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Home My WebLink About2019-09-17 PC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 — 6:00 P.M. ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE ROOM 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. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Commissioner Joseph Pradetto Commissioner John Greenwood Commissioner Nancy DeLuna Vice-Chair Lindsay Holt Chair Ron Gregory Also Present: Craig Hayes, Assistant City Attorney Bo Chen, City Engineer Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Monica O'Reilly, Management Specialist II III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Vice-Chair Lindsay Holt led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION Principal Planner Eric Ceja summarized pertinent City Council actions. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of September 3, 2019. Rec: Approve as presented. B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a Parcel Map Waiver application to relocate the westerly lot line to align with the driveway curb cut to build a golf cart garage at 137 Tepin Way (APNs 771-490-001 & 771-490-016). Case No. PMW 19- 0001 (Steven J. Van, Corona, California, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve Case No. PMW 19-0001. C. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a Parcel Map Waiver application to adjust a lot line for an easement required by Southern California Edison at Marrakesh Country Club and the Haystack Channel. Case No. PMW 19-0003 (City of Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve Case No. PMW 19-0003. Upon a motion by Commissioner Pradetto, second by Commissioner DeLuna and a 4-0 vote of the Planning Commission, the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: DeLuna, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: Greenwood). VII. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER None VIII. NEW BUSINESS None IX. CONTINUED BUSINESS None X. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION of Precise Plan (PP) 19-0002 to allow the construction of two single-story storage buildings totaling 35,830 square feet on a property containing an existing personal storage facility located at 74-789 Joni Drive and 74-850 Merle Drive; and adopt a Notice of Exemption in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Case No. PP 19-0002 (KSP Studio, Lake Forest, California, Applicant). Due to a conflict of interest, Chair Gregory recused himself from this item. Mr. Ceja presented the staff report (staff report(s) are available at www.cityofpalmdesert.org). He mentioned two residents from the adjacent neighborhood talked to Planning staff about the proposed project. One resident prepared a letter and 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 signed by residents in the neighborhood requesting speed bumps or review of the speed zone on Merle Drive. He stated that City staff did not see a nexus between the request and the development proposal, which would require the applicant to install speed bumps. Staff felt it was an issue the City Council should consider. The second resident somewhat supported the project and was happy to see that the project would clean up the perimeter of the property. Staff recommended approval and offered to answer any questions. He noted that the applicant was also available to answer questions. Commissioner Nancy DeLuna inquired if traffic on Merle Drive would increase because of the project, or is the entrance to the project located off Joni Drive or other streets within the industrial park. Mr. Ceja pointed to the site plan and the location of the new driveway to access RV storage parking. Commissioner DeLuna asked where people would enter to access their storage unit. Mr. Ceja explained that it is most likely people would turn off Cook Street and onto Merle Drive, or they would come from Joni Drive and enter through the front of the facility. Vice-Chair Holt stated that the plans indicate there is a sliding gate for fire access only, with a Knox box. She asked if it would be an actual entrance. Mr. Ceja understood that access is not only for emergency access and deferred the question to the applicant. Vice-Chair Holt declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. MR. MAXFIELD SINCLAIR, the applicant, Lake Forest, California, stated that the majority of storage users would drive in from Joni Drive. The entrance on Merle Drive is only for RV and emergency access. Commissioner Joseph Pradetto asked how much traffic would be accessing the main gate. MR. SINCLAIR responded that a self-storage is a retail business environment, which attracts the least amount of cars during the day. He said RVs would circulate within the facility, and everyone that is using the buildings for storage would use the access from Joni Drive. Commissioner Pradetto inquired how access is controlled. MR. SINCLAIR replied that the office or a key code controls access. Commissioner Pradetto asked how they control access on Merle Drive, MR. SINCLAIR answered that there would be a Knox box and RV owners would have a way to open the gate. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 MR. IGNACIO SANCHEZ, Merle Drive, Palm Desert, California, stated that he and his neighbors want to know if anything could be done to control the speed on Merle Drive. He said people are driving up to 60 miles per hour (MPH) on Merle Drive. Vice-Chair Holt felt that a nexus is not met. However, she believed the project could slow down traffic because there would be new buildings to look at. Mr. Ceja commented that staff looked at the traffic circulation and noted that the project's access point is closer to Cook Street. He believed speeding on Merle Drive is an existing problem. When he spoke to Mr. Sanchez, he recommended Mr. Sanchez talk to the Department of Public Works or send a letter to the City Council to look into the issue with speeding. Vice-Chair Holt asked staff to forward the letter from Mr. Sanchez to the City Council so the issue could be addressed and to keep Mr. Sanchez informed. Mr. Ceja replied yes. MR. MARK SCHER, Merle Drive, Palm Desert, California, said he is in favor of the project because the improvements will include removing dead trees and lights will not be so bright going into their homes. With no further testimony offered, Vice-Chair Holt declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner DeLuna stated that she is glad to see the landscape improvements to beautify the street, which is an improvement to the neighborhood. Vice-Chair Holt added that the project is a nice addition to the area. Commissioner Pradetto moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2762, approving Case No. PP 19-0002, subject to the conditions of approval; and adopt a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA. The motion was seconded by Commissioner DeLuna and carried by a 3-0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None; ABSENT: Greenwood and Gregory). XI. MISCELLANEOUS None XII. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES None B. PARKS & RECREATION None 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 XIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS Mr. Ceja commented that staff emailed the Planning Commission asking if everyone would be available for the October 15 meeting. He noted that the meeting is the same week as the League of California Cities annual conference. Staff has several items that would be ready for October 15 for the Commission to consider for approval. The Planning Commissioners responded that they would be available October 15. Vice-Chair Holt noted that she would not be available for the October 1 meeting. XIV. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chair Gregory adjourned the meeting at 6:22 p.m. R N GREGORY, CHAT ATTEST: U___T RYAN STENDELL, SECRETARY MONICA O'REILLY, RECORDING SECRETARY 5