HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/15/1981 - MINUTES CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
DECEMBER 15, 1981
An Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council was called to
order by Mayor Doyle, in the Large Conference Room, City Hall ,
3200 Tahquitz-McCallum Way, on Wednesday, December 15, 1981 ,
at 2:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL: Present: Councilmembers Field, Ortner, Rose and
Mayor Doyle
Absent: None
(Note also present: Tribal Councilmembers Larry Pierce, Barbara
Young, Sue Young, Richard Milanovich, Maraino Patencio and Chairman
Ray Patencio; Tribal Council attorney, Art Buntz and Planner Rod Hanway)
1 . JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT & ZONE CHANGES
APPEAL RE: INDIAN LANDS (RAY PATENCIO)
Mayor stated the purpose of the joint hearing was to consider
appeal by Ray Patencio, as Chairman of the Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians, regarding City Council actions
relating to General Plan Amendment Case 5.0198 and Zone
Change Case 5.0197, initiated by the City Council on behalf
of said Chairman, at various locations in Sections 12,
14, 18 and 22; after which, he turned the meeting over
to the Tribal Council Chairman.
Tribal Council Chairman stated that due to conflict of
interest, he would abstain from participation and
voting, and turned the meeting over to the Vice-Chairman.
Vice Chairman stated that she would abstain from discussion (149)
and voting relating to a parcel on Amado Road in Section 14;
after which, she inquired if City staff wished to give a
report.
Director of Community Development stated that he did not
have a report to give and understood the Tribal Council
desired to discuss the two cases, and he would respond
to that discussion, as called upon.
Mayor noted that the City never received any official
correspondence as to the items to be delineated in the
discussion, and perhaps, after hearing the case presented,
the City staff may wish to respond.
Rod Hanway distributed copies of Indian Planning Commission
report, findings and recommendation to the Tribal Council ,
including details as to the nature of the appeal . He
reviewed section by section the parcels being appealed,
summarizing the key issues pertaining thereto; after
which, he read the findings and recommendations of the
Indian Planning Commission (copy of said report, findings
and recommendation on file in the Office of the City Clerk) .
Director of Community Development stated that in those
portions of the recommendation where there is a difference
between the General Plan and Zoning, a conflict is created
with the State Law, in terms of compatibility between the
General Plan and Zoning Ordinance, and questioned whether
the consistency issue is being addressed, e.g. , in
Section 22-B, recommendation is to amend the General Plan
to show high-residential (43) , but to leave zoning which
is RTP, which has a maximum density of 8 units per acre;
and he considered that to be inconsistent.
Council Minutes
12-15-81 Page 2
1 . JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - INDIAN LANDS GENERAL PLAN & ZONE CHANGE
APPEAL (Continued)
He also stated that in terms of Section 14, it is recom-
mended that the zoning reflect R-2 (which allows up to
15 units per acre) but that the General Plan reflect
high-residential (43) . In answer to question by
Tribal Councilmember, he stated that the State Law
does not state that general plan and zoning must be
exactly the same.
Mr. Hanway stated that the issue of consistency appears
to be a judgement call and that it can be viewed in both
cases as the General Plan and Zoning Ordinance being
consistent, since both are dealing with medium to high
density and the only difference is the specific: number
of units in the zone; that it was not necessarily
inconsistent because of the number of units, the only
difference being in terms of absolute numbers and not
a substantial difference in uses.
In answer to question by City Councilmember, Mr. Hanway
stated that the appeal filed was on all items riot approved
by the City Council as applied for.
Tribal Councilmember Pierce stated that the Indian Planning CONT 'D
Commission recommendation was to drop the appeal in terms (149)
of zoning for a portion of Section 14, leave it: as it
exists, and amend the General Plan to the higher density
of the R-4; and that such was not inconsistent, since the
land was being used in a density less than what: the General
Plan would allow.
Vice Chairman declared the hearing open.
Ray Patencio, 1707 Capri Circle, appellant, stated that
the appeal is requested on the basis of Mr. Haruway's
presentation; that this project has been in process for
several years; that he did not see the inconsistency
issue; that he believed it is a plan that the Community
can live wi'th; that if the findings and recommendations
are taken into consideration, he did not believe that a
conclusion could be reached that it would be inappropriate
for the community; that it will allow the community to
grow in a fine manner and even better in the future;
that he wished to reassure the City Council that this
would be the only large-scale zoning recommendation and
it will not be done again, and that if the City is
challenged, the Tribal Council would support the City
Council ; rind although he was not in total agreement with
the recommendation of the Indian Planning Commission, if it
will make it more acceptable for both Councils, he is
agreeable with that outcome.
In answer to question by City Councilmember, Mr. Patencio
stated that he felt more was given by the Tribal Council
than it had expected; that original proposal ran into an
impasse, and there was a considerable giving-up on the
succeeding review; and that the Indian Planning Commission
recommendation is a further concession from that: which was
requested in the appeal .
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Council Minutes
12-15-81 Page 3
1 . JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - INDIAN LANDS GENERAL PLAN & ZONE CHANGE
APPEAL (Continued)
In answer to question by City Councilmember, Mr. Pierce
stated that the Tribal Council is on record as being
willing to look at the M-1 standards, but not to amend
those only to recreate M-1-P.
Mr. Hanway stated that there have been preliminary discussions
with City staff to arrive at something mutally acceptable,
and it was his understanding that a draft revision has been
prepared.
In answer to question by City Councilmember, Director
of Community Development stated that he did not see
a General Plan amendment which allows building up to
a certain number of units as compatible without amending
the Zoning Ordinance; that the General Plan and Zoning
Ordinance would reflect different things, with the General
Plan reflecting something broader than what the zoning
shows; that the General Plan reflects the type of land
use and general densities, and the Zoning Ordinance places
detailed development standards on the land, which should
be consistent; that the General Plan does not carry with
it specifics as does the Zoning Ordinance; that it is CONT'D
inconsistent to show up to 43 units on the General Plan (149)
and up to 8 units on the Zoning Ordinance for the same
parcel , and, if challenged, the State could require the
City to bring that into consistency, and if it did not
do so, the State has the ability to disallow processing
of subdivision maps.
Tribal Councilmember Pierce stated that if the proposal
is inconsistent, there must be other inconsistencies which
now exist; that he did not see any inconsistency in allowing
12-15 units if the General Plan allows up to 43, but could
see an inconsistency if the situation were reversed.
There being no further appearances, Vice-Chairman declared
the hearing closed.
Tribal Councilmember Pierce stated that the use on the
mobilehome site (Section 22-B) is less than what the
General Plan would permit; and if that use were abated,
then request for change of zone could be made to bring it
in line with General Plan.
Mayor stated that there has been considerable discussion
relating to commercial use on 14-D vs. that which it is
now zoned; that regardless of the use, there will be a
lot of traffic generated, but commercial would generate
more than a residential use; that he did not think
justification has been given to change to a C-1 use, in
that he has not seen any traffic studies and he believed
that once such an analysis were made, it would be found
that the problem would be compounded, particularly, when
considering the density along Ramon Road; and that the
intersection at Sunrise will be further impacted if the
property does not share ingress and egress with the
corner parcel . He stated that it would be better if
there were a commonalty between the two uses, and a
sharing of access, however, he was not aware whether
the possibility exists to cross the flood control channel .
Council Minutes
12-15-81 Page 4
1 . JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - INDIAN LANDS GENERAL PLAN & ZONE CHANGE
APPEAL (Continued)
Mr. Hanway stated that he has not contacted the Fldod
Control District, but was aware of other channels
crossed in a similar fashion and he did not think that
would be a problem; that the problem is that the property
owner is left to the mercy of his neighbor for obtaining
access and joint development; that a traffic study has
not been done, but the Indian Planning Commission did not CONT'D
believe that the difference was significant enough for (149)
denial .
In answer to question by Council , Director of Community
Development stated that a traffic analysis would not be
made on a parcel of that size; that it would be subject
to architectural review; and that it would have to be
10 acres or more to be subject to environmental review.
Tribal Council Attorney stated that traffic study would
come under the environmental assessment made by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs in the lease development.
There was no further discussion, Vice--Chairman stated
that the Tribal Council would makes its decision within
30 days.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor declared the meeting
adjourned, after which, Council convened in study session.
JUDITH SUMICH
City Clerk