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Home My WebLink About2015-10-14 PC Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES October 14, 2015 Council Chamber, City Hall 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 CALL TO ORDER: Chair Klatchko called the meeting to order at 1:42 pm. ROLL CALL: Present This Meeting: Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Middleton, Commissioner Weremiuk, Vice - Chair Roberts and Chair Klatchko Absent This Meeting: Commissioner Lowe Staff Present: Flinn Fagg, Michael Daudt, Terri Hintz, Savat Khamphou, and Glenn Mlaker REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The agenda was available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the Planning Services counter by 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 8, 2015. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Vice -Chair Robert noted his abstention on the minutes of September 9, 2015, due to his absence. The agenda was accepted, as presented. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chair Klatchko opened public comments: FRANK TYSEN, urged the Commission to look at the traffic and congestion that will be impacted from the Downtown project. City of Palm Springs Planning Commission Minutes October 14, 2015 RON HANSON, board of directors, Tuscany Heights HOA, spoke in opposition of Item 2A; commented that the three adjacent homes (one being his house) will have a drastic value reduction due to the blocked views. JUDY DEERTRACK, said she was astounded to hear that the scope of changes to the Museum Market Plaza Specific Plan were done in such a chaotic manner in this late stage of the development. MICHAEL JOHNSTON, encouraged the Commission to require 3D models for the third hotel in the Downtown project and urged the Commission to take a closer look at the employee parking, circulation and pedestrian level views. STEVE ROSENBERG, commented that a 4th hotel could be potential in the overall plan which needs to be reviewed stringently and questioned the empty blocks during the interim period. There being no further speakers public comments was closed. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: SEPTEMBER 9 AND 24, 2015 ACTION: Approve, minutes of September 9 and 24, 2015, as submitted. (Noting Vice - Chair Roberts' abstention on the minutes of September 9, 2015.) Motion: Commissioner Middleton, seconded by Commissioner Calerdine and carried 5-0-1 on a roll call vote. AYES: Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Middleton, Commissioner Weremiuk, Vice -Chair Roberts and Chair Klatchko ABSENT: Commissioner Lowe 2. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 2A. DAVID ENDRES 1 DEBBIE REICHLING FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 4,170-SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ON A HILLSIDE LOT AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE MINOR MODIFICATION REQUESTING AN INCREASE IN BUILDING HEIGHT LOCATED AT 2355 NORTH MILO DRIVE, ZONE R- 1-C (CASE 3.2938 MAJ & 7.1456 AMM). (GM) Assistant Planner Mlaker provided an update on the proposed project as outlined in the staff report. City of Palm Springs Planning Commission Minutes October 14, 2015 JAMES CIOFFI, project architect, stated that they were able to place story poles up this morning and indicated that the surveyor confirmed the height numbers are correct and provided further details. Commissioner Donenfeld commented that he went four times to the site and the balloons were ineffective. The wind was blowing and could not get a sense of the height of the building. He understands the story poles were just put up today but they were not given notice. Vice -Chair Roberts commented that he saw the story poles today and this house will add to the beauty of this neighborhood. He said he had the opportunity to see the view from Mr. Hanson's property and from the building site. He said he cannot support this project because he feels this home will have a significant impact on views and loss of value. Commissioner Middleton said she walked the site this morning; noting that the poles were high at first glance. However, she walked the embankment and drove the street behind the site and found that the house that is being built is consistent with the adjacent homes. She noticed that the tower on the north side of the proposed home is beautiful but has no advantage and is a loss to the homeowner immediately behind this property. She said she is supportive of the project providing there is modification to the height of the tower. Commissioner Calerdine said that originally this site had a great mountain views but was lost with the grading of the Tuscany Heights project; noting that its very tough to protect every view and angle on hillside properties. He concurred about modifying the tower and thinks it's an attractive element. The rest of the house flows with the contours of the land. Commissioner Weremiuk said she is inclined on not supporting this project because the house is high and intrusive and would prefer it to return to them with changes. Chair Klatchko concurred with Commissioner Middleton that the height of this building is fairly consistent with the neighbors and pointed -out that the developer of the adjacent project that's under construction and would most be impacted has not expressed a l:618liT1iatill ACTION: Continue to October 28, 2015, to allow the applicant to explore other options to lower the height of the pad. Motion: Vice -Chair Roberts, seconded by Commissioner Weremiuk and unanimously carried 6-0-1 on a roll call vote. AYES: Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Middleton, Commissioner Weremiuk, Vice -Chair Roberts, Chair Klatchko ABSENT: Commissioner Lowe City of Palm springs Planning Commission Minutes October 14, 2015 3. NEW BUSINESS: 3A. FRANK M. HOMES INC, REQUESTING A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPROVAL FOR A 2,913-SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ALONG A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE AT 2700 NORTH SUNRISE WAY, ZONE R-1-C (CASE 3.3849 MAJ). (GM) Assistant Planner Mlaker presented the proposed home along a major thoroughfare, as outlined in the staff report. Mr. Mlaker provided an overview of the AAC recommendations and staffs request to modify Engineering Condition #7. The Commission commented and/or questioned: • The revised design of the wall will match the character of the house. • The revised landscaping meets the AAC's criteria. • Verification of sidewalks on adjacent constructed homes. Commissioner Middleton said she likes this house and pool for this site; however, she would like to see better landscape plans in the future especially for installation of turf. ACTION: Approve with conditions; and modify Engineering Condition 7 to require the installation of an interim sidewalk. Motion: Commissioner Donenfeld, seconded by Commissioner Middleton and unanimously carried 6-0-1 on a roll call vote. AYES: Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Middleton, Commissioner Weremiuk, Vice -Chair Roberts, Chair Klatchko ABSENT: Commissioner Lowe PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS: The Commission commented on the following items: • A recap on earlier discussion on the amendment to Museum Market Plaza Specific Plan. • The importance of reviewing Section K-1 (Town and Country). • The Downtown development is not being built out to what the Specific Plan allows. • Requiring massing models for the Downtown project. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT: No comments. 4 City of Palm Springs Planning Commission Minutes October 14, 2015 "I VI [N IM aa, I -= I a, f The Planning Commission adjourned at 2:42 pm. to Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at 1:30 pm, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. F inn Fagg, AICP Director of Planning Services 5