[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
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>> WOAD WONDERFUL, IT IS 6:00 P.M., MAY THE 25TH, CALL TO ORDER OUR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING. CAN WE PLEASE GET A ROLL CALL OF ATTENDANCE?
>> PRESENT. >> COMMISSIONER VALDEZ? APPEARS TO BE ABSENT.
>> PRESENT. >> VICE CHAIR PERSON RODRIGUEZ
>> AND CHAIR PRESENT. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE PUT UP THE
>> WONDERFUL, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>>> "I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL."
>> STARTING OFF, VANESSA DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA IN HOUSE OR
>> BEING THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE ITEMS NOT ON AGENDA. WE'RE START THE ACTION
[4.1. Adopt Resolution No. 2025 , a Resolution of the Planning Commission of...]
ITEMS, 4.1 TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025. DO WE HAVE A STAFF REPORTON THIS PLEASE? >> GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN AND PLANNING COMMISSION, MY NAME IS TIMOTHY RUSSEL AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR CITY OF INDIO.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025 WHICH IS THE RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF INDIO, FINDING THAT THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF THE CITY OF INDIO'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT INDIO GENERAL PLAN 2040. AS A QUICK BACKGROUND, THIS ITEM IS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDIO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 3209 AND CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 65103 REQUIRING THE CITY AGENCY WHICH IS THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE PLAN WITH THE CONSISTENCY WITH THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN AND IT'S ALSO IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 65402.
AND, WITH THAT, THE FINDING OF THE GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: RIGHT-OF-WAY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ANY MINOR TRANSACTIONS AS PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN AND ANY OTHER RIGHT-OF-WAY ACTIVITIES TO IMPLEMENT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE CAPTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, CIP, AND THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION OR INSTALLATION OF CIP RELATED PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS, BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES AND THE ENGAGEMENT OF ANY CONSULTANTS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE CIP AND THE CITY'S BIDDING PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY PRODUCT OF THE CIP. AND WITH THAT, I'LL BEGIN THE PRESENTATION: SO, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
I HAVE ABOUT 40 PROJECTS, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM REAL QUICK, BUT FEEL FREE TO STOP ME AT ANY POINT IF YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULAR QUESTIONS. SO, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECT THAT IS WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED.
AND THIS IS THE INTERSECTION OF AVENUE 48 AND JEFFERSON STREET WE MODIFIED THAT INTERSECTION AND WE WERE ABLE TO ADD A RIGHT TURN LANE WHICH MADE TRAFFIC FLOW BETTER AND EASIER AND WE ENDED SLURRING THAT INTERSECTION AS WELL AND THAT WAS A PROJECT COMPLETED LAST YEAR SUCCESSFULLY.
THIS NEXT PROJECT WAS COMPLETED LAST FISCAL YEAR AND PART OF THIS
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CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, AND THOSE ARE PARK IMPROVEMENTS AT WHICH ENDED UP INSTALLING ADDITIONAL PICNIC TABLES, FOUR BARBECUES AND CONTAINERS AND ALSO, YOU SEE THE ART, FEATURES BROUGHT IN FROM THE GOLDEN BOYS FROM THE POLAR GROUND THOSE ARE INSTALLED. SO, NOW WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR'S PROJECTS.AND AS OF LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL ADDED ANOTHER 20 PLUS PROJECTS IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER 20 PLUS PROJECTS SO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH THEM REAL QUICK HERE. THISES A PROJECT WHICH IS ACTUALLY, WE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND IT IS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SO WE HAVE TO END UP REPAIRING THE GUARDRAIL AT THE BRIDGE BARRIER ALONG JEFFERSON STREET AND INDIA BOULEVARD. THERE'S A GENERAL PLAN POLICY CONSISTENCY IN THE RIGHT TOP CORNER AND THOSE POLICIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, OR IN THE RESOLUTION, 2025.
SO, IF YOU REFER TO THAT SECTION, IT WILL TELL YOU WHICH SECTION THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OR IN
ACCORDANCE WITH. >> THIS NEXT PROJECT IS JUST STREET LIGHT UPGRADE AND WE'RE PLANNING ON UPGRADING UNTIL 1376 STREET LIGHT POLES AND FIXTURES AND THIS IS FUNDING THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT SO, THAT THE CDBG WILL PAY FOR THOSE PROJECTS. THIS NEXT PROJECT IS ADA, AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT CURB RAMP UPGRADE SAYS AND THAT REPLACES 57 CURB RAMPS IN THE SUNDANCE COMMUNITY.
ANYONE WHO DRIVES THIS JEFFERSON STREET AND HIGHWAY 111 INTERSECTION, CUSSES OUT BOTH CITIES OF LAGUINTA AND THREE QUARTERS OF THAT SECTION IS IN THE CITY OF INDIO AND ONE IN THE CITY OF LAGUINTA. AND IN THE ONE QUARTER IN THE CITY OF
LA QUINTA. >> WE RECEIVED A GRANT OF $5 MILLION TO IMPROVE JACKSON STREET, IT'S A COMPLETE STREET IMPROVEMENTS. THAT WILL ENABLE US TO CREATE SHADE AREAS, PLANTING SHADE, PRODUCING THE BROUGHT TOLL RANT TREES, INSTALLING BIG BELLY TRASH RECEPTACLES AND THAT WILL EXTEND FROM KENNER AVENUE TO AVENUE 45, APPROXIMATELY A $5 MILLION GRANT WITH A ZERO MATCH FROM THE CITY.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THIS NEXT PROJECT IS THE SIDEWIDE SPIT SURVEY. WE HAVE TO UPDATE OUR SPEED LIMITS THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO ENABLE US TO ENFORCE THE SPEED LIMITS. SO, THAT'S DONE EVERY SEVEN TO 10 YEARS AND WE'RE ABOUT DUE.
SO, WE WILL BE CONDUCTING THAT SURVEY NEXT
YEAR. >> HJORTH STREET RIGHT TURN LANE, THOSE ARE PROPOSED BY OUR PARTNERS GOLDEN BOYS TO EASE THE MANEUVERABILITY WHEN USING HJORTH STREET THAT'S WIDENING THE STREET TO IMPROVE IT SO TRAFFIC FLOWS BETTER.
THIS IS ANOTHER CDBG PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENT. AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES ADA UPGRADES AND THIS IS IN THE PARK PASEO, AND SALAY RANCH COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S TOTALLY FUNDED BY THE CBDG.
>> THE MISCELLANEOUS MEDIAN, LANDSCAPING CITYWIDE, WE CAN LANDSCAPE THE MEDIANS WITH PALM TREES AND NEWER SHRUBS AND PLANTS AND UPGRADE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AS WELL AND
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THAT'S A PROJECT THAT WILL BE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.THIS NEXT PROJECT HERE IS A POINT OF ENTRY INTO THE CITY AS YOU ARRIVE AND SWEAR INTO THE CITY OF INDIO, OFF OF THE FREEWAY, YOU'LL NOTICE IMMEDIATELY THERE'S A BIG AREA THAT IS VERY UNATTRACTIVE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A STAB AT IMPROVING THE LOOKS OF THAT AREA. IT MAY BE A CHALLENGE TO ADD LIVE PLANTS, BUT WE WILL AT LEAST ENDEAVOR TO PUT IN HARDSCAPING AND IMPROVE IT TO BUTTEFY THAT ENTRY POINT INTO THE CITY SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING AND LEAVING THE CITY THAT WILL BE A FEATURE THEY WILL SEE WHEN GETTING ON THE JEFFERSON STREET INTERCHANGE.
AGAIN, ANOTHER PROJECT THIS IS ACTUALLY, IT'S HIGHWAY 111 MEDIAN LANDSCAPE, IT'S ACTUALLY, HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR LANDSCAPE. HIGHWAY 111 IS A MAJOR CORRIDOR THAT GOES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND IT'S A VERY, VERY, IMPORTANT AND VITAL CORRIDOR, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A STAB, WE HAVE SEVERAL MEDIANS THAT ARE EMPTY AND HAVE NOTHING IN THEM AND WE'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED WE HAVE THE FENCE ALONG HIGHWAY 111 TO BLOCK THE BLIGHTED VIEW OF THE EMPTY, VACANT LOTS.
SO, HOPEFULLY, MAY BE, ONE OF THE IDEAS HERE IS TO PUT IN SOME PLANTS, PARTICULAR TO WHAT INDIAN WELLS HAS BEEN DOING ALONG HIGHWAY 111 BUT ALSO TO BEAUTIFY THE MEDIAN AND INSTALL PALM TREES AND MAKE IT LOOK A LOT MORE ATTRACTIVE. THE NEXT IS OASIS ROAD BEAUTIFICATION AND ROAD DIET. IF YOU'VE BEEN ON PALM DESSERT ON SAN PABLO, YOU'LL REALIZE THEY REVERSED THE PARKING AND PUT IT IN THE MIDDLE INSTEAD OF ON THE SIDES AND MADE IT MORE FRIENDLY.
SO, THIS IS A SIMILAR IDEA TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT BETWEEN INDIO BOULEVARD AND HIGHWAY 111 ON OASIS STREET, AS AN ENTRY POINT INTO HOUR DOWNTOWN AREA.
THIS NEXT PROJECT, THE OLEANDER REPLACEMENT, IS BY THE EAVE 48 CORRIDOR, YOU'LL REALIZE THERE ARE MANY OLEANDER THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, WE STARTED TO PLANT NEW PLANTS AND WE NEED TO COMPLETE THAT AND THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE HOPE TO COMPLETE AND MAKE IT LOOK BETTER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE. DOWNTOWN SHADE TREES, AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD MORE SHADE TREES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA TO PROMOTE PEOPLE TO WALK AND ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN.
NOW WE HAVE THE FARMER'S MARKET, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN, SO, HOPEFULLY, MORE SHADE TREES TO IMPROVE THE DOWNTOWN. DOWNTOWN GATEWAY SIGNS, ADD MONUMENT SIGNS IDENTIFYING THE INDIO DOWNTOWN ENTRY POINTS, THIS IS A PROJECT IN DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS JUST BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST HERE AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE LOOK OF THE DOWNTOWN AND IDENTIFY IT A LITTLE BETTER.
GOLF CENTER PARKWAY AT HIGHWAY 111, THERE ARE CORNERS THAT ARE VACANT AND DESERT AND WE WOULD LIKE TO IMPROVE THEM WITH LANDSCAPING AND HARDSCAPING, AND SO THIS PROJECT WILL HOPEFULLY HELP US TO DO THAT.
SHADOW AVENUE PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS, THERE ARE MISSING SIDEWALKS, SIDEWALK GAPS AT THAT PARTICULAR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, IT'S A SMALL SEGMENT SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT ON AND ADDRESS THAT AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
CIVIC CENTER STORM DRAIN PROJECT, THAT'S ANOTHER GRANT THAT THE CITY RECEIVED.
AND IF YOU'VE LIVED IN THE CITY OF INDIO FOR A LONG TIME, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE A MAJOR RAIN, THAT WHOLE DOWNTOWN AREA JUST GETS FLOODED AND IT'S UNDER WATER, SO, INSTALLING THE STORM DRAIN AND ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL HELP WITH THAT BUT ALSO IT WILL ALLOW US TO ADD MORE TREES AND DRAINAGE FACILITIES AND RAIN
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GARDENS, ET CETERA.IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND AGAIN THAT'S A $4.2 MILLION GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED. AVENUE 44 AND LAGO VISTA BOULEVARD.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL IS A SIGNAL THAT'S NEEDED AT THAT INTERSECTION, SO WE WOULD LIKE TO START THE DESIGN ON THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL NEXT YEAR AND CONSTRUCT THE FOLLOWING YEAR. SOLAR SPEED LIMIT READERS, THAT IS SOMETHING RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S THE ONE THAT FLASHES YOUR SPEED WHEN YOU DRIVE BY IT, SO, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD FEW OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND I THINK WE'RE PROPOSING TO ADD ABOUT 10 IN AREAS WHICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPEEDING. STREET SIGN MAST ARM REPLACEMENT, SO, WE'VE BEEN CONTEMPLATING, IF YOU DRIVE THROUGHOUT THE COACHELLA VALLEY, YOU'LL NOTICE FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF COACHELLA HAS THE BLUE SIGNS ON THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS, THE CITY OF LA QUINTA HAS SIGNS.
WE'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT OUR NEW LOGO AND IDENTIFY THE EASTERN PART OF COACHELLA VALLEY AS THE BLUE SIGN AND THE INDIO AND COACHELLA VALLEY.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE THE LIGHTING TO LED AND IMPROVE THE SIGNS. THAT'S A PROJECT WHICH IS IN THE WORKS BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEKING A GRANT TO DO THAT AS WELL. INDIO SPORTS PARK THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THE MASTER PLANNING OF THE SPORTS PARK, IT'S THE VACANT, FORE-ACRE LOT ACROSS FROM THE DMV ON MARKET STREET, AND WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED AN $8.1 MILLION GRANT TO DO THE FIRST PHASE OF IT.
AND AS YOU COULD SEE THERE'S A READ AREA THERE IT THAT'S DENOTING THE SECOND PHASE AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.
THIS IS THE FIRST PHASE AND IT'S ALREADY FUNDED BY THE STATE AND THE CITY WILL ALSO ADD ANOTHER MILLION DOLLAR TOWARDS THAT PROJECT TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AND IT HAS A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE SHADE STRUCTURES, TREES, OPEN FIELD SPACE, ORGANIZED SPORTS, WALKING PATHS, REST ROOMS, CONCESSION BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ART AND PARKING LOTS. THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROJECT AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
THESE ARE BADLY NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS ON SOUTH JACKSON, WE NEED TO DO SOME ADA UPGRADES, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE FIELDS ARE TIRE AND DILAPIDATED, SO WE NEED TO IMPROVE THEM AND SO THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT YEAR AS WELL.
NEXT PROJECT IS DOWNTOWN LIVING ROOM PROJECT, AND THIS IS RIGHT ACROSS BETWEEN MILES AVENUE, AND CITY HALL, THERE'S THE CORNER PIECE WHERE THE OLD INDIO HOTEL USED TO BE.
THIS IS WHERE WE NOW HOLD THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH, WE HOLD THE MUSIC EVENT, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE DESIGNED WITH A STAGE. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY, BEAUTIFUL AND ACCESSIBLE, AND IT WILL BE FENCED OFF SO IT CAN ONLY BE USED DURING CERTAIN TIMES AND IT WON'T BECOME, YOU KNOW, A CAMP FOR UNWANTED FOLKS. SO, THAT'S A PROJECT THAT'S VERY WELL ON IT'S WAY.
AND WE HOPE TO IMPLEMENT THIS, HOPEFULLY, BY THE END OF THIS YEAR AND START HAVING THOSE EVENTS AT THE LIVING ROOM, AND THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY OF CLOSING MILES AVENUE, TEMPORARILY WHEN WE HAVE THESE EVENTS SO YOU COULD GO INTO THE AREA WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE MUSIC EVENTS. JOHN NOBLE PARK, THIS IS A PARK THAT IS AS PART OF THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD MALL, AND YOU KNOW, INDIO MARKETPLACE NOW.
SO, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR A PARK AND THAT PARK WILL ALSO BE GOING IN THERE AS WELL FOR THE
COMMUNITY. >>> THIS IS THE INDIO SPORTS PARK PHASE 2, AND THAT WILL CONSTRUCT PHASE 2 OF THE SPORTS
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PARK, THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE ADDING PICKLEBALL COURT, VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND A LOT OF WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THINGS.THIS PHASE TO IS NOW IN THE PLANNING STAGE AND IT'S CONTINGENT UPON US HOPEFULLY RECEIVING A MAJOR GRANT THAT WE'RE APPLYING FOR, IT'S IN THE TUNE OF $35 MILLION FOR THE JEWELS COMMUNITY, AND IT'S TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY GRANT THAT WE'RE SEEKING, WE'RE WORKING ON IT VERY, VERY HARD, SO IF WE RECEIVE THAT GRANT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT PHASE 2 OF THIS PROJECT.
>>> MILES AVENUE SKATE PARK, IF YOU RECALL A FEW YEARS AGO WE HAD A MASTER PLAN FOR MILES AVENUE PARK AND ONE OF THE FEATURES IS TO HAVE A SKATE PARK. SO, WE'LL START ON THAT
NEXT YEAR. >>> PARK AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, WE'VE DONE AN AUDIT FOR A LOT OF OUR PARKS AND WE NEED TO UPGRADE MANY OF THESE PARKS AND IMPROVE THE PLAYGROUND SURFACES AND PLAY TOY EQUIPMENTS AND SO ON.
SO, THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT WILL ENABLE US TO DO THAT. WE'RE ACTUALLY IN TALKS WITH THE DESERT REC DISTRICT TO TAKE OVER OUR PARKS AND MANAGE THEM FOR US AND BRING LIFE AND ACTIVITIES TO THEM.
AND PART OF THE DEAL IS TO UPGRADE THEM AND FIX THEM.
I'M SORRY, THERE'S A LOT OF SLIDES.
PICKLEBALL COURTS AT PATTON PARK AND MILES AVENUE PARK, AT PATTON PARK WE HAVE ONE TENNIS COURT RARELY USED BUT THERE'S A GREAT DESIRE FOR PICKLEBALL, FOR EACH TENNIS COURT WE COULD CONVERT IT INTO FOUR PICKLEBALL COURTS AND THEN MILES AVENUE PARK, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TWO BASKETBALL COURTS THAT WE COULD CONVERT INTO PICKLEBALL.
SO, WE'LL, YOU KNOW, SEEK THE INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY, WE MAY END UP KEEPING ONE BASKETBALL COURT AND CONVERT THE OTHER ONE INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS.
DOG PARK AT MILES AVENUE, THAT'S PART OF THE MASTER PLAN AND THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED NEXT YEAR.
>>> EMERGENCY GENERATOR, THAT'S A SMALL PROJECT WE RECEIVED A GRANT FOR FOR FIRE STATION 1.
WE HAVE PURCHASED THE GENERATOR BUT WE WILL NOT RECEIVE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR BUT IT'S ON THE BOOKS AS A CAPTAIN IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SO WE HAVE TO LIST IT.
SENIOR CENTER IMPROVEMENTS, THERE ARE A FEW IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED THERE INCLUDING INSTALLING SHADE FABRIC, COVER BACK PATIO AND GARDEN AREA. IT'S JUST AN UPGRADE TO OUR SENIOR CENTER.
>> DOWNTOWN, IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE ARE BUILDINGS THAT WE ARE IN TALKS WITH FOLKS WHO'LL BE OCCUPYING THEM, SO, WE JUST LISTED THOSE BUILDINGS THATLOGICAL RECEIVING SOME TENANT IMPROVEMENTS AND THE CITY IS DOING SOME OF THE FUNDING THERE. AND INDIO MARKET PLACE/JOHN NOBLE, CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT BUT THOSE ARE PART OF THE AGREEMENT THAT THE CITY ENTERED INTO WITH THE MARKET PLACE, SO WE HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE CAPTAIN LIST TO FUND IMPROVEMENTS AS PER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE DEVELOPER.
PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS, CITY HALL AND LIBRARY. YAY! FINALLY. SO, WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO BUILD A NEW PUBLIC SAFETY CAMPUS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE RIGHT AT THE CURRENT LOCATION WITH THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IS. AND THAT WILL ENABLE US TO FINALLY HAVE A DESCENT WELL-BUILT DISPATCH CENTER. FOR THE PAST 15 PLUS YEARS WE HAVE OUR DISPATCH CENTER, OUR 911 OPERATING OUT OF TRAILERS AND WE'VE HAD A VERY HARD TIME TO KEEP THE TRAILERS UP AND RUNNING BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE SAY NEXT WE'RE WE'RE BUILDING YOU A NEW BUILDING AND FINALLY THIS IS HAPPENING AND THIS WILL ALSO UPGRADE THE EXISTING FIRE STATION AND GET RID OF ALL THE TRAILERS AND HAVE A PLACE FOR OUR DETECTIVES TO GO IN INSTEAD OF IN AND OUT OF TRAILERS AND WE'LL HAVE ADMIN STAFF GOING INTO THAT FACILITY.
IT WILL NOT REPLACE THE CURRENT HEADQUARTERS, THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THERE, BUT THIS IS A NEW FACILITY THAT WILL BE BUILT TO THE EAST OF THE EXISTING
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HEADQUARTERS. BUT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, FINALLY, WE MAY BE GETTING A NEW CITY HALL, ACTUALLY WE'RE GETTING A NEW CITY HALL AND A NEW LIBRARY, TO REPLACE OUR 1974 CITY HALL HERE, IT'S AN OLD BUILDING, IT'S NOT INVITING TO BUSINESSES, ANYTIME WE HAVE SOMEBODY COME HERE, WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE CITY AS OLD AND TIRED, AND THE LIBRARY IS THE SAME THING. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A NEW BUILDING THAT REPRESENTS THE CITY MUCH BETTER.THERE'S THE OLD FORMER CHURCH BUILDING ON SMURR STREET, IT'S BURNED INSIDE, IT'S ABANDONED, IT ATTRACTS NUISANCE, SO, IT'S TIME FOR IT TO BE DEMOLISHED.
AND IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH TURF. DOWNTOWN FACADE AND SIGNAGE IMPROVEMENTS, SO THIS IMPROVES THE FACADE AND SIGNAGE TO THE BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN TO IMPROVE THE VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS, THAT WILL BE A GRANT OF SORTS TO ALLOW THE CURRENT COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES TO IMPROVE THE FACADE OF THESE BUILDINGS AND IT WILL BE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THEM AND THE CITY. SO, WE'LL HAVE A DOWNTOWN THAT WE'RE PROUD OF.
MUSEUM CAMPUS, ELECTRICAL, INSULATION AND HVAC, THIS IS A BADLY NEEDED PROJECT AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS IMPLEMENTED, MAY BE WE SHOULDN'T DO THAT PROJECT, JUST KIDDING. YEAH, SO, THIS IS A BADLY NEEDED PROJECT AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY THAT IT WILL FINALLY HAPPEN, SO EVERY TIME THEY'VE A EVENT AND GO TO COLLECT SOMETHING, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO AND TRIP BREAKERS AND IT WILL MAKE US SAFER AND MAKE IT A LOT BETTER AND ENABLE US TO HAVE THE RIGHT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AND SO IT'S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT TO OUR COACHELLA VALLEY HISTORY MUSEUM, HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR IF A SIT, THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH 10-15 BUSINESSES ALONG HIGHWAY 111 WILLING TO IMPROVE THE LOOKS OF THEIR BUILDINGS ON THE OUTSIDE, MAY BE GET RID OF SOME OF THE OLD SIGNS THAT ARE TIRED AND IMPROVE THE FACADES, SO, THAT'S, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, A STEP TOWARDS IMPROVES THE ENTRYWAY INTO THE CITY.
CITY WIDE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT, SO, OUR FLEET IS SO OLD AND TIRED, WE HAVE SOME CROWN VICTORIAS WHICH ARE 20 PLUS YEARS OLD THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TRYING TO REPLACE THOSE AND TRYING TO MAKE THEM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PATCHING THEM, AND MAINTAINING THEM AND FIXING THEM, BUT IT'S TIME FOR US TO REPLACE ALL.
OLD FLEET AND ALSO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS TRUCKS THAT NEED TO BE UPGRADED AND REPLACED, SO THAT'S A PROJECT WE'LL BE WORKING ON, EXCEPT THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS THERE ARE NO CARS OR TRUCKS TO BE HAD.
SO WE'RE CHASING OUR TAILS ON THAT ONE BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE THE FUNDING FOR IT. THIS IS IT.
QUESTIONS. >> COMMISSIONERS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? IT WAS A GREAT
REPORT, THANK YOU. >> I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL LET MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS GO FIRST IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
>> GO AHEAD, VICE CHAIR. >> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, FIRST I WANT TO SAY, VERY IMPRESSIVE HOW MANY PROJECTS WE'RE PUTTING DOWN THE PIPELINE. I'M CURIOUS AS TO HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE FUNDED? I BELIEVE THE TOTAL NUMBER THAT I SAW WAS 45. OUT OF THE 45, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE FUNDING ATTACHED TO THEM? AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS IF WE'RE PREPARING AN APPLICATION FOR SOME OF THE ATP FUNDING WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS CYCLE AND ALSO IF ANY OF THESE ARE COVERED POTENTIALLY UNDER TCC IMPLEMENTATION FUNDS?
>> SURE, ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY FUNDED, 100% OF THEM. AND AS FAR AS THE ATP, YES, WE ARE APPLYING FOR CYCLE SIX OF THE ATP AND AGAIN IT'S PART OF THE JEWELS COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE DOING A DUEL APPLICATION, THE TCC AND THE ATP, JUST IN CASE WE GET ONE OR THE OTHER.
BUT WE'RE ENDEAVORING TO GET THE SIDEWALKS UPGRADED AND ADD URBAN
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GREENERY IN THAT COMMUNITY.NOW, THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS THAT WE'RE USING -- BECAUSE THE TCC REQUIRES A 50% MATCH, AND WE CAN APPLY UP TO $35 MILLION, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THE JEWELS COMMUNITY IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE TOP DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, 10% DISADVANTAGED IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY AND IN THE STATE, SO WE HAVE A VERY, VERY HIGH PROBABILITY OF GETTING THAT GRANT.
AND WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO USE THE GRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE SPORT'S PARK AND FOR THE JACKSON STREET AS YOUR MATCH.
SO, WE'RE LOOKING REALLY, REALLY GOOD AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE'VE HAD ONE COMMUNITY MEETING AND IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS, AND WE WILL HAVE OTHER MEETINGS, AND WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS JOINING US TO DO A LOT OF THINGS IN THE JEWELS
COMMUNITY. >> FANTASTIC WORK, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. HI, TIM, I CAN'T TELL US HOW HAPPY I AM ABOUT THE MUSEUM, I'M ALWAYS WORRIED THAT I'M GOING TO GET A CALL THAT SOMETHING IS STARTED ON FERRICS SO THIS IS BEYOND EXCITING.
I'M ALSO SUPER EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE NEEDED FOR SO LONG, AND THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BE DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. ON THE JEWELS COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRANTS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING QUICKLY OR SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW DOWN THE
ROAD? >> NO, WE WILL KNOW ABOUT IT QUICKLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE APPLICATION IS DUE HERE, MAY BE, MR. SNYDER, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN IT SAID? I THINK IT'S EARLY JUNE, MAY BE OR EARLY JULY, I
THINK IT'S JULY. >> JUNE 15TH, FOR THE ATP,
AND WE SHOULD KNOW FAIRLY SOON WHERE WE STAND.
AND THERE AREN'T -- AS FAR AS WE KNOW, WE THINK THAT THERE ARE THREE APPLICATIONS THAT WILL BE SUBMITTED HERE FROM THE COACHELLA VALLEY WE THINK THAT THE CITY OF COACHELLA MAY BE SUBMITTING ONE AND THE COUNTY MAY BE SUBMITTING ONE.
BUT, AGAIN WE HAVE THE MOST DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
AND AS A POINT OF INFORMATION, WE RECEIVED A GRANT TO PREPARE THE TCC GRANT ITSELF AND THAT WAS FUNDED AND THAT GAVE US MORE LEVERAGE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION, SO WE'RE LOOKING
PRETTY GOOD. >> THIS IS WONDERFUL, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT ALL THE PROJECTS, AND FOR THE RECORD, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I'M A BOARD TRUSTEE FOR THE COACHELLA VALLEY HISTORY MUSEUM, I'M EXCITED TO CONTINUE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY ON PROPERTY THAT WE MANAGE. THANK
YOU. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.
ALSO, NOT REALLY ANY QUESTIONS, ACTUALLY, ARE THERE ANY OF THESE PROJECTS THEY WERE MAY BE PART OF THE PLAN FOR THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR LIKE 2021-22 AND WE WERE UNABLE TO START THEM FOR ANY REASON, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT ON DECK FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE, EVERYTHING THAT
WE HAVE PLANNED. >> DON'T REMIND ME.
ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE NEW.
THE 40 PLUS PROJECTS THAT YOU SAW HERE ARE IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'VE HAD FROM LAST YEAR. AND ALL IN ALL, I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE TUNE OF $95 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING IF WE START ON THE OR WHEN WE START ON THE INTERCHANGE JACKSON, WE ACTUALLY SECURED OUR SHARE OF THE MONROE STREET, AND THAT'S A TUNE OF $80 MILLION.
WE ARE IN THE DESIGN AND RIGHT-OF-WAY PHASES. SO, THAT PROJECT, WILL HAPPEN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS AND THE CITY MUCH INDIO SHARES ALL OF THAT SECURE, TO IT'S VERY EXCITING, A LOT OF
PROJECTS. >> I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR HOW MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE FUNDED BY GRANTS AS WELL, EXCELLENT JOB ON THAT, SECURING FUNDING. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE
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SPORTS PARK, I'VE BEEN HEARING RUMORS AND DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT GOING BACK FOR YEARS AND SO I'M SO GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT PLAN INTO ACTION SOON.YOU BRIEFLY MENTIONED THE OASIS STREET RENOVATION, YOU REFERENCED THE SAN PABLO AREA IN PALM DESERT IN THE CENTER OF THE STREET. I KNOW IN MY EXPERIENCE THAT AREA HAS BEEN PROBLEMATIC, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT BLOCKING THE STREETS OR THE ROUND ABOUT IN THAT AREA, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, I HOPE THAT WE DO A THOROUGH TRAFFIC STUDY ON THAT.
>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND AGAIN, I WAS JUST THERE, BEFORE THIS MEETING AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, THE SAN PABLO AREA, AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BECAUSE I PARKED IN THE MIDDLE AND WHEN I CAME OUT, A CAR DIDN'T SEE ME COMING FAST.
SO THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC THERE. THERE'S A FEW THINGS, SINCE I HAVE YOU HERE AND I DIDN'T SEE THEM ON YOUR LIST OF PROJECTS, BUT, IF I DIDN'T ASK THESE QUESTIONS, I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION.
NUMBER ONE, I GUESS IT'S SPEED BUMPS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE ASKING ME ABOUT HAVING CERTAIN SPEED BUMPS OR THERE ARE FOLKS THAT DRIVE REALLY FAST, ONE THAT'S STANDS OUT IN MIND IS ON CARIBE STREET OFF OF JACKSON AND 48TH, ACROSS FROM THE WALMART SHOPPING CENTER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN TRAFFIC STUDIES THERE OR ANY OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT WERE WE HAVE COMPLAINTS OF HIGH TRAFFIC, SPEEDING AND WE HAD THAT ONE INCIDENT, OF COURSE, TWO STREETS TOWN, OFF OF 48TH AND OASIS STREET, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR PLAN TO KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE FOLKS LIKE DRAG RACING DOWN THOSE -- IN FAMILY COMMUNITIES AND
RESIDENTIAL HOMES? >> SO, THAT IS A MATTER THAT WE ALWAYS REFER TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY EVALUATE, THEY USUALLY PUT OUT THE SPEED TRAILER AND SOMETIMES THEY PUT IT AS A STEALTH TO GET THE REAL FEEL OF WHAT THE SPEED ISSUES ARE. AND THEN IF THEY DETERMINE THEY NEED TO TAKE CERTAIN MEASURES, THEY WILL INCREASE ENFORCEMENT. AS FAR AS SPEED BUMPS OR SPEED HUMPS, WE HAVE A CITY POLICY THAT ANY COMMUNITY IF THERE'S A RESIDENTIAL STREET THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AND POSSIBLY FUND SPEED HUMPS THEN WE WILL CONSIDER IT AND WE WILL RUN IT BY OUR PUBLIC FACILITY FOLKS, FIRE AND POLICE FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, MANY COMMUNITIES TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY WANT SPEED HUMPS AND SPEED BUMPS UNTIL THEY GET THEM AND THEN THEY JUST HATE THEM.
BECAUSE WHAT PEOPLE DO IS JUST GO OVER THE SPEED HUMP AND THEN SPEED UP AND CAUSE A LOT OF NOISE UNTIL THEY GET TO THE NEXT ONE AND SO ON. SO, IT'S NOT ALL THE BEST WAY TO CALM TRAFFIC, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF CALMING TRAFFIC THAT WE COULD LOOK AT.
BUT IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE AND RECEIVE A COMPLAINT, THEN WE DO LOOK AT IT.
THE CITY ENGINEER, NOTED THE PARTICULAR STREET THAT YOU REFERENCED AND WE'LL CHECK WITH YOU ARE TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT TO SEE WHAT THE
ISSUES ARE. >> BELIEVE THAT'S NOT A GATED FACILITY, SO HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY FUND IT? THERE'S NO HOA, SO HOW DO YOU GET THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE OR FUND SUCH A SPEED HUMP OR BUMP?
>> SO, THEY WOULD AT LEAST, DO THE PETITION, SO, IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN DOING THAT, WE HAVE A POLICY AND THEY WILL SOLICIT SIGNATURES AND IF THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH SIGNATURES, THEY WILL NOTE THERE, THE CITY ENGINEER, MR. RYAN HAS SOMETHING
>> CHAIRMAN, PLANNING COMMISSIONERS, PABLO, ENGINEER, RECENTLY WE LEARNED THAT THE FIRE CODE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR US TO CONSIDER SPEED HUMPS, IT EFFECTS THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO WE DO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS TO MITIGATE THE CONCERNS OF THE RESIDENTS, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE RESTRICTED BY THE
[00:40:02]
FIRE CODE. >> SO FOR THAT COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HAVE TO PETITION OR CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A TRAFFIC STUDY OR MAY BE ONE OF THOSE SOLAR STUDY LIGHTS OR SPEED LIGHTS, OR SPEED LIMIT?
>> CORRECT, THAT WOULD BE THE OPTIONS TO EXPLORE BEFORE FORWARDING IT TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ENHANCING SPEED LIMIT SIGNS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT LOCATIONS.
>> BIKE LANES? IS THAT IN YOUR RADAR TO EXPAND OR TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR CURRENT BIKE LANES OR LACK OF?
>> SO, WE DO HAVE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A LOT OF NEW BIKE LANES, OF COURSE, IF YOU SAW AVENUE 48, NOW WE HAVE THE BIKE LANES ON THAT. BUT WE DO HAVE A MASTER PLAN FOR ALL THE BIKE LANES TO BE ADDED IN THE CITY, AND WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIKE WHEN WE DID THE ROAD ON AVENUE 44, WE ADDED THE BIKE LANES THERE AND WE NARROWED DOWN, BECAUSE IT WAS A PRETTY WIDE ROAD SO WE WERE ABLE TO ADD THE BIKE LANES. SO, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT ADDING BIKE LANES WHENEVER IT'S
POSSIBLE. >> BUT IT'S NOT IN THE REPORT.
>> YEAH, NOTHING IS IN PARTICULAR HERE, BUT THE APP THAT WAS REFERENCED, THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS TO PROMOTE NON-MOTORIZED, SO WHENEVER WE'RE ABLE TO ADD THE SIDEWALKS AND THE SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL AND KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES ON THE SIDEWALK
AND SO ON. >> IN THE FIRST PART, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT REPAIRING SOME LIGHTS, FOR CBDG P FUNDS?
>> THE EXHIBIT THAT WAS SHOWN IS WHAT WE IDENTIFIED AS THE CDBG ELIGIBLE AREA.
IT'S BOUNDED BY CLINTON TO THE WEST, 111 TO THE SOUTH, INDIO BOULEVARD AND SOUTH OF THE
FREEWAY. >> SO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CENTRAL AND NORTH INDIO?
>> YOU HAVE 111 AND GREENVILLE AND EAST TO WEST DOWN TO AVENUE 48. CAN WE SHARE THAT SCREEN SO THAT WE COULD SEE IT ON ZOOM AS
WELL, PLEASE. >> SO IT'S THE AREA HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. I THINK THAT'S IT FOR NOW, BUT, AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO AGAIN, COMMENT AND SEEING THE INVESTMENT MADE FOR THE DR.
CORREON PARK AND THAT'S WHERE I GREW UP AND WE'VE BEEN PART OF THE FOUNDATION AND THE STREET AND THE SCHOOL, SO, AGAIN I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THAT INVESTMENT, IT USED TO BE A DIRT LOT AND NOW WE HAVAL BEAUTIFUL ART STRUCTURE, AND I COULDN'T MAKE THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY, BUT I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR IMPROVING THAT PART OF INDIO, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. SO, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >>> OKAY, THANK YOU FELLOW COMMISSIONERS FOR THE COMMENTS, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY WE'RE ALL EXCITED TO SEE THESE IMPROVEMENTS COMING. IF WANT TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM, VANESSA?
>> JUST AS A CLARIFICATION, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING
>> CHAIR, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MAKE A MOTION IF WE'RE READY?
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 2025, A RESOLUTION OF THE
[00:45:03]
PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF INDIO, CALIFORNIA FINDING THAT THE 2022-2023 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OF THE CITY OF INDIO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS CONSISTED WITH THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN 2040.CALL VOTE, PLEASE? >> COMMISSIONER LOPEZ?
>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER FRANZ?
>> YES. >> VICE CHAIR PERSON RODRIGUEZ?
MOVING ONTO STUDY SESSION ITEMS, FIRST ITEM 5.1 IS
[5.1. Project Consultation - Oasis Street 20-Unit Mixed Use Project]
A CONSULTATION FOR AN OASIS MIXED USE PROJECT. OWE MIXED USE PROJECT.GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS, I'M ALISSA SUAREZ ACTIVE SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS 5.1, OASIS STREET 20 UNIT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THIS IS A STUDY SESSION FORMAT SO NO ACTION IS REQUESTED TO BE TAKEN TODAY THIS IS STRICTLY INFORMATIONAL AND THE APPLICANT IS SEEKING PRELIMINARY FEEDBACK FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> SO, HERE'S AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT, THE APPLICANT IS THE ASHAI DESIGN CONSULTING CORPORATION, THIS IS LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ON THE WEST SIDE OF OASIS STREET SOUTH OF INDIO BOULEVARD.
THE PROJECT LOCATION IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS DOWNTOWN UNDER THE GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION, AND IT HAS A CURRENT ZONING OF DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND RETAIL READY OVERLAY IN THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN. THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN DOES REQUIRE ALL NEW PROJECTS WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN AREA GO THROUGH A PROJECT CONSULTATION PROCESS PRIOR TO FORMAL SUBMITTAL OF AN APPLICATION. SO, AS I MENTIONED THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF OASIS STREET SOUTH OF INDIO BOULEVARD ACROSS TWO VACANT LOTS. THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO DEVELOP A 20-UNIT MIXED USE BUILDING ACROSS THESE TWO VACANT PARCELS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION OF THE PROJECT WOULD INCLUDE A FOUR-STORY, 20-UNIT RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE FOURTH STORY WOULD BE A MEZINE FEATURE, IT WOULD HAVE PARKING ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND REQUIRED PLANEDSCAPING PLAN.
THE PROJECT AIMS TO INCORPORATE COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE SUCH AS A CAFE OR SOME SORT OF STORE FRONT ON THE FRONT END OF THE PROPERTY ALONG OASIS STREET. HERE IS A PROPOSED SITE PLAN OF WHAT THE PROJECT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN REGARD TO THE 20 UNITS ON THE NORTHERN PORTION, AND THEN THERE ARE ALSO ADA HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE UNITS ON THE SOUTH PORTION OF THE PROJECT, AND THEN ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE LOT WOULD BE THE RETAIL, COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
SO, HERE ARE THE PROPOSED PROJECT ELEVATIONS AND THE APPLICANT WILL GO INTO MUCH MORE AT THE TAIL OF THE RENDERINGS, AS YOU COULD SEE THERE'S A VERY MODERN FACADE WHICH IS IDENTIFIED BY THE DOWNTOWN-SPECIFIC PLAN AND ENCOURAGED, AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS MOVING MORE TOWARDS THE MODERN FACADE RATHER THAN THAN THE SPANISH AND MEDITERRANEAN FEEL. SO THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING A MIX OF COLORS, IT LOOKS LIKE A GRAY HUE WITH BLUE TINTED WINDOWS AND THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE MEZINEEN A WHITE
>> GO AHEAD. >> I'M CURIOUS IF
[00:50:02]
CURRENTLY, THE CONDITIONS BEING ADDED TO THE ZONING, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT A MORE ROBUST LANDSCAPE, ARE ALL OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS BEING TAKEN AS WE'RE MOVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS FORWARD, OR ARE WE KEEPINGTHOSE SEPARATE? >> SO, THIS PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN. SO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IT WOULDN'T BE TO MY KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, IT WOULD FALL IN THE STANDARDS OF THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN. IT WOULDN'T BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW ZONING REQUIREMENTS. BUT, YES, THERE ARE FULL LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS, DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN CHAPTER 3 OF THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADHERE TO.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM STAFF? NO, IF NOT, THEN, WE'LL ARE WE OPENING
A PUBLIC HEARING? >> TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT?
>> YES, AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, THIS IS A STUDY SESSION ITEM, SO IT'S A LITTLE MORE FREE FLOWING TO THE EXTENT THAT THE CHAIR DESIRES, WE WILL, TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT IF SUBMITTED AT SOME POINT, BUT, YOU CAN PROCEED WITH HAVING THE APPLICANT PRESENT AND COMMISSIONERS CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE CHAIR. >> OKAY.
WE'LL HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT AND WE'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU, LET'S HEAR
FROM THE APPLICANT. >> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS, MY NAME IS TONY ASHAI, I'M HERE WITH BILLY ASHAI AND WE'RE WITH TWO INVESTORS OF THE PROJECTS.
WE HAVE TWO SIMILAR PROJECTS, ONE IS A 30-UNIT AND ONE IS A 20-UNIT. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THOSE TOGETHER BUT TO GIVE YOU A BACKGROUND ON HOW WE CAME ACROSS THESE PROJECTS.
WERE PERSONALLY I'M AN ARCHITECT AND AN OR BAN DESIGNER AND I ALSO DO DEVELOPMENT. AND I'VE WORKED ALL OVER THE WORLD AND I WAS IN COACHELLA VALLEY AND I'VE NEVER BEEN TO INDIO. AND, SO, WE JUST ACTUALLY TOOK A TURN ON HIGHWAY 111 AND ENDED UP IN A BEAUTIFUL, KIND OF DOWNTOWN, AND I WAS CURIOUS, I SAID THIS IS A GREAT PLACE HERE, AND THEN THERE WAS A FOR-SALE SIGN AND WE LOOKED AT THE PROPERTIES AND THEY WERE REASONABLY PRICED.
SO WE HAD BOTH PROPERTY IN ESCROW AND WE MET THE DEVELOPMENT CHIEF, THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THEY WERE MOST FRIENDLY, & SO HELPFUL THAT IT'S VERY RARE, ANYWHERE YOU GO TODAY I'VE BEEN DOING PROJECTS IN LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES, PASADENA, IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ATTITUDE AND WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY BEFORE YOU IS BECAUSE OF THOSE TWO GENTLEMEN THAT WE MET IN A CONFERENCE ROOM AND THEY GAVE US THEIR PRESENTATION.
AND THEY WERE SO HELPFUL, WE SAID WE HAVE TO COME AND DO SOMETHING IN THIS CITY. AND I'M SO EXCITED, I JUST SAW THE PRESENTATION BY THE CHIEF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS, THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN, I THINK OUR TIMING MAY BE PERFECT, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO TAKE OFF ON THIS DOWNTOWN, AND BEING AN URBAN DESIGNER, I WOULD ACTUALLY SUGGEST A FEW THINGS TO THE COMMUNITY DIRECTOR, AND THE PLANNING DIRECTOR, IN A SEPARATE MEETING, HOW TO MAKE THIS DOWNTOWN MORE LIVELY.
BUT, AS FAR AS THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE CONCERNED, WHAT WE WERE TOLD IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN ESCROW ON BOTH OF THE PROPERTIES, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ACTUALLY OUR INVESTORS MORE THAN US, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE CLOSE TO WHAT YOU WOULD ACCEPT, WE'RE NOT SPLITLY OFF THE CHART AND THEN WE WILL MOVE CONTINGENCIES AND CLOSE THESE PROPERTIES AND START THE PROJECT. RIGHT NOW, IT'S STILL DEPENDING ON WHAT WE HEAR FROM YOU RASHEEDING THESE TWO PROJECTS AND WE'RE NOT EXPECTING AN APPROVAL OR ACTION FROM YOU, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING SOME SORT OF LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ACCEPT, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, OR THIS IS
[00:55:02]
GOOD, WE DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT, OR IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SEE AS A PROBLEM.THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING FROM THIS MEETING. NOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS BILLY ASHAI WHO IS A GRADUATE FROM USC ARCHITECTURE WITH A MASTERS, HE'S WORKING ON THESE TWO PROJECTS, AND I WOULD HAVE HIM EXPLAIN THE PROJECT QUICKLY IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, CAN YOU EXPLAINED DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?
>> SURE, BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS ARE PRODUCED FROM AN URBAN DESIGN STANDPOINT.
WE'RE AIMING TO DO THINGS MORE RELATED TO BRINGING MORE EYES ONTO THIS STREET, HAVING, LIKE, FRONTING A LOT OF THE SOCIAL PROGRAM IN OUR PROJECT TO OASIS STREET, THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, HAVING ALL THE CARS TOWARD THE BACK ALLEY SO THAT OASIS STREET BECOMES MORE PEDESTRIAN, AND BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS KIND OF ARE WORKING TOWARDS CATTLIZING OASIS STREET AS A SECONDARY GATEWAY.
SO, I'LL GET TO IT SO THE SITE IS ON OASIS STREET AND INDIO BOULEVARD, MORE OR LESS, IT'S A DOUBLE LOT, IT'S 100 FEET BY 150, IT'S ADJACENT FROM A SINGLE FAMILY HOME AND IT'S A WALK FROM THE DESERT WHICH WE'RE AWARE IS EXPANDING AND THIS IS THE SURVEY SITE PLAN WHICH WE HAVE REVIEWED, WE'RE PROPOSING 21 PARKING SPACES AND ONE HANDICAPPED. WE'RE PROPOSING AMENITIES LIKE A POOL, DECK, LOUNGE AREA. WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A RETAIL SPACE WHICH WOULD BE A CAFE OR A SPORTS BAR, SOMETHING OF THE LIKE SO THERE'S MORE PEDESTRIAN ENGAGEMENT TO OASIS STREET. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE TWO-BEDROOM, TWO-BATH UNIT, ONE-WE HAD ROOM, ONE BATH UNIT AND ONE MANAGER'S UNIT.
THERE YOU GO. AND, UM, THIS IS THE SECOND FLOOR AND THIS WOULD JUST BE A MIX OF THREE TWO-BED, 2-BATH UNIT.
BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS, THEY'RE ONE-BED UNITS AND TWO-BED, TWO-BATH UNITIES. AND WE HAVE AN INTENTION OF RENTING THEM OUT AT MARKET RATE SINCE THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSOCIATION THEY'RE HOUSING UNITS THAT THEY HAVE CAST TO BE PRODUCED IS ABOUT 7800 UNITS AND MOST OF THEM FALL WITHIN AVERAGE MEDIAN INCOME OR ABOVE MEDIAN INCOME. THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD FLOOR WHICH WOULD BE MAJORITY 2-BEDROOM UNITS WITH THE
MEZZINE. >> IT WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 20 UNITS BETWEEN EVERY UNIT HAVE ABOUT DECKS AND HAVE PRIVATE OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE AND ACCESS TO THE AMINUTE AT THE TIMES LIKE THE POOL AND LOUNGE AREA. AND THAT'S THE MEZZANINE.
AND THIS IS THE UNIT BREAKDOWN.
THE ADA UNITS ARE STRICTLY ON THE GROUND LEVEL AND ABOVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE TYPICAL UNITS, TYPE 1A AND TYPE 2A.
BUT, YEAH. THIS IS LIKE ELEVATIONS OF THE PROJECTS, WE'RE AIMING FOR HAVING SOMETHING THAT IS A HIGHLAND MODULAR BUILDING, BUT
[01:00:02]
FACADE WISE AND ELEVATION WISE, IT'S GOING TO BE A BUILDING OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE.THE YEAH, WE'RE SUGGESTING SOMETHING LIKE GRAY HARDEE FRAME AND WHITE STUCCO, SO THERE'S SOME REFERENCE TO KIND OF LIKE STUCCO, SPANISH ARCHITECTURE TO SOME DEGREE BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S LIKE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CONTEMPORARY BUILDING.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CORNER STORE, SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE, EITHER A STORE OR A CAFE OR A YEAH, JUST A RETAIL SPACE.
AND THEN THE 30-UNIT IS MORE OR LESS THE
SAME. >> I THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE THE EXPLAIN THE 30-UNIT.
>> IT'S THE NEXT SET OF SLIDES.
RIGHT. >> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
I'M READING MAY OWN. BUT, I HAVE A QUESTION, I'M CURIOUS WHEN Y'ALL MAXIMIZE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE HAVING A PRETTY ELEVATED DESIGN TO MAXIMIZE THE ARCHITECTURE AND MAY BE, EXPAND LARGER UNITS THAT ARE MORE THAT HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FEATURES, I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO, I KNOW THAT THE FACADE IS NOT VERY MODULAR BUT IT'S VERY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE HIGHER LEVELS TO KIND OF PLAY AROUND AND ADD SOME MORE FEATURES AND PLAY WITH THE DESIGN? AND THE ONLY REASON THAT I'M ASKING THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT COST IS VERY IMPORTANT, SO IT SEEMS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO YOU KNOW, GET MORE FOR YOUR BUCK, I GUESS, BY DO THAT.
JUST A QUESTION. >> I JUST WANT TO KNOW, CAN I ASK YOU TO PLEASE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY WHY NOT GO -- ARE YOU SAYING WHY AREN'T YOU BUILDING TO THE MAX FAR, LIKE BUILD MORE UNITS, OR BUILD MORE HEIGHT?
>> HEIGHT. YEAH, I'M ASKING MORE ABOUT LIKE, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO MAY BE LIKE EXPAND, YOU SAID THEY'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE LIKE DECKS, RIGHT, OR PATIOS, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID, AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY TO PLAY WITH THE SHAPE TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPTIONS SO THAT, AS YOU ARE MAXIMIZING, THE FACT THAT IT'S PRETTY HIGH ALREADY, TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS -- HERE'S WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM, RIGHT, IT'S JUST THAT PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY HAVING A UNIQUE OR SOMETHING THAT'S DIFFERENT. AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS VERY MUCH A REPEAT, AND SO I'M WONDERING, AND IT'S NOT A SUGGESTION TO CHANGE IT, I GUESS, I'M JUST CURIOUS, BECAUSE I LIKED ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER ABOUT THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE DESIGN AND I'M JUST CURIOUS AS TO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE DONE OR MAY BE CONSIDERED?
>> LET ME ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BILLY, IF THAT'S OKAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS, WE'RE AMONG THE FIRST PEOPLE COMING IN AND BUILDING APARTMENTS IN DOWNTOWN, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY APARTMENTS OF THIS CALIPER IN DOWNTOWN, SO WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS ON WHAT TO SPEND ON THIS DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH RENT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET AND THE NUMBERS HAVE TO WORK AT THE END OF THE DAY. WHEN YOU BUILD SOMETHING MODULAR, LIKE, WHAT I THINK THAT YOU ARE SUGGESTING, IS ALL THE UNITS ARE SIMILAR, THEY'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, REPEAT, MY EXPERIENCE TO THAT IS I WORKED IN DUBAI, AND I WORKED ALL OVER THE PLACE AS AN ARCHITECT, WHEN YOU DO SIMILAR MODULAR UNITS, YOUR OVERALL COST IS MUCH LESS THAN WHEN YOU DO EVERY UNIT THAT'S UNIQUE, FOR EXAMPLE, I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
AND THE PRICE DIFFERENCE COULD
[01:05:02]
GO LIKE 30-40% HIGHER COST OF CONSTRUCTION. LIKE, GIVING AN EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU'RE BUYING 20 KITCHENS THAT LOOK IDENTICAL IN SHAPE, SIZE, AND EVERYTHING, IT'S ONE PRICE, VERSUS 20 DIFFERENT KITCHENS, WHEN THEY ARE DIFFERENT SIZES, COLORS, AND TEXTURES, NOW, IT'S, UM FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE ONLY LIVE IN ONE UNIT. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE FAMILY THAT EXPERIENCES THAT UNIT FROM INSIDE, SO, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS FROM OUTSIDE, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A MODULAR THAT'S BEING REPEATED, SO THE ELEVATION HAS BEEN TREATED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT LOOKS UNIQUE, THROUGH MATERIALS AND MASSING, LANDSCAPING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO, WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT, IF THIS WAS IN BEVERLY HILLS YES, EVERY UNIT WOULD BE DIFFERENT AND PEOPLE WOULD PAY $5 MILLION FOR A UNIT OR PAY $20,000 A MONTH RENT. BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FIT WHAT WOULD BE, AND ALSO DO BETTER THAN WHAT'S OUT THERE. SO, THAT'S THE REASON FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE.AND I FIGURED THAT COST WAS PROBABLY WHAT -- AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN OUR DOWNTOWN, I THINK THAT SOON ENOUGH WE WILL BE BETTER THAN BEVERLY HILLS. AND WE WILL.
BECAUSE, I'VE SEEN CITIES, I'VE SEEN DUBAI FROM 2006 TO NOW, IT'S BECOME A MONUMENTAL CITY.
AND I'VE SEEN CITIES LIKE LONG BEACH, IT WAS NOTHING, IT WAS HOMELESS PEOPLE AND THE WHOLE DOWNTOWN OF LONG BEACH HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED.
AND THIS, I BELIEVE, I'D BET MY MONEY ON THIS CITY'S DOWNTOWN WILL BE SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, THEY ARE GOING TO LIVE HERE AND THEY'RE GOING TO GET THAT URBAN FEELING, THIS IS MISSIONING IN COACHELLA VALLEY, WE NEED TO GET A STARBUCKS IN
THE CORNER. >> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M SITTING HERE AND LOOKING AT OUR DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN, WHICH I DO KEEP A HARD COPY WITHIN REACH.
AND I THINK THAT YOUR PROJECT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT YOU DID YOUR HOMEWORK AND WENT THROUGH OUR DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND I THINK THE MEETS WITH OUR WONDERFUL STAFF MEMBERS WAS VERY BENEFICIAL.
BECAUSE, OVERALL, I THINK IT'S A REALLY NICE ADDITION, AND COULD BE VERY GAME CHANGER FOR OUR DOWNTOWN. I LOVE THE FACT THAT IT'S MODERN, I LOVE THE ORANGE COLORED DOORS, DARK RED WHATEVER THAT IS, IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.
THE BLUE GLASS WAS A GREAT ADDITION. THE FACT THAT YOU CAME IN WITH THE PATIOS AND THE OUTDOOR LIVING AND THE POOL AND WANTING TO PUT IN A CAFE, I MEAN IT BROUGHT IN A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME. WE TALKED ABOUT PATIO SIZE, I ALWAYS BELIEVE THAT OUTSIDE LIVING, WHEN YOU LIVE IN A SMALL APARTMENT, BEING ABLE TO SIT ON A PATIO IS PRICELESS.
I THINK IF YOU COULD DO LARGER PATIOS, IT COULD BE A GAMECHANGER AND DIFFERENTIATE THE PROJECT.
I THINK IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DESIGN AND A GREAT USE OF THE SPACE AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT THE PARK WILL BE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, SO WE'RE NOT ADDING ANOTHER PARKING LOT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE TO PARK THEIR CARS.
OVERALL, I THINK THAT YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB, AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF LOOKING AT OUR DOWNTOWN PLAN AND I THINK THAT A SMALL STORE COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE THERE IN THE FUTURE, I, FOR ONE, AM EXCITED TO SEE MORE DETAILS.
I KNOW THIS IS VERY PRELIMINARY, AND THERE ARE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW AND DON'T KNOW TO ASK, I SAW THERE WAS SOLAR ON THE ROOFS OF THE DESIGN, I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE PLANNING ON PUTTING IN SOLAR, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I
>> WONDERFUL, SO, OVERALL, I THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR DOWNTOWN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING MORE DETAILS ON THE PROJECT.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER LOPEZ, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY IT'S A
[01:10:02]
GREAT ADDITION, COMMISSIONER FRANZ, AS FAR AS THE COACHELLA VALLEY, OTHER CITIES DO NOT HAVE THIS UNIQUE PLAN IN PLACE WHERE IT'S MODERN AND YOU HAVE MIXED USE AND SHOPS AT THE BOTTOM.I WAS ACTUALLY IN LONG BEACH THIS WEEKEND, AND I GOT TO GO DOWN AND IT'S CHANGED.
SO, UM, APPRECIATE THAT I GUESS AS A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR STAFF, DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER HOUSING OR APARTMENTS, I THOUGHT THAT MAY BE WE HAD A FEW MORE IN THE PIPELINE, OR IS THIS THE ONLY ONE.
>> HI, THIS IS KEVIN SNYDER, DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ACTUALLY, THERE'S AN APPROVED PROJECT AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF OASIS STREET AND BLISS, THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED A 70-UNIT, OVER 70,000 SQUARE FEET MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT. THAT PROJECT IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGES BUT IF THESE PROJECTS MOVE FORWARD THESE WOULD BE A SECOND AND THIRD ABED THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN. WE HAVE APPROVED ONE BEFORE THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN APRIL, 2020.
>> AGAIN, I LOVE THE MODERN LOOK AND FITS WELL WITH SOME OF THE HOMES THAT HAVE THE OLD MODERN LOOK OFF OF BLISS AND OASIS STREETS, AND AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S IT.
>> THANKS. >> ARE THERE ANY LIKE GENERAL RED FLAGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE MAY BE IDENTIFYING THROUGH THE DESIGN OR ANYTHING? JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING?
>> GENERAL SPEAKING, I THINK I'M SPEAKING FOR OTHER COMMISSIONERS, FROM WHAT I HEARD, WE'RE EXCITED, WE LIKE THE GENERAL DESIGN.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THINGS IN MORE DETAIL, I FOR ONE, APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR OUR DOWNTOWN AREA OF INDIO. I'M GLAD THAT YOU MADE THAT WRONG TURN AND DECIDED TO PLAN HERE.
BUT, DEFINITELY, THERE'S BEEN TALK, AND TALK, FOR MANY YEARS AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THINGS THAT THE CITY OF INDIO IS DOING TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN AND ALSO DEVELOPERS SUCH AS YOURSELVES BRINGING PROJECTS TO US.
WE CAN SEE IT DOWN THE END OF THE PIPELINE AND IT'S EXCITING.
SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, DO WE WANT TO SEE, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM,
>> ARE WEE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE 30-UNIT AND WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN? BECAUSE I THINK THEY WENT OVER IN DETAIL ABOUT THE 20-UNIT, BUT WE STILL NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE 30-UNIT,
RIGHT? >> KEVIN ARE WE HANDLING THAT AS A COMPLETELY SEPARATE ITEM, OR ARE WE MELDING THEM TOGETHER, 5.1 AND 5.2.
>> WELL, THEY WERE ON THE AGENDA SEPARATELY, BUT PERHAPS THE APPLICANT AND MELISSA WANT TO TOUCH ON THE 30-UNIT, MAY BE ANSWER COMMISSIONER FRANZ' QUESTIONS AND HIGHLIGHT ANY OTHER ITEMS.
>> SINCE THEY WERE BOTH ON THE AGENDA WHEN WE MOVE ON TO THE SPECIFIC 5.3 DISCUSSION, I'M SORRY, THE 5.2, YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK AND SEE IF ANY PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE 30-UNIT AS WELL ONCE WE MOVE ONTO THAT
>> CERTAINLY, WE'VE HAD 5.1, NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. I GUESS WE
[5.2. Project Consultation - Oasis Street 30-Unit Mixed Use Project]
COULD GO TO 5.2, THEN, ALISSA, DID YOU HAVE ANY STAFF PRESENTATION THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION, AND IF WE WOULD LIKE TO OR NEED TO ASK THE APPLICANT QUESTIONS.>> YES, THANK YOU, I WILL BE GIVING A PRESENTATION.
>> SO, AGAIN, THIS IS ALISSA SUAREZ, ACTING SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS THE ITEM 5.2. THE OASIS STREET 30-UNITED USE PROJECT. SO, THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED AT OASIS STREET THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE PROJECT THAT WE JUST HEARD, IT'S ACTUALLY
[01:15:02]
VERY SIMILAR IN DESIGN AS WELL AS FUNCTION WITH THE 30-UNIT RESIDENTIAL UNITS INCLUDING 1-2 BEDROOM UNITS.AND THE INCORPORATION OF A COMMUNITY POOL, COURTYARD ENTRY, PARKING STRUCTURE, REQUIRED LANDSCAPING AS WELL AS THE INTENT TO INCORPORATE A COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE ON THE FRONTAGE OF THE PROPERTY. AGAIN, THIS PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
IT IS CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS DOWNTOWN UNDER THE CURRENT GENERAL PLAN AND IT HAS A CURRENT ZONING OF DE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A RETAIL READY OVERLAY WITHIN THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN. HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECTS LOCATION, AGAIN, IT'S JUST SOUTH OF REQUA AVENUE AND WEST OF
OASIS STREET. >> HERE IS THE PROPOSED SITE PLAN SHOW SHALL THE CONFIGURATION OF THE 30 UNITS AS WELL AS THE ADA UNITS THAT WOULD BE TWO UNITS AND A MANAGE'S UNIT AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE COURTYARD WITH THE POOL FEATURES, AS WELL AS THE RETAIL SPACE ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF OASIS STREET. SO, VERY SIMILAR IN DESIGN AS THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL WE JUST HEARD WITH RESPECT TO THE MODERN FACADE, THE COLOR FACADE THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE GRAY HUES AS WELL AS THE WHITE STUCCO, SIMILAR WITH THE BLUE HUES ON THE WINDOWS, AND DESERT FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING ALONG THE FRONTAGE AND SIDES OF THE PROPERTY.
SO, WITH THAT, I'LL OPEN THE FLOOR TO ANY QUESTIONS AND I'LL ALSO HAND IT OFF TO THE APPLICANT TO GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. >> ANY COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR ARE WE READY TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT, PLEASE?
REINTRODUCE MYSELF? >> YES, PLEASE.
>> I'M BILLY ASHAI WITH ASHAI DESIGN AND WE'RE THE ARCHITECTS AND DEVELOPERS OF THIS 30-UNIT, MIXED MULTIPURPOSES PROPOSAL ON OASIS STREET.
THIS PROPOSAL, LIKE THE OTHER 20-UNIT PROPOSAL, IS CONRECEIVED AS A MORE OF AN URBAN DESIGN RESPONSE TO THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND TO THE GENERAL PLAN 2040 OF THE CITY OF INDIO.
IT'S DESIGN PROMOTES A MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY OASIS STREET WITH MORE EYES ON THE STREET BY USE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF BALCONIES AND DECKS WITH EACH HOUSING UNIT AND PROMOTE AS LOT OF OUTDOOR AND RECREATIONAL SPACE, POOLS, LOUNGE AREAS, BARBECUES, AND KIND OF LIKE SHADE STRUCTURES, AS YOU COULD SEE. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE PLANS, AND THEN KIND OF DISCUSS THE SITE LOCATION. THE SITE PLAN, AND OTHER SUCH THINGS. SO, THIS IS THIS PROJECT PROPOSES 30 MARKET-RATE MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING UNITS WITH 34 PROTECTED PARKING, A CORNER COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE, IT'S PROMOTED -- IT WILL PROMOTE A LOCAL PLACE OF GATHERING AND BRINGING MORE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY TO OASIS STREET BY HAVING A CORNER RETAIL SPACE, BY HAVING A CORNER LIKE, A COFFEE SHOP OR SPORTS BAR OR RESTAURANT, WHAT HAVE YOU, AND, YEAH, KIND OF FRONTING A LOT OF THIS RESIDENT-ORIENTED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY TO OASIS STREET. IT'S GOAL IS TO AGAIN, MINIMIZE THE CITY OF INDIO'S 7800 UNIT HOUSING DEFICIT AND BRING MORE EYES TO THE STREET AND MORE ACTIVELY IT GET RESIDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH OASIS STREET AS THE CITY OF INDIO PURSUES TO CREATE A MORE
[01:20:01]
CRITICAL URBAN CORE.THIS IS THE SITE LOCATION, IT'S ADJACENT TO LAW OFFICES AND A 3-MINUTE WALK FROM THE COLLEGE OF THE DESERT. AS THE COLLEGE OF THE DESSERT EXPANDS IT WILL BE MORE OR LESS ACROSS THE STREET.
THESE ARE THE SURVEY PLAN SHOWS THE THREE LOTS.
WE'RE PROPOSING A 34 UNIT PROTECTED PARKING WITH KIND OF A, LIKE A U-SHAPED ACCESS DRIVEWAY FROM THE ALLEYWAY, THIS IS TO PROMOTE MORE OF THE -- DEDICATE MORE OF THE FRONTAGE TOWARDS PEDESTRIAN ENGAGEMENT WITH OASIS STREET.
WE'RE PROMOTING A POOL, SPA, JACUZZI, LOUNGE, AND BARBECUE AREA. THERE'LL BE 2 ADA UNITS ON THE GROUND LEVEL AND THERE'LL BE A GENERAL MANAGER, PROPERTY MANAGER'S UNIT WHICH IS EXCLUDED FROM THE UNIT COUNT AND THERE'LL ALSO BE A RETAIL SPACE WHICH WAS MENTIONED IN THE PRODUCT NARRATIVE TO PROMOTE MORE OF THE PEDESTRIAN ENGAGEMENT.
THIS IS THE SECOND FLOOR, THIS CONSISTS OF SIX 2-BEDROOM/2-BATH UNITIES, AND 8, 1-BEDROOM/1 BATH UNITS.
AND ALL OF THE EGRESS ACCESS IS OUTDOORS. AND THEN THIS IS THE THIRD FLOOR WHICH IS SIX 2-BED/2 BATH UNITS, AND SEVEN 2-BED/2 BATH UNITIES. THEY'RE DIFFERENT TYPES, ONE HAS THE MEZZANINE, AND THERE'S ONE 1-BED/1 BATH UNIT. SO, ON THE TWO FLOORS ABOVE IT'S 28 UNITS PLUS THE TWO ADA UNITS, A TOTAL OF 30, TWO MEANS OF EGRESS, OPEN AIR BALCONIES FOR EACH UNIT.
THE PLANS THAT YOU SEE AND THIS ROOF PLAN ARE THE MEZZANINES FOR THE 2-BED/2-BATH UNITS WHICH ARE FOR THE FLOOR BELOW. I MEAN, THE ACCESS TO THESE UNITS WOULD BE FROM THE FLOOR BELOW.
THIS IS THE UNIT BREAKDOWN SHOWING THE ADA UNITS, THE SHOWING THE ADA UNITS, SHOWING THE TYPICAL UNITS, AND SHOWING THE 2-BED, 2-BATH UNITS WHICH INVOLVES THE MEZZANINE WHICH IS USED ON THE UPPER FLOOR. THIS IS NORMAL ELEVATION. THERE'S A FRONT ELEVATION THAT KIND OF EMPHASIZES THE CAFE AND THE FRONT PROPERTY ENTRANCE AND THEN THERE'S THE FRONT ELEVATION AFTER THAT. THIS IS THE COLORED ELEVATION, AGAIN, THE USE OF WHITE STUCCO AND MAY BE GRAY STUCCO, WE'RE INTENDING TO USE GRAY HARDY FRAMES, IDEALLY WE WOULD LIKE THIS TO ACT AS A SISTER DEVELOPMENT TO THE OTHER DEVELOPMENT, IF THERE'S AN ISSUE OF VARIETY IN TERMS OF STREETSCAPE, THAT CAN BE VERY EASILY ACCOMMODATED FOR, WE'RE WILLING TO CHANGE UP THE URBAN IDENTITY OF THE BUILDING SLIGHTLY THROUGH CHANGE OF EXTERIOR MATERIALS OR COLORS, OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THIS WOULD BE A CORNER CAFE OR A SPORTS BAR WITH BALCONIES OFF OF THE UNITS AND THEN, YEAH.
ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMISSIONERS, DOES ANYONE
HAVE A QUESTION? >> I'LL LET JACKIE GO FIRST.
[01:25:01]
UM, YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BASICALLY ON THE SAME MAIN STREET JUST A BIT OF A DISTANCE APART. OF COURSE, WE'RE IN NEED OF THESE KINDS OF UNITS, SO I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE TWO PROJECTS. I DON'T DISLIKE THAT THE OUTSIDE IS SIMILAR, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR VARIATION WOULD BE NICE TO SEPARATE THE TWO, SO IF SOMEBODY GETS HOME REALLY TIRED AND WALK INTO THE WRONG BUILDING OR SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S A SPORTS BAR ON ONE AND NOT THE OTHER, SO, MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR VARIATION.
OTHER THAN THAT, LIKE, I SAID, I THINK YOU GUYS REALLY LOOKED AT OUR DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT BECAUSE YOU HIT A LOT OF POINTS THAT WE REALLY WORKED HARD TO TRY AND BRING IN. BUT, OVERALL, I THINK IF BOTH PROJECTS WERE BUILT, I THINK THEY'RE BOTH NEEDED.
AND THEY'RE A GREAT EDITION BECAUSE OF THE COLLEGE EXPANDING AND THESE ENTRY LEVEL UNITS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES. SO, OVERALL, I DON'T SEE ANY MAJOR ISSUES AND LIKE I SAID, WE NEED MORE DETAILS AND AT THAT POINT, WE MAY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK BOTH PROJECTS ARE
INTERESTING. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO COMMISSIONER FRANZ COMMENTS.
I AGREE WITH THE COLOR VARY INDICATION. AND THAT COULD BE DONE WITH LANDSCAPING, MAY BE ADDING TREES AND PLANTS TO CHANGE UP THE FEEL A BIT.
I THINK THAT I WOULD ALSO BE INTERESTED IN OTHER COLOR ACCENTS TO LIVEN UP AND CREATE A MORE OF A DIVERSITY IN THE DOWNTOWN SO WE GET MORE AND MORE OF THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED, HOUSING IS A NEED ACROSS THE STATE AND PARTICULARLY HERE IN OUR CITY.
SO WE'RE VERY, VERY, EXCITED TO SEE THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND PARTICULARLY THE CONCENTRATION OF THE MIXED USE AND PROVIDING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MIXED USE DESIGN AS A STARTER.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, I COMMEND YOU FOR DOING SOME REALLY GOOD WORK AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
IT. >> YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT MYSELF AND MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS ARE EXCITED TO SE MORE DETAILS ON THESE.
I DO AGREE THERE ARE SOME SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO BUT ALSO SUBTLE DIFFERENCES, BUT, PERHAPS ANY THOUGHTS OR CONSIDERATION INTO MIXING UP THE COLOR SCHEMES OR LANDSCAPE SCHEMES SUCH AS VICE CHAIR RECOMMENDED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BUT, AGAIN WE THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE TWO PROJECTS.
YOU ASKED IF WE SAW ANY MAJOR RED FLAGS OR THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO US, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE BESIDE JUST MORE DETAILS WHEN THIS ACTUALLY COMES BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION TO REALLY DIVE INTO IT AND LOOK AT IT IN MORE DEPTH.
>> GREAT. ONE OF OUR INVESTORS AND PARTNERS ON THIS PROJECT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS IF
>> THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIR, AND COMMISSIONERS, I THINK THE WHOLE POINT AS AN INVESTOR FOR ME WAS TO MAKE SURE WHAT YOU SAID AT THE END, THAT THERE ARE NO RED FLAGS, CONCERNS, OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE'S NO CONFLICT WITH SOMETHING ELSE THAT THE CITY MAY BE PLANNING ON THAT STREET OR ACROSS THE STREET THAT LATER ON WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO REALLY BUILD THE WAY WE WANT TO BUILD IT AND YOU KNOW, HAVE IT RENTED. SO, VERY GLAD TO HEAR THAT'S NOT HAPPENING AND AS TONY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE, HE'S SUCH A WORLD RENOWNED ARCHITECT TO DESIGN THESE, AND HE SAID EARLIER THAT YOU KNOW, HIS GOAL WAS TO REALLY FOLLOW THE PLAN THE CITY HAS AND HAVE MORE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY ON OASIS STREET, SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S OUR GOAL TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE WERE ANY FOLLOWUPS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE, ANY THING THAT YOU FELT MAY HELP US TO EXPEDITE THIS PROCESS, BECAUSE ONCE WE GO, WE'RE NOT SEEKING ANY EXTERIOR FUNDING, SO ALL THE MONEY TO COMPLETE THE PROJECTS IS READY TO GO.
WE'RE NOT SEEKING A LOAN FROM THE BANK,
[01:30:02]
SO, WE'RE KIND OF RECESSION PROOF, IN A WAY, THIS PROJECT WILL HAPPEN EITHER WAY.SO, ANY GUIDANCE THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT WOULD HELP, OR ANY ADVICE THAT WE COULD FOLLOWUP AFTERWARDS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS THAT WE WERE NOT JUST SEEKING RED FLAGS BUT WE'RE ALSO SEEKING ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW CITY TO US, AND WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT INDIO OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT TONY TOOK THE WRONG TURN THAT DAY.
>> WOULD YOU MIND STATING YOUR
NAME FOR THE RECORD. >> SHEER, MY NAME IS QAZI.
SHAFAT QAZI. >> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
KEVIN WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT LAST COMMENT.
I'M SURE STAFF WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THEM GUIDANCE AND WORK THROUGH THE
WE'VE MET WITH THE TEAM INITIALLY AND WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH THEM AGAIN AND WE'LL GO OVER THE POINTS THAT THE COMMISSION MADE THIS EVENING AND LOOK FURTHER AT THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN.
AS A REMINDER, IF AND WHEN THEY DO MAKE COMPLETE APPLICATIONS FOR BOTH PROJECTS, THEY ARE SUBJECT TO PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND BECAUSE WE HAVE COMPLETED THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PREVIOUSLY FOR THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN IT'S SEQUA CLEARED. AND THAT'S ATTRACTED TO THE APPLICANT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THEM AT THEIR CONVENIENCE AND BRING FORWARD THEIR PROJECTS BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> OUTSTANDING, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON, DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT THAT YOU HAVE?
ONE OF OUR PARTNERS WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, I'M SHOBIE, QUAZI.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS PROJECT TODAY. FIRST OF ALL, I WILL LIKE TO GIVE YOU BACKGROUND, I GOT ON BOARD WITH THIS PROJECT BECAUSE OF TONY, BECAUSE I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT HE WANTED TO DO A PROJECT HERE, BECAUSE HIM BEING BUSY ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THEN HE COMES WITH THIS PROJECT, AND I HAD NOT EVEN SEEN THE PROJECT OR THE CITY OR LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'RE NAME'S ON IT, I'M ON BOARD.
I'M ALSO A DEVELOPER, SO, ME BEING A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, AND ME BEING THE ARCHITECT, IT WAS A NO-BRAINER AND WE HAVE THE FUNDING ALREADY IN PLACE.
SO, WITH THAT, I THINK THIS COULD BE A GOOD START AND IF THIS GOES, GETS THE GREEN LIGHT T THIS COULD BE THE BEGINNING AND WE COULD JUST MOVE OURSELVES HERE, BASICALLY, DO MORE PROJECTS.
YOU KNOW, THIS COULD BE A GOOD STARTER, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE SOLID.
WE DO THIS FOR A LIVING. I DO REAL ESTATE ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND TONY HAS DESIGNED PROJECTS ALL OVER THE WORLD. HERE IN CELEBRITY HOMES AND IN LONDON AND WHATEVER, SO, I'M ACTUALLY MORE EXCITED TO WORK WITH HIM ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE HIS NAME'S ON THE PROJECT. SO THAT GIST ME AN EXCITING FEELING.
SO, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW AND WANTED TO CLOSE THE DISCUSSION
WITH THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANYONE ELSE?
FOR BRINGING BOTH OF THESE BEFORE US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE DETAILS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON BEYOND THIS ITEM, VANESSA, DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON 5.2 ON THE 30-UNIT
MIXED USE PROJECT? >> THERE ARE NONE.
THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN. BEING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS WE'LL MOVE ONTO 5.3,
[5.3. Review and Discussion of Draft Article 6 (Administration + Procedures)...]
PLEASE REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF DRAFT ARTICLE 6.>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I APPRECIATE IT.
>> GOOD EVENING, PLANNING COMMISSION, AGAIN, KEVIN SNYDER, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
THIS EVENING WE ARE CONDUCTING OUR 6TH AND FINAL STUDY SESSION WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THE DRAFT UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE THIS IS ON ARTICLE 6 WHICH IS ADMINISTRATION PLUS PROCEDURES, AND AS THE COMMISSION IS AWARE,
[01:35:03]
THE STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANT TEAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPING A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE THAT IS A IN ESSENCE A GUIDE BOOK, A COMBINED GUIDE BOOK OF THE CITY'S LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS ALL IN ONE HANDBOOK IF YOU WILL, SO, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE ONE PLACE WHERE CITIZENS, PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES CAN GO AND GET ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE RATHER THAN HAVING TO GO TO THIS CODE SECTION AND CODE SECTION. SO WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE STUDY SESSIONWISE THE COMMISSION AND AGAIN THIS IS OUR 6TH AND FINAL STUDY SESSION WITH YOU. YOU ARE NOW VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLKS LEADING YOU THROUGH A PRESENTATION. AT OUR LAST MEETING WE HAD A PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION ON THE TOPIC OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEWS, VERSUS PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWS.THERE'S ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THIS EVENING AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ALESSANDRA, AND THEY WILL TAKE YOU THERE THE PRESENTATION.
>> GOOD EVENING, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRPERSON YSIANO AND FELLOW COMMISSIONERS, AS KEVIN MENTIONED I'M PRESENTING ON THIS ITEM. I'M ALESSANDRA LUNDIN AND I HAVE SIMRAN MALHOTRA WITH ME THIS EVENING. LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN AND SET THIS UP PROPERLY. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENCE IS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE INDIO DRAFT UFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION. AND AT THE END I'LL GO THROUGH NEXT STEPS AND UPCOMING MEETINGS FOR THE DRAFT CODE. KEVIN COVERED A LOT OF THIS AREA, BUT, AGAIN, THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE WILL REPLACE THE CHAPTER 159 ZONING REGULATIONS AND CHAPTER 150 BILLBOARDS AND SIGNS IN THE CODE. THE KEY GOALS ARE TO ENSURE THE CONSIST TEPIDITYSY WITH THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN TO COMPLY WITH RECENT STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION ON HOUSING AND TO MODERNIZE THE CODE MAKE IT LEGIBLE, AND USEABLE AND IMPROVE CODES AND PROCEDURES WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS.
>> UM, JUST AS ANOTHER RECAP, WE SENT A MAILER OUT TO ALL RESIDENTS PREVIOUSLY WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT WEBSITE ALONG WITH INTERACTIVE PARCEL-BASED MAPS ON THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING CHANGES.
AND AS KEVIN MENTIONED THIS IS THE 6TH IN A SERIES OF STUDY SESSIONS ON THE DRAFT CODE. THE NEXT MEETING RELATED TO THIS PROJECT IS THE RIVERSIDE COUNTY AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION REVIEW ON JUNE 9TH. THERE'S A CITYWIDE NOTIFICATION OF PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY COUNCIL CODE WILL BE SENT OUT IN THE NEXT FEW
WEEKS. >> THIS SLIDE PROVIDES THE HIGH LEVEL TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE CODE. WE DISCUSSED ARTICLE 2, ZONING REGULATIONS, ARTICLE 3, CITYWIDE STANDARDS WHICH INCLUDED DESIGN CODE.
AND ARTICLE 4-SPECIAL USES IN PREVIOUS STUDY SESSIONS.
AND THEN ARTICLE 5 WILL BE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS WHICH WILL BE UPDATED AT A LATER DATE.
AND LASTLY, WE COME TO TONIGHT'S MEETING WHICH IS ARTICLE 6, THE LAST ARTICLE, ADMINISTRATION AND
PROCEDURES. >>> AND NOW, GETTING INTO A
[01:40:03]
LITTLE MORE OF THE DETAILS ON ARTICLE 6, THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE HIGH LEVEL CHAPTERS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE ARTICLE. AND I'LL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON A FEW OF THESE SECTIONS ON THE NEXT SLIDES.BUT, AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE HAVE PURPOSE, THE REVIEW AND DECISION MAKING BODIES, COMMON PROCEDURES, PERMITS AND APPROVALS, OTHER TYPES OF PLANS, SUCH AS SPECIFIC PLANS, GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING AMENDMENTS, ALL OF THE NON-CONFORMING PROVISIONS AND THEN ENFORCEMENT AND
ABATEMENT. >>> SO, CHAPTER 6.03 INCLUDES REGULATIONS ON COMMON PROCEDURES, SUCH AS APPLICATIONS FORMS AND FEES, PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW, WHICH YOU COULD SEE HOW THAT WORKED TONIGHT, WHICH IS A VOLUNTARY PROCESS OFFERED BY THE CITY TO GET EARLY INPUT ON A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVIEW MEETINGS WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD. THIS CHAPTER CORPSS PUBLIC NOTICE THE, THE APPEALS PROCESS, MODIFICATIONS AND THE LIKE. CHAPTER 6.04 COVERS ZONING CLEARANCE, PLANNING REVIEW, ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS, TEMPORARY USE PERMITS, VARIANCES AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION.
AND LASTLY, CHAPTER 6.05 COVERS THE PROCEDURES OR OTHER TYPES OF PLANS INCLUDING PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS AND SPECIFIC PLANS.
>>> SO, I WANT TO SPEND TIME WALKING THROUGH THE THREE TYPES OF PLANNING REVIEW FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SINCE RECENT STATE LEGISLATION NOW MANDATE MINISTERIAL REVIEW.
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF PLANNING REVIEW ADMINISTRATIVE, MINISTERIAL, AND DISCRETIONARY.
SMALL NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS, SO, COMMERCIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND UNDER, I'M SORRY, INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS 10,000 SQUARE FEET AND UNDER.
THIS TYPE OF REVIEW DOES NOT INVOLVE SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT AND DECISIONS BY THE DIRECTOR MAY BE APEELED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
PER STATE LAW, MINISTERIAL REVIEW IS NOW REQUIRED FOR ALL RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS OF TWO OR MORE UNITS AND MIXED USE PROJECTS WITH AT LEAST TWO THIRDS RESIDENTIAL.
THE DIRECTARY AND PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEWS THE PROJECT WITH THE GENERAL PLAN, ZONING, AND DESIGN STANDARDS.
THESE TYPES OF REVIEWS CANNOT INVOLVE ANY SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENT OR DISCRETION. THE PLANNING COMMISSION CAN HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS OR COMMENTS OF THE PROJECT BUT CANNOT REDUCE THE DENSITY OF THE PROJECT.
THE CITY CANNOT DENY ANY OF THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS IF THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE. HOWEVER, IF A HOUSING PROJECT REQUIRES A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, OR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WILL GO THROUGH THE DISCRETIONARY REVIEW PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT AN APPLICANT OR A PROJECT MIGHT NOT WANT TO MEET ALL OF THE OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS OR CAN'T MEET ALL OF THE OBJECTIVE DID DESIGN STANDARDS AND THEY WANT TO VARY FROM THOSE AND THEY CAN CHOOSE TO GO THROUGH THAT.
MAY BE BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE, LET'S STOP TO SEE IF THE COMMISSION HAS QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. CHAIR, IF THAT'S ACCEPTABLE, MAY BE WE SHOULD TAKE A MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT THIS MORE IN DETAIL IF THAT'S WHEN
THE COMMISSION WOULD LIKE TO DO. >> YEAH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A
GREAT IDEA. >> IT'S GO TO SEE PARAMETERS OVER THIS SO WE COULD WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND THIS. DO WE HAVE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS? I KNOW GLORIA, YOU KIND OF SPEARHEADED THIS DISCUSSION.
>> I WAS GOING TO BE NICE AND LET JACKIE GO FIRST.
OKAY. SO, I UPS THE MINISTERIAL, THEY'RE GOING TO
[01:45:02]
COME BEFORE US, WE STILL GET TO DISCUSS, WE STILL HAVE WITH THE DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN THEY HAVE TO MEET THE RULES AND REGS THAT WE PUT IN INTEREST WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YOU'RES. ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE, I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF GETTING SMALL PROJECTS THROUGH WITHOUT GOING THROUGH SUCH A LENGTHY PROCESS, RIGHT, TIME IS MONEY AND EVERYTHING TAKES TIME.MY QUESTION IS, ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, 5,000 SQUARE FEET DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A WHOLE LOT FOR A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, USUALLY THEY'RE BIGGER. BUT IF I'M SEEING THIS RIGHT, WHAT ABOUT THINGS LIKE DUTCH BROTHERS, FAST FOODS, STARBUCKS? THEY'RE COOKIE CUTTER, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THEM THAT COME IN. WHAT ELSE WOULD BE LIKE 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS THAT WE WOULD SEE IN THE CITY, I'M NOT AN ARCHITECT, SO I DON'T IMMEDIATELY KNOW WHAT KINDS OF BUILDINGS I'M LOOKING FOR. AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT RESTAURANTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME INTO CERTAIN AREAS AND THEY'RE SMALLER AREAS, AND WE DON'T GET TO SEE THEM AT ALL, LOCATION, OR DESIGN OR ANYTHING.
THE INDUSTRIAL, USUALLY, NOT A WHOLE LOT GOES ON WITH INDUSTRIAL, THEY'RE PRETTY EASY BUILDINGS AND THEY GO IN INDUSTRIAL. WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT OUR DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN, OASIS STREET, MILES, THERE ARE SO MANY AREA THAT IS REQUIRE I GUESS, YOU KNOW, UPGRADES, RIGHT, WHICH IS WHY THAT $90 MILLION YOU KNOW, THING THAT WE JUST TALK ABOUT FOR THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE IN THE CITY STREETS AND ALL THAT I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT. SO, KEVIN COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME, ON A COMMERCIAL SIDE, 5,000 SQUARE FEET, WHAT WOULD WE NOT SEE IN GENERAL THAT WOULD COME BEFORE US NOW?
>> WELL, I'LL START, I THINK THAT YOU GAVE REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES, I THINK THAT THE STARBUCKS OR A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT, ASSUMING THEY'RE 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS, MAY BE A DENTIST OFFICE BUILDING OR REAL ESTATE OFFICE BUILDING OR A SMALL MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, A SMALL STAND-ALONE, MULTI-TENANT BUILDING THAT MAY HAVE 1500 SQUARE-FOOT TENANT SPACES OR SMALLER. SO, THOSE ARE EXAMPLES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS PROPOSED, THE COMMISSION DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, YOU COULD COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION.
THIS IS NOT WRITTEN IN STONE, THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FROM STAFF AND THE CONSULTANTS FROM THE COMMISSION TO CONSIDER. BUT, I THINK THOSE ARE OUR EXAMPLES AND ALSO, REMEMBER, AND YOU'VE SEEN THEM, YOU KNOW, THE CITY IS ENHANCED THE DEFINITION AND DETAIL OF OUR DESIGN STANDARDS THAT WOULD BE APPLICABLE.
SO, THERE'S A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF DETAIL NOW THAT A PROJECT WOULD BE LOOKED AT UNDER, WHETHER IT BE COMMISSION OR ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL.
AND THE COMMISSION OBVIOUSLY HAS A HAND IN ESTABLISHING THOSE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS SO YOU WILL KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AS.
>> SO, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A CALL UP OPTION, IS THAT PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE, OR WAS THAT SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, LOT OF THESE THINGS PROBABLE CAN BE APPROVED WITH STAFF WITHOUT A LOT OF ISSUES OR CONCERNS.
BUT WE TALKED ABOUT EVEN THIS BEING ABLE TO BE CALLED UP. IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT A WAYS DOWN THAT EXPLAINS THE CALLUP FEATURES?
>> I GOT MORE FEED BACK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE ELEVATED TO THE COMMISSION SO, THE IDEA THAT THE COMMISSION WON'T BE KEPT IN THE PREVERBIAL DARK IF THIS ADMINISTRATIVE WAS PUT IN PLACE, THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT TO THE COMMISSION SO YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DIRECTOR TO GO TO THE COMMISSION BEFORE A DECISION IS MADE AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DIRECTOR TO ELEVATE IF HE OR SHE FELT THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD BE REVIEWED AT A HIGHER LEVEL.
MAY BE, I KNOW, ALISSA WILL YOU TOUCH ON THAT IN A MOMENT.
>> ACTUALLY, SORRY, I WAS GOING TO SAY, YES, THERE'S A SECTION ON CALLS FOR REVIEW IN THE CODE UNDER, I THINK IT'S THE COMMON PROCEDURES CHAPTER.
SO, AN APPLICANT OR A COMMISSIONER FOR INSTANCE, CAN ALSO CALL SOMETHING UP FOR A REVIEW AT A
[01:50:01]
HIGHER LEVEL. AND AGAIN, AS KEVIN MENTIONED, THE DIRECTOR CAN ALWAYS DECIDE, THIS SEEMS CONTROVERSIAL, OR THIS PROJECT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION AT A HIGHER LEVEL AND CAN RECOMMEND THAT ITGO TO PLANNING COMMISSION. >> OKAY.
AND JUST ONE MORE QUESTION ON THIS SLIDE, ON THE DISCRETIONARY, THAT'S MORE IN LINE OF WHAT WE DO NOW, RIGHT?
>> YES. >> OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I'M NOT MISUNDERSTANDING AT THAT POINT.
I THINK THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE CALL UP FEATURE, THE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS. THE INDUSTRIAL NOT SO MUCH.
>> THE ADMINISTRATIVE, AND THERE'LL WILL BE NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR ALL OF THESE, SO, I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, SO, EVEN IF THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW, THERE'LL BE NOTIFICATION TO SURROUNDING PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THE AREA.
APPROVAL. >> AFTER THE APPROVAL, HOWEVER THE DIRECTOR COULD, AT HIS OR HER DISCRETION BRING IT BEFORE THE COMMISSION TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK BEFORE HE OR SHE WOULD MAKE A DECISION. SO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT ADMINISTRATIVE, BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, I KEEP SAYING THE DIRECTOR, IF HE OR SHE FELT THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROJECT OR AN UNUSUAL SITUATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE FEEDBACK OF THE COMMISSION, HE OR SHE COULD ELECT TO BRING THAT TO YOU AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK. AND THAT'S A CONCEPT, AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH IT.
>> IF I COULD JUMP IN BRIEFLY HERE. THE PROCEDURES THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW IS THAT ONCE THE DIRECTOR PROVIDES THE REPORT ON HIS DECISION, HIS OR HER DECISION, THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO CALL THAT PROJECT UP AND CHOOSE TO CHANGE THAT DECISION. SO, FOR THE MOST PART, THE SMALL THINGS CAN JUST GO RIGHT THROUGH, BUT IT IF THERE'S A PROJECT THAT COMES UP IN THE APPROVAL REPORT THAT YOU SEE THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO HAVE INPUT IN, YOU COULD ALWAYS CALL IT UP.
THAT OPTION HASN'T BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
>> IN REGARDS TO LIKE, WHAT'S THE TURN AROUND TIME, LIKE, WHAT'S THE TIMING OF ALL OF THIS? AND HOW DO WE COME TO THIS CONCLUSION, LIKE, DID WE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND HOW THEY ADMINISTRATIVELY PROCESS PROJECTS? ARE WE TAKING -- IS THIS GOING TO IMPEDE ON GETTING PROJECTS THROUGH THE DESK BY HAVING THINGS GOING BACK AND FORTH? THAT'S MY CONCERN.
>> IT'S A GOOD CONCERN, COMMISSIONER, AND THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, I THINK THAT PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME THE PROJECTS, YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY, THE FIRST TWO BULLETS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE, VARIANCES, MINOR MODIFICATIONS.
THOSE MOST LIKELY WILL NOT COME BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION, FOR THE COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL, THERE MAY BE A NEED OR ELEVATION OR THE COMMISSION MAY CALL IT UP. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCEDURES ARE FAIRLY COMMON IN MY EXPERIENCE IN MANY CITIES AND THERE'S USUALLY A DIFFERENTIATION IN SCALE AND INTENSITY THAT SETS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ADMINISTRATIVE AND A HIGHER LEVEL OF REVIEW. AND BEING SENSITIVE TO THE COMMISSION'S CONCERNS, THAT'S WHY WE LIMITED THE COMMERCIAL AT 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS AND THE INDUSTRIAL AT 10,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS, TO PRESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE A DIRECT ROLE IN THE REVIEW OF MORE INTENSE, IMPACTFUL PROJECTS, BUT TRYING TO BALANCE THE TIME, COST, AND EFFICIENCY, THE STAFF RESOURCE EFFICIENCIES FOR THESE
SMALLER PROJECTS. >> SO, WHAT'S A RECOMMENDED TIME LIMIT OR A NOT, TIME LIMIT, BUT LIKE, PROCESS, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU -- DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN PLACE -- LIKE, I'M TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND HOW THIS IS GOING TO EXPEDITE OR -- BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW, BUT, LIKE, WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TURN AROUND BEFORE IT
[01:55:01]
COMES TO US? >> SO, YOU FIGURE WHEN YOU INVOLVE A PUBLIC HEARING COMPONENT INTO A PROJECT, IT ADDS SAY 60-90 DAYS TO THE PROCESS, JUST DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE PROJECT.
SO, IF WE HAVE PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT REQUIRED ULTIMATELY TO GO THROUGH A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS WE COULD CUT DOWN THE REVIEW TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, WE WOULD TELL SOMEONE THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO PLANNING COMMISSION, YOU COULD EXPECT, SAY, ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX MONTHS ON AVERAGE TO GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO, IT MIGHT BE THAT RATHER THAN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH A PROCESS IN THREE MONTHS FOR A REVIEW OF A SMALL PROJECT. THESE ARE JUST HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLES, BUT THE POINT IS, THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE LAYERS OF LEADING UP TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW AND GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW, WE'RE ABLE TO SHORTEN THE REVIEW TIMEFRAMES AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVELS, TYPICALLY, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION? >> KIND OF SORT OF, HAVE WE COMPARED THIS PROCESS TO OTHER LOCAL CITIES TO SEE WHAT THEIR PROCESSES ARE? I'M JUST CONCERN ABOUT WHEN AN APPLICANT COMES IN WHETHER IT BE SMALL OR BIG, AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ADMINISTRATIVELY, WITH STAFF, AGAIN, IF WE'RE HAVING ANY SAY, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE, WHAT IT OUR DIRECTOR, MAY BE YOU ARE GOING TO BE -- WE CAN'T KEEP YOU FOREVER, KEVIN, BUT WHAT IF WE GET A NEW DIRECTOR AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT VISION ON HOW TO PROCESS OR -- I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PROCESS AND NOT REALLY HAVING A, KIND OF LIKE, A TIMEFRAME WHEN SOMEONE COMES IN TO DO -- YEAH, I GUESS, I'M JUST A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT, AND WHAT THE TIMING IS, AND, UM, ANY FUTURE STAFF THAT COMES IN, UM, LIKE WHAT IS THAT
GOING TO LOOK LIKE, RIGHT? >> SO, A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS, I APPRECIATE THE CONCERN. I SAID THIS AT OUR LAST MEETING AND I'LL REPEAT IT. I REALLY ENCOURAGE THE COMMISSION TO TRUST THE STANDARDS THAT YOU ARE CO--AUTHORS OF WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AND WORRY LESS ABOUT WHOSE IN THE CHAIR. YOU AS COMMISSIONERS CAN CHANGE THE PROCESSES. IF YOU THINK STAFF IS NOT HANDLING THINGS THE WAY YOU WANT YOU COULD CHANGE THAT.
THE STANDARDS THAT COULD BE ADOPTED WILL GIVE YOU AS COMMISSIONERS AND THE COUNSEL AND THE COMMUNITY ASSURANCES THAT A HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY DESIGN IS GOING TO BE DONE.
BUT, THINGS CAN ALWAYS CHANGE.
AND YOU'RE CONCERN ABOUT TIMEFRAMES IS A REASONABLE ONE.
I THINK AN ADMINISTRATIVE, DRAWING ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE, AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW PROCESS, STAFF CAN GET TIMELY REVIEWS.
SO, THERE MIGHT BE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE COULD SAY THAT WE COULD PROCESS ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMITS, SIGN PERMITS WITHIN 30 TO 60 DAYS AND COMMIT TO THAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE AREN'T TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND WE COULD MOVE THROUGH THEM QUICKLY AND SAME THING WITH THE SMALL COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL
PROJECTS. >> JUST A QUICK, I THINK THERE WAS A SECTION THAT I MADE A NOTE WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE REPORT THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDED US, IT WAS SECTION 6.03.14 WHICH TALKED ABOUT EFFECTIVE DATES AND PROCESSES, THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT 15 DAYS AND SOMETHING ABOUT 30 DAYS AND IT CONFUSED ME A BIT. SO, I THINK MAY BE INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO DO THAT IF WE WENT THROUGH THAT SECTION, I THINK IT MAY HELP COMMISSIONER LOPEZ AND MYSELF TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF THE TURN AROUND TIME BECAUSE IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME.
BUT, I THINK I'M OKAY WITH THIS SECTION AT THIS POINT. I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M 100% ON BOARD, BUT.
>> AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION THIS EVENING AND YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER BITE AT THE PREVERBIAL APPLE WHEN WE BRING THIS BACK FOR RECOMMENDATION FOR CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS SLIDE OR WE COULD MOVE ON AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE COVERED I THINK THAT WE WILL GET TO
>> VICE CHAIR, DO YOU HAVE ANY
[02:00:03]
COMMENTS ON THIS SLIDE.>> MY CONCERN IS PUBLIC INTERACTION, SO, IF IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE, IT HAD NOT GO THROUGH A TELEPHONE PUBLIC HEARING. WHEN CAN THE COMMUNITY COME AND SAY SOMETHING TO YOU THAT GETS PUT IN THE RECORD AND GETS CONSIDERED, LIKE SOMEONE IN YOUR POSITION IS CONSIDERING APPROVING A PROJECT?
>> SO, NOT DISSIMILAR TO THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE NOW, WHEN A PROJECT COMES IN AND WE DEEM IT COMPLETE, THEN WE WOULD PREPARE A PUBLIC NOTICE THAT WOULD GO OUT TO PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF THE PROJECT SITE. IT WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE INFORMATION DESCRIBING WHAT THE PROJECT IS SUCH THAT FOLKS HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING. THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING AS PART OF THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS IS REQUIRED INSTALLATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE SIGNS ON THE PROPERTIES. NOT JUST PEOPLE GETTING A MAILER, BUT FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE AREA, THEY WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A PUBLIC NOTICE SIGN THAT GOES UP ON THE PROPERTY AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY TO SIGNIFY, HEY, SOMETHING'S GOING ON ON THE PROPERTY.
SOMETIMES. LEGALLY, THE COMMENTS HAVE TO BE FACTUAL AND IT'S RELEVANT AND EXACT THE DECISION MAKING AT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL. >> AND I GUESS THE FOLLOWUP FOR THAT, AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO WHAT CONSISTS OF A COLL CALL UP, BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE DOING YOU'RE REPORT AFTER YOU APPROVED THE PROJECTS, WOULD THAT GIVE AN OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME BACK AND MAKE COMMENT ORS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXAMPLE TO THE COMMISSION IN CASE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN HAVING THIS ABCALL BACK? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDERSTANDING IF IT IS WRITTEN WITHIN HOW IT'S CURRENTLY
SPELLED OUT. >> IF WE COULD HOLD THAT QUESTION UNTIL I KNOW THAT WE'RE STUCK ON THIS SCREEN, BUT SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE PRESENTATION. IF YOU DON'T MIND, VICE CHAIR, IF WE COULD HOLD ON THAT QUESTION AT THE MOMENT. SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD ANSWER ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, I WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE ANSWERING ALL
THE QUESTIONS. >> WHAT MAKES A PROJECT RELEVANT AND WHO DECIDES THAT?
>> I APOLOGIZE, COMMISSIONER, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE
QUESTION. >> YOU SAID SOMETHING WHEN VICE CHAIR SAID SOMETHING ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT A CERTAIN PROJECT AND HAVING PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS, IF I'M CORRECT.
YOU SAID SOMEONE WILL DECIDE WETHER OR NOT A PROJECT IS RELEVANT?
>> I THINK HIS QUESTION WAS IF THERE IS A CALL UP CONSIDERATION, HOW DOES THE PUBLIC GET INVOLVED IN THAT CALL
UP. >> WHO DECIDES IF IT'S RELEVANT
OR NOT RELEVANT? >> SO, RELEVANTSY WOULDN'T HAVE A FACTOR, AT LEAST AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IF THE COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THE PROJECT SHOULD BE CALLED UP, THEN THERE WOULD ABPROCESS FOR
THAT. >> THE COMMENT WHEN IT'S UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW ONLY AND THE PUBLIC GETS NOTIFIED AND REACH OUT TO THE STAFF AND GIVE CONCERNS OR COMMENTS, I THINK THERE WAS A COMMENT THERE ABOUT
RELEVANTSY. >> I THINK I WAS SAYING THAT THE COMMENTS HAVE TO BE FACTUAL.
SO, SAYING, I DON'T LIKE THE PROJECT, THAT'S AN EXPRESSION OF AN OPINION NOT FACTUAL, LEGALLY, AND IT'S THE SAME ONUS BEEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY, YOU HAVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE TO BE FACTUAL IN NATURE.
SIMPLY SAYING I DON'T LIKE SOMETHING, THAT'S AN OPINION AND NOT A FACT. DOES THAT HELP ANSWER THE
[02:05:07]
I'LL HAVE TO REWIND BACK TO YOUR ANSWER THERE TO VICE CHAIR. BUT, YES, FOR NOW. FOR NOW.>> THIS IS ONE OF THE CHALLENGES, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL OF REVIEW THAT GOES ON, THERE'S A LEGAL OBLIGATION, NO MATTER WHO THE REVIEW PARTY IS THAT WHEN REVIEWING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE ACCEPT ALL PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT THOSE THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IN TERMS OF DECISION MAKING, HAVE TO HAVE A FACTUAL BASIS BEHIND THEM IN TERMS OF INFLUENCING THE OUTCOME OF THAT DECISION MAKING THAT'S ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL AS STAFF NO MATTER WHAT THE REVIEW
LEVEL IS. >> YES, I JUST WANTED TO ADD QUICKLY AS WELL, I THINK WHEN COMMISSIONER LOPEZ WAS ASKING ABOUT OTHER CITIES IN THE VALLEY, I DID LOOK INTO SOME OTHER ZONING CODES FOR NEARBY CITIES AND THIS IS TRUE OF, I THINK I WOULD SAY MOST CITIES IS THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF, THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF IT MAY NOT BE CALLED THAT, BUT THEY USUALLY IS A SOME KIND OF ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW THAT APPLIES TO SMALLER SCALE PROJECTS OR APPLICATIONS THAT'S REVIEWED AT THE STAFF-LEVEL OR AT A ZONING ADMINISTRATOR LEVEL.
>> I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT CITIES YOU REVIEWED IF YOU COULD PROVIDE THAT IN THE NEXT
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, LA QUINTA, THEY HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BY THE DIRECTOR THAT INCLUDES ALL COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS UNDER 15,000
SQUARE FEET. >> BUT THEY HAVE AN ARCHITECTURE REVIEW COMMITTEE,
CORRECT? >> I THINK SO, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BACK AT THAT THEM OR --
>> PALM DESSERT HAS AN ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE. YOU ARE THAT BODY, FOR THE CITY OF
>> I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET OFF THIS SIDE, BUT COULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO, CAN WE JUST BE PART OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW FOR IT.
COULD WE JUST DO THAT PART OF IT INSTEAD OF DOING EVERYTHING OR WOULD THAT ELIMINATE THE REASON TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF US.
>> YES. >> IT DOESN'T STREAMLINE THE
PROCESS. >> IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY STREAMLINE THE PROCESS UNLESS YOU TAKE IT IN THE VAIN OF LIKE WE DID EARLIER THIS EVENING, WHERE IT'S A PROJECT CONSULTATION MODEL WHERE STAFF BRINGS IT IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR YOUR FEEDBACK, NOT A PUBLIC HEARING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT FOR FEEDBACK AND INCORPORATES WHERE APPROPRIATE THE COMMISSION'S COMMENTS INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE DECISION. AGAIN, WE ARE, THIS IS JUST A DISCUSSION, AND ULTIMATELY, YOU WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL WETHER OR NOT YOU SUPPORT THE IDEAS IN FRONT OF
YOU. >> CAN WE LIKE MAKE A NOTE OF THAT AS AN OPTION, SET IT OFF TO THE SIDE AND MAY BE OR MAY BE NOT IT ENDS UP IN HERE.
>> AND WE WILL DO THAT, COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THAT I SAID THIS LAST MEETING, BUT I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THERE IS AN IMPACT ON STAFF RESOURCES, WHILE IT SHOULD NOT IN ANY WAY TAKE AWAY FROM THE COMMISSION'S REVIEWING OF A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT COMMERCIAL BUILDING VERSUS A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, THE SAME LEVEL OF EFFORT HAS TO GO INTO TO TODAY. AND FROM A MANAGEMENT STAND POINT IT WOULD HELP ME TO MINIMIZE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S JUST MY PERSPECTIVE, NOT
[02:10:01]
SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION HAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT BUT I WOULD AT LEAST ASK YOU TO THINKABOUT IT. >> IF THE CHAIR AND COMMISSION IS READY TO MOVE ON.
THIS HAS BEEN GOOD AND I THINK WE GOT GREAT FEEDBACK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
>> COMMISSIONERS, IF DURING THE NEXT SERIES OF SLIDES, IF THERE'S ANY IMPORTANT THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE, AND YOU WANT TO JUMP IN, PLEASE FEEL FREE, OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SAVE ANY QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END AND IF WE WANT TO COME BACK AND DISCUSS THE SLIDE A LITTLE BIT AGAIN LATER, WE'RE MORE THAN
WELCOMED TO DO SO. >> THANK YOU, SHARE.
>> SO, I'LL TOUCH ON DISCRETIONARY REVIEW QUICKLY, OF COURSE, DISCRETIONARY REVIEW IS CONDUCTED BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND APPLIES TO PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE A CONDITIONAL USE PROJECT, VARIANCE, OR MODIFICATION AND IT LARGER NON-RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS, SO COMMERCIAL OVER 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND INDUSTRIAL OVER 10,000 SQUARE FEET AND OF COURSE DECISIONS CAN BE APPEALED TO THE
CITY COUNCIL. >>> THIS DIAGRAM PROVIDE AS FLOWCHART OF THE PLANNING REVIEW PROCESS, AND I'LL WALK THROUGH THIS IN MORE DETAIL ON THE COMING SLIDES, IT BASICALLY CONSISTS OF TWO PHASES, THERE'S THE INITIAL STAFF PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS AND THEN THE PLANNING REVIEW BY THE APPROPRIATE REVIEW AUTHORITY.
SO, LET'S KIND OF ZOOM IN ON THOSE A LITTLE BIT. THE FIRST PHASE IS STAFF PROCESSING, WHAT'S AN APPLICANT SUBMITS AN APPLICATION, SO, IT GETS ASSIGNED A PLANNER, IT MIGHT GET REROUTED TO INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS OR EXTERNAL AGENCIES FOR REVIEW, THERE'S A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS NEEDED AND STAFF DETERMINES IF THE APPLICATION IS COMPLETE. IF DEEMED INCOMPLETE IT GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND THE APPLICANT RESTARTS OR IF IT'S DEEMED COMPLETE THEN STAFF COMPLETES THE NOTICE OF APPLICATION STATUS AND IT MOVES ON TO THE NEXT STEP.
AND HERE YOU COULD SEE THE FOUR PATHWAYS.
OR FOUR TYPES OF REVIEW DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF PROJECT APPLICATION. SO, IF THE APPLICATION IS FOR ONE SINGLE FAMILY HOME, FOR EXAMPLE, OR AN ADDITION TO A SINGLE FAMILY HOME OR IT'S ANOTHER TYPE OF PROJECT THAT REQUIRES A BUILDING PROPERMIT, IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE ZONING CLEARANCE PROCESS, IF THE PROJECT IS A SMALL COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROJECT OR REQUIRES A IS IT PERMIT, IT GOES THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BY STAFF.
IF IT'S A HOUSING PROJECT OR RESIDENTIAL MIXED USE PROJECT OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT OR TRANSITIONAL OR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT.
IT GOES THROUGH MINISTERIAL REVIEW PER STATE LAW AND GOES TO PLANNING COMMISSION FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. AND THEN IF THE PROJECT REQUIRES A CUP, VARIANCE, MAJOR MODIFICATIONS, ZONING OR GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT OR IS A LARGER COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL PROJECT IT GOES THROUGH THE DISCRETIONARY REVIEW PROCESS BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AND THIS SLIDE PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF EXAMPLE PROJECTS WITH THE APPROPRIATE REVIEW PROCESS, SO, AGAIN IF IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME IT WOULD GO THROUGH ZONING CLEARANCE, SAY IT WAS A FOUR TOWN HOME DEVELOPMENT IT WOULD GO THROUGH MINISTERIAL REVIEW SINCE IT'S RESIDENTIAL.
SAME THING IF IT WERE A 3-STORY MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING, IT WOULD BE MINISTERIAL REVIEW.
IF IT WAS AN OFFICE OR INDUSTRIAL BUILDING UNDER THOSE THRESHOLDS IT WOULD GO ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND SAY IT'S A LARGE SHOPPING CENTER COMPLEX THAT WOULD GO THROUGH DISCRETIONARY REVIEW AND IF YOU HAVE A MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT EVEN IF IT'S MAJORITY RESIDENTIAL, IF IT REQUIRE AS CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, IT WOULD GO THROUGH DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.
[02:15:02]
>> CAN I ASK A QUESTION QUESTION OF KEVIN, IS THERE ANYTHING SAY OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT THIS HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SIMPLE
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW? >> LET ME THINK FOR A SECOND.
I APOLOGIZE, YOU PUT ME ON THE SPOT, CHAIR.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROJECTS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WHERE YOU KNOW WE'VE HAD I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE MOST RECENT ONE THAT COMES TO MIND THAT WAS A SMALL PROJECT, UM, I APOLOGIZE, CHAIR, IF YOU GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES TO THINK ABOUT IT, I'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THAT
QUESTION. >> KEVIN IF I MAY, THIS IS
>> WE HAVE HAD A DESIGN REVIEW PREVIOUSLY FOR A STORAGE FACILITY, AN RV STORAGE, I DON'T RECALL WHETHER IT WAS 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS, I'M SURE IT WAS LESS THAN 10,000 SQUARE FEET, BUT THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW UNDER THIS NEW ZONING REQUIREMENT. RIGHT.
>> AND COMMISSIONER FRANZ NOTED ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, THE DUTCH BROS, AS AN EXAMPLE, AN 850-SQUARE FOOT BUILDING. WE HAVE HAD OR WE WILL HAVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE -- I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF ONE THAT WOULD NOT GO THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW BUT IT'S IN THE SAME THRESHOLD CATEGORY.
MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GETTING A TEXAS ROADHOUSE.
AND THAT PROJECT WILL BE MAKING IT'S WAY TO YOU RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS.
THERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE IT WOULD BE A DISCRETIONARY REVIEW BECAUSE IT EXCEEDS THAT 5,000 SQUARE
FEET. >> I WAS CURIOUS, GOING BACK TO THE EXAMPLE OF THE DUTCH BROS.
I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE COMMISSION.
>> IN IN INSTANCE, THERE'LL STILL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO PROVIDE COMMENT, BUT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE IS THAT IT WOULD NOT BE IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
YOU ARE CORRECT, CHAIR. >> OKAY.
THANK YOU. SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, IT WAS JUST
SOMETHING THAT POPPED UP. >> THAT'S OKAY, I APOLOGIZE THAT I HAD TO SCRAMBLE A LITTLE.
THANK YOU, ALISSA. >> THANK YOU.
ALLESSANDRA ALLESSANDRA. >> THANK YOU, ACTUALLY I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE SLIDE AS PART OF THE OVERVIEW, BUT, AGAIN, WE CAN GET INTO MORE DETAILS AND I CAN PULL UP THE CODE ITSELF IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT SPECIFIC CODES AFTER THIS. THERE'S A SUMMARY TABLE THAT CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES WHO THE REVIEW CAN HE SIGNIFICANTS MAKING AND APPEAL BODIES ARE FOR EACH TYPE OF PROCEDURE DESCRIBED IN THIS
SECTION OF THE CODE. >> JUST TO ADD, THIS IS MORE OF A CUSTOMER SERVICE TABLE, THIS WOULD GIVE SOMEONE A QUICK OVERVIEW WITHOUT HAVING TO GO DEEP INTO THE CODE OF WHAT PROCESS AND PROCEDURES THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW. THIS IS A CUSTOMER SERVICE TABLE IN MANY
WASTE. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS WILDFIRE I KIND OF MOVE ONTO OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER
DISCUSSION? >> ALLESSANDRA DO YOU WANT TO SPEND A FEW MOMENTS TALKING
ABOUT THE CALL UP? >> YES, I MEAN, I CAN GO TO
THAT. >> LET'S GO TO THE CODE SECTION TO HELP TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED. >> YES.
>> ARE YOU SEEING CALLS FOR REVIEW?
[02:20:01]
>> UM, SO, YES, CALLS FOR REVIEW CAN BE MADE BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
FOR ANY REVIEW OF A DECISION BY THE DIRECTOR, OOPS... I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHY WE PUT ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, I THINK WECK TO TAKE IT'S OUT.
THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL CAN ALWAYS CALL SOMETHING UP FOR REVIEW FOR A DECISION BY THE DIRECTOR OR THE PLANNING COMMISSION. GO DOWN TO TIME
LIMITS. >> CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT
>> I'LL FIGURE WE TAKE THEM AS WE GO, RIGHT. SO, CHAIR, I HOPE IT'S OKAY, I JUST KIND OF JUMPED IN LIKE USUAL.
RIGHT HERE NUMBER ONE IT SAYS THE MAJORITY OF OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION MAY CALL FOR A REVIEW OF THE DECISION OF THE DIRECTOR AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR IS NOT PART OF OUR TEAL, SO THAT WILL GO AWAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE REST OF THE COMMISSION IS ON BOARD BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THE MAJORITY OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR THE CHAIR. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE CHAIR A LITTLE LEEWAY.
THERE'S ONLY FIVE OF US, SO, SOMETIMES THINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A PROBLEM, BUT OTHERWISE I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ADD-ON ON THAT SECTION.
>> IF I COULD RESPOND TO THAT AND THIS IS A TOPIC THAT I THINK THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD DISCUSS.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE RECOMMENDED MAJORITY WAS SO NO ONE COMMISSIONER CONTROLS THE DECISION MAKING AND IT WAS FELT THAT IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION FELT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CALL UP OR A NEED FOR A CALL UP, THAT WOULD BE IN ESSENCE A GROUP DECISION, BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL MAKING THAT CHOICE, IN ESSENCE THAT INDIVIDUAL IS MAKING THE CHOICE FOR THE ENTIRE PLANNING COMMISSION, SO STAFF FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO BE THE MAJORITY, SO, COMMISSIONER FRANZ' SUGGESTION MAY GO AGAINST THAT IDEA THAT STAFF HAD, BUT THROWING IT OUT FOR CONVERSATION.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT POPPED INTO MY HEAD, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS THINK OF IT.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE PROCESS, SAY, ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS, WHETHER THE CHAIRPERSON OR THE COMMISSIONER WANTS TO CALL FOR A REVIEW, IS IT SOMETHING THAT MAY BE JUST DURING COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THE END, A COMMISSIONER CAN MAKE A MOTION TO BRING UP AN ITEM FOR REVIEW AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GET A SECOND AND THAT DETERMINES THE
MAJORITY? >> IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE AGENDA FOR A DISCUSSION.
A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO ASK FOR IT TO BE ON THE AGENDA.
WE COULD ADD IT AS A STANDING ITEM TO THE AGENDA AS PART OF THE REPORTING OUT SO THAT THAT WAY WE COVERED IT BUT IT CAN'T BE DONE WITHOUT IT BEING ON THE AGENDA IN SOME WAY.
>> SO, MAY BE WE HAVE A SET TIME FOR A COMMISSIONER TO PROPOSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WE SET IT FOR AN AGENDA ITEM AT A FUTURE DATE? OR IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THAT AS WELL?
>> THERE IS, BUT WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD HAVE AS PART OF THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA WE COULD HAVE A SECTION THAT IS ACTION-ORIENTED WHERE THERE'S A REVIEW OF DECISIONS MADE BY THE DIRECTOR AS PART OF THAT, IT COULD BE ACTION-ORIENTED AS SUCH THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION COULD TAKE ACTION TO DETERMINE FOR A CALL UP OF THAT DECISION, SO, AS LONG AS WE FIND A WAY TO AGENDIZE IT SO IT'S ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, AND AGAIN, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY CAN JUMP IN, WE WOULD HAVE TO STRUCTURE IT IN A WAY THAT IT GETS ON THE AGENDA AND IT'S ACTION-ORIENTED SO IF THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION WOULD TAKE A MOTION OF ACTION IT'S OFFICIALLY ON THE PUBLIC
RECORD. >> SO, MAY BE THIS SOLVES MY PROBLEM. SO, ANY COMMISSIONER CAN SAY IF QUEER GOING TO HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH AND WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR ITEMS APPROVED AND WE'RE WITHIN WHATEVER THAT TIMELINE IS, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE'S A POINT WHERE ONCE YOU APPROVE IT, THE DEVELOPER HAS TO
[02:25:03]
BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD, RIGHT, SO THERE'S GOING TO HAVE ABA WINDOW OF TIME.SO, MAY BE IF IT'S ON THE AGENDA THEN IT WILL AT LEAST BE AVAILABLE FOR US TO LOOK AT, THEN I'M OKAY WITH THE MAJORITY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE COULDN'T GET THE MAJORITY TO BEFORE US.
THAT REMOVES MY NEED TO HAVE A CHAIR, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, SO, I ACTUALLY LIKE THAT
IDEA. >> SO CHIME IN, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY HERE, I THINK THAT EVERYTHING DIRECTOR SNYDER MENTIONED WAS DIRECT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ON THE AGENDA, AND THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE DO AS A STANDING ITEM BASED ON THE REGULAR REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BODY WOULD BE TAKING ACTION AND DECIDING ON SOMETHING THAT WOULD NEED TO HAPPEN IN A MEETING.
SO, I GUESS, ANOTHER REASON TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND DISCUSS IT AT
A MEETING. >> I KIND OF AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FRANZ' THOUGHTS ON THAT. ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER THOUGHTS ON HAVING THAT AS A STANDING AGENDA PORTION?
>> I THINK THIS LAST OPTION ANSWERS MY QUESTION THAT I HAD EARLIER ABOUT WHAT IS THAT INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO THEN AS PART OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SAY MAY BE WE SHOULD BRING THAT BACK UP TO REVIEW SO IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE LIVING WITHIN THE AGENDA AND SOMETHING THAT CAN THEN BE BROUGHT UP, IF THE MAJORITY AGREES AND MAY BE WE HEARD SOME COMMENTS, I DON'T KNOW, AND THIS IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS SCENARIO, BUT MAY BE KEVIN APPROVED A NEON GREEN BUILDING AND THE COMMUNITY IS ABSOLUTELY NOT INTO IT AND MAY BE THEY SAY PLEASE CALL THIS BACK FOR REVIEW, AND I THINK IF THAT'S THE APPROACH AND NOT CAUSING THE EXTENSION OF STREAMLINING THE PERMITS, IF IT'S NOT GOING TO SLOW US DOWN OR HINDER THE PROCESS, THEN, I THINK, ABSOLUTELY I WOULD BE BEHIND SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> AND I SHOULD ADD WITH IT BEING AN AENDIZED ITEM, ANY COMMISSIONER CAN DISCUSS IT.
I WOULD SAY THAT IF THE CALL UPOCCURED, THE APPLICANT WOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THAT AND THEY WOULD BE INVITED TO THE COMMISSION'S FORMAL DISCUSSION ON THAT. SO, IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
SO, CHAIR, DOES THIS, I GUESS, DOES THIS HELP TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THAT THE COMMISSION HAD OR WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO FURTHER INTO THIS?
>> I THINK IT DOES ANSWER EVERYONE'S QUESTION.
WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT THE TO IMPLEMENT AS BEING STANDARDIZED PART OF THE AGENDA?
>> WE CAN CERTAINLY ADD SOME LANGUAGE INTO THE DRAFT CODE THAT SPECIFIES THAT WILL BE AGENDIZED AS A REGULAR ITEM JUST TO CLARIFY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
I ALREADY SEE ALLESSANDRA MAKING NOTES. ON THE NEXT VERSION THAT YOU SEE THERE'LL BE LANGUAGE IN THERE THAT WE'LL ADD THAT WILL POINT OUT THAT THIS WILL OCCUR IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE DESCRIBED.
>> OKAY, SO ARE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS OKAY WITH THAT AND WE'LL MOVE ON AND THE NEXT TIME WE DISCUSS THIS WE'LL BRIEFLY GO INTO THE EXPLANATION OF THAT LANGUAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADD TO THIS PART SIX?
>> AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT HELP, I'M NOT 100% ON THE 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR 10,000 SQUARE
[02:30:02]
FEAT. I DO LIKE THAT IDEA FOR ANY ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS.>> AND GIP, JUST REMEMBER, WHEN THIS COMES BACK FOR FORMAL HEARING, AS THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS AT 5,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS, YOU COULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL THAT'S YOUR PURVIEW.
>> YEAH, AND WE CAN DISCUSS A DIFFERENT THRESHOLD IF YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE.
COMMISSIONERS, LET'S PUT THOUGHT INTO THAT AS WELL.
WHEN WILL THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE ACTION ON, KEVIN?
>> WELL, I GUESS A QUESTION FOR THE COMMISSION AND YOU CAN THINK ON IT FOR A MOMENT OR TWO, BUT OUR PLAN IS NOW, ONCE WE FINISH THIS EVENING AND GET YOUR FEEDBACK IS WE'RE GOING TO FINALIZE THE DOCUMENT AND START TO PREPARE FOR THE FORMAL PUBLIC HEARINGS. IF THERE ARE TOPICS WHICH ARE OUTSTANDING FOR YOU, SUCH AS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW, THE 5,000 SQUARE FOOT, FOR EXAMPLE, WELL, THE CONSULTANT IS IN SCOPE FOR THIS, STAFF CAN HAVE A LIMBED DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC SO WE COULD FEED BACK INTO THE FINAL VERSION OF THE DRAFT CODE THAT'S GOING TO COME TO YOU, BECAUSE WE ARE PLANNING FOR FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING, SO, I THINK IF YOU NEED TO SCRATCH THIS ITCH A BIT MORE, IT'S WORKING WITH MYSELF AND MELISSA DIRECTLY ON KEY TOPIC AREAS THAT YOU WANT TO DISCUSS FURTHER AND THAT WILL GIVE ALLESSANDRA TO CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE DOCUMENT FOR FORMAL PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL FEED BACK INTO THAT PROCESS WITH ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THAT YOU
GIVE. >> AND BY WHEN WOULD YOU LIKE INPUT FROM COMMISSIONERS SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON IT.
>> I THINK THAT IF THE COMMISSION IS GOING TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE FURTHER THIS EVENING, I THINK IT WOULD PROBABLY HELP US IF WE DID THAT AT YOUR NEXT COMMISSION MEETING AND THAT WILL -- AND HOPEFULLY GET ENOUGH DIRECTION AT THAT TIME TO FEEDBACK ON THIS.
BECAUSE WE'RE ON A TIMELINE AFTER THIS EVENING OF GETTING
THE DOCUMENT READY. >> CHAIR, I THINK THAT IF WE GET THROUGH THIS TIMELINE AND SOME OF MY QUESTIONS ARE ANSWERED, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET TO SOMETHING THAT WE ALL FEEL OKAY WITH. I KNOW THIS IS UP AGAINST THE CLOCK NOW AND WE REALLY WANT TO GET THIS MOVING FORWARD. SO, I WOULD PREFER NOT TO BRING IT BACK TO ANOTHER MEETING, BUT, I ALSO KNOW IT'S 8:30 PASSED MOST OF OUR BEDTIMES, I THINK, I'M NOT SURE.
BUT CAN WE GO THROUGH THE TIMELINE THING ANT MAY BE SEE WHERE WE ARE AT THAT POINT.
>> IT MIGHT BE A SUGGESTION TO BE ABLE TO STREAMLINE THAT, IS ANY CHANGES TO THE LANGUAGE AFTER THIS DISCUSSION WOULD BE GOOD TO MAY BE, JUST HAVE THEM ALL IN ONE PLACE SO THAT WHEN IT DOES COME FOR THE MORE OFFICIAL REVIEW AND THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THAT LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE, AVAILABLE, TO US. AND THAT WAY IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS WE CAN THEN BRING THEM UP AT THAT POINT AND I FEEL MAKE THAT WAY YOU ALL CAN TAKE OUR QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS, FIGURE OUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THEM AND HAVE THE LANGUAGE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT WE IDENTIFIED AND AS LONG AS WE GET A VERSION OF THE LANGUAGES THAT WILL BE USED IN THE VERSION THAT WE EITHER RECOMMEND OR NOT, I THINK THAT MIGHT HELP STREAMLINE THAT, IT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
>> IF THE COMMISSION WERE TO FOLLOW THE VICE CHAIRS SUGGESTION, WE COULD DEVELOP DRAFT LANGUAGE IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS TONIGHT, WE COULD SEND THAT IN THE MEMBERS AND YOU COULD GET THAT BACK TO ME INDIVIDUALLY WITH QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU HAVE WITH FEED BACK INTO THE DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
IF THAT WOULD BE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME SO THAT WE DON'T NEED TO DEDICATE ANOTHER MEETING, THAT'S CERTAINLY AN OPTION.
>> IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS EVENING IN RESPONSE TO OUR INPUT, WE COULD FEED BACK TO YOU AND GET YOUR INDIVIDUAL FEEDBACK DIRECTLY AND IF THERE'S CONSENSUS IF TERMS OF THE FEEDBACK WE CAN ADDRESS IT IN THE DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE PREPARING.
>> COMMISSIONERS, ARE WE OKAY WITH THAT?
[02:35:01]
THAT IT'S 8:35 I DO WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF TIME.ALLESSANDRA, WHAT OTHER THINGS DID YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO TOUCH ON THIS EVENING WITH THE COMMISSION?
>> I MEAN, I HAD THAT WAS KIND OF THE CONCLUSION OF OUR PRESENTATION.
AND ONE OF OUR KEY QUESTIONS WAS ON THOSE KIND OF THERE'S HOLDS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE VERSUS DISCRETIONARY REVIEW.
BUT, I KNOW, UM, COMMISSIONER FRANZ YOU WANTED TO LOOK MORE SPECIFICALLY ON SOME OF THE TIME LIMITS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THAT SPECIFIC SECTION OF THIS
ARTICLE OR NOT. >> I MEAN, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW BRINGING THOSE APPROVAL ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, THEN, I THINK THE LIMITS THAT I SEE WAS THE CALL BACK FOR REVIEWS WAS RECEIVED WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DATE THAT IT WAS APPROVED, SO IT WOULD COME UP REALLY FAST. AND I'M ASSUMING THE APPROVAL WOULD HAVE SOME KIND OF RESTRICTIONS THAT IT WOULDN'T BE APPROVED, APPROVED, UNTIL WE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT, RIGHT, BECAUSE IF KEVIN OR STAFF SAYS IT'S APPROVED, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO GO AND START BUILDING IF WE'RE COMING BACK IN 30 DAYS AND SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WE WANT TO LOOK AT IT, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT. >> SO, AS LONG AS THAT'S BUILT INTO IT, I'M OKAY WITH THE TIME LIMITS, I JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE PROCESS.
>> RIGHT, WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSTRUCT LANGUAGE THAT WOULD GO INTO APPROVAL IN ESSENCE THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THE PROJECT IS SUBJECT TO CALL UP CONSIDERATION BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO, WE WOULD DEVELOP LANGUAGE THAT WOULD GO INTO THE ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW THAT WOULD FORMERLY NOTE TO THE APPLICANT THAT THIS COULD OCCUR AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF THAT. AND THEY WOULD ALSO BE MADE AWARE OF THAT MUCH EARLIER IN THE PROCESS BUT THAT WOULD BE THE FORMAL NOTIFICATION.
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT, LIKE I SAID, IT'S THE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS OF 5,000 SQUARE FEET, RIGHT, THAT STRESSES ME OUT.
BECAUSE I'VE SEEN PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS, PROBABLY JUST OVER THAT THRESHOLD, RIGHT, OR JUST UNDER THE THRESHOLD, I SHOULD SAY THAT WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN APPROVED, MAY BE NOT BUILT BUT APPROVED THAT MAKE ME NERVOUS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP AS I SAT HERE TRYING TO FIGURE TOUT ANOTHER IDEA WAS IF IT'S SOMETHING LIKE A STARBUCKS OR A DEL TACO, YOU KNOW, A BIG BRAND NAME, THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME LOOK, THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW, THAT'S NOT A LOT TO REVIEW, FOR THOSE SMALLER PROJECTS, THE DOLLAR STORE, THAT'S ON JACKSON THAT WE BASICALLY WOULDN'T LET THEM BUILD THE PROJECT THE WAY THEY NORMALLY BUILT THEM AND WE MADE THEM DO STUCCO. IT I DON'T KNOW HOW THE COMMISSION FEELS ABOUT MAY BE UP TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET IF IT IS A LARGE BRAND OR A LARGE KFC, BIG NAME BRANDS WHICH ARE BUILT THE SAME WAY EVERYWHERE, LIKE MCDONALD'S, BUT IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WASN'T A BIG BRAND LIKE THAT, DROPPING THE SIZE OF 2500 SQUARE FEET OR SOMETHING. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME INTO MY HEAD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE THINKS I'M LOSING MY MIND OR WETHER OR NOT OTHER COMMISSIONERS THINKS THAT'S A GOOD IDEA TO FIND A MIDDLE
GROUND. >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THAT, COMMISSIONER, BUT, AGAIN, WHERE IS THAT DETERMINED OF WHAT'S A NATIONAL BRAND, WHAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD LOOK UNIFORMED, YOU KNOW, STARBUCKS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST MAY LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THEY DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. AND IF SO, LIKE I SAID, WHO DETERMINES WHAT SOMETHING THAT QUALIFIED, YOU KNOW, INTO THAT GROUP THAT YOU
ARE DISCUSSING. >> I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE LEGAL ASPECTS THERE, LIKE
DISCRIMINATION. >> I'M SORRY, I FORGOT ABOUT THAT BIG WORD.
>> I'M OF THE OPPOSITE THOUGHT, I THINK THAT THE INTENTION OF STREAMLINING THIS, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE GET INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANS AND ALL THE STANDARDS WHICH ARE SET FORWARD SO THAT STAFF CAN TAKE THE DIRECTION AND JUST RUN WITH IT. SO, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMISSION TO HAVE INFLUENCE AS TO WHAT THOSE STANDARDS ARE IF THAT IS WHAT THE CONCERN IS AND
[02:40:01]
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, KEVIN, PARTICULARLY WOULD NOT GO AND GET A NEON GREEN BUILDING, BUT I THINK IF WE HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE THAT SAYS DON'T DO THAT, I CAN NOT IMAGINE THAT STAFF WOULD DO THE OPPOSITE. I THINK THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS THEY ARE RIGHT NOW SEEM REASONABLE AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE PURPOSES OF THIS IS TO STREAMLINE AND I THINK THAT THE CONCERNS ABOUT TIMING THAT WERE RAISED WOULD BE ADDRESSED IF WE WERE TO PUT THIS INTO PLACE BECAUSE THOSE APPLICANTS WOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW, UNLESS, THE COMMISSION TRULY FEELS VERY STRONGLY ABOUT IT IT'S GOING TO GET CALLED UP AGAIN. I THINK, IF ANYTHING, THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY CREATE MORE SECURITY FOR APPLICANTS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M BRINGING A SMALL PROJECT, I'M READING THE GENERAL PLAN, THE SPECIFIC PLAN, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO AND THEN WE HAVE, KEVIN AND HIS ENTIRE STAFF TO VERIFY THAT'S THE CASE.SO, I'M WITH THE INITIAL RECOMMENDATIONS. I MIGHT BE A
MINORITY. >> ONE THING ABOUT THE BRANDS VERSUS NON-BRANDS, IT MAY NOT BE LEGAL, BUT I DO THINK THERE MAY BE FAIRNESS QUESTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, A DOCTOR THAT WANTS TO BUILD A 3,000 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE BUILDING IS GOING A A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING BUT DEL TACO IS NOT. I WOULD DISCOURAGE THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM GOING DOWN THAT ROAD. I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO A QUESTION THAT THE MAJORITY OF YOU WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR MINIMAL LEVEL OF STREAMLINE REVIEW OR DO YOU WANT THE REVIEWS TO STAY IN THE PURVIEW OF THE PLANNING ASHEN COMPANY.
>> I THINK THAT IF WE COULD PUT UP THE CALL UP ON THE AGENDA, I THINK THAT I COULD LIVE WITH THAT. WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM JACKIE, IS SHE STILL THERE? I CAN'T SEE HER, THE CHAMBER'S CAMERA IS NOT ON. PROBABLY BECAUSE WE'RE SHARING THE SCREEN.
>> I'M JUST, AGAIN, I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER FRANZ, AND AGAIN, JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOU KNOW, TRUSTING STUFF BUT I GUESS MY CONCERN IS LIKE IF THERE'S A STARBUCKS THAT GOES INTO A SPACE BUT IS IT REALLY FIT ARCHITECTURE, AGAIN NOT HAVING THE AUTHORITY, NOT THE AUTHORITY, BUT, NOT HAVING, THE LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO USE THE WORD, AUTHORITY, TO REVIEW THOSE TYPES OF BUILDINGS, RIGHT? OR LIKE A STARBUCKS OR A KFC, DECEMBER IT REALLY FIT, MAY BE IT'S ZONED FOR IT BUT IS IT THE RIGHT FIT OR MAY BE IT'S LIKE THE WRONG COLOR, I WANT TO TRUST STAFF AND GO AHEAD WITH IT.
YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, KEVIN AND I'M ALL ABOUT PROCESS.
I'M A PROCESS PERSON WITH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, IT'S MY A-TYPE PERSONALITY.
BUT CAN YOU SEND ME WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND I CAN COMPARE AND CONTRAST WHAT THE CHANGES WILL BE AND THAT WILL HELP ME BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING AND WHAT WE'VE CURRENTLY DONE IN THE PAST?
>> SURE, I MEAN, JUST VERBALLY, EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE STRUCTURE, EVERYTHING FOR SITE, ARCHITECTURAL AND SITE REVIEW, I.E., DESIGN REVIEW GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. AND YOU REVIEW IT. THE ONE, I THINK A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE BETWEEN THE PROCESS NOW AND THE PROCESS TO COME, NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE, WHETHER IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE DETAILED STANDARDS THAN YOU HAD IN THE PAST. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, THERE ARE STANDARDS PERTAINING TO THE INTEGRATION OF DRIVE-THRUS INTO THE BUILDING ARCHITECTURE, RIGHT NOW IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COME IN AND DO THE STANDARD CANOPY OVER THE DRIVE-THRU WINDOW, WE TECHNICALLY DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL THEM NOMENT BUT IN THE NEW LANGUAGE YOU ARE CONSIDERING THERE ARE DETAILED STANDARDS OF HOW YOU HAVE TO DESIGN THOSE DRIVE-THRUS SO THEY'RE MORE INTEGRATED INTO THE BUILDING HOPEFULLY PRODUCING A BETTER BUILDING AND SITE DESIGN.
[02:45:01]
THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF NO MATTER WHOSE DOING THE REVIEW, THE LEVEL OF STANDARDS THAT WE RELY UPON, ARE GOING TO BE MORE DETAILED THAN THEY ARE TODAY.YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN CONVINCING APPLICANTS TO STEP UP IN THEIR QUALITY, AND NOW, IF THIS GETS ADOPTED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BACK THREE UP WITH VERY DETAILED DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
>> I WAS ALSO JUST GOING TO ADD QUICKLY THAT I MEAN, THERE'LL BE OPPORTUNITIES, OF COURSE, TO ADJUST THE CODE AS YOU START USING THIS NEW DEVELOPMENT CODE, SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TRY THIS OUT, AND YOU DECIDE ACTUALLY, THERE'S, THE THRESHOLD IS SMALLER AND WE WANT TO SEE, MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE WANT TO SEE ARE COMMERCIAL PROJECTS ARE 4,000 SQUARE FEET AND UP.
YOU COULD MAKE THAT CHANGE AND SEE HOW TO WORKS.
>> AND IF YOU DO DECIDE TO RECOMMEND THAT, AND YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU DON'T LIKE HOW IT'S GOING REMEMBER YOU COULD ALWAYS RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO CHANGE IT.
SO, THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF THE POLICY MAKING PROCESS, IT'S TRULY NEVER STATIC. YOU COULD ALWAYS ASK THE COUNCIL TO REASSIGN THAT AUTHORITY BACK TO YOU. AND I THINK, CHAIR, IF IT'S OKAY, I THINK THAT CIMERON HAS A POINT
TO MAKE. >> I'LL KEEP IT SHORT, ALLESSANDRA AND KEVIN JUST MADE THE POINT THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE SO WE'RE GOOD.
>> SO, THE FIST TIME WE SEE A NEON GREEN BUILDING WE'LL HAVE
THAT DISCUSSION. >> KEVIN'S CONTROL TAKEN AWAY.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING QUICK TO ADD THAT I JUST THOUGHT OF IN REGARDS TO THE REPORTING STATUS AND THE TIME LIMITS, IT HASN'T BEEN OFTEN WHERE WE'VE CANCELLED A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO LACK OF A QUORUM OR SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY, DURING THE HOLIDAYS, SOMETIMES HOWEVER THE SCHEDULE FALSE IT WILL KIND OF LEAD TO US, SOMETIMES SKIPPING A COUPLE OF MEETINGS IN A ROW. HOW WOULD WE ADDRESS A SITUATION LIKE THAT WERE WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE A REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A DECISION?
>> THAT'S A YES QUESTION, CHAIR, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, WE WOULD NEED A QUORUM TO HAVE THE COMMISSION REVIEW AN ITEM, WELL, FIRST TO MOTION A CALL UP ACTION AND THEN FOR A REVIEW. WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT WITH THE FAIRNESS TO THE APPLICANT ON WAITING FOR THE PROCESS, SO IF THE COMMISSION ISN'T ABLE TO SIT A QUORUM, I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH THAT SHOULD SIT WITH THE APPLICANT.
I THINK, I'M GOING TO PUT THAT BACK IN THE COMMISSION'S LAP A BIT, I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM OF ATTENDEES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLY.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHETHER WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND MAY BE WE WANT TO PROVIDE A ONE-OFF OPPORTUNITY.
>> I WOULD THINK THE MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED MORE WITH LACK OF ITEMS BEFORE US OR SCHEDULING CONFLICTS AROUND THE HOLIDAYS.
SOMETIMES WE'VE SKIPPED TWO TO THREE MEETINGS IN A ROW, IT'S NOT VERY OFTEN DUE TO A LACK OF QUORUM, BUT SOMETIMES JUST DUE TO HOLIDAY SCHEDULES OR LACK OF ITEMS TO BRING BEFORE US.
>> YEAH, I THINK LET US MULL ON THAT A BIT AND COME BACK TO YOU WITH A THOUGHT.
AND THAT WOULD BE A ONE OF THE ITEMS WHERE WE WOULD SEND IT OUT SEPARATELY AND
GET INDIVIDUAL FEED BACK. >> OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
ANYTHING ELSE TO GO OVER WITH THIS? OR, HOW DO WE, IF WE'RE TRYING TO CLOSE THIS, HOW DO WITH WE GO FORWARD?
>> WELL, WE'RE AT 8:50 I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSION IS TIRED AND WE'VE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION ON A NUMBER OF ITEMS, I WANT LIKE TO ASK STAFF IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE TO TOUCH ON?
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL BE DOING SEPARATELY AND TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE GOING TO NOTICE THE CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO, I'LL BE REACHING
[02:50:04]
OUT TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY CONFIRMING THAT WE HAVE A QUORUM. WE'RE GOING TO PRESUME TWO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS, WE MAY ONLY NEED ONE BUT WE'LL PRESUME TWO.SO, WE'LL WANT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'LL BE A QUORUM IN ATTENDANCE. I'LL SEND OUT A SEPARATE E-MAIL AND ASK YOU TO CONFIRM YOUR AVAILABILITY ON THOSE DATES. JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND, BECAUSE ONCE THAT NOTICE GOES OUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO HOLD THOSE PUBLIC HEARING DATES AS WE WILL DO A CITYWIDE NOTIFICATION.
I DON'T THINK WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS, VANESSA, ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ONLINE OR ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS IN-PERSON?
ALL RIGHT. THEN, WE WILL CLOSE THIS ITEM 5.3.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS OR
[6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS]
STAFF COMMENTS. >> NO, CHAIR, I'LL NOTE IT AND I SENT YOU OUT AN E-MAIL AND I KNOW SHE'S IN THE ROOM BUT OUR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, JESSICA BELLMAN STARTED.
PLEASE WAVE, JESSICA, THIS IS HER THIRD DAY WITH US AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HER, AND WE'RE TRAINING HER UP SO, PRETTY SOON, VANESSA WILL GO BACK TO HAVING ONE JOB AND JESSICA WILL BE THE FRIENDLY FACE THAT WILL ASSIST THE COMMISSION AT THE COMMISSION MEETINGS, WELCOME JESSICA I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SITTING ON ALL OF THESE SESSIONS AND YOUR INPUT HAS BEEN HELPFUL AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND GETTING CLOSER TO HAVING THE NEW ZONING REGULATIONS IN EFFECT.
WITH THAT, STAFF IS HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY REMAINING QUESTIONS, OTHERWISE THAT'S IT FOR US.
>> THANK YOU, WELCOME, JESSICA, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF. IF ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
OKAY. WE WILL ADJOURN UNTIL THE NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION ON JUNE 8TH, 2022.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.