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HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM 1A - 07-10-2024 PC Meeting Minutes_DRAFT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES July 10, 2024 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California CALL TO ORDER: Chair Weremiuk called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm. ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Weremiuk, Vice Chair Aylaian, Baker, Murphy, Rotman, Miller, Morrill Excused: None Staff Present: Planning Director Christopher Hadwin, Principal Planner Edward Robertson, Attorney Ryan Guiboa, Administrative Specialist Anita Fields, Engineering Assistant Jonathan Samaniego REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The agenda was available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) by 6:00 pm on Wednesday July 3, 2024, and posted on the City’s website as required by established policies and procedures. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Request to amend the agenda to add the Election of Officers. Vice Chair Aylaian moved, seconded by Commissioner Baker, to amend the agenda. AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE Commissioner Miller moved, seconded by Commissioner Baker, to accept the agenda as amended. AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Vice Chair Aylaian nominated and moved for Chair Weremiuk to continue as Chair, seconded by Commissioner Baker. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 City of Palm Springs 2 AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE Chair Weremiuk nominated Vice Chair Aylaian for reappointment as Vice Chair, Commissioner Miller moved, seconded by Commissioner Baker. AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: Vice Chair Aylaian moved, seconded by Commissioner Baker, to approve Consent items #1A and #1B. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 26, 2024 AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN ABSTAIN: MILLER, MORRILL B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APRIL 24, 2024 AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER ABSTAIN: MORRILL 2. PUBLIC HEARINGS: None. 3. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. A REQUEST BY TOLL BROTHERS, INC., FOR THE APPROVAL OF FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR FORTY (40) NEW SINGLE- FAMILY RESIDENTIAL UNITS IN PLANNING AREA 1A, TRACT 37706 OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 231 WITHIN THE ESCENA DEVELOPMENT LOCATED AT 1000 NORTH GENE AUTRY TRAIL, ZONE PDD 231 (CASE PDD-0001-2023/5.0666-PD231) (ER). Edward Robertson, Principal Planner, presented the staff report and answered questions of the commissioners. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 City of Palm Springs 3 Vice Chair Aylaian and Commissioner Rotman presented a report of the subcommittee’s review of issues with the designs. David Yrigoyen, Toll Brothers, for the applicant, answered questions of the commissioners. Tom Doczi, Landscape Architect for the applicant, provided comments on the landscape and answered questions of the commissioners. The project architect answered questions of the commissioners. Michelle Taylor, Toll Brothers Sales Associate, for the applicant, answered questions of the commissioners about the color palette. The Commissioners expressed concern regarding the monotony of the variations of the color palette, the need for an additional architectural style to add more variety to the streetscape, and landscaping. Commissioner Baker moved, seconded by Commissioner Rotman, to approve, subject to a thorough review of final architecture and landscaping by the Architectural Review Committee for compliance with the Escena Design Guidelines and in order to ensure compliance with the required findings for Final Planned Development District, including the following recommendations from the Planning Commission: Recommendations regarding Landscape (all of which were agreed to by the applicant): 1. 3/8” decomposed granite be utilized 2. Drinking fountain should be included in the dog park 3. All Washingtonia robustas be substituted with Washingtonia filifera or Washingtonia filifera hybrids 4. Irrigation and lighting plans to be included for review by the Architectural Review Committee. 5. Larger shrubs (similar in kind to the vitex and pyracantha currently used at Escena) should be used to screen the wall along Artisan Way and Copper Way. 6. Additional larger canopy trees should be provided in the dog park for shade. 7. Ironwood trees should be provided along Ironwood Drive. 8. To reduce monotony in streetscape created by limited variation in colors, architecture, and setbacks, the variety of street trees and those used in the front yards should be increased. Recommendations regarding Architecture: 1. Carry the design, design elements, and materials around onto all four sides of the buildings. 2. Provide more variety in color schemes from house to house. 3. Provide more variety in elevations, particularly the front and rear. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 City of Palm Springs 4 4. Express the significant elements of each of the styles (international, modernistic, mid century), as described in the approved Escena Guidelines. 5. Enhance solar control on the most impacted elevations of homes, particularly the west- and south-facing walls. 6. Provide more variation of ceiling/parapet heights and window heights, particularly as expressed on the street elevations, and by lowering the top of windows from 8 feet above grade to 7 feet above grade and lowering the ceilings accordingly. 7. Consider the addition of a third style from the Modern series of the Escena Design Guidelines in order to break up monotony along the street. 8. Provide a more integrative treatment of the building entry element to ensure it doesn’t look tacked on. AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE 4. NEW BUSINESS: None. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS: Commissioner Murphy requests staff provide periodic updates on projects that have come before the commission. Request from Chair Weremiuk that the zoning code update work include a review of the possibility of shared easements. PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Discussion regarding the qualifications of Architectural Review Committee candidates Danny Castro and Russell MacDonald. Chair Weremiuk moved, seconded by Vice Chair Aylaian, the addition to the Architectural Review Committee of Rusell MacDonald as a landscape architect, for a three-year term, and Danny Castro as an alternate, for a three-year term. AYES: WEREMIUK, AYLAIAN, BAKER, MURPHY, ROTMAN, MILLER, MORRILL ABSTAIN: NONE Director Hadwin will circulate a new schedule for a rotation of attendance at Architectural Review Committee meetings by a Planning Commission member, and a possible meeting with ARC members to discuss expectations and responsibilities. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes July 10, 2024 City of Palm Springs 5 Zoning Code Kickoff virtual open house: the link will be on Engage Palm Springs and circulated. The code team is currently doing a code audit with more in-depth work beginning after the summer. Updates regarding City Council approval of the Serena Park project. The General Plan Update will be included as an informational item at the July 24, 2024 meeting, with a discussion of it at a meeting in September 2024. ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 7:57 pm to 5:30 pm, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California.