HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-24 PC Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM SPRINGS
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
City Hall, Council Chamber
3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Weremiuk called the meeting to order at 1:32 pm.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioner Donenfeld, Commissioner Hirschbein, Commissioner Hudson,
Commissioner Moruzzi, Vice Chair Calerdine, Chair Weremiuk
Staff Planning Director Fagg, Deputy City Attorney Daudt, Director of Engineering
Present: Garcia, Planning Administrative Coordination Hintz, Administrative Assistant
Bruggemans, Associate Planner Mlaker, Associate Planner Lyon
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 12:00 pm on Thursday,
January 18, 2018.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA:
Chair Weremiuk requested Items 3A and 313 be heard at the beginning of the agenda. The
agenda was accepted as amended.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Chair Weremiuk opened public comments:
JANE MCFEE, Item 313, expressed concern about water run-off on the private access road
(Overlook Glen Rd.) on the west end of her property; and since her property is on a cul-de-
sac would like to maintain access to her home by assuring that all activity takes place on
El Portal.
JAY REYNOLDS, project architect, Item 3A, clients are requesting a one year time
extension because the property owner has a diplomatic assignment overseas. They are
planning to start construction within the next year.
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City of Palm Springs
JIM MC EACHERN, project architect, Item 3B, said they've come up with a solution to
address the AAC concerns and letters from various neighbors regarding view corridors and
saving some trees. He said his client will cooperate fully with any neighbor complaints that
may arise and verified that construction access will be on El Portal.
BILL BECK, adjacent neighbor, spoke in favor of the proposed design and noted the only
concern is saving the twin palm trees and would be willing to have it placed on his
property.
There being no further speakers public comments was closed.
1. CONSENT CALENDAR:
1A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 10, 2018 Study Session Minutes
Calerdine, seconded by Donenfeld to approve Item 1A as part of the Consent Calendar.
AYES: Donenfeld, Hirschbein, Hudson, Moruzzi, Calerdine, Weremiuk
(Items 3A and 313 were heard out of order.)
3. NEW BUSINESS:
3A. RIC GRENELL & MATTHEW LASHEY, FOR A ONE-YEAR TIME
EXTENSION OF A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPROVAL FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A 3,857-SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ON A HILLSIDE
LOT LOCATED AT 141 RIDGE MOUNTAIN DRIVE, ZONE R-1-A-H (CASE
3.3921 MAJ, 7.1491 AMM). (GM)
Associate Planner Mlaker provided details on the request for a one year time extension as
outlined in the staff report,
Vice Chair Calerdine verified if two years would be adequate given the property owner is
appointed to a diplomatic position overseas. (The property owner is aware that two years
is the limit to dig soil to begin entitlement.) Mr. Calerdine noted concern with starting
construction and not finishing it_
JAY REYNOLDS verified solar plans are included in the drawings and agreed to adding it
as a part of the conditions,
Chair Weremiuk said she would prefer to move forward with a one year time extension to
see where they are at the end of the year. They can come back in one year if they have
not moved forward in that time.
Weremiuk, seconded by Calerdine to approve one year time extension with conditions
subject to:
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City of Palm springs
• The applicant shall install a solar system per approved plans.
AYES. Donenfeld, Hirschbein, Hudson, Moruzzi, Calerdine, Weremiuk
3B. BRAVO PROPERTIES INC., FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL
APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 4,595-SQUARE FOOT
HOUSE ON A HILLSIDE LOT LOCATED AT 350 EL PORTAL, ZONE R-1-
B. (CASE 3.4066 MAJ). (GM)
Associate Planner Mlaker provided an overview on the proposed house construction on a
hillside lot as outlined in the staff report.
THOMAS GARCIA, Director of Engineering Services, clarified that regarding the location
of the wall the applicant needs to prepare a hydrology study showing the impact of the off -
site drainage going through his lot and one of the conditions is to accept the off -site
drainage.
The Commission discussed off -site drainage, relocation of the twin palm trees,
landscaping on the access wall and solar panels.
Chair Weremiuk verified if Mr. Beck's second tree could be placed on the location he
selects. (Mr. McEachern agreed that he would be willing to relocate the 2nd palm tree at the
location the neighbor selects.)
Calerdine, made a motion to approve with changes*
1. Construction of house shall not impede, block or encroach onto access road
at the rear of the property.
2. Landscape shall be required on the along the back wall adjacent to Overlook
Glen Drive with final approval by the Planning Director.
3. Project is required to install a solar system that will generate 2.5 watts per each
square foot equating to an 11 kw system.
Motion was lost due to a lack of a second.
Commissioner Donenfeld concurred with the proposed changes with the exception to
require landscaping the access wall that is not on their property and is in bad condition.
With this he made an alternative motion.
Commissioner Moruzzi concurred with the AAC's review and recommended conditions.
Donenfeld, seconded by Calerdine to approve with changes:
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1. Construction of Douse shall not impede, block or encroach onto access road
at the rear of the property.
2. Project is required to install a solar system that will generate 2.5 wafts per each
square foot equating to an 11 kw system.
AYES: Donenfeld, Hirschbein, Hudson, Moruzzi, Calerdine, Weremiuk
A recess was taken at 2:32 pm. The meeting resumed at 2:38 pm.
2. PUBLIC HEARING:
2A. ROSIAN V, LLC, FOR A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT (PDD), A
MINOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION (MAA), A CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT (CUP) AND A VARIANCE APPLICATION (VAR), PROPOSING
RENOVATION AND ADDITIONS TO AN EXISTING 62-ROOM HOTEL TO
ADD AN OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE, AN OUTDOOR RESTAURANT USE,
AND OUTDOOR COCKTAIL LOUNGE USE AND SUPPORT SPACES AT
THE MONROE HOTEL (AKA INFUSION BEACH HOTEL) LOCATED AT
1900 NORTH PALM CANYON DRIVE (CASE 5.1409 CUP 1 PDD 387 1
3.864 MAA 1 6.550 VAR, (APN 504-320-026, ZONE C-11 R-3 1 RESORT
COMBINING ZONE). (KL) (CONTINUED FROM THE JAN. 10, 2018
MEETING)
Associate Planner Lyon provided an update on the proposed renovations and additions to
an existing hotel as outlined in the staff report. Mr. Lyon verified that the project as
proposed will not have subwoofers to mitigate noise impacts.
The Commission discussed or requested clarification on the open space requirements, site
plan and elevations.
Commissioner Donenfeld does not think they have enough information; the elevations are
not sufficient, issues have not been addressed and thinks this should be continued.
Commissioner Hudson said he requested additional information on the buildings. 3D's
plans have been submitted but do not describe the building. The buildings are sparse and
rooftop mechanical is proposed on low buildings. He would like to see more complete
elevations and the new building connection to the existing buildings.
Chair Weremiuk opened the public hearing and with no speakers coming forward the
public hearing was closed.
Architectural Design:
Commissioner Hudson:
• Same amount of care to the new buildings as the front wall;
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• What does this building look like from Indian Canyon? (landscape, rear side
of kitchen, placement of windows & doorways);
• Architecture of the buildings does not support the quality the applicant is
trying to achieve;
• More details on colors and materials of the buildings and specifics on what
the attachment of new the buildings to the existing.
Commissioner Hirschbein
Front wall and landscaping Palm Canyon looks good - the same degree of
attention is needed to the ticketing building;
The AAC to review the new building attachment to the existing.
Chair Weremiuk:
• Concerned about the black paint- it should a different material;
• Orange marker does not fit the new wall;
• Landscape on both sides of the building;
• Landscape plan and rear elevations for Indian Canyon frontage;
• Concern with the height of raised podium.
Chair Weremiuk thinks the Variance for parking is part of the PD and should be considered
as a public benefit.
Planning Director Fagg recommended a list of complaints or calls for service will be pulled
at the six and twelve month Planning Commission review.
Commissioner Donenfeld commented that the sidewalks on Palm Canyon are in good
shape and is not a significant commitment. He commented that he did not walk on the
Indian Canyon side and cannot speak to the condition of these sidewalks. He feels there
are a lot of exceptions on this property and the applicant realizes the City needs to get
some public benefits.
Chair Weremiuk suggested as public benefits they look at the lighting and parking
improvements.
Commissioner Hudson thinks the lighting is not well -thought out because one section of
Palm Canyon would stand out. He said improved pedestrian safety was suggested on the
Dinks site; however, it does not make sense because valet parking will be provided. Mr.
Hudson suggested making a wish list of projects in the City or coming up with another set
of improvement criteria for the neighborhood. He would like to get the public benefit in the
neighborhood and suggested the applicant could pay into a local improvement district that
deals with safety lighting issues and sidewalk improvements.
Commissioner Moruzzi liked the idea of public benefit for park space in the Chino cone.
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Commissioner Hirschbein suggested another public benefit could be upgrading the street
frontage to the north of the hotel and Via Escuela.
Chair Weremiuk directed staff to prepare a list of deficiencies- tree lighting: how many
trees and the costs, condition of driveways on both sides and handicap accessibility.
The Commission made the following changes to the proposed conditions:
ADM 1: Include "ambient" background music and off -site parking in the project
description.
ADM 6: Include off -site parking in maintenance repair requirements.
ADM 8: Include subsequent review of the CUP's shall be as requested by the Planning
Commission.
ADM 12: Owner shall post signage near the entrance to the outdoor venue advising guests
not to park adjacent parking facilities or nearby residential streets.
PLN 1: Lighting on site shall not cause glare or light spillage onto adjacent properties.
PLN 4: Return to the AAC for review for on the building aesthetics and landscaping
PLN 15: Remove wording "discotheque".
PLN 15(g): Failure to provide alternative parking shall result in the revocation of the
Conditional Permit for the restaurant use, cocktail lounge use and sound stage/outdoor
music use.
PLN150): On -site parking reserved for hotel except when hotel is not fully occupied.
PLN 16: In addition to a permanent noise -monitoring solution a sound level limiter shall be
installed and no subwoofers.
PLN 21: Move to PLAN 15(i) valet parking services be provided at no charge.
Donenfeld, seconded by Hirschbein to a date uncertain:
• Subcommittee (Hudson, Hirschbein and two architects of the AAC) to review the
architecture design and landscape as per Planning Commission comments.
The Motion was amended.
Calerdine, seconded by Donenfeld to continue to a date certain of February 28, 2018:
• Subcommittee (Hudson, Hirschbein and two architects of the AAC) to review the
architecture design and landscape as per Planning Commission comments.
AYES: Donenfeld, Hirschbein, Hudson, Moruzzi, Calerdine, Weremiuk
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS:
• Maintenance requirements for art mural on Palm Canyon (previously a bar);
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• Criteria for consultants that provide environmental studies for the City;
• Subcommittee updates.
PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT: None.
ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 4:32 pm to 1:30 pm,
Wednesday, February 14, 2018, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon
Way.
Flinn Fagg, AIC
Director of Planning Services
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