant to Palm Desert. XI. MISCELLANEOUS None XII. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES None B. PARKS & RECREATION Commissioner Greenwood reported that the Parks & Recreation Commission discussed programs for the Friends of the Desert Mountains. The Commission received an update on the Palm Desert Aquatic Center and improvements made to hiking trails signage. XIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS Commissioner Greenwood asked about lighting adjacent to the tennis courts at the Civic Center Park. Mr. Stendell responded that the lighting is in the queue for funding in the next budget cycle. Commissioner Greenwood mentioned it was his first year involved with the Y Be Fit event. He said it is an amazing event and well run by the Family YMCA of the Desert. He also mentioned Granite is doing a great job on the San Pablo Avenue project and it is exciting to see the progress. Chair Gregory stated that people are asking questions and he is receiving negative comments regarding the crosswalks on El Paseo. He asked what is happening with the crosswalks. Mr. Stendell explained that the painting of the crosswalks was a marketing project and not an art project. He said painting the crosswalks was intended to test some of the concepts recommended by the Gibbs study for the El Paseo shopping district. The study focused on pedestrian and shopper safety. He mentioned that the design selected may been seen as loud; however, the design is not permanent. City staff intends to do a survey and gather data during the holiday season. If people are asking questions, they can call him. Chair Gregory also stated that a constituent suggested that the City should narrow the median located on Highway 74 and Highway 111 (left turn heading west on Highway 111). It was mentioned that there is a stacking issue for the left-hand turn and could potentially be a problem. 6 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION NOVEMBER 5, 2019 Commissioner DeLuna asked if the Marketing Department intends to paint all of El Paseo or just the targeted intersections. Mr. Stendell replied that the areas painted were test locations. Eventually, the Gibbs Study recommends that the City will have all crosswalks painted in the El Paseo shopping district. Commissioner DeLuna asked if the City would have the crosswalk/speed tables painted, so they are more visible. Mr. Stendell answered yes. He believed the City is also going to install vertical lighting. XIV. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chair Gregory adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m. R NGR Y, C AR ATTEST: RYAN STENDELL, SECRETARY MONICA O'REILLY, RECORQ G SECRETARY 7