HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - ZOA 07-02 - Heliports, Helicopter FieldsREQUEST:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
STAFF REPORT
Approval of a Notice of Exemption and an amendment to Title 25
(Zoning) of the Palm Desert Municipal Code adding and amending
Section 25.64 to allow Heliports, Helicopter Fields and Helistops
with a Temporary Use Permit only within non-residential zones in
the city.
SUBMITTED BY: Lauri Aylaian
Director of Community Development
CASE NO: ZOA 07-02
APPLICANT: City of Palm Desert
DATE: October 11, 2007
CONTENTS: Draft Ordinance Amendment
Legal Notice
Notice of Exemption
Preliminary Exemption Assessment
Correspondence
Planning Commission Meeting Minutes of September 4 and 18,
2007
Planning Commission Resolution No. 2456
Recommendation:
That the City Council, by Minute Motion, approve a Notice of Exemption and
waive further reading and pass to second reading adoption of Ordinance No.
1144 approving an amendment to Title 25 (Zoning) of the Palm Desert
Municipal Code adding and amending Section 25.64 to allow Heliports,
Helicopter Fields, and Helistops with a Temporary Use Permit only within non-
residential zones in the City.
Executive Summary:
Approval of the staff recommendation would pass to second reading an
amendment to the Zoning Ordinance allowing Heliports and Helistops with a
Temporary Use Permit in non-residential zones in the City. The existing Zoning
Staff Report
October 11, 2007
Page 2 of 2
Ordinance does not explicitly allow helicopter landing pads; therefore they are
prohibited by the Zoning code. The amendment will only allow landings as a
temporary use within in non-residential zones.
Discussion:
In response to a request from the Planning Commission, staff presented a
Zoning Ordinance Amendment to the Commission on September 4, 2007. The
amendment prohibited helicopter landing fields, heliports, helistops, and similar
facilities within residential zones. The City of Palm Desert's Municipal Code does
not address helicopter landings, which makes the landing of helicopters for non -
emergency reasons prohibited.
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed ordinance modification and
requested that it be revised to permit such landing areas only with a Temporary
Use Permit and only in non-residential zones. Based on this input, staff worked
with the City Attorney and prepared an amendment to allow heliports, helicopter
landing pads, and helistops with a Temporary Use Permit in non-residential
zones only. These zones include General Commercial, Planned Commercial,
Service Industrial, and Public Institution. Heliports and helistops in residential
zones would remain prohibited. The modification to the ordinance, attached
hereto, was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission on September
18, 2007.
Environmental Review:
The proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance has no potential for causing
a significant impact on aesthetics, agricultural, biological, or cultural resources,
geology or soils, water quality, land use, mineral resources, public services,
recreation, traffic utilities, hazardous materials or other environmental
considerations. Therefore, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA and no
further review is necessary.
Prepared by:
`LAURI AYLAIAN
Director of omm
Appro
Development
HO` RCRO
ACM for De ment Services
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CARLOS 1_. 41 R ' EGA
City Manager
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