HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Resolution _6159RESOLUTION No. 6159
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS FINDING THAT TWO PROPOSED
CVWD PROJECTS CONFORM TO THE 2007 PALM SPRINGS
GENERAL PLAN.
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs has a General Plan which it adopted in 2007 by
City Council Resolution 22077, which identifies the land uses within the Whitewater
River Floodplain and the Morongo Creek Wash as Open Space - Water; and
WHEREAS, the Open Space - Water Land Use Designation is described in the General
Plan, as follows:
"Areas designated as Open Space -Water are reserved for flood control or
drainage facilities only. Properties under this designation fall within the
900-year flood zone as established by the adoption of Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps and are subject to sporadic
flooding and other hazards in the event of a 00-year flood. No habitable
structures are permitted within these areas"
and,
WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 65401 requires that the Palm Springs
Planning Commission review proposed capital improvement projects proposed by other
agencies within the legislative boundaries of the City, and consider a Finding of
Conformity with the adopted General Plan for the proposed projects, and
WHEREAS, on August 19, 2010, the City received a request from the Coachella Valley
Water District (CVWD) for a finding of conformity with the City's General Plan of the
CVWD's proposal to construct flood control structures on the east side of the Morongo
Creek Wash and to investigate alternatives for alterations to reduce sediment build-up
in the percolation/settling basins in the Whitewater River Floodplain; and
WHEREAS, both sites are located in areas designated in the General Plan Land
Use Map as "Open Space — Water', and
WHEREAS, in reviewing CVWD's project proposals, they are deemed to be flood
control facilities and thus are consistent with the type of development limited to these
land use areas by the City's General Plan, and
WHEREAS, Section 92.20.00 of the Zoning Code provides regulatory guidance for
parcels in the "W" watercourse zone. This section states:
In instances where properties shall be used as floodways, drainage
channels, debris basins, and other flood protection facilities, or where
information is not available or is not sufficiently accurate, a designation of
"W" without suffix shall be used.
The two CVWD projects are located in the W zone. The proposed projects include a
flood protection facility at the Morongo Creek Wash and improvements to the existing
debris or percolation basin in the Whitewater River floodplain. Section 92.20.03
provides guidance for development standards for projects in the W zone, however in
this case, the proposed projects are not habitable structures, but rather are non -
habitable flood and water flow control structures. These projects will be designed to be
consistent with standard civil engineering practices and for structural loading
appropriate to the flows and hydrostatic loads imposed by the projected maximum water
flows.
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has reviewed the staff report and other materials,
including public comments, on the matter.
NOW THEREFORE, the Planning Commission of the City of Palm Springs does hereby
adopt a Finding of Conformity with the Palm Springs General Plan for the following two
CVWD capital improvement projects:
1. Flood control structures in the Morongo Creek Wash
2. Investigation of alternatives to reduce sediment build-up in the
percolation/settling basins in the Whitewater River Floodplain.
ADOPTED this 27th day of October, 2010
AYES: 7, Scott, Donenfeld, Klatchko, Munger, Hudson, Conrad and Chair Caffery
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ATTEST:
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA