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Home My WebLink About2021-04-14 PC Meeting MinutesPLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES April 14, 2021 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California (Meeting held via Zoom) CALL TO ORDER: Chair Weremiuk called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm. ROLL CALL: Present: Ervin, Lewin, Roberts, Song, Vice Chair Moruzzi, Chair Weremiuk Absent: Hirschbein Staff Present: Planning Director Fagg, Deputy City Manager Brown, Attorney Priest, Assistant Director of Planning Newell, Attorney Priest, Administrative Coordinator Hintz, Associate Planner Lyon, Engineering Associate Minjares, City Engineer Montalvo, Principal Planner Robertson, Principal Engineer Uyeno 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 Thursday, April 8, 2021, and posted on the City's website as required by established policies and procedures. Vice Chair Moruzzi reported the passing of Robert Ember and spoke about his pioneering work in promoting the City's mid-century architecture history. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Song, seconded by Roberts to accept the Agenda, as presented. AYES: ERVIN, LEWIN, ROBERTS, SONG, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: HIRSCHBEIN PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chair Weremiuk reported receiving a letter from Steve Letterman for Case No. 5.1492 and asked that it be placed into the record. GREG ROBERTS, speaking on Item #5A, welcomed the Pinball Museum to the neighborhood, but emphasized nearby residents have the right to quiet enjoyment of their Planning Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 City of Palm Springs property. He expressed concern with noise; suggested the prohibition of amplified music and voiced concern about public safety relating to pedestrian traffic on Gene Autry. JEFF GERACY, speaking on Item #5A, voiced his support of the pinball museum and commented on his experience growing up with arcades in the city. STEVE LEDERMAN, property owner, 1247 S. Gene Autry Trail, spoke about the zoning change for cannabis facilities and reported there have never been any issues with odor associated with his building. He referenced documents he forwarded to the City. MIKE MORGAN, Frontier California, speaking on Items #513 and #5C, said he's in agreement with conditions for both projects. He explained that Frontier California is the applicant not Blu Croix. Mr. Morgan requested a Finding be added for Item #5C, Section (d) that specifically states that twenty-four stalls are the appropriate parking requirement for the project. There being no further speakers the public hearing was closed. OTHER BUSINESS: OATH OF OFFICE OF NEWLY AND RE -APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS City Clerk Anthony Mejia administered to the Oath of Office to Peter Moruzzi and J.R. Roberts. 2. CONSENT CALENDAR: Lewin, seconded by Song to approve Consent Calendar. AYES: ERVIN, LEWIN, ROBERTS, SONG, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: HIRSCHBEIN 2A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: NOVEMBER 18, 2020 Approved, as part of the Consent Calendar. (Noting Commissioner Robert's abstention.) 2B. TREVOR & RACHEL WHITCOMB, OWNERS, FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION PROPOSING A 2,843-SQUARE FOOT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ON A 9,000-SQUARE FOOT LOT ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE LOCATED AT 3000 EAST VISTA CHINO ROAD, ZONE R-1-C (CASE 3.4209 MAJ / 7.1622 AMM). (KL) Approved, as part of the Consent Calendar. Planning Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 City of Palm Springs 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE 4. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: NONE. 5. NEW BUSINESS: 5A. MUSEUM OF PINBALL REQUESTING A DETERMINATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT A MUSEUM USE IS SIMILAR TO OTHER USES PERMITTED IN THE M-1-P ZONE FOR A PROPOSED PINBALL MUSEUM AT 750 NORTH GENE AUTRY TRAIL, ZONE PD-195 & W-M-1-P (CASE NO. 10.481 DET). (DN) Assistant Director of Planning Newell presented the proposed project. The Commission had questions and discussed the following: the use as an arcade versus museum, promoting the history of pinball, complying with City regulations, adequacy of parking, conforming with the original landscape plans, imposing similar conditions to other projects that have special outdoor events in terms of noise, steps to increase pedestrian safety and asking Caltrans to address pedestrian safety and including that request as part of the Commission's determination. JONATHON WEEKS, Museum of Pinball, provided details on hours of operation, museum entry fee, ticket prices, special events and tournaments. He spoke about the importance of public safety and regulating noise. Discussion followed regarding sound limitations for nearby museums and the Commission's ability to place restrictions based on individual uses. Weremiuk, seconded by Song to approve use as similar to other permissible uses in the M-1-P zone with added conditions: 1. Allow special events beyond normal operational hours; 2. Prohibit outside amplified music; 3. Ensure the site is adequately parked; 4. Pedestrian crosswalk to be requested and considered by Caltrans on Gene Autry Trail; 5. Improve landscaping on -site to provide additional landscape buffer between site and adjacent residential land. AYES: ERVIN, LEWIN, ROBERTS, SONG, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: HIRSCHBEIN (ITEMS #513 AND #5C WERE HEARD AS ONE PROJECT.) 5B. BLU CROIX LIMITED ON BEHALF OF FRONTIER CALIFORNIA, INC. FOR A PARCEL MAP WAIVER TO SUBDIVIDE AN EXISTING ONE -LOT Planning Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 City of Palm Springs PARCEL INTO (2) TWO SEPARATE PARCELS AT 295 NORTH SUNRISE WAY, ZONE MDR, WITHIN THE SECTION 14 SPECIFIC PLAN AREA (CASE PMW 38119). (ER) 5C. REQUEST BY BLU CROIX LIMITED ON BEHALF OF FRONTIER CALIFORNIA, INC., FOR A LAND USE PERMIT TO APPROVE A SPECIFIC PARKING PLAN FOR AN EXISTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SWITCHING FACILITY LOCATED AT 295 NORTH SUNRISE WAY, ZONE MDR WITHIN THE SECTION 14 SPECIFIC PLAN AREA (CASE LUP 21-040). (ER) Principal Planner Robertson presented the proposed projects. The Commission had questions and discussed the following: the underlying zoning remaining medium density residential if the parcel division is approved, the current function of the commercial building and the need for the applicant to work with the Planning Department if there are any changes in function, adding a condition of approval to maintain landscaping or requiring them to submit a landscaping plan for the southern parcel and adding a condition that the existing landscape be cleaned and irrigated prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance. Chair Weremiuk stated she would like the landscape plan to go back to the ARC for approval and the applicant indicated acceptance of the conditions of approval. Lewin, seconded by Moruzzi, to approve Case Nos. PMW 38119 and LUP 21-040 with added conditions: 1. Modify Condition D3- Any change in use shall require approval by the Planning Division. 2. Any new use shall at the site shall provide parking in accordance with PSZC Section 93.06.00 including any measures for parking relief or off -site parking. 4. There shall be no business license for the new use until the parking requirement has been satisfied. 5. Any change in the current program of activities for Frontier Communications shall also require review and approval by the Planning Division. 6. Existing landscape shall be cleaned and irrigated prior to the issuance of a certificate of compliance and require review of a landscape and irrigation plan by the ARC. AYES: ERVIN, LEWIN, ROBERTS, SONG, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: HIRSCHBEIN 5D. GENERAL PLAN CONFORMITY FINDING FOR THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022-2026 FOR THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS. (DU) 4 Planning Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 City of Palm Springs Commissioner Song recused herself due to a business -related conflict and left the meeting. City Engineer Montalvo and Principal Engineer Uyeno presented details of the City's five- year Capital Improvement Program. The Commission had questions and discussed the following: elements in the resolution, verifying that staff is doing its due diligence, multiple reviews of the CIP to ensure conformance with the General Plan, and the requirement for annual determination of conformance. Commissioner Roberts opined this item should be going directly to the City Council instead of the Planning Commission. Staff responded this item will be forwarded to City Council for final approval and the Planning Commission is the appropriate body to determine whether the plan conforms to the General Plan. Development Services Director Fagg added that the Planning Commission is not liable for any project; and noted that the Planning Commission's role is limited, as is its responsibility. Chair Weremiuk referenced Items 1608 and 1918 and thinks the justification for the Library should be included in the justification for 1918. Commissioner Lewin suggested including justifications and conformity statements with each project listed, going forward. Chair Weremiuk requested letting the City Council know that the Commission's review, this year, was not robust and that the Commission was unprepared for this request. City Engineer Montalvo spoke about plans for the five-year capital improvement program. Lewin, seconded by Moruzzi finds that the Five -Year Capital Improvement Program for Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 — 2026 are consistent with the General Plan and as discussed. AYES: ERVIN, LEWIN, ROBERTS, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: HIRSCHBEIN ABSTAIN: SONG SE. DISCUSSION OF PAPERLESS AGENDAS. (FF) The Commission concurred to receive a report and continue discussion until Commissioner Hirschbein is present. 5 Planning Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 City of Palm Springs Development Services Director Fagg introduced the item and deferred to Assistant City Manager Aaron Brown for a report. Assistant City Manager Brown discussed testing the system with a small group of individuals and shared his experience with paperless systems in other jurisdictions. Mr. Brown spoke about the ability to make annotations within the electronic file and addressed the implementation timeline and the required hardware/equipment. The Commission discussed limitations of reviewing plans. Mr. Brown added they will have the ability to enlarge documents and the possibility of implementing a hybrid system. Staff to return with potential solutions for a paperless format. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS: • Commissioner Erwin announced the passing of Cora Crawford and expressed his condolences. He listed her accomplishments in the City. PLANNING DIRECTOR'S REPORT: • Planning Director Fagg provided an update on agenda items for the Planning Commission meeting of April 28, 2021. ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 7:48 pm to 5:30 pm, Wednesday, April 28, 2021, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. avid Newell, AICP Assistant Director of Planning