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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-06-28MINUTES PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 1979 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CALL TO ORDER Chairman Mullins called the meeting of the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency 3 order at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 28, 1979, in City Hall Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Present: Member Noel J. Brush Vice Chairman James E. McPherson Member Alexis D. Newbrander Member S. Roy Wilson Chairman Edward D. Mullins Also Present: Martin J. Bouman, Executive Director Les Pricer, Agency Consultant Greg Stepanicich, Agency Counsel :I. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Meeting of the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency of June 14, 1979. Rec: Approve as presented. Member McPherson moved and Member Brush seconded to approve the Consent alendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. REQUEST FROM MR. ROBERT M. ARAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, FOR REVIEW OF FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN. Mr. Bouman stated that the hearing was prompted by a letter of request from Mr. Aran who represents a number of merchants in the Redevelopment Area. After discussion with the Agency members, it was agreed to hold this hearing, and Mr. Aran was so advised. Mr. Les Pricer gave a detailed explanation with the use of maps of exactly what the Conversion Project was designed to do, what streets would be closed and why, and traffic circulation. He included in his report a detailed summary of the adoption schedule of the Plan, noting that numerous meetings had been held to receive input from merchants prior to the Plan being adopted. Mayor Mullins stated that many different entities had been involved in the formation of this Plan including the State and County. It was a long, involved process, and the Agency reviewed it very thoroughly. Since Mr. Aran's letter was the initiation of the meeting, Mayor Mullins declared the Public Hearing open and requested Mr. Aran's input. MR. ROBERT M. ARAN, ATTORNEY AT LAW, 449 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90212, addressed the Agency on behalf of his clients, including A L W Rootbeer and Romeo's Restaurant. He stated that if the Frontage Road Conversion Project were completed, his clients' businesses would be jeopardized, and they might even be forced out of business. He stated that the majority of these people had told him that there had never been a time, even when the public hearings were being held, that a full-scale map had ever been made available, thus the reason for their delayed opposition. kne 28, 1979 Page 1 IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) A. FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN (Continued) Mr. Aran stated that one of the things to be considered was whethe- :4 not in this instance there was a necessity before adopting the Pia" to consider an EIR, specifically for this particular project. He reviewed the various closing of intersections and how they would ^:.a a negative impact on his clients. He stated that the plight of t'e business people on both the north and south side of Highway 111 was substantial in that the Plan would leave them with the inability :• their customers to reach them. He said that when the Plan was originally presented to the people, they were informed there was a circuity of motion or method by which at least at the west end, the traffic could come around at Alessandro and drive behind and park in the rear. Now that particular phase of the project has bee' deleted due to lack of funds. He asked the Agency to listen to of the merchants present and to consider alternative plans. The following individuals addressed the Agency in opposition to t": Frontage Road Conversion Project and offering alternative solutions such as lowering the speed limits to slow traffic, three-way light:. making the frontage roads one-way without the closure of some stree:: and completing the Alessandro alley portion of the project: Mr. Romeo Poluqi, 73-340 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca. Mr. Jim Camstra, Lupine & Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca. Mr. Dave 0fstedahl, Fireside Pharmacy, Palm Desert, Ca. Susan Hiltman, 73-707 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Cal. Mr. Cleve Leonard, El Cafe de Mexico, Highway 111, Palm Desert, __. Mr. Stan Euden, Easy Street, Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca. Mr. Ed Berkley, 73-195 Highway 111, Palm Desert, Ca. Mr. Aran concluded by requesting the Agency to delay the project a-: consider immediately creating some kind of committee consisting of the business community, staff, and some Agency members to see if sc-e alternative plan could not be devised that would be more feasible, practical, and at the same time accomplish the purpose. He asked that the alternatives suggested by some of the individuals who spo_ be considered such a three-way stop lights, one-way frontage roads without intersection closure, and/or slower speed limits. He said that he and his clients wanted to work things out without litigatic-. Chairman Mullins responded to the statement that maps had not been available, stating that they had been but possibly these people had not been in attendance at the Committee meetings when they were presented. These same maps had been publicized. Member Brush pointed out that the Palm Desert Post had carried it once on its front page. Chairman Mullins asked the Agency Counsel regarding the EIR. Mr. Stepanicich made reference to one specific provision of the State Guidelines, Section 15061 (E), which states: "All public and priva:: activities or undertakings pursuant to or in furtherance of Redeve':: ment Plans constitutes a single project which shall be deemed apprc.= at the time of adoption of the Redevelopment Plan by the legislative body". In short, he said that this means that if an EIR is prepare: for the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan which was the case in the present case, at that time that EIR serves as a basis for any proje:: that carry out that plan in the future. What we have in this case 's a project that carries out the Redevelopment Plan. In fact, the El= that was prepared for the Redevelopment Plan specifically addresses itself to Highway 111, talks about the problem of cross streets and frontage roads, and recommends as a mitigation measure the realign- ment, street widenings, closing of streets, etc. be used by the Agency to implement the Redevelopment Plan. So clearly, he felt this particular project is really part of the larger project which is the Redevelopment Plan which does provide an EIR. Chairman Mullins declared the Public !tearing closed. Mr. Bouman stated that he would like to make one comment in that he had heard at least five or maybe six people come and say that the solution to the problem is to put up lights and slow down the traff`: That is not the solution. That would be the worst thing you could :o He reminded everyone of the peak season and driving through Rancho PUBLIC HEARINGS (Continued) A. FRONTAGE ROAD CONVERSION DESIGN (Continued) or Cathedral City and spending twenty minutes trying to get through one little town. If we slow down traffic on Highway 111, we are going to have congestion and traffic backed up to Indio in one direction and Cathedral City in the other. You won't like it and neither will the customers. They will stop coming here. Stop lights and slowing down traffic is not the solution. Member Wilson stated that there was a key question to all this and that is what kind of escape clause is there. We are well into a project; what outs do we have? Chairman Mullins asked the Agency Counsel to investigate this and relay the information to Mr. Bouman. Chairman Mullins thanked everyone for their input and assured that the Agency would review all alternative avenues. He advised Mr. Aran that the Agency or its representatives would be in touch with him relative to any decisions or future meetings on the matter. RESOLUTIONS A. RESOLUTION NO. 98 - A RESOLUTION OF THE PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 95. Mr. Bouman advised that this was simply a resolution correcting a typographical error in Resolution No. 95 which had been adopted two weeks ago. Member McPherson moved and Member Wilson seconded to waive further reading :id adopt Resolution No. 98. Motion carried unanimously. CONSENT ITEMS HELD OVER - None NEW BUSINESS - None III. OLD BUSINESS - None ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None REPORTS AND REMARKS A. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - None B. AGENCY COUNSEL - None C. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE AGENCY None ADJOURNMENT Member McPherson moved and Member Newbrander seconded to adjourn the meeting; .otion carried unanimously. Chairman Mullins aO-urned the meeting at 11:20 p.m. EDM RD D. MULtINS, CHAIRMAN :TTEST: iHEILA R. GILLIGAN, SECTARY TO THE 'ALM DESERT REDEVELOPME'N't AGENCY