HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/30/2008 - STAFF REPORTS - 4.A. ���Y pLM SA4
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c441F0VL NP CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 30, 2008 UNFINISHED BUSINESS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON PROJECT ALTERNATIVES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
REPORT - MUSEUM MARKET PLAZA (CASE NO. 5.1204)
FROM: David H. Ready, City Manager
BY: Planning Department
SUMMARY
Following preparation of the July project update for Museum Market Plaza (presented to City
Council July 16, 2008) staff and the consultant settled on the list of alternatives to be
analyzed in the project's Environmental Impact Report. They are presented below_ No
action is required at this time.
Analysis
Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an Environmental Impact Report
must include a discussion of project alternatives in its analysis of the physical effects of the
proposed project. Staff has worked with the consultant, applicant and others to develop a
range of alternatives for inclusion in the EIR. Please note that Alternative No. 2 is required
by State law. Alternative No. 3 reflects the proposal by the Palm Springs Modern Committee
to preserve the Town & Country Center. Staff has proposed Alternative No. 4; Alternative
No. 5 was submitted by Wessman Development, Inc..
1. Preferred Alternative: This is the proposed Specific Plan, as previously described and
distributed.
2. No Project The Desert Fashion Plaza would be refurbished and reopened in its
current configuration. The Town & Country Center and adjacent buildings would also
be maintained, as would the parking lot at Mercado Plaza. The only construction to
occur would be a 45-room hotel at the southwest corner of Cahuilla and Tahquitz
Canyon Way (Block L), as could be allowed under the General Plan and Zoning
Ordinance. The total square footage of the "No Project" alternative consists of:
a. Desert Fashion Plaza: 41,600 sf restaurant
288,400 sf retail
b. Town & Country: 15,000 sf restaurant, 33,600 sf retail, 2,350 sf office
c. Block L: 45 hotel rooms
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ITEM NO.
City of Palm Springs July 30, 2008
Museum Market Plaza Specific Plan EIR—Project Alternatives Page 2 of 3
3. Preservation of the Town & Country Center Alternative: Under this alternative, all
development proposed in Block K would be eliminated. The Town & Country Center
would be rehabilitated, with the exception of Building C, which would be eliminated.
The total land use allocations would be as follows:
a. Planning Area 1:
i. High Density Res'I: 900 units
ii. Commercial: 380,000 square feet
iii. Town & Country: 15,000 sf restaurant, 17,000 sf retail, 2,350 sf office
iv. Hotel Rooms: 365
b. Planning Area 2:
i. Commercial: 15,000 square feet
ii. Hotel / High Density Res'I: 55 rooms/units
c. Planning,Area 3:
i. Parking Structure
4. Less Intense Alternative A: This alternative would result in the following development:
a. Retail Shops 144,000 sf
b. Office 40,000 sf
c. Supermarket 42,500 sf
d. Cinema 68,000 sf
e. High Density Residential 120 units
A park would be provided in the center of Planning Area 1. Maximum building heights
under this alternative would be 57 feet, occurring along the length of Museum Drive.
Building heights on Palm Canyon would be 17 and 29 feet. Building height adjacent to
the existing Hyatt hotel would be 34 feet, for the cinema.
Block L would consist of a parking structure. There would be a total of 1,000 parking
spaces provided throughout the project.
5. Less Intense Alternative B: This alternative would result in the following development
a. Assumes the street grid proposed in the Specific Plan is maintained.
b. 255 hotel rooms (55 at the Palm Hotel (Block L) site, 200 at the Town and Country
site, totaling about 205,000 s.f.)
c. 765 dwelling units (totaling about 918,000 s.f.)
d. 300,000 s.f. of retail space.
e. No building over 68 feet in height, with the project average at 60 feet.
f. Plaza with 2 single story buildings remains in place.
g. Mercado parking lot remains as a parking structure.
Block L would consist of a parking structure.
City of Palm Springs July 30, 2008
Museum Market Plaza Specific Plan EIR—Project Alternatives Page 3 of 3
The Environmental Impact Report will consider the effects of each alternative on the physical
environment in order to provide the City Council with a picture of the future condition under
various development options. No action is required.
Ig . E ing, AICP Thomas J. Wilso"
Direc f Planni ervices Assistant City Manager, ❑ev't Svcs
David H. Ready
City Manager
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