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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-27 PC Study Session MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES January 27, 2016 Study Session Large Conference Room, City Hall 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California CALL TO ORDER: Chair Klatchko called the meeting to order at 11:37 am. Roll Call: Commissioner Calerdine, Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Lowe, Commissioner Middleton, Commissioner Weremiuk, Chair Klatchko Absent This Meeting: None Staff Present: Flinn Fagg, Michael Daudt, David Newell REPORT ON THE NOTICEIPOSTING OF THE AGENDA: The agenda was posted for public access side of Council Chamber) and the Plannin January 21, 2016. DISCUSSION ITEM: g at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west Services counter by 4:00 pm on Thursday, 1. SERENA PARK — PALM SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB, LLC, FOR A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN LIEU OF ZONE CHANGE, MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION AND TENTATIVE TRACT MAP FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 125-ACRES OF PREVIOUSLY DISTURBED VACANT LAND FOR 137 ATTACHED RESIDENCES, 292 DETACHED RESIDENCES, STREETS, PRIVATE OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC PARK LOCATED NORTH OF VERONA ROAD, EAST OF FARRELL DRIVE, NORTH OF JOYCE DRIVE, EAST OF SUNRISE WAY AND SOUTHWEST OF THE WHITEWATER RIVER WASH, SECTION 361 TOWNSHIP 31 RANGE 4, AND SECTION 1 1 TOWNSHIP 41 RANGE 4 (CASE NOS. 5.1327 PD-366, ZC, MAJ AND TTM 36691). (DN) Associate Planner Newell provided a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed development plan for the site, and spoke to issues of the General Plan amendment, the proposed development agreement, and the associated entitlement applications. Nicole Van and Michelle Witherspoon of MSA Consulting gave presentations on the environmental documentation for the project, and responded to questions from the Planning Commission. Planning Commission Study Session Minutes City of Palm Springs January 27, 2016 Planning Commissioners had the following individual comments and questions: Commissioner Lowe raised questions about the air quality study and the factors that were considered in completing the study. Commissioner Donenfeld questioned and/or commented on: Is traffic on the interior streets of the proposed development included in the noise study? Can Francis Drive serve as an additional entry point to the development? Discussed the loss of open space and how the applicant might be able to comply with the General Plan policies relative to the conversion of open space. Commissioner Middleton questioned and/or commented on: • Requested that the applicant provide information on the construction traffic numbers and path of travel. • Concern with only two means of access to the development. Can access be provided to Francis Drive or if parallel streets could be developed adjacent to the existing gate on Whitewater Club Drive? • Concern with the loss of open space through development of the existing golf course, but offered that golf courses also tend to consume large amounts of water. Commissioner Weremiuk questioned and/or commented on: • Concurred that information on construction traffic is needed. • Air quality will be significantly impacted during the construction phase. • Was the loss of open space addressed in the Environmental Impact Report? • Traffic from Alexander Estates needs to be included in the traffic study. • How many golf courses in the city are private? • Requested information on the acreage of private and public golf courses as it relates to current open space totals. Commissioner Calerdine questioned and/or commented on: • What is the impact of the project on the intersection at Whitewater Club Drive and Vista Chino? • Will the project be required to restore that intersection to the same level of service as is currently in place? • Can a traffic signal be installed at that intersection? • Suggested that the City needed to establish a policy on the conversion of golf courses. 2 Planning Commission Study Session Minutes City of Palm Springs January 27, 2016 Chair Klatchko also noted concerns with the loss of open space and how the applicant would address the policies of the General Plan. ERIC TAYLOR, applicant, gave a brief overview of the project and noted their efforts in working with adjacent neighbors and neighborhood associations to address concerns related to the project. Members of the Planning Commission offered the following comments related to the applicant's presentation: Chair Klatchko discussed the viability of the proposed park, and questioned if the retention basin could be moved to another location on the site. Commissioner Calerdine discussed the design of the greenbelts modeled on the Radburn concept, and questioned if the greenbelts would be effectively used. The Commissioner also commented that the new development should be better integrated with the existing neighborhoods. Commissioner Lowe voiced concerns about the design and location of the garages, noting that he did not want to see a row of garage doors along the street. Commissioner Middleton commented that she supported the greenbelt model. Commissioner Weremiuk supported the proposed street width within the project, but requested that more access points be provided. She suggested that a minimum setback of 10 feet be provided between the units and that the applicant investigate shared -use easements. She also noted the need for substantial buffers around the existing homes and requested that streets be moved away from existing residences. The Commission requested that an additional study session be scheduled to further discuss the project, and requested that the following information be addressed: • Provide information on the development agreement process. • Provide additional information on the General Plan policies related to the loss of open space. • Provide information on the original entitlements for the golf course. • Address the impact of traffic on intersections within the adjacent residential neighborhoods. • Review the impact of traffic on the intersection of N. Farrell Drive and Racquet Club Road. • The applicant to return with alternatives based on the comments of the Planning Commissioners. • Provide information on whether access could be established to Gene Autry Trail for construction traffic, and if Verona could be extended to Gene Autry Trail. 3 Planning Commission Study Session Minutes City of Palm Springs January 27, 2016 • Revise the plan so that the internal street network is adjacent to the Whitewater Wash and away from the existing residences. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Note: Public comment was deferred to the regularly -scheduled 1:30 pm Planning Commission meeting.) ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 1:20 pm to their regular meeting at 1:30 pm, Wednesday, January 27, 2016, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon FinnFagg, AIC13 Director of Planning Services 4