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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-03 PC Regular Meeting Minutes CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 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 6:00 p.m. II. 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 Bo Chen, City Engineer Eric Ceja, Principal Planner Janine Judy, Management Specialist I III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Joseph Pradetto led the Pledge of Allegiance. IV. SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION None V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Planning Commission meeting of August 20, 2019. Rec: Approve as presented. B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to approve a Parcel Map Waiver application to merge two existing parcels into one part I (APNs 632-280-024 and 632-280-048) at The Lakes Country Club. Case No. PMW 19-0002 (The Lakes Country Club, Palm Desert, California, Applicant). Rec: By Minute Motion, approve a one-year time extension for Tentative Parcel Map 36502, until May 21, 2020. Chair Gregory and Commissioner Pradetto abstained on Item A, the Minutes of August 20, 2019. Upon a motion by Commissioner Greenwood, second by Commissioner DeLuna and a 5-0 vote of the Planning Commission, the remainder of 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 of a recommendation to the City Council for approval of a General Plan Amendment reclassifying Painters Path from a "Local Street" to an "Enhanced Secondary Roadway" and acceptance of an Addendum to the CV Link Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to effectuate the enhanced designs for CV Link and the extension of the CV Link improvements to connect to the City's commercial districts, trail system, and Hovley Lane East. Case No. GPA 19-0001 (City of Palm Desert, Applicant). Principal Planner Eric Ceja presented the staff report (staff report(s) are available at www.cityofpalmdesert.org) and offered to answer any questions. Commissioner John Greenwood asked staff to elaborate on the CV Link path through Palm Desert and the easiest connection to the Bump and Grind Trailhead. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 Mr. Ceja responded that the CV Link system would allow a person to get on and off the link system at any intersection. The improvements would provide a protected space for bicyclists and pedestrians to the trailhead. Commissioner Nancy DeLuna asked if the link system has to cross Highway 111. Mr. Ceja replied yes, the CV Link would cross at Park View Drive and Painters Path. Commissioner DeLuna inquired if the crossway would be altered to accommodate golf carts and bicycles, including enhancing safety features as CV Link crosses Highway 111. Mr. Ceja answered yes, which is the intent of the CV Link project. The project would provide protective space for non-vehicle users, and require modifications along the right- of-way to include a barrier to separate vehicles from non-vehicular traffic. Additional enhancements are colored directional striping, additional signage, and other pedestrian amenities. If the City of Rancho Mirage decides to commit to the CV Link project in the future, Commissioner DeLuna asked if they would need to connect at Park View Drive. Mr. Ceja pointed to the original EIR connection. However, there might be other options for Rancho Mirage to connect to CV Link. Chair Gregory declared the public hearing open and invited public testimony FAVORING or OPPOSING this matter. MR. GARY LUEDERS, Friends of CV Link, Rancho Mirage, California, commended the Planning Commission for making the City what it is today. He also thanked City staff for doing their diligence. He circulated a rendering of the barriers done by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG). He stated that he is a supporter of the CV Link project. He voiced his concern for road safety and provided a partial list of 30 cyclists that have been killed in the Coachella Valley since 2003. With no further testimony offered, Chair Gregory declared the public hearing closed. Commissioner DeLuna asked Mr. Ceja if he has seen the rendering. Mr. Ceja replied no and said that City staff is working very closely with CVAG staff. CVAG's consultant team are working on the final designs and engineering documents, and they hope to start construction in January of 2020, noting it is an aggressive timeline. He mentioned that the barriers shown in the rendering are not barriers proposed for Palm Desert. Commissioner DeLuna asked how tall the barriers are. Mr. Ceja believed the barriers height range from eight to 1 B inches. Commissioner DeLuna commented that the barrier would not stop a vehicle going at high speed. 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 Vice-Chair Lindsay Holt inquired if the City initiated the addendum to extend the CV Link. Mr. Ceja said yes, the City Council directed staff to reclassify Painters Path and prepare the EIR addendum. Vice-Chair Holt asked if the reclassification and the addendum was an additional cost to the City or is the cost coming out of the CV Link project. Mr. Ceja understood that the City has a reimbursement agreement with CVAG and CVAG would be covering the cost for the extension. Vice-Chair Holt asked if CVAG would take care of the cost for the construction or the operation. Mr. Ceja replied CVAG would cover the cost of the construction for the CV Link project. Commissioner DeLuna asked if there is a cost for reclassifying Painters Path. Mr. Ceja responded no. Vice-Chair Holt inquired if there has to be a General Plan Amendment to reclassify a single street. Mr. Ceja explained that in the Mobility Element of the General Plan, the City classified every street as an arterial or a roadway. All City streets with CV Link improvements are identified as "Enhanced Secondary Roadways" and it was determined that the General Plan Amendment was necessary to make the classification consistent with other CV Link roadways in the City. Commissioner Pradetto moved to waive further reading and adopt Planning Commission Resolution No. 2761, recommending approval to the City Council for Case No. GPA 19-0001. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Greenwood and carried by a 5- 0 vote (AYES: DeLuna, Greenwood, Gregory, Holt, and Pradetto; NOES: None). XI. MISCELLANEOUS None XII. COMMITTEE MEETING UPDATES A. ART IN PUBLIC PLACES None B. PARKS & RECREATION None 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT PLANNING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 XIII. COMMENTS None XIV. ADJOURNMENT With the Planning Commission concurrence, Chair Gregory adjourned the meeting at 6:25 p.m. R GRE , C ATTEST: RYAN STE D L, SECRETARY MONICA O'REILLY, RECORDIN SECRETARY 5