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Home My WebLink About2023-06-28 PC Meeting Minutes PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JUNE 28, 2023 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 6:00 pm. ROLL CALL: Present: Aylaian, Hirschbein, Miller, Moruzzi, Chair Weremiuk Excused Absence: Vice Chair Roberts Staff Present: Deputy City Manager Fagg, Planning Director Hadwin, Attorney Priest, Administrative Coordinator Hintz 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 9:00 pm on Thursday, June 22, 2023, and posted on the City’s website as required by established policies and procedures. ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: Miller, seconded by Aylaian, to accept the agenda, as presented. AYES: AYLAIAN, HIRSCHBEIN, MILLER, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: ROBERTS PUBLIC COMMENTS: BRUCE JHENGER, Miralon, resident & serves on HOA Board, spoke in reference to Study Session 1, expressed concern with traffic ingress and egress issues at the proposed Miralon development. 1. CONSENT CALENDAR: 1A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: JUNE 22, 2022, DECEMBER 14, 2022, JANUARY 25, 2023, FEBRUARY 8, 2023, FEBRUARY 22, 2023, MARCH 22, 2023 Planning Commission Minutes June 28, 2023 City of Palm Springs 2 Commissioner Aylaian reported she provided to staff minor corrections to the June 22, 2022, December 14, 2022 and March 22, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Miller reported minor corrections to the February 22, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Moruzzi noted his abstention on the minutes of December 14, 2022, due to his absence. Commissioner Hirschbein noted his abstention on the minutes of June 22, 2022, due to his absence. Aylaian, seconded by Miller to approve minutes with minor corrections. AYES: AYLAIAN, HIRSCHBEIN, MILLER, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: ROBERTS 2. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 2A. REQUEST BY THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS FOR APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE PALM SPRINGS ZONING CODE (CASE 5.1466 ZTA) (DN) Planning Director Hadwin provided an overview on the proposed updates to the Palm Springs Zoning Code as outlined in the staff report. Commissioner Aylaian asked if applicants are required to submit a photometric study. She questioned what determination is made if there's a variation in foot candles to meet the criteria that is proposed. Planning Director Hadwin responded that a photometric study is required, as part of the conditional use permit process. Ms. Aylaian said she noticed one section states the lighting can't be greater than 400 watts; and in another section it states it can't be greater than 1000 watts. Planning Director Hadwin responded that a higher amount of light would impact neighbors greater in a single-family neighborhood than on a larger multi-family site. Commissioner Aylaian said this language limits the amount of light per fixture- it does not state if you're in a single-family zone you can only have a certain number of foot- candles. She thinks this language allows installation of more light fixtures. Staff agreed this could be analyzed further. Commissioner Aylaian referenced Item G, that states, “. . . night lighting of courts must maintain a 60-foot setback from property lines”, she does not think this is possible as Planning Commission Minutes June 28, 2023 City of Palm Springs 3 light crosses property lines. She recommended adding the word “fixtures” instead of using the lighting. Commissioner Miller suggested revising the language under density bonus and vacated rental property. Staff reported this language is required by State law. Chair Werem iuk said she was on the subcommittee group that worked on the changes to the Planned Developm ent District Ordinance (PDD); and thinks the final plan should go to the sam e Com m ission that initially review ed it to ensure that it that it is in substantial agreem ent. The Commission further discussed and requested clarification on the red-lined changes in the proposed amendments relating to the architectural development permit process, the planned development process, maximum lot coverage, open space and affordable housing. In reference to Open Space for Residential Uses, Commissioner Aylaian said the wording, “minimum open space standards may be modified” does not state any specific limits. She questioned if they want to state a maximum lot coverage. Planning Director Hadwin said the thinking was that they were limiting the ability of these projects that want to provide affordable housing at those density limits. He’s uncertain if they have the right number and since this is such a discretionary process, they purposely left it open for discussion. Attorney Priest said they reviewed this section and if the Commission thinks this is a significant policy change that needs further discussion it can be done at a future meeting. Chair Weremiuk said she would like to see the definition of affordable housing be more specific. Attorney Priest re-emphasized that this section is part of the PDD process and is not necessarily a flexible process. He said this was staff’s effort to maintain flexibility but if the Commission is interested in setting limits, they can provide direction to staff. Planning Director Hadwin said staff was purposely silent on the percentage or amount of affordable housing that would need to be required. He indicated there are so many variables that go into it including State funding and other funding sources it’s a highly discretionary process and recommends to leave open for a site-by-site. Commissioner Aylaian concurred that affordable housing is important; and adding an extra story or reducing open space are important things residents of Palm Springs. She agrees they need more rental housing and affordable housing is important but she’s not Planning Commission Minutes June 28, 2023 City of Palm Springs 4 certain this is the place to make it happen because the amendments are housekeeping changes to the zoning code. Commissioner Miller said given the City is discussing a requirement for developers to provide affordable housing, he thinks they need to keep these items as tools to offer to a developer to incentivize the affordability of their units. Public Hearing: Ardine Thompson, Escena resident, provided background information on pickleball sport and their recommendations for regulating this sport court in a future date. There being no further comments the public hearing was closed. Aylaian, seconded by Weremiuk to recommend approval to City Council with changes outlined in the staff report with the following modifications: 1. Item 4, 2g- add night lighting “fixtures.” 2. Item 9, C7- No changes, to remain “Final Development Plan approval by Planning Commission.” 3. Item 9, De- to remain as is, no changes, as proposed by staff. 4. Item 9, Df- no changes 5. Item 9, DF- to remain, “Planning Commission”. 6. Item 9, Gb- staff to clarify only through internal reconfiguration with no additional building area. AYES: AYLAIAN, HIRSCHBEIN, MILLER, MORUZZI, WEREMIUK ABSENT: ROBERTS A recess was taken at 7:26 pm. The meeting resumed at 7:35 pm. PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS: PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT: UPDATE AND DISCUSSION ON AN ONGOING INCLUSIONARY HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL LINKAGE FEASIBILITY STUDY INFORMING FUTURE CONSIDERATION OF A CITYWIDE INCLUSIONARY HOUSING POLICY. (FF/CH) Deputy City Manager Fagg summarized the review process, noting that two studies have been prepared and should the City Council move forward move forward with these studies an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance will be developed and return to the Commission for further review at a future date. Planning Commission Minutes June 28, 2023 City of Palm Springs 5 Ashley Kennett and Chinmay Damle, Economic and Planning Systems (EPS) Inc., consultants, provided details about the inclusionary housing and the commercial linkage fee studies and addressed questions from the Commission. Discussion item only; no action was taken. ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission adjourned at 9:14 pm to 5:30 pm, Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way. _/s/ Christopher Hadwin Christopher Hadwin Director of Planning