CITY OF INDIO HAS SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMENT TO OBSERVE AS WELL
[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL]
[00:00:35]
AS PUBLIC COMMENT DURING TESTIMONY.DURING PUBLIC HEARINGS AT SPECIAL PLANNED MEETINGS.
THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES WHILE ALSO COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROCESSING OF LAND USE, DEVELOPMENT OF APPLICATIONS AND/OR CONSIDERATION OF POLICY ACTIONS.
[4. STATEMENT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY ]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 5, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
>> WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUB COMMENT AT THIS TIME AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 6
[6.1 Minutes of July 22, 2020 – Recommendation: Approve ]
FOR MINUTES.MINUTES OF THE JULY 22, 2020 MEETING.
DO I HAVE ANY CONNECTIONS OR A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR JULY 22ND.
IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
>> VICE CHAIRPERSON JACQUELINE LOPEZ.
NOW WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM 7.1, AND I THINK VICE CHAIRPERSON JACQUELINE
[7.1 Ventana Project – General Plan Amendment 20-05- 120 (GPA 20-05-120), Specific Plan 20-05-39 (SP 20-05-39), Tentative Tract Map No. 37884 (TTM 20- 05-479), Environmental Assessment 20-05-547 (EA 20-05-547), and Design Review 20-05-473 (DR 20-05-473): ]
LOPEZ HAS TO RECUSE HERSELF.>> YES, I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF IN THE FACE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE PROJECT.
I WILL GO INTO THE TIME-OUT ROOM.
I THINK SHE HAS STEPPED AWAY SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD ON ITEM 7.1.
>> CHAIR, IF I MAY TO CLARIFY FOR A SECOND, I BELIEVE SECRETARY BELTRAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO PLACE VICE CHAIR IN A MEETING ROOM AT THE MOMENT SO SHE'S NOT
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PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVE MEETING.>> VICE CHAIR LOAPPEDZ IS CURRENTLY IN THE WAITING ROOM, IN THE LOBBY.
AGAIN, MADAME CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
BEFORE I START MY PRESENTATION, JUST BECAUSE I AM IN THE OFFICE TODAY, I'M PROVIDING A PRESENTATION FROM THE OFFICE, I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF THERE IS ANY UNEXPECTED DISTURBANCE OR NOISE, SO WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO START MY PRESENTATION.
SO AS YOU READ FROM THE LEGEND, AND I NEED TO SHARE MY SCREEN BEFORE I DO THAT.
AND CAN EVERYBODY SEE THE PRESENTATION? PERFECT.
SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THE PROJECT IS VENTANA PROJECT WHICH IS A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT.
IT IS APPROXIMATELY LOCATED WEST -- EAST OF JEFFERSON STREET, NORTH OF AVENUE 50, CLOSE TO THE DESERT ESTATE WITHIN THE COUNTRY AREA ESTATE OF THE CITY.
THE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONTINUE THE ITEM TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9TH TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR STAFF AND THE APPLICANT TO ANALYZE THE PROJECT ENTITLEMENT IN RELATION TO THE GENERAL PLAN 2040.
AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY STAFF REPORT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC ITEM.
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE SOMETHING TO READ INTO THE RECORD AND ALSO POSSIBLY INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.
>> CHAIR, IF I MIGHT SUGGEST IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE APPLICANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE OTHER COMMENTS.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE AND WOULD THEY LIKE TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME?
>> MADAME CHAIR, MY NAME IS NICOLE CHRIS.
I'M WITH TERRA NOVA PLANNING AND RESEARCH.
I'M THE APPLICANT'S REPRESENTATIVE.
I AM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A CONTINUANCE AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? I DON'T SEE OR HEAR ANY SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> FIRST CORRESPONDENCE THAT WE RECEIVED IS FROM MR. AND MRS. SAM AND PATTY KYLE.
AND REGARDING THE PROJECT 7.1, DEAR MS. NAMVAR MY WIFE AND I OWN THE PROPERTY AT 75 COKAY COURT IN THE CITY OF INDIO TWELS THE 1 ACRE VACANT LOT IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THIS PROPERTY.
PLEASE NOTE OUR OBJECTION OF THE PROPOSED MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF THE VENTANA PROJECT.
THE VENTANA PROJECT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT UPON THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE CITY SHOULD REQUIRE PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT OR REQUIRE THAT THE VENTANA PROJECT BE REVISE TODAY ALLOW A MAXIMUM OF ONE DWELLING UNIT PER ACRE PER THE CITY'S 2040 GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION FOR TO PROJECT SITE.
THE DRAFT STUDY MISCEARKSES THE INTENSITY OF THE CHANGE FROM R1 AND CIER 2 ZONING TO SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE DRAFT STUDY STATES THAT THE CEIR 1 FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT ONE TO TWO ELINGS DWELLING UNITS PER ACRE.
THE MINIMUM LOT SIZE FOR CEIR 1 IS 1 ACRE.
THE MINIMUM LOT SPECIFIES FOR CEIR 2 IS 2 ACRES, 87 NOW 120 SQUARE FEET.
COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IS THE CEIR ZONE INCLUDES THANK YOUS THE CURRENT ZONING ALLOWS FOR A MAXIMUM OF ONE DU ACRE AND MUCH OF THE PROPERTY OWNED CEIR 2 IS LIMITED TO .
P THE VENTANA PROJECT MORE THAN DOUBLES THE ALLOWED DENSITY AND A CEIR 1 ZONE AND QUEUED QUADRUPLES THE DENSITY ON THE PROPERTY END ZONE C ECHTIR 2.
THIS IS FAR FROM A MINOR INCREASE IN DENSITY THAT THE INITIAL STUDY RELIES UPON REPEATEDLY IN ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PROJECT IMPACT AND ON VARIOUS AREAS OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT THE CITY WOULD VIEW QUADRUPLING THE NUMBER OF HOMES IN AN AREA AS A MINOR INCREASE.
THE ERROR IN ASSESSING THE CURRENT ALLOWED DENSITY AS COMPARED TO THE PROPOSED DENSITY IS RELIED UPON REPEATEDLY TO JUSTIFY CONCLUSIONS THAT THERE ARE
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NO IMPACTS OR LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND INVALIDATES THE ENTIRE INITIAL STUDY.A NEW DRAFT INITIAL STUDY MUST BE PREPARED TO ACCURATELY ACCOUNT FOR AND ASSESS THE TRUE INCREASE IN DENSITY OVER EXISTING CONDITIONS.
THE PROJECT WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON NOT ONLY THE VIEWS FROM OUR HOME AND ADJOINING LOT BUT ALSO VIEWS OF OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
WE PRESENTLY ENJOY VIEWS OF THE SANTA ROSA MOUNTAINS FROM OUR PROPERTY.
THE INCREASE IN DENSITY FROM THE PROPOSAL WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON VIEWS FROM OUR PROPERTY AND THOSE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
LIKEWISE, MER PERMITTING BUILDINGS IN CURRENT 25-FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT EXACERBATES THIS IMPACT.
DEVELOPMENT CONSISTENT THE WITH CURRENT ZONING WOULD ALLOW FEWER HOMES THEREBY PRESERVING THE VIEW OF THE MOUNTAINS FOR EVERYONE THROUGH CORRIDORS.
ALSO, IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THE CITY CAN MAKE A LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT IMPACT DETERMINING WHEN IT DID NOT PREPARE A VIEW ANALYSIS THAT WOULD DEPICT THE BEFORE AND AFTER STREWS FROM TAN VANTAGE POINTS AROUND THE PROJECT.
AT A MINIMUM THE CITY SHOULD PREPARE A VIEW ANALYSIS SO THAT IMPACT VIEWS FROM RELATIVE VANTAGE POINTS MAY BE PROPERLY ANNAL OXIDES MITIGATED.
LIKEWISE THE STRENGTH TANNA PROJECT -- EVEN IF RESIDENCES RESIDENTS USE LOW INTENSITY LIELGT AND CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE NUMBER OF HOUSES, SUCH LIGHTING WILL GREAT A SIGNIFICANT LIGHT AND GLARE IMPACT AND CREATE A LIGHT ISLAND THAT IS IN STARK CONTRAST TO THAT WHICH WOULD BE ON RESIDENTS IN ADJACENT LOTS.
THE INITIAL STUDY'S CONCLUSION THAT THE PROANG WILL HAVE NO GROUND WATER IMPACT IS FLOWD FLAWED THE IWA BASES ITS WATER PLANNING NEEDS TO ORIGINAL GENERAL PLAN EDITIONMATION OF ONE DDU PER ACRE AS NOTED ABOVE.
THE THE PROJECT MORE THAN DOUBLES THAT INTENSITY RESULTING IN A.IS 18% INCREASE OVER 2019 BASELINE LEVELS.
THIS PERCENTAGE WHILE SMALL IS SIGNIFICANT WHEN VIEWED IN CONTEXT OF THE DEMAND OF THE UNDERGROUND WATER SUPPLIES.
GROUND WATER LEVELS IN LOWER PORTION OF THE WHITE WATER SUB BAIPSIN HAVE BEEN DECLINING SINCE 1980.
THE COACHELLA ELA VALLEY WATER DISTRICTS.
INCLUDING DRILLING DEEPER WELLS, INCREASED WATER COSTS AND DEGRADATION DATION OF WATER QUALITY AND LAND ASSESSMENTS.
NOF THESE ARE ASSESSED IN THE ORIGINAL STUDY.
AUTHORIZATION THE THAT INCREASE GROUND WATER WITHDRAWALS AND AP CALC AND A INCREASE IN WITHDRAWAL IS AT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTING FINALLY, THE INITIAL STUDY DOES NOT CONDUCT ACCUMULATIVE IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
FROM OTHER PROPOSALS TO YUP ZONED PROPERTY ZONEDCEIR 1 AND CEIR 2.
THERE ARE LARGE SWATHS OF PROPERTY CONDO KIR 1 AND 2 TO THE ALONG YOU'VE AVENUE 50 AN TO AN HOW AN INCREASE IN DENSITY FOR THIS PROJECT IT IS REASONABLE LIKELY THAT THESE LANDS WILL ALSO BE DEVELOPED IN EXCESS OF THE CURRENT DENSITY IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
THE FINAL STUDY MUST CONDUCT A CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACTS CREATED BY SIMILAR PROPOSES ON THESE LANDS.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THESE COMMENTS, SAM AND PATTY KYLE.
I ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AND CAN'T EMAIL THAT READ.
"IN ADDITION, WE PURCHASED OUR PROPERTY KNOWING THAT IT WAS DESERT ESTATE ZONING.
WE AND THE MAJORITY OF OF OUR NEIGHBORS PURCHASED THEIR HOMES FOR THE SAME REASON.
THIS NEW ZONING WILL DESTROY THE EFFECT AND INTENT OF DESERT DISEATS ESTATES.
WE BOUGHT HERE TO AROID THE HIGH DENSITY LIVING.
PLEASE RECONSIDER THIS REZONING.
IT IS ASSURED TO DESTROY OUR QUALITY OF LIFE AND VALUE OF OUR PROPERTY.
THIS IS SURE TO BECOME SHORT-TERM RENTALS WITH LOUD BLARING MUSIC AND DRUNKEN PARTIES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
SAM AND PATTY KYLE." THIS EMAIL AND LETTER WAS ALSO DISTRIBUTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TODAY.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE WANTING TO SNEAK ON THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME?
>> WE WERE GOING TO HAVE MR. MATT MORRIS JOIN ONCE HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE HIM ON, A ITEM.
ACTUALLY, MR. -- NO, THEY HAVEN'T JOINED YET.
>> MADAME CHAIR, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THAT LETTER WAS ALSO POSTED IN THE CITY FILE, SO IT IS AVAILABLE.
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO CONTINUE THIS ITEM WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD REMAINING OPEN TO SEPTEMBER 9, 2020?
>> CHAIR, IF I MAY INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND.
>> IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER GIVING THE APPLICANT THE CHANCE TO RESPOND TO ANY OF
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THAT.IF NOT, THEN WE CAN CLOSE THE HEARING BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE DELIBERATION.
>> DOES THE APPLICANT WANT TO RESPOND TO ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE ADDRESSED IN THE EMAIL OR IN THE LETTER?
>> MADAME CHAIR, THE CITY IS PREPARING A RESPONSE TO COMMENTS.
THAT LETTER WAS SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMENT PERIOD FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WE WILL RESERVE COMMENTS UNTIL WE PRESENT THE ENTIRE ITEM ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.
SO, SACH, DO I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, YOU CAN DO THAT AT THE TIME, AND THEN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WOULD BE POTENTIALLY ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO CONTINUE THE HEARING AND ITEM TO THE DATE CERTAIN IN SEPTEMBER 9TH.
>> SO WE DON'T TO HAVE LEAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING OPEN WHEN WE CONTINUE THE ITEM.
>> YOU CAN CLOSE IT, AND THEN WITH THE MOTION TO CONTINUE THE HEARING AND ITEM TO THE DATE CERTAIN.
SO THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME, AND DO WE HAVE ANY DELIBERATION FROM COMMISSIONERS OR DO W TO CONTINUE THE ITEM?
>> CHAIR, I RECOMMEND THAT WE CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THAT WOULD BE CONTINUING THE HEARING AND THE ITEM TO SEPTEMBER 9TH.
SO WE HAVE A FIRST AND A SECOND.
WE HAVE ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVISITING THIS ITEM ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ACTION ITEMS. THAT'S ITEM NUMBER 8.
SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO NUMBER 9, STUDY SESSION ITEMS.
[9.1 Pegasus Riding Academy – Project Consultation: ]
9.1, PEGASUS RIDING ACADEMY PROJECT CONSULTATION.>> YES, MADAME CHAIRPERSON AGAIN LEILA NAMVAR SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE CITY OF INDIO.
EVERYBODY SEES THE SCREEN IN PERFECT.
AS YOU SAID, THIS IS A PROJECT CONSULTATION.
IT'S JUST A FORMAL DISCUSSION WITH THE STAFF COMMISSION AND ALSO THE APPLICANT.
SO THIS IS THE PROJECT LOCATION, WHICH IS ON THE FAR EAST, NORTH OF THE CITY ON WASHINGTON STREET NORTH OF FRANCIS WAY.
AS YOU SEE, THE PROPERTY IS BEING MARKED IN RED.
SO THE PEGASUS RIDING ACADEMY IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH THEY BASICALLY RELY ON CHARITABLE DONATION SERVICES.
THEY'VE BEEN FOUNDED SINCE 1982 AND THEY PROVIDE RIDING SERVICE TO RIDERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND CHALLENGES.
THE THE PROPERTY THAT THEY CHOSE CURRENTLY HAS A GENERAL PLAN OF DESERT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT HAS A ZONING DESIGNATION OF COUNTRY ESTATES INDIO RANCHES-2 WHICH IS THE MINIMUM ACRE LOT SIZE OF 2, AND WITHIN THIS DESIGNATION, RIDING ACADEMY SUCH AS THE PROPOSED USE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SO THE APPLICANT BASICALLY IS SEEKING A ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT TO ALLOW SUCH USE, WHICH WOULD BE A NON-PROFIT RIDING ORGANIZATION OR A RIDING ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES HORSES AND LESSONS TO THE PEOPLE WHO JOIN THAT FACILITY.
THEY HAVE A SITE CONCEPT SITE PLAN THAT SHOWS PARKING AND THE ARENAS AND AUXILIARY WOULD NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER OPERATE.
AT THIS POINT BASICALLY THE STAFF AND APPLICANT ARE SEEKING YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING SUCH ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE STAFF REPORT.
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STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AND ALSO THE APPLICANT IS HERE TONIGHT AS WELL.>> MADAME CHAIR, THIS IS DIRECTOR SNYDER.
IF I COULD JUST ADD A COUPLE ADDITIONAL POINTS TO WHAT LEILA JUST PROVIDED.
SO THE PEGASUS HAS ACTUALLY BEEN, AS LEILA POINTED OUT, IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1982 AND THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING OUT OF A FACILITY IN PALM DESERT HOWEVER THAT FACILITY HAS BEEN SOLD.
NECESSITY ACQUIRED THIS LAND WHEN THIS LAND WAS PART OF THE AREA THAT WAS NOT ZONED AND WHEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION IN 2019, EARLY 2020 WENT THROUGH THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ZONING, AT THAT TIME THEN THEY IDENTIFIED THAT THE ZONING THAT WAS APPLIED BY THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD NOT SUPPORT THE PROPOSED USE AS LEILA DESCRIBED.
SO THEY HAVE MET WITH THE CITY MULTIPLE TIMES, INCLUDING MYSELF, AND WE HAVE INITIAL, GET THE FEEDBACK, GET YOUR FEEDBACK AS TO THE POTENTIAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE OF CHANGING CURRENT ZONING FOR THE CEIR 2 THAT WOULD FACILITATE THIS SO I JUST WANTED TO ROUND OUT WHAT LEILA SAID A LITTLE BIT WITH SOME OF THE HISTORY.
>> MADAME CHAIR, IF I MIGHT JUST FOR THE RECORD NOTE THAT COMMISSIONER LOPEZ HAS REJOINED FROM THE WAITING ROOM FOR THESE ITEMS.
>> SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE MOVE TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT? FROM ANYONE?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.
SO RIGHT NOW THE CODE DOESN'T ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF USE OR SAYS IT'S PROHIBITED?
>> IT SAYS COMMERCIAL USES IS PROHIBITED, AND AT THE SAME TIME IT DOESN'T ADD SUCH USES FOR THE ZONE.
>> IN THAT ZONE, COMMISSIONER, THE KEEPING OF HORSES, THERE'S A LIMITATION BASED ON ACREAGE OF HOW MANY HORSES YOU CAN KEEP.
SO THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING IN THE CODE IN ADDITION TO BEING COMMERCIAL USES, AND THE LIMITATION ON HORSES, KEEPING OF HORSES BASED ON ACREAGE, WE FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THE COMMISSION GIVE EARLY FEEDBACK ON THIS SO THAT YOU CAN ADVISE THE AP CAFNT ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS BEFORE THEY SERIOUSLY PURSUE THIS.
>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY NEXT QUESTION, IF WE ALLOW OTHER EQUESTRIAN USES IN THIS ZONE.
WE ALLOW HORSES, BUT LIMITED NUMBERS BASED ON THE ACREAGE OF THE PROPERTY.
FOR THIS PROPERTY I BELIEVE THE MAXIMUM LIMIT IS FOUR, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW THE NUMBER THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP.
THEY HAVE A TRAINING AND THEY ALSO AUXILIARY FACILITIES THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUSTAINED TO OPERATE.
> ABOUT THEIR OPERATIONS, HOW MANY SCHOOL BUSES, TRIPS PER DAY ARE COMING IN? DO THE HORSES EVER LEAVE THE PROPERTY? MAYBE THAT'S MORE FOR THE APPLICANT.
>> CAN YOU FOLKS HEAR ME, BY CHANCE.
>> >> YEAH, WE HAVE NOT OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING YET, THOUGH, SO -- >> MY APOLOGIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AT THIS TIME?
>> I JUST WOULD NOTE THIS IS A CONSULTATION SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> SO JUST REAL QUICK QUESTION.
WHEN WE -- IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE ZONING ON THIS, THIS WOULD ONLY CHANGE FOR THIS PARTICULAR LOT OR WOULD THAT BE A ZONE AMENDMENT CHANGE FOR ALL PROPERTY UNDER THE DESERT ESTATE NEIGHBORHOOD?
>> IT WOULD BE -- >> GO AHEAD.
IT WOULD BE A CHANGE IN THE TEXT FOR ALL CEIR-2, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THAT DESERT ESTATE DESIGNATION FROM GENERAL PLAN.
THE ZONING WOULD JUST ADD THAT.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE ALLOWING NON-PROFIT RIDING FACILITIES WITH TEN HORSES OR 20 HORSES OR AS MANY HORSES.
>> SO WE COULD BE A SPECIFIC, SAYING IT IS A NON-PROFIT USE, AND -- >>
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YES, WE COULD BE.SO WE COULD BE VERY SPECIFIC, SO THIS IS A THERAPY.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY A LUXURY HORSE RIDING FACILITY.
IT'S NEEDED FOR THIS TYPE OF WORKING, PEOPLE WITH LIMITED PHYSICAL FUNCTION.
>> SO THEN IT WOULDN'T OPEN IT UP TO ANYONE WHO WANTED TO OPEN UP AN ENGLISH STYLE RIDING ACADEMY OF WHATEVER ON ANY OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
WE WOULD BE BE A TO LIMIT IT TO VERY, VERY SPECIFIC.
>> COMMISSIONER CEJA HAD A COMMENT.
>> SINCE THIS WOULD APPLY TO THE CE ZONES, DO WE HAVE A MAP THAT MAYBE SHOWS WHERE THOSE ZONES ARE LOCATED, WHAT KIND OF OF PROPERTIES THIS MIGHT IMPACT?
>> IT SAYS SHARING -- THERE WE GO.
>> SO THE CEIR PROPERTIES ARE THE PROPERTIES TO THE NORTH -- TO THE SOUTH, I'M SORRY, IS ON THE SOUTH OF THE SCREEN WHEN YOU SEE THIS CURSOR, SO ALL THE BEIGE ARE CEIR.
HOWEVER WE ARE JUST PROPOSING FOR CEIR-2 WHICH IS THE DARK HERE, AND THEN THAT PORTION -- OUR MAP IS A LITTLE OLDER SO IT DOESN'T SHOW WASHINGTON STREET, SO THAT IS ALSO CEIR-2 WHICH IS THE DARKER.
NOT ALL THE PROPERTIES, FOR EXAMPLE, DESERT RIVER SPACE IS ALREADY ONE-HALF.
ANYTHING WITH A MINIMUM 2 ACRES WHICH MOSTLY ARE IN THE SOUTH PORTION AND ALSO ON THE NORTHWEST OF THE CITY.
SO AS YOU SEE, THIS AREA IS CEIR-2, SO AUTO DARKER ONES.
THAT'S VERY HELPFUL TO KNOW THAT IF THIS IS A ZONE TEXT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING, THINK IT'S APPLICABILITY IS VERY LIMITED TO MORE RURAL PARCELS, REALLY KIND OF AT THE EDGE ARE OUTER EDGE OF THE CITY.
>> AND THEN THE OTHER OPTION IS ALSO TO BE PUT THAT SPECIFIC USE UNDER THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, SO THAT MEANS IT COMES BACK AGAIN FOR THE REVIEW BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF THIS PROPERTY, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PEGASUS ORIGINALS.
BHIEF WORKS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GOES THERE A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR WITH THE STUDENTS.
AND I CAN SEE AT THE NATURAL EDGE OF THE CITY WHERE THIS PARCEL IS PARTICULARLY LOCATED HOW THAT WORKS, AND I CAN SEE HERE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY WHERE WE'RE IN A MORE EQUESTRIAN AREA, ORDINARILY THIS IS DESIGNED TO LOOK MORE RURAL, THAT IT WOULD FIT IN THIS AREA AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME SPECIFIC OPERATIONS THAT COME WITH HORSES IN TERMS OF WASTE AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES INTO MAINTAINING THE ANIMALS, SO I THINK MAYBE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS PROPER CARE AND PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE FACILITY.
>> YEAH, I WAS KIND OF LEANING THE SAME WAY, THAT A CUP WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO ADD THIS.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? NO?
>> AS YOU TALK ABOUT THE ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT, YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY AS A COMMISSION TO RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION OF THIS TYPE OF USE.
SO IT MIGHT BE CEIR-2 BUT YOU COULD, IF YOU CHOSE, YOU COULD ISOLATE IT TO A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHY OF THE CITY IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN THE ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT FOR THIS TYPE OF USE WOULD BE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN GEOGRAPHY OF THE CITY.
SO YOU DO HAVE THAT ABILITY IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU FELT THAT IT WASN'T APPROPRIATE IN THE SOUTHWEST PAFERRED INDIO, YOU COULD -- PART OF
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INDIO, YOU COULD AS AN EXAMPLE DISTRICT TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST PART OF INDIO.S YOU CONSIDER THIS AS IT GOES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM STAFF OR COMMENTS? OKAY.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK THE APPLICANT TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US AT THIS TIME.
>> YES AS WAS PREVIOUSLY STATED, PEGASUS HAS BEEN AROUND ACTUALLY SINCE THE EARLY '80S BUT IT SOIFSZ SOME OF THE MOST NEEDY IN THE THE COMMUNITY AND SOME OF THE MOST HANDICAPPED FOLKS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY FREEDOM THAT I LOT OF THESE PEOPLE EVER HAVE.
AND IN PARTICULAR IT'S BEEN SERVING THE EAST VALLEY AND AN AWFUL LOT OF INDIO RESIDENTS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, IT'S A NON-PROFIT AND IT'S RUN -- IT'S BEEN RUN VERY WELL TO SURVIVE ALL THESE YEARS.
AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON THE FRINGE.
WHEN IT FIRST OPENED, IT WAS OFF MONTEREY AND CLANCY LANE.
IT'S BEEN AT THE CURRENT LOCATION SINCE THE EARLY '90S.
AND THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, SO THAT WAS OUR GOAL, WAS TO FIND A PERMANENT HOME FOR PEGASUS.
AND IN DOING SO, WE SEARCHED ACTUALLY FOR OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THIS ONE, I FEEL, SERVES THE USE INCREDIBLY WELL IN THAT IT'S A MINIMAL IMPACT ON THE LOCAL AREA AS WELL AS BEING IN A LOCATION THAT'S EASILY SERVICEABLE BY VOLUNTEERS AND BEING RIGHT OFF WASHINGTON STREET.
IT'S CURRENTLY, THAT SITE IS CURRENTLY RIGHT ADJACENT TO I BELIEVE IT'S A 5-ACRE PARCEL OF A COMMERCIAL NURSERY, SO THE IMPACT ON THE ONE NEIGHBOR WOULD BE VERY MINIMAL.
IT'S ALSO IN AN AREA OF A GAS SUBSTATION CALIFORNIA GAS AND SOME HYDRO, LARGE CAPACITY HYDRO WIRES SERVICE LINES IN THE REAR.
AND THE PROPERTY IS CONDUCIVE FOR THIS USE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, AND THE SIZE, CURRENTLY PEGASUS IS ROPING ON 1-1/2 ACRES WHERE THIS ONE IS 2-1/2 ACRES, AND IT'S OPERATED IN ALL THESE YEARS QUITE EFFECTIVELY.
ALSO, WITH THE RAFERRED WASTE, ANIMAL WASTE AND -- REGARD OF ANIMAL WASTE IT GOES TO BURD TECH RECYCLING.
IT IS NOT DISPOSED OF ON SITE.
PEGASUS HAS BEEN A VERY RESPECTFUL NEIGHBOR TO EVERYBODY AROUND, AND CURRENTLY SITS JUST TO THE WEST OF THE LIZARD PRESERVE.
FOLKS, I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE.
I HAVE FOUR LITTLE KIDS AT HOME SO I'M HOPING YOU DO NOT HEAR THEM IN THE BACKGROUND SO MY APOLOGIES.
SO WE DID SEARCH HIGH AND LOW FOR A PROPERTY THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE, WOULD SERVICE THE EAST VALLEY.
THERE WAS TALK TO TRY TO LOCATE IT UP TOWARD DESERT HOT SPRINGS, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT MOST OF THE FOX WHO HAVE USED THE SERVICES COME FROM THE SEES VALLEY AND A LOT OF RESIDENTS FROM INDIO DIRECTLY.
THE MINIMUM IMPACT, AND I PUT IN A LETTER TO EVERYBODY, BUT THE LESSONS ARE ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY PREDOMINANTLY, AND IT'S BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 AND 12:00 A.M.
I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT WHY THEY SAY TWECHT P.M.
SO IT'S ONLY ROUGHLY THREE HOURS A DAY, BUT IT'S A VERY CRUCIAL TIME FOR THESE FOLKS, SO WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH LIGHT POLLUTION.
WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT FOLKS -- IT'S TWOIBT RESPECTFUL TO PEOPLE ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET, OF COURSE, IS THE LIZARD PRESERVE SO THERE IS NO REAL MITIGATION FOR FOLKS' I GUES SITE.
AND THE PROJECT HAS BEEN RUN FOR THE NUMBER OF YEARS IT HAS AND HAS DONE REMARKABLY WELL, AND I ALSO PUT IN THE LETTER THAT THE IMPACT FROM BUSING AND PARKING, I PUT IN THERE HOW MANY KIDS ROUGHLY GO IN A DAY.
YOU MAY SEE IN A GIVEN DAY, YOU MAY SEE TWO BUSES, UP TO FOUR BUSES ON SOME DAYS.
THESE ARE SMALL BUSES, BUT USUALLY THERE'S ABOUT 20 RIDERS THAT ARE SERVICED ON A GIVEN DAY, AND THEY COME FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THEY COME FROM THE ARK COMMUNITY, AND THEY -- AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PROBABLY MOST VULNERABLE OF
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OUR CITIZENS, SO IT IS A LIFELINE FOR THESE PEOPLE AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES.I KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAD ANYBODY IN THIS SITUATION IN YOUR FAMILY, THAT IT'S IRREPLACEABLE.
THANK GOD NOT EVERYBODY HAS TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION THAT THESE FOLKS DO.
AND THE OTHER THING IS I THINK IT'S JUST SAYING THIS IS THE FACT THAT IT DOES SERVICE SO MANY OF INDIO'S RESIDENTS, IT'S A FEATHER IN THE CAP TO INDIO TO HAVE THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE OPERATED WITH SUCH INTEGRITY OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE SERVICED SO MANY HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF RIDERS OVER THE YEARS THAT IT'S A NATURAL FIT FOR THIS PROPERTY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN GRADED.
IT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRASS -- NOT GRASS -- GAS COMPANY IN THEY'RE SERVICING SO IT HAS OBTAINED I BELIEVE A GRADING PERMIT ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
IT'S A FLAT PROPERTY, SO WE'RE NOT IMPACTING OR FENG ANY OF THE -- FECTING ANY OF THE NATURAL WATER FLOWS OR ANYTHING.
AND THE LAST PART OF THE EQUATION FOR WHERE IT SITS SITS JUST UP THE ROAD FROM DELRAY SUN CITY WHICH IS WONDERFU THE VOLUNTEERS THAT CURRENTLY GO TO HELP OUT WITH THESE KIDS LIVE IN DEL WEB SUN CITY.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC MITIGATION.
THERE'S MUCH MORE PARNG ON THAT SITE PLAN.
I WOULD FATHOM 18 TO 20 SPOTS WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THE EXISTING ZONING I BELIEVE ALLOWS FOR EIGHT HORSES FOR THE 2-1/2 ACRE PARCEL.
ULTIMATELY PEGASUS USUALLY RUNS ABOUT 11 OR 12 HORSES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST APPROVAL FOR POSSIBLY UP TO 16 OR 18 HORSES FOR THE REASON BEING THAT THE HORSES, WHEN THEY ARE DONE THEIR LIFE OF SERVICING THESE FOLKS, THAT THEY ARE NOT TERMINATED.
THEY ARE MORE OR LESS KEPT COMFORTABLE AND THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF LIKE THEY HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE RIDERS.
SO WE DO NOT TURN HORSES AWAY.
NOW, VIRGINIA DAVIS, WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING THIS PROGRAM, BEEN THE STAWBL STABLE MANAGER FOR 30-SOME YEARS AND I CAN TELL YOU I WAS HER DIRECT NEIGHBOR, SHE IS UP EARLY EVERY DAY TANK CARE OF THESE HORSES.
THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE HORSES NOT BEING LOOKED AFTER IN QUITE A PROFESSIONAL MANNER WITH REGARD TO WASTE, TO FLIES, TO ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST-RUN FACILITIES OUT THERE.
IT'S RUN ON A TIGHT SHOESTRING BUDGET BUT IT IS ONE OF THE BEST FACILITIES OUT THERE AND DOES THE MOST GOOD FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE.
I KNOW I'M A LAYPERSON AT THIS SO I'M GOING TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU FOLKS IF I HAVEN'T COVERED SOMETHING, BUT WE ARE REALLY, REALLY SEARCHING FOR A PERMANENT HOME THAT DOES NOTHING BUT GOOD FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE OF OUR CITIZENS, AND SO I WOULD ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO THAT END.
I THINK EVERYONE HERE IS AWARE OF THE THAT YOU HAVE DONE AND TO THE COMMUNITY FOR SO MANY YEARS, SO THERE'S NO QUESTION OF THAT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK AT THIS TIME? NO? YES?
>> MADAME CHAIRPERSON, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO ADD TWO POINTS.
ONE IS WE HAD TOLD MR. -- THE APPLICANT TO CONTACT COACHELLA VALLEY CONSERVATION COMMISSION BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY IS WITHIN THE COCOOSM MULTI-HABITAT PLANT.
AND THEY NEED TO CONTACT AND GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION IF THEY APPROVE THEM, THEN THEY COME BEFORE YOU FOR THE ZONE TEXT AMENDMENT ON CITY COUNCIL.
AND THEN THE OTHER NOTE IS THIS PART OF THE CITY HAS BEEN ANNEXED INTO THE CITY RECENTLY, SO THAT GRADING PERMIT THAT WAS TALKED ABOUT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED BY THE CITY.
THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY THE COUNTY.
BUT WE CAN CHECK THAT AS WELL WHEN WE COME BACK FOR A FORMAL HEARING.
>> REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE FOLKS AT THE CITY OF INDIO TO THIS DATE HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL AND RESPECTFUL, AND IT'S REFRESHING, AND IT RENEWS MY FAITH IN A LITTLE BIT OF GOVERNMENT, AND I'M NOT
[00:40:01]
SAYING THAT TO SWAY YOU IN A DIRECTION.I'M JUST SAYING IT IS REFRESHING.
AND WITH SMILES AND HELPFULNESS.
OUR STAFF DOES WORK VERY HARD.
SO COMMISSIONERS, COMMENTS, THOUGHTS? WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M PRETTY OPEN TO THIS IDEA, ALTHOUGH I THINK -- AND I LIKE THE DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS.
MAYBE WE CAN LIMIT THIS GEOGRAPHICALLY TO SOME PROPERTIES THAT ARE JUST NORTH OF INTERSTATE 10 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MAYBE NOT OPEN THE DOOR TOO FAR BECAUSE MAYBE IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY APPLY SO MUCH IN SOUTHERN INDIO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHERE WE'RE AT ON WASHINGTON STREET WITH THE TIME THAT WAS TAKEN TO ANALYZE THOSE PROPERTIES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THEM, THIS USE STILL MAINTAINS THAT RURAL KIND OF ATMOSPHERE AT THE EDGE OF A NATURAL SETTING.
I'D BE OPEN -- I'M VERY OPEN TO THE IDEA.
I'M CURIOUS, I MEAN, IF THE OPERATOR CAN OPERATE WITH WHATEVER THE CODE ALLOWS FOR HORSES, MAYBE IT'S FOUR PER ACRE AND THEY CAN HAVE EIGHT, MAYBE A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IS THEN REQUIRED FOR ANY TIME YOU WANT TO GO ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD OF WHAT THE CODE ALLOWS FOR HOW MANY EQUESTRIAN USES YOU CAN HAVE.
BUT GENERALLY I'M VERY OPEN TO THIS PROPERTY AND A TEXT AMENDMENT MAYBE REQUIRING A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
VICE CHAIR LOPEZ, ANY COMMENTS?
I'M VERY AWARE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND AGAIN I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CEJA'S COMMENTS AS WELL.
COMMISSIONER YSIANO, ANY COMMENTS?
>> JUST KIND OF ECHOING WHAT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS SAID.
I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROGRAM AND I DO AGREE THAT THAT NORTHERN, THAT NORTHWESTERN PART, IT DOES FIT IN WITH WHAT'S DESIGNATED IN THAT AREA, AND I KNOW FURTHER WEST ON SOME UNINCORPORATED AREAS THERE IS A LOT OF EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY, SO IT FITS WELL WITH THAT AREA, AND I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE SEE THIS, MAYBE TO KEEP IT SIMPLE THAT AREA, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT MIGHT BE THE EASIEST WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE SEEING MORE REQUESTS FOR EQUESTRIAN PROPERTIES IN THAT AREA.
I'D LOVE TO SEE PEGASUS BE IN INDIO.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THEM HAVE A NEW FACILITY.
MAYBE THEY CAN EVEN SERVE MORE CLIENTS.
IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE AND VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO I AGREE.
I THINK LOCK LOOK AT LIMITING WHICH PARTS OF INDIO THIS WOULD WORK AND A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT.
SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH STAFF TO COME UP WITH THE PROPER LANGUAGE TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO.
THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
[9.2 Tower Market – Project Consultation: ]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO YOUR SECOND STUDY ITEM 9.2, WHICH IS TOWER MARKET PROJECT CONSULTATION.THANK YOU FOR THE COMMISSION'S INPUT ON THE PREVIOUS ITEM, AND LET ME JUST SHARE MY SCREEN AGAIN.
EVERYBODY CAN SEE THE SCREEN? OKAY, PERFECT.
SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS TOWER MARKET PROJECT, AND AGAIN IT'S ANOTHER PROJECT CONSULTATION THAT WE BROUGHT IT TONIGHT BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS LOCATED WEST OF MONROE, NORTH OF CARRION WHICH IS
CURRENTLY A VACANT PROPERTY AND IT IS RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE JFK -- >> YES, MADAME CHAIRPERSON.
[ECHOING] >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, YOU BUT -- >> YOU'RE OKAY NOW.
S AND IT IS BASICALLY WITHIN AN AREA OF THE CITY WHICH MAINLY IS OFFICE AND MEDICAL OFFICES, AND THERE'S SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICES WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE PROPERTY AS WELL.
THIS IS THE CONCEPT PROPOSED SITE PLAN WHICH SHOWS THE MARKET AND THE PARKING AND THE ACCESS THROUGH THE SITE WHICH WILL BE FROM CARRION AND THEY WILL BE ASSURED
[00:45:07]
ACCESS WITH THE NORTH PROPERTY.THIS IS ALSO THEIR LANDSCAPE PLAN THAT SHOWS THE MARKET BUILDING IS CLOSER TO THE CORNER AND THEN THE CANOPY IS TOWARD THE BACK, AND AGAIN THE SHORT DRIVEWAY SHOWS WHERE THE PARKING IS AND ALSO THE ENTRANCE AND EXITS FROM DR. CARREON.
THEY ALSO SHOW A PATH OF TRAVEL THAT CONNECTS BOTH SIDEWALKS.
THESE ARE THE ELEVATIONS OF TOWER MARKET SO BASICALLY WE HAVE SIMILAR TOWER MARKET ON INDIO BOULEVARD AND AVENUE 48, SO THIS IS VERY SIMILAR ELEVATION.
IN ORDER TO GET THAT PROJECT APPROVED, THE APPLICANT NEEDS TO DO A CHANGE OF ZONING.
CURRENTLY THE PROPERTY IS ZONED COMMERCIAL OFFICE, WHICH OTHER RELATED USES INCLUDING A GASOLINE SERVICE STATION AND DRIVE-THROUGH MARKET AND CAR WASHES ARE PROHIBITED.
THEY'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE ZONE FROM COMMUTER COMMERCIAL -- I'M SORRY -- FROM COMMERCIAL OFFICE TO COMMUNITY COMMERCIAL WHICH ALLOWS OTHER USES AND GROCERY STORES AND MARKET UNDER 15,000 SQUARE FEET WITH APPROVAL OF A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING.
THE GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION OF THE SITE IS MIXED USE, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING ON A ZONING CODE UPDATE, SO WHAT THE GENERAL PLAN SAYS IS MIXED USE, WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL AND DIFFERENT TYPE OF COMMERCIAL TO BE COMBINED WITH EACH OTHER IN HORIZONTAL OR VERTICAL FORMS. S COMMISSION AND ALSO THE APPLICANT IS TONIGHT AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COMMISSION MAY HAVE FOR THEM.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF STAFF AT THIS TIME? NO? OKAY.
SO IF THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT SOME INFORMATION TO US, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AT THIS TIME.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? THIS IS NICK FULLERTON.
I THINK CHRISTIAN IS GOING TO DO THE PRESENTATION BUT HE WAS ON THERE BUT -- >> THIS IS CHRISTIAN.
MY VIDEO WAS LAGGING BEHIND MY PHONE.
SO THIS IS CHRISTIAN WITH RCE CONSULTANTS.
I REPRESENT CIVIL DESIGN FIRM AND I'M REPRESENTING THE DESIGN TEAM TODAY.
WE HAVE MYSELF, WHO IS THE CIVIL.
WE HAVE NICK FULLERTON WHO IS THE ARCHITECT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MARK BASEY WHO REPRESENTS TOWER ENERGY.
SO LEILA DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING OUR PROJECT.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH IT WITH THE OTHER INDIO ONE THAT WE HAVE THAT LEILA TALKED ABOUT, BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SITE, PLEASE LET YOU KNOW.
BUT WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO POTENTIALLY DO ANOTHER TOWER MARKET HERE IN INDIO.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT AT THIS TIME? NO? OKAY SO I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS UNLESS ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK BEFORE ME.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE NOT SO MUCH QUESTIONS BUT COMMENTS.
I WAS CURIOUS ACTUALLY, MAYBE GOING BACK TO STAFF, DID WE LOOK AT A SIMILAR TYPE OF PROPOSAL WITHIN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS ABOUT ALSO PUTTING A DIFFERENT KIND OF AUTO USE OR GASSIZATION, SERVICE STATION HERE?
WE HAD TWO PROPOSALS, ONE WHICH DIDN'T FLOURISH TO ANY APPLICATION WHEN WE SET THE ZONING DOESN'T ALLOW, SO IT NEVER WENT ANY FURTHER.
[00:50:05]
BUT WE HAD ANOTHER APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED, AND AT THE TIME, AT THAT TIME THE APPLICANT, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, DROPPED THAT APPLICATION AS WELL.SO IT WAS WITHDRAWN AND NEVER WENT FORWARD.
HIS APPLICATION INCLUDED BASICALLY A CHANGE OF ZONE AS WELL.
>> IS THERE A SPECIFIC PLAN IN THIS AREA?
>> THERE'S NO SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
YOU KNOW, I GUESS MY OVERALL CONCERN IS, AND I THINK THIS WAS OUR CONCERN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD THIS MEDICAL COMMITTEDY THAT WE COMMITTED DR. CARREON AND WE HAVE JFK HOSPITAL DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET AND TWO-STORY, SINGLE-STORY MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT.
I'D BE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTINUE THAT TYPE OF USE TO PUT IN A SERVICE FACILITY AT THIS LOCATION.
AND THAT'S KIND OF -- I HAD SOME REAL HESITATION ABOUT CHANGING THE ZONE FOR A GAS STATION TO LOSE OUT ON POTENTIAL OFFICE SPACE IN THE FUTURE.
>> I WOULD AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER CEJA'S COMMENTS.
I GREW UP NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THAT BLOCK THERE, AND RECENTLY WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE HEALTH CARE DISTRICT THERE'S RIGHT NOW WITH COVID, BUT I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
AGAIN, I WOULDN'T WANT TO LOOSE THAT ZONING IF THAT -- LOSE THAT ZONING IF THAT WAS GOING TO BE A MEDICAL CORRIDOR JUST ACROSS FROM THE HOSPITAL TO A GAS STATION.
SO I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THIS PROJECT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR SOS TYPES OF USES, ESPECIALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM -- DOES BECAUSE YOU HAVE KAISER, YOU HAVE JFK, YOU HAVE SOME OTHER MEDICAL BUILDINGS BEHIND THERE, AND THEN YOU HAVE SOME APARTMENTS RIGHT TO THE LEFT OF IT.
SO THOSE ARE JUST MY COMMENTS AND MY CONCERNS.
COMMISSIONER YSIANO, ANY COMMENTS?
>> NOTHING SPECIFICALLY, BUT I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER CEJA'S AND JACKIE'S COMMENTS ARE BOTH VALID CONCERNS.
I KNOW THERE IS OTHER VACANT PROPERTY NEARBY THAT COULD BE POSSIBLY USED FOR MORE MEDICAL OFFICES, BUT, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A PRETTY CRITICAL PIECE OF LAND HERE TO POSSIBLY BE USED FOR EXPANDING THAT MEDICAL DISTRICT.
WHEN THIS IDEA CAME BEFORE US A COUPLE YEARS AGO, WE HAD THE SAME CONCERNS.
WE REALLY FEEL THAT THAT IS A MEDICAL FOCUS AREA FOR OUR CITY, AND I AGREE THERE SHOULD BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANDED SERVICES, WHICH I DO BELIEVE ARE NEEDED IN THE EAST VALLEY, SO CHANGING ZONING TO ALLOW A GAS STATION ON THAT PARTICULAR CORNER IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I THINK I AM IN FAVOR OF AT THIS TIME.
>> CHAIR, THIS IS DIRECT STEINER SNYDER.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING.
THE COMMISSION IS NOT AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS.
YOU'RE JUST GIVING YOUR OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS.
THE APPLICANT CERTAINLY IS ENTITLED TO MAKE AN APPLICATION AND TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR THE RECORD IT'S CLEAR BECAUSE YOU ARE EXPRESSING YOUR OPINIONS BUT I DON'T WANT THE RECORD TO SOMEHOW PEOPLE TO GET A MISPERCEPTION THAT THE RECORD IS INDICATING YOU ARE APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING OF THIS BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS A PROJECT CONSULTATION.
NO PUBLIC NOTICES YOU'RE MAKING CAN OCCUR.
I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST EXPRESSING OUR OPINIONS FOR THIS TYPE OF USE IN THIS PARTICULAR PART OF OUR CITY, AND, OF COURSE, MORE THAN WELCOME TO MAKE AN APPLICATION AND COME BEFORE US ON THIS ITEM.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE COMMISSIONERS AT THIS TIME? NO.
AND WE CAN MOVE ON TO -- >> CHAIR, I CAN MAKE ONE MORE SUGGESTION? MY APOLOGIES.
>> YOU MIGHT WANT TO PROVIDE THE APPLICANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE YOU MOVE ON FROM THIS ITEM, JUST TO GIVE THAT INDIVIDUAL, GIVE CHRISTIAN THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE ARE HERE AND MORE THAN WILLING TO LISTEN IF THERE'S ANY MORE COMMENTS FROM THE APPLICANT ON THIS STUDY ITEM.
THIS IS MARK BASEY, TOWER ENERGY.
[00:55:01]
>> THANK YOU FOR THE FEEDBACK.
AND WE'VE HEARD SOME OF THAT IN THE PAST.
O THE MEDICAL FACILITIES AND BUILDINGS.
WE ACTUALLY OWNED THE TWO-STORY JFK BUILDING TO THE NORTH OF THIS SUBJECT PROPERTY.
THE DESERT COURT YARDS AND ALSO THE SEDONA SURGERY JUST TO THE WEST.
AND WE'VE HAD VACANCIES IN ALL THOSE LOCATIONS, AND WE'VE HAD THEM FOR, YOU KNOW, OVER A YEAR OR TWO IN SOME CASES, SO OUR FEELING IS -- OUR ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO LOOK AT A MEDICAL BUILDING THERE, TOO, BUT WE DON'T SEE THE DEMAND SO WE CAN'T JUSTIFY MAKING THAT INVESTMENT WHEN WE CAN'T EVEN -- HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL SPACE THAT WE HAVE.
SO THAT'S JUST SOME FACTS I'D LIKE TO PASS ON TO YOU.
AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION, TOO, ON THE ZONING BUT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT AREA, AND THE VACANCIES THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND -- >> THANK YOU.
[10. STAFF ITEMS ]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 10, STAFF ITEMS.SO AS FAR AS THE STAFF ITEMS, AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FULL AGENDA FOR SEPTEMBER.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING BEFORE YOU.
SO HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE -- WE WON'T TIRE YOU SO YOU WILL BE WITH ENERGY AND DELIBERATING ON THE ITEMS. ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT ON THE CENSUS, TODAY WE STARTED OUR FIRST MQA, WHICH IS MOBILE QUESTIONER ASSISTANT.
WITH THE COUNTY AND ALSO CENSUS STAFF, WE WERE ABLE TO SET UP A TABLE WITHIN THE AM/PM ON GOLF CENTER PARKWAY, SO WE HAVE ALL CORONAVIRUS PROTECTED ITEMS F SANITIZING WIPES, SO IT WILL BE THERE.
IT WAS THERE TODAY FROM 1:00 TO 5:00 AND IT WILL BE THERE TOMORROW AND FRIDAY FROM 1:00 TO 5:00 P.M.
AND ALSO NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY FROM 1:00 TO 5:00.
WE ALSO HAD TELL TELEMUNDO TV CHANNEL INTERVIEWING ALG HAHN DRO RODRIGUEZ, OUR STAFF AS TO WHY PEOPLE NEED TO COMPLETE THEIR CENSUS AND WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, SO IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON AT 6:00 P.M.
TODAY, SO I'M ASSUMING EVERYBODY CAN WATCH THAT LATER ON THEIR WEBSITE.
TODAY OUR RESPONSE WAS 50% -- 50.8%, SO WE ARE GOING UP BUT VERY GRADUALLY.
SO HOPEFULLY THESE TWO MQA OR HEALTH FACILITIES OR HEALTH CENTERS WILL HELP OUR RESIDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR CENSUS DISPG THERE.
THEY CAN JUST WITH STAFF FROM CENSUS, THEEK EASILY COMPLETE THEIR -- THEY CAN EASILY COMPLETE THEIR FORMS AND JUST SEND IT.
I WAS THERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS AND I WITNESSED A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT DID COMPLETE THEIR CENSUS THERE, AND THEY REALLY LIKE IT.
SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT FOR NOW.
ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THIS SET UP AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OR IS IT JUST GOING TO BE THERE FOR THESE FEW DAYS?
>> SO WE ARE TRYING TO TARGET THE AREAS THAT THEIR RESPONSES WERE VERY LOW, SO THAT LOCATION WAS VERY CLOSE TO THE TRACK TRACTS THAT THEY HAD LOW RESPONSES.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR MORE FACILITIES.
WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO A LOCATION, A STOREFRONT OR A STORE SPACE CLOSE TOELLE
[01:00:02]
SUPER ON AUGUST 31ST SO IT WILL BE UP AND RUNNING ON INDIVIDUALS THAT USE EL SUPER.IT IS STILL HOT SO WE CAN'T GO OUTSIDE SO IT WAS REALLY NICE THAT MR. SHANDI FROM SHANDI GROUP USA PROVIDED THAT SPACE FOR US AND WE WERE VERY ACCOMMODATED BUT WE ARE LOOKING INTO OTHER LOCATIONS AS WELL.
>> MAY BE EL SUPER WILL LET YOU TAKE A LITTLE CORNER OF THEIR STORE WELL.
EL SUPER DOES NOT ALLOW NIBBLE WITH ANY TABLE ANYWHERE -- ANYBODY WITH ANY TABLE ANYWHERE NEAR THEIR STORE.
ALSO I CONTACTED THEIR HEADQUARTERS.
BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY CONTACTED ME BACK OR NO.
BUT WE COULDN'T GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM, ALSO.
>> CHAIR, IF I COULD ADD THE SHOPPING CENTER, LEILA HAS TAKEN VALIANT EFFORTS.
IN ADDITION TO HER REGULAR WORK SHE IS LEADING THE CHARGE FOR THE CITY ON CENSUS AND DOING DOUBLE DUTY.
WE DID CONTACT THE SHOPPING CENTER OWNER WHERE EL SUPER IS AND HE IS OPEN TO WORKING WITH US TO POTENTIALLY UTILIZE A VACANT STORE SPACE, SO IT WOULDN'T BE EL SUPER ITSELF BUT IT WOULD BE IN THE SAME CENTER.
>> WE'RE ALSO TALKING WITH INDIO TOWN CENTER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DO HAVE A VACANT SPACE BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY UTILITIES,
SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY -- >> [LAUGHTER] >> IF COOLER WEATHER ARRIVES IN SEPTEMBER BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH, THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH US TO DO AN MQA IN THE PARKING LOT.
LEILA IS DOING EVERYTHING SHE CAN.
LEILA HAS SAID THIS A LOT OF TIMES, AND I'LL JUST PARAPHRASE HER, WE ARE MOVING UP SLOWLY.
WE'RE STILL THE SECOND LOWEST RESPONSE RATE IN THE VALLEY, AND IT'S $2,000 PER PERSON FOR TEN YEARS, $20,000 OVER TEN YEARS FOR EVERY PERSON THAT DISUNS RESPOND.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO LEAVE ON THE TABLE.
I KNOW LEILA IS GOING TO CARRY THIS FOOTBALL TO THE BITTER END.
I KNOW SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MID-50S.
IN HONOR OF HER IF WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT YOU, SIR, ON THE RECORD.
I KNOW LEILA WANTS TO SEE 100%.
>> LEILA, COULD YOU PERHAPS SEND AN EMAIL WITH SOME OF THOSE BULLET POINTS OF THE DAYS AND THE TIMES THAT THERE WILL BE THAT ASSISTANCE THERE AT THE AM/PM SO PUT ON IT SOCIAL MEDIA.
I WILL SEND EVERYBODY TONIGHT.
>> I'M ASSUMING IT'S ON THE CITY'S FACEBOOK PAGE, RIGHT?
>> SO WE CAN SHARE IT FROM THERE TOO.
AND ALSO I'M ASSUMING THERE WAS SOME COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING DIRECTOR HAS POSTED SOME PICTURES.
I JUST DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO CHECK.
THAT'S DEFINITELY ABOVE AND BEYOND.
>> ADDITIONAL ITEMS, VERY BRIEFLY, AT YOUR PREVIOUS MEETING YOU APPROVED THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND DESIGN REVIEW FOR DUTCH BROTHERS.
THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO SELL THAT PROPERTY TO DUTCH BRS BROS SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY WILL BE SELLING COFFEE SOME TIME IN SPRING OF 2021.
ON A COUPLE OF OTHER PROJECT FRONTS, THE APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH THE CONSULTANT TEAM FOR THE HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN.
SO WE WILL BE KICKING OFF THAT WORK HOPEFULLY IN SEPTEMBER, AND WE'LL BE COMING TO TALK TO YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ABOUT HOW THE CORRIDOR COULD LOOK IN THE FUTURE.
AS THE SPECIFIC PLAN TO REALLY GOING TO FOCUS ON LAND USES ALONG THE WITH DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, DESIGN STANDARDS AND THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SO THOSE WILL BE THE AREAS THAT WE WILL BE GETTING YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON, AND THAT PROJECT WE ANTICIPATE WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
AND THEN WE A LITTLE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATIVE PLANNING COMMUNITY PLANNING PROCESS, AND THAT PROCESS IS FOCUSING ON THREE CENSUS TRACTS IN OUR CITY, THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WHAT'S CALLED THE JEWEL COMMUNITY, THE AREA EAST OF JACKSON, NORTH OF AVENUE 45.
AND THAT PROJECT IS GOING WELL.
[01:05:02]
WE'RE DOING SOME INNOVATIVE THINGS ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT WILL SERVE US WELL, AND ON PROJECTS WE'RE ACTUALLY LEARNING HOW TO DO VIRTUAL COMMUNITY ROUTE REACH.WE'RE GETTING GOOD FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THAT PLAN TOGETHER.
THE VERY LAST THING IS LEILA IS LEAD ON THE ZONING CODE UPDATE, AND THAT'S GOING WELL BASED ON YOUR FEEDBACK FROM BEFORE, THE CONSULTANT TEAM IS WORKING TO PULL TOGETHER THE, IF YOU WILL, AN OUTLINE OF ALL THE ELEMENTS, AND THEN WILL BEGIN DRAFTING IN EARNEST AND WE'LL BE HOPEFULLY ABLE TO BE SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU LATER IN THE CALENDAR YEAR.
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMISSIONER COMMENTS AT THIS TIME?
[11. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS ]
NO.I'M IN NEWPORT BEACH AND THE WEATHER IS 74 DEGREES.
ANYHOW, IF THERE ARE NO MORE COMMENTS, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN THE MEETING TO OUR NEXT PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, VIRTUAL MEETING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 AT 6:00 P.M.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN?
WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.