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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-07-24MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 24, 1975 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS I. CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Palm Desert City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on July 24, 1975, by Mayor Pro-Tem Noel Brush at the Palm Desert City Hall Council Chambers. II. PLEDGE III. INVOCATION IV. ROLL CALL Present: Councilman CHUCK ASTON, Councilman JIM McPHERSON, and Mayor Pro-Tem NOEL BRUSH. Absent: Councilwoman JEAN BENSON and Mayor HENRY CLARK. Others Present: Harvey L. Hurlburt, City Manager Dave Erwin, City Attorney Paul Williams, Director/Environmental Services V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that the minutes of the July 16, 1975, meeting be approved as pre- sented; carried unanimously. VI. CONSENT CALENDAR None VII. PUBLIC HEARING A. Case No. Tentative Tract 5110 SUN KING: Request for a one-year extension on Tentative Tract 5110 located east of Portola Avenue extended, north of the Whitewater Channel. Paul Williams advised Council that Sun King Mobil Park had complied with all requirements necessary for the approval of this request and indicated that it was the staff's recommendation to approve this request. Councilman Aston moved and Councilman McPherson seconded that Resolution No. 75-67 be adopted granting Sun King Mobil Park a 12-month extention; carried unanimously. B. Case No. Tentative Tract 6753 LEAVITT & SKOURAS: Request to approve Tentative Tract 6753 located on the west side of Burroweed Lane, north of Ryway Place. Paul Williams indicated that this tract had been reviewed previously by Council as a Conditional Use Permit. This request is to allow the construction of a 5-unit planned residential development on a 1-acre site. He advised that this particular case is unique in that all public improvements such as water lines, sewers, etc. are already in. He noted that it is a straight forward July 24, 1975 Page 1 request and that staff recommended approval. MR. BEN BARNUM, 75-105 Setting Sun Trail, Palm Desert, addressed the Council stating that he had attended a meeting of the Shadow Mountain Club where everyone in attendance had heartily backed this project. Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that Resolution No. 75-68 be approved allowing this tentative tract map subject to specified conditions; carried unanimously. VIII. RESOLUTIONS A. RESOLUTION NO. 75-66, ALLOWING CLAIMS AND DEMANDS AGAINST THE CITY TREASURY IN THE AMOUNT OF $217,917.18. Councilman Aston moved and Councilman McPherson seconded to waive further reading and adopt; carried unanimously. IX. ORDINANCES A. ORDINANCE NO. 83 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, ESTABLISHING PROCEDURE FOR THE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. Mr. Hurlburt elaborated on the contents of the ordinance indicating that it included such things as conduct of Council meetings, how the public addresses Council, how Council should address the public, conduct of Study Sessions, public hearings, other meetings, explanation of Council agenda and how it is assembled, etc. He further indicated that most cities have this basic ordi- nance and that we are just getting around to adopting ours. Councilman McPherson indicated that Councilwoman Benson had a special interest in this ordinance and asked whether it should be held for her return. Mr. Hurlburt advised that Councilwoman Benson had reviewed the proposed ordi- nance prior to her vacation and her recommended changes had been incorporated. Also, she will be back in time for the second reading. Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that further reading be waived and Ordinance No. 83 be passed to second reading; carried unanimously. X. NEW BUSINESS A. Case No. Variance 03-75 CASITAS INVESTMENT FUND: Consideration of a variance of Ordinance 348, Zoning Ordinance, Section 18.12, parking; and Section 18.11, minimum dwelling unit size. Paul Williams explained that the applicant had requested a variance from the requirements of Ordinance 348, speci- fically a reduction in the requirement for 12 covered parking spaces to 6 covered parking spaces and 3 open spaces. The applicant has met all necessary requirements for the variance in parking. However, it was noted that under the proposed zoning ordinance, this variance would not be a requirement. In addition, the applicant has requested a reduction of the requirement of a minimum of 750 sq. ft. per unit to two units at 630 sq. ft. and four units at 619 sq. ft. Council has already reviewed the 750 sq. ft. proposed requirement and found it excessive, asking for an alternative from the Planning Commission. The recom- mendation will be a minimum of 600 sq. ft. Thus, the unit size requested is not out of line. July 24, 1975 Page 2 It is staff's recommendation that the findings of the Planning Commission be upheld by Council. Councilman Aston stated that a recently adopted policy did require that streets within the Master Drainage Plan should be curbed and guttered. Candlewood Street is one of the streets specified and, thus, should have this requirement fulfilled. MR. BEN BARNUM, 75-105 Setting Sun Trail, Palm Desert, addressed the Council indicating his disagreement with the requirement for curbs and gutters. He stated that Candlewood Street is 6,000 feet long, and no curbs or gutters exist anywhere on it now. He did not feel that he should have to meet this requirement when no one else has been required to. Councilman Aston responded that this is a new policy that must be enforced if we are to correct the existing "blight" conditions and even though this project is the first to be affected, we must start somewhere. Councilman Aston moved and Councilman McPherson seconded to uphold the findings of the Planning Commission by their Resolution No. 63 and to direct the Design Review Board to consider a requirement for curbs and gutters along the Candlewood perimeter, wrapping around the corner radius of Panorama, carried unanimously. B. Case No. Variance 05-75 IRIS CARMEL: Request for a variance from the requirements of Ordinance 348, Zoning Ordinance, Section 18.12, parking; to reduce the required parking from 112 spaces to 43 spaces for a proposed restaurant. Paul Williams stated that this project does not meet the necessary criteria for the granting of a variance. Also, the project would be detrimental to the goals and policies of the General Plan as well as to the surrounding property owners. He further stated that staff feels that there should be only two driveways on El Paseo, east of San Luis Rey, which means coordination with the Bank of America. Councilman McPherson stated that one of the reasons we formed a Redevelopment Agency was to correct the parking deficiency in this area. He noted a need for this type of restaurant in this area but stated that we would defeat the purpose of the Redevelopment Agency by granting such a variance. Councilman Aston indicated that this project might be better suited for a different site. Mayor Brush reported that the Planning Priorities Committee had briefly reviewed this project but should probably look into it further. Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that this item be set for public hearing for September 11, 1975; carried unanimously. XI. OLD BUSINESS A. Case No. Tentative Tract 5357 WHISPERING SANDS: Request for approval of Final Map to allow the conversion of the Whispering Sands complex to condominiums. Mr. Williams reported that the project conforms to the requirements of the Tentative Map, the bonds are adequate and valid, and the applicant has met all necessary July 24, 1975 Page 3 requirements for the approval of a final map. It is staff's recommendation that this request be approved by Resolution No. 75-69. Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that Resolution No. 75-69 be adopted; carried unanimously. XII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None XIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. City Manager Mr. Hurlburt reported that a letter had been received from Pacifica Western indicating that a contract had been let for completion of the fencing and landscaping of the Mission Belle Homes and that this work should commence around July 28th. B. City Attorney None C. Mayor and City Council None XIV. ADJOURNMENT Councilman McPherson moved and Councilman Aston seconded that the meeting be adjourned; carried unanimously. COUNCIL MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:45 P.M. ATTEST: /4.11"h".14Zo' HARTEY L. -TURL, City Clerk City of Palm Desert, California July 24, 1975 NOEL SJ BRUSH, .r Pro -Tan Page 4