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Home My WebLink AboutPC Resolution _4857- SP-1ARESOLUTION NO.4857 OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS TO SPECIFIC PLAN #1A, WHICH IS PROPOSED TO CONSIST OF 4 COMPONENTS: THE CANYON SOUTH GOLF COURSE REDESIGN AND CLUBHOUSE REMODEL, THE INDIAN CANYONS RESORT HOTEL AND SPA LOCATION, EXISTING AND PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSERVATION/OPEN SPACE; REDUCTION IN THE PROJECT BOUNDARY BY APPROXIMATELY 20 ACRES AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER; AND REDUCTION IN THE PROPOSED NUMBER OF UNITS FOR THE SPECIFIC PLAN BY 37 UNITS FOR THE PLANNING AREA ENCOMPASSING APPROXIMATELY 721 ACRES LOCATED SOUTH OF MURRAY CANYON DRIVE, NORTH OF ACANTO DRIVE, WEST OF THE PALM CANYON WASH, AND EAST OF THE SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS, ZONE W, W-R-1-13, R-1- B, W-R-1 A, R-1-A, 0-20, U-R, R-2, AND SP-1-, PORTIONS OF SECTIONS 34, 35, AND 36. WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs has initiated a request for amendments to Specific Plan #1A, which is proposed to consist of 4 components: the Canyon South Golf Course redesign and Clubhouse remodel, the Indian Canyons Resort Hotel and Spa location, existing and proposed residential development, and conservation/open space; reduction in the project boundary by approximately 20 acres at the northeast comer and reduction in the proposed number of units for the Specific Plan by 37 units for the planning area encompassing approximately 721 acres located south of Murray Canyon Drive, north of Acanto Drive, west of the Palm Canyon Wash, and east of the San Jacinto Mountains, Zone W, W-R-1-13, R-1-13, W-R-1•A, R-1 A, 0-20, U-R, R-2, AND SP-1, PORTIONS OF SECTIONS 34, 35, AND 36; and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments are consistent with the General Plan; and WHEREAS, notice of a public hearing of the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Springs to consider a request for amendments to the Specific Plan was issued in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, on June 25, 2003 a public hearing on the request for amendments to the Specific Plan was held by the Planning Commission in accordance with applicable law; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including but not limited to the staff report, all written and oral testimony presented. THE PLANNING COMMISSION HEREBY FINDS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Planning Commission finds that: The proposed Specific Plan Amendments are in compliance with the Final Environmental Impact Report that was prepared for the Canyon Park Resort and Spa Specific Plan project and was certified and adopted on July 19, 1991 and the additional Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), certified and adopted on January 19, 1994 is in compliance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and the City's CEQA Guidelines. The FEIR, MND, and current EIR Addendum for Case No. 5.0576 - SP-1A adequately address the general environmental setting of the proposed Project, its significant environmental impacts, and the alternatives and mitigation measures related to each significant environmental effect for the proposed project. The Planning Commission has independently reviewed and considered the Specific Plan #1A Amendments and determined that they are in conformance with the information contained in the certified Final Environmental Impact Report and Mitigated Negative Declarations. The Planning Commission further finds that with the incorporation of proposed mitigation measures, potentially significant environmental impacts resulting from this project will be reduced to a level of insignificance and therefore recommends approval of the EIR Addendum for this project. The justification for not preparing a subsequent EIR is provided in the EIR Addendum. The revised project does not involve: substantial changes to the project analyzed in the EIR which would involve new significant effects on the environment or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; substantial changes with respect to the circumstances under which the project is being undertaken which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EIR or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts; or new information of substantial importance which would involve new significant effects on the environment not analyzed in the EIR or substantially increase the severity of previously identified impacts. The preparation of an EIR Addendum is appropriate if some additions and changes are necessary but there are no new significant effects, no increase in the severity of impacts, and there is no new information that was not previously analyzed. The Specific Plan amendment would result in: • a reduction in overall density of the Specific Plan by 37 units; • the location of 230 single family residential units west of South Palm Canyon Drive; • the removal of any hotel, commercial, and restaurant uses from west of South Palm Canyon Drive; and • a 38% reduction in the number of trips generated by the project. All potential impacts were previously analyzed and the impacts associated with the Specific Plan Amendment will be reduced due to the overall reductio in density, the reduction in intensity of land uses west of South Palm Canyon Drive, and the increase in lands designated for conservation. The existing development is consistent with the proposed and existing Specific Plan and therefore, conditions have not changed. The information in the EIR and subsequent environmental assessments are consistent and the components of the project are consistent. action 2: The proposed amendment to the Specific Plan text is consistent with the goals, policies, and objectives of the General Plan and will result in conformity of the project with the General Plan. The revisions to Specific Plan #1A will facilitate the four components of the plan: the Canyon South Golf Course and Clubhouse, the location of the Indian Canyons Resort Hotel, existing and future residential development, and conservation/open space. The boundaries of the 7 planning areas remain the same as the existing Specific Plan with the exception of Planning Area #4, which will be reduced by approximately 20 acres in the northeast corner, in order to comply with the terms of the Sierra Club Stipulated Judgement. All developable boundaries will also be consistent with the terms of the Stipulated Judgement. The conservation component of the plan totals approximately 238 acres, an increase of 38 acres over that previously approved. Most of the land reserved for conservation purposes is in the western half of Section 34. There are also approximately 35 acres of land designated for conservation located southwest of the Canyon Heights development and 31 acres of the Palm Canyon Wash near the eastern boundary of the Specific Plan. The amendments to the Specific Plan are appropriate to the area and will benefit the subject property as well as surrounding properties due to the reduced intensity of development west of South Palm Canyon Drive and the overall reduced density of development by 37 units for the project area. The proposed amendments also more appropriately reflect current ownership and development patterns in the project area, especially with regards to the location of the hotel and individual single family residential development. The amendments to the Specific Plan do not increase the previously assessed environmental impacts in the FOR and MNDfor the Canyon Park Resort and Spa. In addition, the proposed amendments will be consistent with the General Plan designations for the project area. Pursuant to the Canyon Park Resort & Spa Andreas Palms and Sierra Club Judgement, the Planning Commission finds that the proposed project is consistent with the terms established in the Judgement. The proposed Specific Plan reflects current property ownership and development patterns. Development has followed what was approved in the master plan for the area and therefore, will be consistent with planned land uses in the area. The proposed amendments have been analyzed in relation to the Sierra Club and Andreas Palms stipulated judgement, filed with the Riverside County Clerk on August 18,1993, and found to be consistent with the terms of the agreement. The specific plan has been designed to comply with the terms and conditions of the Stipulated Judgement. Based upon the proposed plan, significant additional environmental protections are incorporated into the revised Specific Plan. They include the relocated hotel site outside of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep (PBS) habitat, additional open space in PBS habitat, additional open space in the Palm Canyon Wash, and reduction of the Specific Plan boundary by approximately 20 acres at the northeast corner. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council approve the Addendum and associated Mitigation Monitoring Program for the already certified Final Environmental Impact Report and Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Canyon Park Resort and Spa Specific Plan #1A and the amendments to Specific Plan #1A, subject to those conditions set forth in the attached Exhibit A. ADOPTED this 25'h day of June, 2003. AYES: Klatchko, Conrad, Grence NOES: ABSENT: Matthews ABSTENTIONS: Caffery, Shoenberger, Marantz ATTEST: %. 4:� . 0-0 1 Chairma Planning Commission CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA Secretary oft a Planning Commission