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

AGENDA
Wednesday, December 10, 2014    /    1:30 PM Regular Meeting


Doug Hudson, Chair
Philip Klatchko, Vice-Chair
Lyn Calerdine
Randy Lowe
Lisa Middleton
J.R. Roberts
Kathy Weremiuk

Staff Members:

Flinn Fagg, AICP, Director of Planning Services
Edward O. Robertson, Principal Planner
David Newell, Associate Planner
Savat Khamphou, Assistant Director of Engineering
Terri Hintz, Planning Administrative Coordinator


Pursuant to the Government Code Section 54957.5(b)(2) the designated office for inspection of public records in connection with the meeting is the Planning Department, City Hall, 3200 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. Complete Agenda Packets are available for public inspection at: City Hall, Planning Department. Agenda and staff reports are available on the City’s website: www.palmspringsca.gov. If you would like additional information on any item appearing on this agenda, please contact the Planning Department at (760) 323-8245.

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.

Planning Commission meetings are re-broadcast (following the meeting) on Thursday, 1:30 pm and Sunday at 1:30 pm on the City’s website: www.palmspringsca.gov.


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 pm on Thursday, December 4, 2014. A posting of this Agenda can be found on the City’s website at: www.palmspringsca.gov. 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.

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 interest 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:
The following routine matters may be acted upon by one motion. Individual items may be removed by the Commission for separate discussion at this time.

1A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: NOVEMBER 12, 2014 STUDY SESSION AND REGULAR MINUTES, NOVEMBER 19, 2014 SPECIAL MEETING AND REGULAR MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Planning Commission Minutes.

2. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

2A. CONT'D - RHSMAX T41, LLC, OWNER FOR A MAJOR ARCHITECTURE APPLICATION AND RE-ADOPTION OF A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 41-UNIT CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX KNOWN AS VIBRANTE, LOCATED AT 6500 34TH AVENUE, ZONE R-G-A(6), SECTION 30. (CASE 3.3745 MAJ). (GM)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve as submitted.

2B. CONT'D - A REQUEST BY ERIC MCLAUGHLIN OF INTERVENTION 911 FOR APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) FOR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY CENTER / ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY USE AT THE ALEXANDER APARTMENTS, AN EXISTING FIVE-UNIT BUILDING LOCATED AT 1425 VIA SOLEDAD, ZONE R-2 (CASE 5.1282 CUP). (KL) RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a Class 3 (Conversion of small structures) Categorical Exemption under the guidelines of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approve Case 5.1282 CUP subject to Conditions of Approval.

2C. CONT'D - A REQUEST BY ERIC MCLAUGHLIN OF INTERVENTION 911 FOR APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT (CUP) FOR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE RECOVERY CENTER / ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY USE AT THE PALM TEE HOTEL, AN EXISTING 16-UNIT BUILDING LOCATED AT 1590 EAST PALM CANYON DRIVE ZONE R-2 / R-3 / RESORT COMBINING ZONE (CASE 5.1283 CUP). (KL)
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a Class 3 (Conversion of small structures) Categorical Exemption under the guidelines of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and approve Case 5.1283 CUP subject to Conditions of Approval.

2D. WEST COAST HOUSING PARTNERS ON BEHALF OF THE PROPERTY OWNER, THE ERIC BRANDENBURG SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUST, FOR APPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY AND FINAL PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT IN LIEU OF A CHANGE OF ZONE, A MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION, AND A TENTATIVE TRACT MAP PROPOSING A DEVELOPMENT OF 46 SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED UNITS, COMMON PRIVATE STREETS AND OPEN SPACE ON A ROUGHLY 5.23 ACRE SITE LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF NORTH PALM CANYON DRIVE AND ALVARADO (CASE NOS. 5.1340 PDD 370, 3.3742 MAJ, TTM 36725). (KL)
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the draft Mitigated Negative Declaration, approve Case 5.1340 PDD 370, 3.3742 MAJ, and TTM 36725 and recommend approval by the City Council subject to conditions.

2E. VIVA LAS PALOMAS, LLC ON BEHALF OF 450 PALM CANYON DRIVE LLC FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A NIGHTCLUB AND COCKTAIL LOUNGE OF APPROXIMATELY 5,069-SQUARE FEET IN SIZE WITHIN AN EXISTING MULTI-TENANT BUILDING AT 450 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, ZONED CBD (CASE 5.1357 CUP). (DN)
RECOMMENDATION: To approve, subject to conditions.

2F. NEW DIMENSION ENERGY COMPANY, LLC, REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO INSTALL FOUR METEOROLOGICAL TOWERS IN SUPPORT OF AN EXISTING WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS (WECS) FACILITY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES WEST OF INDIAN CANYON DRIVE, SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 10; AND APPROXIMATELY 2000 FEET SOUTH OF GARNET AVENUE; ZONE W (CASE 5.1355 CUP). (ER)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to attached conditions.

3. NEW BUSINESS:

3A. BRANDENBURG OASIS PLAZA, LLC REQUESTING AN AMENDMENT TO A SIGN PROGRAM FOR THE OASIS COMMERCIAL BUILDING, A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE LOCATED AT 101-121 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, ZONE CBD (CASE SP10-001 AMND). (KL)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to conditions.

3B. HR PROPERTY GROUP FOR A SIGN PROGRAM AT THE SUN CENTER SHOPPING CENTER LOCATED AT 611 SOUTH PALM CANYON DRIVE, ZONE C-1 (CASE 14-007 SP). (GM)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to conditions.

3C. DENNIS YARES AND MOLLY BLESSEY OWNERS, REQUESTING MAJOR ARCHITECTURAL APPLICATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 3,131-SQUARE FOOT HOUSE ON A HILLSIDE LOT AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE MINOR MODIFICATION FOR A FRONT YARD SETBACK REDUCTION LOCATED AT 2323 SOUTHRIDGE DRIVE, ZONE R-1-A (CASE NOS. 3.3789 MAJ AND 7.1444 AMM). (GM)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve subject to conditions.


PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS, REQUESTS AND COMMENTS: Brief general comments and/or other issues of concern from members of the Planning Commission.


PLANNING DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Update the Planning Commission on important items.

ADJOURNMENT: The Planning Commission will adjourn to 1:30 pm, Wednesday, January 14, 2015, City Hall, Council Chamber, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way.