HomeMy WebLinkAboutDeveloping Standards to Address County Projects Sphere of Influence_.JL (.A L
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Francisco J. Urbina, Associate Planner
DATE: March 23, 2006
SUBJECT: Coordinating with Riverside County in developing standards to address
County projects within City of Palm Desert's Sphere of Influence
This memorandum responds to the city manager's request for an update on the
County's request that we coordinate with the County in developing standards to
address County projects in the City's sphere of influence.
Riverside County New Land Use & Development Code & Preparation of Cahuilla Hills
Overlav Zone
Riverside County Planning Department staff and its planning consulting firm of Hogle-
Ireland have prepared a new Land Use and Development Code (Ordinance No. 850),
which is intended to replace the County's existing Land Use Ordinance No. 348. At its
January 25, 2006 meeting, the County Planning Commission continued the public
hearing on the draft land use code off -calendar.
The County's planning consultant is also preparing a draft Riverside County Cahuilla
Hills Overlay Zone to try and achieve development standards for this area that are
more consistent with City of Palm Desert development standards. Within the next few
weeks a draft Cahuilla Hills Overlay Zone text will be sent to Palm Desert's planning
staff for review and comment.
Forthcoming New Zoning Desionations for Cahuilla Hills
Approximately 80% of properties in Cahuilla Hills are currently zoned R-1-1 (Single
Family Residential, 1-acre minimum lot size). The other 20% of properties are currently
zoned W-1 (Watercourse, Watershed and Conservation Areas, no minimum lot size).
Within the next two years, the County will be rezoning properties in Cahuilla Hills from
R-1-1 and W-1 to three new zoning districts: RF-M (Rural Foundation -Mountainous; 1
du / 10 acres), applicable to 20% of properties; RC-VLDR (Rural Community
Foundation -Residential Very Low Density; 1 du / 1 to 2 acres), applicable to 65% of
properties; and OSF-W (Open Space Foundation -Water, no maximum density or lot
size), applicable to 15% of properties.
For Cahuilla Hills, Palm Desert's General Plan (see attached map) has designated
approximately 65% of properties as Residential Low Density (0-4 du/acre).
Approximately 20% of the properties are designated Residential Hillside Reserve (1
du/5acres). Another 14.9% of properties are designated Open Space -Water and one
five -acre parcel is designated Open Space —Public Reserve.
Countv Draft Zoninq and Design Guidelines for Hillside Areas:
In addition to having prepared a draft Rural Mountainous (RM) zone to better regulate
hillside development, the County has also prepared a companion document titled
"Riverside County Rural Mountainous Zone Design Standards and Guidelines".
The design standards are intended to ensure that hillside development has minimal
impacts on the natural terrain and drainage patterns and that development blend in
visually and not dominate the natural landscape. Disturbed areas are required to be
restored with natural vegetation. No grading shall be allowed in areas located within
200 feet of a peak or ridge.
The design standards and guidelines encourage all dwellings, buildings and ancillary
structures to be designed to minimize mass and volume so as not to be prominently
visible from a distance or from surrounding properties. Roof forms are encouraged to
be broken into smaller building elements to reflect the irregular forms of surrounding
natural features. All roofs and exterior walls are encouraged to have earth tome colors
and should have a light -reflective value of 30 percent or less. A typical roof with
shingles or tile has a light -reflective value of 20 percent. Metal roofs would have to be
painted with a non -reflective coating to achieve a light -reflective value of 30 percent or
less.
Memorandum of Understanding Being Prepared Reqardinq Review of Countv Proiects
b v Citv of Palm Desert.,
Robert Johnson, Riverside County Planning Director, is preparing a draft memorandum
of understanding (MOU) between the County and the City of Palm Desert that will
provide details regarding which types of development projects within Palm Desert's
Sphere of influence and filed at Riverside County Planning Department will be sent to
the City for review and comment. After the draft MOU is completed, a copy will be sent
to the City of Palm Desert for review and comment. City staff will be reviewing the MOU
to see if it includes language stating the extent to which the County will accept City
comments that projects conform to City development standards and design review
expectations for similar types of projects.
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Conclusion
Planning staff will keep the city manager informed regarding future communications
with the County on the above items.
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