HomeMy WebLinkAboutInfo Item - Villa Portofino Phase 2 - TM 29498CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Informational Report for Villa Portofino Phase 2 Project
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: June 12, 2008
CONTENTS: None
Recommendation:
Receive and file informational report for Villa Portofino Phase 2 project of Tract 29498.
Discussion:
Subsequent to the complaint made by Mrs. Rita Segar on behalf of a group of current Villa
Portofino residents at the City Council meeting on May 22, 2008, staff was directed to prepare
this report.
Mrs. Segar commented that the City revoked the Phase 2 precise grading permit for Villa
Portofino Phase 2. This is incorrect. The developer, Royce International Investment Co., has
never applied for, and consequently has never been granted, a precise grading permit for the
Phase 2 project site.
A precise grading plan was approved for Phase 2 in 2005; however, this approval was made in
error due to discrepancies between the pad elevations shown on the precise grading plan and
those that were approved on the mass grading plan. The precise grading plan approval has
now been rescinded.
Royce International Investment Co. attempted to pull a grading permit for Phase 2 in January of
2008 which caused the Public Works Department to re -check the precise grading plan that was
approved in 2005. During the review of this precise grading plan, staff discovered that the
proposed pad elevations (ranging from 219.2' to 222.6') were much higher than the original
mass (rough) grading plan elevations (ranging from 214' to 216') that were approved in 2000.
Subsequently, there have been numerous communications, letters, meetings, and site visits
involving the developer, Building Industry Association (BIA), City Council, City Manager,
Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, staff, and adjacent Casa Blanca residents.
On April 24, 2008, the developer's consulting engineer, Tetra Tech, submitted a letter to the City
with a revised pad elevation proposal for the Phase 2 site. However, staff requested the as -built
drawings of the existing sewer main that has been installed in Villa Portofino's main street Via
Del Pelligrino in Phase I be submitted to determine if the proposed pad heights are acceptable.
In order to minimize costs, the elevation of the existing sewer main in Via Del Pellegrino
governs the Phase 2 pad elevations.
On May 21, 2008, the requested sewer as -built drawings were emailed to the City. After
reviewing the new proposed pad heights against the as -built drawings, staff proposes the
followings:
Informational Report for Villa Portofino Phase 2
Page 2 of 2
June 12, 2008
1. The proposed pad heights must be approved via the Planning Commission and a public
hearing.
2. The adjacent Casa Blanca community will be notified of the hearing.
3. Numerous other issues must be addressed by the Villa Portofino developer before the
developer can obtain a precise grading permit for Phase 2. These issues can be
supplemented upon request by the Council.
Staff intends to schedule the Villa Portofino proposed pad heights item for public hearing in the
next available Planning Commission meeting on July 1, 2008, since the June 17, 2008, meeting
has been cancelled.
Fiscal Impact: None.
Prepared By:
Bo n, P.E.
City Engineer
Approv
'Homer Croy
ACM for Dev
Carlos L. Orteg
City Manager
ent Services
Departme
-//
Mark Greenv(iood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
Paul Gibson -
Finance Director
CITY COUNCIL A ION:
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
MEETING DATE (p • 1g • D�
AYES: Fer .ne , 11, Spi e%.pnd P4enso t
NCES:_p1 ne
ABSENT: iA1 Dne A.
ABSTAIN: None.
VERIFIED BY: IWK /mor)
') iga.nai on File wilth City Clerk's OM Po