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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Citizens' Advisory Committee for Project Area No. 4 03/15/2004PALM DESERT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES March 15, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting was called to order by Chairman Campbell on Monday, March 15, 2004, at 3:00 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Charles Ash, Member Russell Campbell, Chairman Harry Church, Member Joyce Frisco, Member Marjorie Goffiney, Vice -Chairman Frank Proulx, Member Absent: Sherry Trevor, Member Also Present: Lauri Aylaian, Development Manager Randy Case, Palm Desert Country Club Development (Architect) Phil Drell, Community Development Manager Mark Greenwood, City Engineer Richard Kelly, Council Member Shawn Kilpatrick, Code Compliance Officer Larry Kosmont, Kosmont Development/Palm Desert Country Club Development Teresa La Rocca, Director of Housing Justin McCarthy, ACM/Redevelopment Carlos Ortega, City Manager Niamh Ortega, Recording Secretary Barbara Powers, 76918 Kentucky Avenue, Palm Desert Country Club Robert Spiegel, Mayor David Yrigoyen, Director of Redevelopment CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None. MARCH 15, 2004 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MEETING OF FEBRUARY 9, 2004. Mr. Ash noted corrections to the Minutes of the February 9, 2004 meeting. MOTION made by Member Proulx, seconded by Member Goffiney, and unanimously carried, that the Minutes of the February 9, 2004, meeting be approved as corrected. V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. VI. NEW BUSINESS None. VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS A. DISCUSSION RELATIVE TO PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (Phil Drell, Director of Community Development) Chairman Campbell welcomed the attending members of the public and directed that if they wished to speak, they should not repeat information that had been shared at the previous Project Area No. 4 meeting. He also cautioned that speakers making statements that suggested illegal or improper actions of Committee members would be asked to leave the room. In the past, it had been suggested that Committee members living within Palm Desert Country Club should abstain from voting on the proposed development project due to conflict of interest issues. Mr. Drell informed the Committee that the City Attorney, Mr. David Erwin, advised that all Committee members are eligible to G:\RDA\Niamh Ortega\Wpdata\Committees\PA41Minutes\20041031504.doc 2 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES MARCH 15, 2004 participate in discussions and can vote on all items relative to Project Area No. 4. Mr. Drell stated that Planning staff has completed their review of the proposed development at Palm Desert Country Club. It is an unusual project due to the requirement to rezone open space to allow construction of single-family homes. The proposed development is expected to enhance the country club. Construction of homes would be required to support the renovation of the golf course and was considered by staff to be a viable way to accomplish the upgrade. Most current homeowners would benefit from such a project with regard to home values. An appraiser has been contracted to determine the impact on homes that may be negatively affected, and preliminary reports suggest that all homeowners will benefit to some degree. The Architectural Review Commission reviewed the proposed design for the single-family homes and has concluded that although the design is different to the existing homes, they represent a design upgrade. Staff has recommended approval of the project to the Planning Commission, who will then make their recommendation to the City Council. Mr. Yrigoyen introduced Ms. Phyllis Harkins, president of the Palm Desert Country Club Homeowners' Association, who informed the Committee that the Board of Directors approved mailing an advisory ballot to all 959 homeowners. The purpose of the ballot was to determine if the homeowners wished the Homeowners' Association to take a position on the project, and if so, whether the position should be in favor of or opposed to the project. 538 ballots were returned, and 354 were in favor of taking a position, and 321 were in favor of the project. The Board of Directors voted to take a unanimous public opinion in favor of this project. The homeowners' association represents approximately half of Palm Desert Country Club. An additional 900 homes are located in the Tennessee and Florida area are not part of the association, and Ms. Harkins indicated that as a member of that community, she has received favorable comments from the overall majority of those in her neighborhood. Ms. Barbara Powers indicated that she is not aware of anyone in the neighborhood that is opposed to the project. MOTION to recommend to the City Council that the Palm Desert Country Club development project be approved made by Member Ash, seconded by Member Goffiney, and unanimously approved. G:IRDA\Niamh Orteganpdata\Committees 1PA41Minutes120041031504.doc 3 - CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES MARCH 15, 2004 VIII. OLD BUSINESS None. IX. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS A. UPDATE ON LAND OWNED BY COACHELLA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT (CVWD) ON NORTHWEST CORNER OF FRED WARING DRIVE AND WARNER TRAIL AND PERFORMANCE OF JOINT IMPROVEMENTS WITH CVWD ON SAID LAND Mr. Yrigoyen reminded the Committee that at the last meeting, it was suggested that Ms. Corky Larson, CVWD representative, attend this month's meeting to discuss the use of the land on Warner Trail and Fred Waring. Several discussions have occurred at staff level with regard to land use as a retention basin as well as for the City's housing program. Staff has been in contact with Mr. Robbins from CVWD regarding potential use of the land, and will continue to have discussions. B. UPDATE ON FRED WARING WIDENING Mr. Greenwood reported that he hopes to have the phase from Deep Canyon to California completed this summer. A project management meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 to discuss scheduling. , More information will be available at the next Project Area No. 4 meeting. Mr. Greenwood described how and where the widening would take place, and indicated that Florida Avenue would be designated as the pedestrian walkway, which is parallel to Fred Waring Drive. C. UPDATE ON MEDIAN LANDSCAPING ON HOVLEY LANE Mr. Knight indicated that the project had been sent out to bid for the design portion. The plans had been received, but an error was discovered, so they were returned to the landscape architect. It is expected that the corrected plans will be received this week, and the construction portion should be ready to be sent out to bid within sixty days. Ms. Goffiney asked if Mr. Greenwood received information about the traffic signal at the Resorter. She stated that if a driver traveling westbound wishes to turn left, the Tight is not visible. Mr. G:1RDA1Niamh OrtegaMpdatalCommittees1PA41Minutes120041031504.doc 4 CITIZENS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT AREA NO. 4 MINUTES MARCH 15, 2004 Greenwood explained that a temporary light was installed until the completion of the Fred Waring widening in that area, and will be replaced with a different pole and light at the appropriate time. Member Goffiney stated that the light is actually angled incorrectly. Mr. Greenwood replied that he would investigate the situation. X. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON/MEMBERS Member Ash questioned where the Warner Trail storm drain would be located. Mr. Greenwood provided a detailed description of the location and route of the storm drain. B. STAFF Ms. La Rocca informed the Committee that the Agency has purchased Country Club Estates, now known as California Villas, and are in the process of conducting a major renovation. An architect has been selected for the design of the exterior of the property. The property will be given a complete facelift. The tenant mix has been changed, resulting in a more peaceful property. Mr. Kilpatrick referenced the staff report provided by the Planning Department to the Committee. He stated that Code Enforcement expects to continue to receive numerous complaints regarding the state of the golf course at Palm Desert Country Club. Complaints regarding public safety will be addressed, but those regarding improvements to the course will only be addressed on an as - needed basis, bearing in mind that major renovations are anticipated. It was pointed out that arrangements have been made for members to play on other local courses during the time that Palm Desert Country Club golf course is closed. XI. ADJOURNMENT There being no meeting at 3:35 p. 2004, at 3:00 p.m. further business, Chairman Campbell adjourned the m. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 99 in the Administrative Conference Room. G:\RDA\Niamh OrtegalWpdatalCommitteesTA41Minutes12004\031504.doc Niamh Ortega, R ording Secretary