HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-10 PC Study Session MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS
PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES
August 10, 2016 1 11:30 AM
Large Conference Room, City Hall
3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Palm Springs, CA 92262
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Calerdine called the meeting to order at 11:35 am.
ROLL CALL: Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Hirschbein,
Commissioner Hudson, Commissioner Lowe, Commissioner
Middleton, Vice -Chair Weremiuk, Chair Calerdine
Absent This Meeting: None.
Staff Present: Flinn Fagg, Planning Director
REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: The agenda was posted and available for public
access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the
Planning Services counter by 6.00 pm on Thursday, August 4, 2016.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None.
DISCUSSION ITEM:
1A. TOPICS FOR THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL 1 PLANNING
COMMISSION MEETING IN SEPTEMBER 2016.
Chair Calerdine opened the meeting and noted the need to prioritize topics for the joint
City Council/Planning Commission meeting.
Vice -Chair Weremiuk suggested that it would helpful to prepare a write-up on the topics
for City Council members as a way to provide background on the subject matter and its
importance.
The Commission identified potential joint meeting discussion items under two groups:
"Specific Planning Issues," and "Process Issues." The topics identified under each
group were as follows:
Planning Commission Study Session Minutes
City of Palm Springs
August 10, 2016
Specific Planning Issues:
• Small -lot subdivisions
• PDD (Planned Development District) ordinance
• Gated communities
• Golf course redevelopment
• Environmentally -sensitive areas
• Public benefit requirements — PDD
• Affordable housing
• Extension of Time (EOT) applications
• Sustainability
Process Issues:
• Long-range planning (and long-range planning staff)
• Planning & zoning software
• Role of Architectural Advisory Committee (AAC)
The Commission discussed grouping topics together as a single discussion item, such
as the topics of PDD ordinance, small -lot subdivisions, public benefit requirements, and
gated communities.
The Commission had the following general comments on the discussion items for the
joint meeting:
Commissioner Middleton discussed sustainability issues, and reported on
meetings with the Green Building Subcommittee of the Sustainability
Commission. She also commented on using local labor and youth job training as
a public benefit for PDD applications, and questioned the number of projects
coming in as PDD applications. Commissioner Middleton questioned the
standards for small -lot developments; suggested that the Planning Commission
should discuss criteria for Extension of Time applications before formulating
policy; and suggested that the joint meeting would be a good opportunity to
request needed resources.
• Commissioner Weremiuk noted that an ad hoc PDD committee had been formed,
and that the committee was discussing improvements to the PDD ordinance.
She noted that affordable housing could be considered as a public benefit of
PDD projects. In addition, she suggested that the joint meeting could include a
discussion of process recommendations, such as software and long -rang
planning staff, and noted that public policy issues such as golf course
redevelopment and environmentally -sensitive areas should be discussed.
• Chair Calerdine noted that care should be exercised when discussing the topic of
inclusionary zoning.
Planning Commission Study Session Minutes
City of Palm Springs
August 10, 2016
• Commissioner Hirschbein discussed issues of small -lot development and
provision of open space within the project.
• Commissioner Donenfeld suggested that the PDD process should be reserved
for unusual developments, and that developers should otherwise adhere to
standard zoning; he noted that the bulk of the joint meeting should be spent on
discussing the PDD process. He suggested that an urban designer should be
added to staff.
• Commissioner Hudson stated that the City should make a commitment to higher
density housing and preserving multi -family districts. He suggested that the PDD
process should remain a two-step process, and that many current applications do
not address the urban context whatsoever.
Chair Calerdine suggested that the highest priority items should be:
• PDD ordinance
• Small lot ordinance
• Gated communities
• Public benefit of PDD projects
• Loss of R-2/R-3 districts to small lot development
He also suggested that there should be a focused discussion on staff resources.
The Commission prioritized the issues to be discussed at the joint meeting as follows:
1. Resources (staffing, software, etc.)
2. PDD process/issues
3. Extension of Time applications, criteria
4. AAC process
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further comments the Planning Commission
adjourned at 12:49 pm to their regular meeting at 1:30 pm, Wednesday, August 10,
2016, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way.
Rhin Fagg, A1CP
Director of Planning Services
3