PLANNING COMMISSION
                        CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
         3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California
                                 www.palmspringsca.gov

                                                                     AGENDA 

                                          March 9, 2011    /    1:30 PM Regular Meeting

CALL TO ORDER:

ROLL CALL:

REPORT OF POSTING OF AGENDA: Agenda available for public access at the City Hall exterior bulletin board (west side of Council Chamber) and the Planning Services counter by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, 2011. Pursuant to G.C. Section 54957.5 the designated office for inspection of public records in connection with the public meeting of the Planning Commission is the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, located at 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, California.

It is the intention of the City of Palm Springs to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in all respects. If, as an attendee or a participant at this meeting, or in meetings on a regular basis, you will need special assistance beyond what is normally provided, the City will attempt to accommodate you in every reasonable manner. Please contact the Planning Department, (760) 323-8245, at least 48 hours prior to the meeting to inform us of your particular needs and to determine if accommodation is feasible.

If any individual or group challenges the action in court, issues raised may be limited to only those issues raised at the Public Hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence at, or prior to, the Planning Commission meeting.

Please silence all cell phones, pagers and/or other electronic devices for the duration of the meeting.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGENDA: The Planning Commission will discuss the order of the agenda, may amend the order, note abstentions and request Consent Calendar items be removed from the consent calendar for discussion.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: This time has been set aside for members of the public to address the Planning Commission on Consent Calendar and other agenda items; and items of general 8interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission. Please note that the Planning Commission is prohibited from taking action on items not listed on the posted agenda. Three (3) minutes is allowed for each speaker. Testimony for Public Hearings maybe offered at this time or at the time of the hearing.

1. CONSENT CALENDAR:

1A. Minutes of February 16, 2011

Recommendation: To approve, minutes of February 16, 2011. 

1B. Case 5.1201 CUP AMND - A resolution of approval for an amendment to a Conditional Use Permit for the Family of Love Church located at 1301 Montalvo Way. (Planner Ken Lyon, Associate Planner)

Recommendation: To approve, Case 5.1201 CUP Amendment, subject to the attached Conditions of Approval. 

1C. Case 5.1135 / PD 334 Time Extension – A request by SHP III Riverside, LLC, (formally known as Rainbow Vision) for a one-year time extension for a previously approved 184-unit condominium project located at the southwest corner of East Palm Canyon Drive and Matthew Drive, Zone WR-3, Section 30. (Project Planner: Glenn Mlaker, Assistant Planner)

Recommendation: To approve a one-year time extension from March 19, 2011 to March 18, 2012.

2 PUBLIC HEARINGS:

2A. Case 8.253 SI VAR - A request by Zelda’s Nightclub for a second main sign on the east elevation of the existing building at the Sun Center located at 611 South Palm Canyon Drive, Zone PD-77, Section 22. (Project Planner: David A. Newell, Associate Planner)

Recommendation: That the Planning Commission deny the variance request. 

2B. Case 5.1253 CUP / 6.524 VAR - An application by Solar Power Inc. for a Conditional Use Permit for a 4.96 MW Solar Field and a variance application seeking reductions in setbacks for energy uses from 50 feet to 20 feet on 24 acres of a roughly 98 acre parcel between 19th Avenue and 20th Avenue, east of Karen Avenue and West of Indian Canyon Drive, Zone E-I (Energy Industrial) Section 15. (Ken Lyon, Associate Planner)

Recommendation: To adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration as an adequate analysis of the project’s environmental impacts under the guidelines of CEQA, approve the CUP, subject to Conditions of Approval and deny the variance. 

2C. Case 5.1248 CUP - A request by Border Valley Trucking Inc., for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Fueling Facility on a 0.94 acre site located at 670 West Garnet Avenue, Zone M-1-P, Section 15. (Ken Lyon, Associate Planner)

Recommendation: To adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration as an adequate analysis of the project’s environmental impacts under the guidelines of CEQA and approve the Conditional Use Permit, subject to Conditions of Approval. 

2D. Case 5.1232 Specific Plan / General Plan Amendment / Change of Zone - A request by the City of Palm Springs for approval of the draft College Park Specific Plan and associated General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone as part of an area-wide planning effort to refine land uses in proximity to the future College of the Desert (COD) West Valley Campus (WVC) located west of Indian Canyon Drive, east of Highway 111/North Palm Canyon Drive, south of the Chino Creek/Whitewater River Flood Control Levee. (Project Planner: Craig A. Ewing, AICP, Director of Planning Services)

Recommendation: That the Planning Commission certify the Final EIR, approve the Statement of Overriding Consideration and Mitigation Monitoring Program and Adopt the College Park Specific Plan, General Plan Amendment and Change of Zone, Case 5.1232, subject to the Conditions of Approval.

PLANNING COMMISSION COMMENTS: This portion of the meeting is set aside for brief general comments and/or other issues of concern from members of the Planning Commission.

PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT: This time is set aside for the Planning Director to update the Planning Commission on important items initiated by staff or members of the City Council.

ADJOURNMENT:  The Planning Commission will adjourn to Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way.