October 9, 2025 Planning Commission - City of Rancho Mirage

Transcript text

AI transcript text.

[00:00:09] Good afternoon. I'd like to call to
[00:00:12] order the regular planning commission
[00:00:13] meeting for Thursday, October 9th, 2025.
[00:00:19] Welcome everyone. And the first item
[00:00:21] will be to have a flag salute.
[00:00:28] Commissioner Agustinini, would you care
[00:00:30] to join and lead us in that?
[00:00:32] >> Yes. Everyone, please place your hand
[00:00:33] over your heart and begin after me. I
[00:00:35] pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[00:00:38] United States of America and to the
[00:00:42] stands, one nation under God,
[00:00:45] indivisible, with
[00:00:48] all
[00:00:52] >> Thank you. And uh maybe we have now a
[00:00:55] roll call.
[00:00:58] Commissioner Agustini
[00:00:59] >> present.
[00:01:00] >> Commissioner Beiel
[00:01:01] >> present.
[00:01:02] >> Commissioner Gray, Vice Chair Bryant,
[00:01:06] >> present.
[00:01:06] >> And Chair Chanter,
[00:01:08] >> present. We have a quorum. Thank you.
[00:01:10] And we need a motion to excuse
[00:01:12] Commissioner Gray.
[00:01:14] >> I'll make the motion.
[00:01:15] >> Do we have a second?
[00:01:16] >> Second.
[00:01:17] >> We have a second. Please vote.
[00:01:26] Motion carries 40. Thank you.
[00:01:30] All right. And uh next we have approval
[00:01:33] of minutes for September 25th, 2025, the
[00:01:36] regular planning commission meeting
[00:01:38] minutes. Do we have any questions or
[00:01:40] comments on those minutes by the uh
[00:01:42] commissioners?
[00:01:45] All right. And do we have any public
[00:01:47] comment?
[00:01:48] >> Yes, we have one. Brad Anderson.
[00:01:56] Good afternoon, Brad Anderson. I
[00:01:58] currently live within the city of Ransom
[00:02:00] Mirage. I just want to take a moment of
[00:02:02] your time to talk about item 3A. I
[00:02:04] believe this is the uh the recommended
[00:02:06] approval of today or the September 25th
[00:02:10] planning commissioner meetings. Uh I I
[00:02:13] read through them again um and they are
[00:02:15] inaccurate and not complete. Uh I know
[00:02:18] the city has a policy or board or or
[00:02:22] passed a policy I believe in December of
[00:02:25] last year uh to radically change how
[00:02:29] minutes are kept. Uh but I believe it's
[00:02:31] up to you uh this council this
[00:02:34] commission to u to be accurate in in
[00:02:39] when the public or or your
[00:02:40] representatives have anything to say.
[00:02:43] Yes, your your representatives comments
[00:02:45] are uh briefed. uh briefly uh I guess
[00:02:50] summarized
[00:02:51] uh but the public comment is not
[00:02:53] summarized at all now and even the
[00:02:56] stances on public hearings are not taken
[00:02:59] uh meaning opposed or neutral or in
[00:03:02] support u and that happened on item 4A
[00:03:05] of the 25th September meeting uh where
[00:03:09] public participants weren't accurate
[00:03:12] weren't accurately uh mentioned in the
[00:03:15] written minutes which is the official
[00:03:17] public record of these proceedings. Uh
[00:03:22] so I would urge you to advocate if you
[00:03:25] don't feel you have the uh authority to
[00:03:28] do that uh to change uh to actually be
[00:03:32] accurate
[00:03:33] when you uh submit or when you approve
[00:03:35] your minutes of your of your meetings.
[00:03:38] Uh I want to just bring mention to these
[00:03:41] speaker cards too that you that you
[00:03:43] provide. they do have in favor and
[00:03:46] oppose on certain topics. Um, I would
[00:03:50] recommend if you're not going to
[00:03:52] radically or readily uh um adapt uh to
[00:03:57] my recommendations is to put these in
[00:04:00] the public record and people can submit
[00:04:02] the topic and maybe a brief comment and
[00:04:06] in favor of uh the board of supervisors
[00:04:09] this uh of Riverside County does it that
[00:04:12] way. Uh, so I would recommend that.
[00:04:14] Thank you.
[00:04:15] >> Thank you. And now we'll move into
[00:04:18] commissioner comments. And I'll start to
[00:04:20] my left, Commissioner Agustinini.
[00:04:24] >> Uh, welcome everyone. Um, I just wanted
[00:04:27] to uh take a moment and
[00:04:30] acknowledge staff and thank them for
[00:04:32] their help uh in preparing these
[00:04:34] reports. And
[00:04:35] >> can we go back to the minutes? I believe
[00:04:37] that we didn't on the minutes.
[00:04:39] >> Yep, you're right.
[00:04:40] >> Oh. Oh, sorry. Sorry. Do we have a
[00:04:42] motion to approve the minutes?
[00:04:44] >> Motion.
[00:04:45] >> Second.
[00:04:47] >> All in favor. Well, we'll be voting at
[00:04:49] this point. Thank you.
[00:05:00] >> I don't have it on my screen. Oh, there
[00:05:02] we go.
[00:05:10] >> Motion carries. 4 Z.
[00:05:11] >> Thank you. Sorry, I'm a little out of
[00:05:13] order today. Uh we're going back to item
[00:05:16] two, commissioner comments, starting
[00:05:18] with Commissioner Agustinini.
[00:05:20] >> Uh yeah, so welcome everyone again. Um
[00:05:23] just one quick comment and thank you to
[00:05:26] the city and their and the staff. Um and
[00:05:29] the in recognition of the recent passing
[00:05:31] of Dana Hobart. um it it really they did
[00:05:35] a really nice job putting out all the
[00:05:36] highlights and and things he did for our
[00:05:39] city and in the community. So, just want
[00:05:41] to take a moment to to touch on that. Um
[00:05:43] other than that, I don't have any other
[00:05:45] public comments.
[00:05:46] >> Thank you, Commissioner Beiel.
[00:05:48] >> No comments.
[00:05:50] >> All right, Commissioner Bryant.
[00:05:54] >> Thank you, Pamela.
[00:05:56] Uh yes, a very somber time for the city
[00:05:59] of Rancho Mirage with the passing of
[00:06:02] Dana Hobert last Saturday. There are
[00:06:05] going to be of course many remembrances
[00:06:07] and accolades from hundreds of people uh
[00:06:11] whose lives were touched by Dana.
[00:06:14] obviously the thousands of residents in
[00:06:16] the city who uh did probably didn't know
[00:06:19] him personally uh but are the
[00:06:21] beneficiaries of so many things that he
[00:06:24] did over the 20 or so years that he was
[00:06:27] on the council and I believe served as
[00:06:29] mayor five times maybe four or five
[00:06:32] times and obviously I could use the next
[00:06:35] two hours to even
[00:06:38] slightly go over all the things that
[00:06:39] Dana did while who is here Now, of
[00:06:44] course, a very close friend and
[00:06:45] confidant of Dana could actually speak
[00:06:48] for two hours and cover some of the
[00:06:50] things. I met Dana in 2002, I think it
[00:06:54] was, when he first came on the uh city
[00:06:58] council. Um, and over the years I went
[00:07:02] to many of the city council meetings and
[00:07:04] watched him and it was always abundantly
[00:07:06] clear to me that he had a brilliant
[00:07:09] mind, the ability to take complex issues
[00:07:12] and subjects and the level of detail
[00:07:15] that he got down into. Uh, and there's
[00:07:19] no doubt he raised the bar for many
[00:07:22] other people to function. Um Dana
[00:07:24] actually appointed me to the planning
[00:07:27] commission in 2018.
[00:07:30] The first thing I did uh after that I
[00:07:33] went to Dana and I said what advice
[00:07:35] would you give me? And he gave me four
[00:07:38] things. The first was your job number
[00:07:41] one is to maintain and enhance the
[00:07:43] quality of life of our residents.
[00:07:46] Number two, city council and planning
[00:07:49] commission members are entrusted with
[00:07:51] Rancho Mirage's future. Decisions have a
[00:07:55] cumulative impact,
[00:07:57] think and act long term. Uh the third
[00:08:01] was prepare for the hearings, study,
[00:08:05] understand the nuances of the issues,
[00:08:08] and if they're complex issues, it can
[00:08:10] take many, many hours. The fourth one
[00:08:13] and maybe ultimately the most important.
[00:08:16] He said, "Hold firm to your principles
[00:08:18] even when it may bring you personal
[00:08:20] harm. People may not like you for it.
[00:08:23] Don't be swayed by politics.
[00:08:26] Principles be guided by principles and
[00:08:29] make your your decisions on principles.
[00:08:34] Um obviously we know one thing to give
[00:08:37] advice in words. It's another to show it
[00:08:41] in action. Dana did that over the years
[00:08:45] and one of the big examples that stands
[00:08:47] out is u the CV link. If any of those of
[00:08:50] you been around here for a long time, it
[00:08:53] was a very very contentious in the whole
[00:08:55] valley. Uh most of the cities in the
[00:08:58] valley uh approved or had CV link. Uh
[00:09:02] Rancho Mirage, it was not right for
[00:09:05] Rancho Mirage.
[00:09:07] Dana uh led the battle to that. I went
[00:09:10] to all the Coachella Valley Association
[00:09:12] of Governments meetings where CV link
[00:09:14] was up. To put it lightly, uh Dana did
[00:09:19] not make many friends. U and in fact a
[00:09:22] lot of vitriol was hurled his way along
[00:09:24] with Mayor Wild. Uh but he held firm and
[00:09:29] u did the right thing.
[00:09:32] So, uh, Isaiah is not here, but if
[00:09:36] Isaiah will appoint me in charge of
[00:09:38] making bronze statues out front, I would
[00:09:41] do three of them. The first one would be
[00:09:44] our firefighters. The second bronze
[00:09:46] statue would be to our law enforcement,
[00:09:49] and the third bronze statue I would make
[00:09:52] Dana Hbert.
[00:09:54] Thank you.
[00:09:56] >> Thank you, Commissioner Bryant. um your
[00:09:58] very fine words about a very um a very
[00:10:02] valuable man to the community. I never
[00:10:04] met him, but your words helped me
[00:10:06] understand how important he was and how
[00:10:08] much he gave of himself to our
[00:10:10] community. Thank you. And I'd also like
[00:10:13] to thank you for filling in for me at
[00:10:15] the last meeting. Also, you did a great
[00:10:16] job. Of course,
[00:10:19] would not expect otherwise.
[00:10:22] Okay. So, we're moving now into public
[00:10:24] hearings to item 4 A,
[00:10:28] environmental assessment case number
[00:10:30] EA23-00003,
[00:10:34] variance case number V24-00002
[00:10:39] and tenative trackm map case number
[00:10:42] TTM23-00001
[00:10:46] TTM 38636
[00:10:49] and the applicant for Had Zumarati
[00:10:52] Consideration of a nine lot residential
[00:10:55] subdivision on 5.04 gross acres. The
[00:10:58] project requests approval of a variance
[00:11:00] to the very low density residential 2LR
[00:11:04] RL2, excuse me. Minimum required lot
[00:11:07] size from 18,000 square ft to 16,000
[00:11:11] ft located at 72094 Ginger Rogers Road,
[00:11:16] APN6858002.
[00:11:21] and Joy, may you please um present us
[00:11:24] with the staff report.
[00:11:28] >> Uh good afternoon and thank you chair
[00:11:31] chanter and planning commissioners. Uh
[00:11:33] for your consideration today is a
[00:11:35] tenative trackmap number 38636 a nine
[00:11:39] lot residential subdivision in section
[00:11:42] 30. The entitlement applications for
[00:11:44] this project are environmental
[00:11:46] assessment case number EA23-00003
[00:11:51] uh variance case number VA24-00002
[00:11:56] and tentative track map case number
[00:11:58] TTM23-00001.
[00:12:03] Today's request is for the approval to
[00:12:05] subdivide 5.04 04 gross acres into nine
[00:12:09] single family lots with lot sizes
[00:12:11] ranging from 16,122
[00:12:14] to 16,841
[00:12:17] square ft and to grant a variance
[00:12:19] reducing the minimum lot size
[00:12:21] requirement from 18,000 to 16,000 square
[00:12:24] ft. No residential development plans are
[00:12:27] proposed with this request.
[00:12:31] The subject property is located at the
[00:12:34] northeast corner of Ginger Rogers Road
[00:12:36] and Landy Lane.
[00:12:40] The project site is zone for RL2 for low
[00:12:43] for very low density residential. A
[00:12:46] vacant single family residence is
[00:12:48] located at the southwest corner of the
[00:12:50] project site and will be demolished at
[00:12:52] the as a part of this project.
[00:12:55] Existing single family residences in the
[00:12:58] Sienna Vista and Echo developments are
[00:13:00] located to the north and east of the
[00:13:02] project site and are within the same
[00:13:04] zoning district. There is a vacant
[00:13:06] parcel zone for office uses to the west
[00:13:09] and a vacant parcel zone for RL2 to the
[00:13:13] south. The project site lies well within
[00:13:16] a low density residential context
[00:13:18] surrounded predominantly by similar
[00:13:21] single family communities.
[00:13:25] The subdivision proposes nine
[00:13:27] residential lots accessed by a private
[00:13:30] culde-sac street off Ginger Rogers Road
[00:13:32] and includes common area lots for a
[00:13:34] private street, perimeter landscaping,
[00:13:37] and two retention basins. The
[00:13:40] residential subdivision will be gated
[00:13:42] similarly to the other residential
[00:13:44] subdivisions in the vicinity. Access to
[00:13:46] the proposed parcels will be provided by
[00:13:48] the culdesac street off Ginger Rogers
[00:13:51] Road.
[00:13:53] The topography is near the elevation of
[00:13:55] adjacent properties and roadways and is
[00:13:57] situated at an approximate average
[00:13:59] elevation of 326 feet above mean sea
[00:14:03] level. The existing terrain drains from
[00:14:06] the north to south and the overall
[00:14:08] drainage pattern will generally remain
[00:14:10] consistent post development.
[00:14:12] To manage storm water on site, two
[00:14:14] retention basins are proposed at the
[00:14:16] southern end of the project to minimize
[00:14:19] grading impacts. The project grading and
[00:14:22] drainage design ensures that all storm
[00:14:23] water be contained on site. Overall, the
[00:14:27] subdivision design seeks to mirror
[00:14:29] existing developments.
[00:14:33] A con a conceptual landscape plan has
[00:14:36] been submitted for the common areas. The
[00:14:39] desert appropriate pallet includes sweet
[00:14:40] quesacia, fruitless olive, date palms,
[00:14:43] and accent shrubs and ground covers. In
[00:14:46] addition, perimeter walls and fencing
[00:14:48] will match the adjacent communities to
[00:14:50] maintain visual continuity. For example,
[00:14:53] the perimeter wall along Landy Lane will
[00:14:55] match that of Sienna Vista's development
[00:14:58] to the north. The project has been
[00:15:01] designed to comply with the city's
[00:15:02] landscape standards and the section 30
[00:15:04] design guidelines.
[00:15:09] The proposed subdivision complies with
[00:15:11] the city's development code standards
[00:15:13] pertaining to the project's density and
[00:15:14] lot dimensions. The proposed lots range
[00:15:17] in size from 16,000 uh 122 to 16,841
[00:15:23] square ft. The proposed project density
[00:15:26] would be 1.78 dwelling units per acre,
[00:15:29] which is under the maximum allowable
[00:15:31] density of two units per acre in the RL2
[00:15:34] zoning district.
[00:15:38] While most of the site's development
[00:15:39] standards are met, the only exception is
[00:15:41] the lot area minimum which is being
[00:15:43] mitigated by the variance request.
[00:15:46] Without the rightway dedications on both
[00:15:48] street frontages, the subject property
[00:15:50] would otherwise be able to meet these
[00:15:52] development standards.
[00:15:54] Any future development will be required
[00:15:56] to go through the development review
[00:15:58] process and must comply with the
[00:16:00] development standards for the underlying
[00:16:02] zoning district.
[00:16:07] An environmental assessment form was
[00:16:09] submitted with the pro for the project
[00:16:10] and the determination was made that a
[00:16:12] project required an initial study. An
[00:16:15] initial study was prepared resulting in
[00:16:17] the recommendation to adopt a mitigated
[00:16:20] negative declaration.
[00:16:22] Mitigation measures were recommended for
[00:16:25] biological resources, geological geology
[00:16:28] and soils, cultural resources and tribal
[00:16:31] cultural resources.
[00:16:35] As a part of the subdivision review,
[00:16:37] staff routed the project for comments to
[00:16:40] city departments and responsible
[00:16:41] agencies, and any applicable comments
[00:16:44] received have been incorporated into the
[00:16:46] conditions of approval. The proposed
[00:16:48] subdivision with approval of variance is
[00:16:51] in conformance with the city's general
[00:16:52] plan and zoning section 30 design
[00:16:55] guidelines and all applicable
[00:16:56] requirements of the subdivision mapped
[00:16:58] act.
[00:17:00] Staff has received and responded to two
[00:17:02] emails regarding this request and the
[00:17:04] comments were distributed to the
[00:17:06] planning commission prior to this
[00:17:07] meeting.
[00:17:09] Staff recommends that the planning
[00:17:10] commission recommend to the city council
[00:17:12] one approval of the filing of a
[00:17:15] mitigated negative declaration and two
[00:17:18] approval of a variance case number
[00:17:20] V24-00002
[00:17:23] and three approval of tenative trackmap
[00:17:26] case number TTM23-00001
[00:17:30] subject to the conditions of approval
[00:17:32] and based on the content and findings in
[00:17:34] the staff report. This concludes my
[00:17:37] presentation and be happy to address any
[00:17:39] questions the commissioners may have.
[00:17:41] Thank you.
[00:17:43] >> Thank you, Joy.
[00:17:46] Now, do we have the uh city clerk please
[00:17:48] open the public comment?
[00:17:50] >> Thank you. I did not receive any speaker
[00:17:52] cards. Is there anyone in the audience
[00:17:53] who would like to provide public
[00:17:54] testimony on this public hearing item?
[00:17:56] Thank you. Please step to the podium and
[00:17:58] state your name.
[00:18:08] Sorry, I thought I was done. Uh Brad
[00:18:10] Anderson, City of Rans. I just wanted to
[00:18:12] uh applaud the staff for their um well
[00:18:16] for the staff report. It was awesome. Uh
[00:18:19] my only concern and maybe the planning
[00:18:21] commission will uh look at this
[00:18:23] eventually but um that area has of
[00:18:27] course has wildlife in it and uh and I
[00:18:29] walked this city and I walked that area
[00:18:31] a lot and u and I remember was it I
[00:18:35] don't want to bore everybody but a
[00:18:36] couple years ago there was a lizard and
[00:18:38] and people ran over it just because they
[00:18:42] could I guess. So maybe some kind of
[00:18:45] wildlife
[00:18:47] uh trail system, something to allow the
[00:18:51] wildlife that's been established in that
[00:18:53] area for decades and decades to uh
[00:18:55] retreat, I guess, from that area. U I I
[00:19:00] just I have no issues with it. Uh I
[00:19:02] guess it's a gated community. Mr. Hobart
[00:19:05] uh years ago in my neighborhood um
[00:19:10] said that uh the city council decided
[00:19:12] not to have any more gated communities
[00:19:14] in the city and of course there's been a
[00:19:17] number of gated communities approved
[00:19:19] after that but I think that does hit
[00:19:21] close to home for him because he lived
[00:19:23] in that area too. Uh but uh uh I guess
[00:19:28] the city needs to decide if they're
[00:19:29] going to have a gated communities in
[00:19:31] certain areas and not in other areas.
[00:19:33] And that's all I have. Thank you.
[00:19:35] >> Thank you very much.
[00:19:36] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[00:19:38] provide public testimony on this item?
[00:19:40] >> That was the only speaker.
[00:19:42] >> All right, then we will close the public
[00:19:44] comment and I'm going to ask each
[00:19:45] commissioner if they have any comments
[00:19:47] or questions and I'll start with
[00:19:49] Commissioner Agugustini.
[00:19:54] >> Um,
[00:19:57] um, I'm I'm quite familiar with that
[00:19:58] area as well. I ran I run in that area
[00:20:01] almost every day. Um it is a growing
[00:20:04] portion of the city and it's great to
[00:20:07] see a lot of development in that area. I
[00:20:09] do just have one uh specific question. I
[00:20:12] think I know the answer but I just want
[00:20:13] to confirm um that area is with all the
[00:20:16] development we've had issues with IID
[00:20:18] and getting power to those stations. But
[00:20:20] because am I correct in assuming that
[00:20:22] because there's no uh development actual
[00:20:26] building development approval that it's
[00:20:28] that that's not part of the conditions
[00:20:29] of approval.
[00:20:35] Um so as part of a condition of approval
[00:20:37] number 14 um we uh have a condition in
[00:20:41] there that states that the applicant
[00:20:42] shall demonstrate that the product site
[00:20:43] has electrical availability prior to the
[00:20:45] issuance of building permits or building
[00:20:47] occupancy as determined by the
[00:20:49] development services director. So that's
[00:20:51] something that they'll have to do once
[00:20:52] they propose project plans are and that
[00:20:55] stage of development. But uh currently
[00:20:56] they have not proposed any um
[00:20:58] architectural plans as part of this uh
[00:21:00] package. This is just a subdivision map.
[00:21:03] >> All right. So like the cost of that
[00:21:05] connection isn't part of this approval
[00:21:08] or part of that condition.
[00:21:10] >> So that this condition just states that
[00:21:12] they'll have to have electrical service
[00:21:15] by the time they're ready to u move
[00:21:17] forward with building construction.
[00:21:18] >> So just to clarify, the applicant will
[00:21:20] have to work with IID on uh getting
[00:21:22] power.
[00:21:23] >> Right. I understand. Um that that's all
[00:21:26] my comments.
[00:21:27] >> Thank you and thank you for the
[00:21:28] clarification from staff. Uh
[00:21:31] Commissioner Ual,
[00:21:34] >> no questions.
[00:21:36] >> Okay. And Commissioner Bryant,
[00:21:41] >> um the major question is the um the
[00:21:45] zoning is 18,000 square feet and we're
[00:21:49] uh they're proposing to give a variance
[00:21:51] to 16,000 square feet.
[00:21:54] Um, there are other five acre
[00:21:56] subdivisions or so out there. I think
[00:21:59] some others have been given a variance.
[00:22:00] Is that correct?
[00:22:05] >> A lot of the maps that were Can you pull
[00:22:08] up an aerial enjoy just so people have a
[00:22:10] visual? So, a lot of the maps that have
[00:22:12] been already been subdivided in the area
[00:22:14] and the surrounding properties were done
[00:22:16] with when the lot sizes were at the
[00:22:18] 16,000 minimum. Um, and a lot of those
[00:22:22] maps were kept alive for many years
[00:22:24] through state extensions. So, we see the
[00:22:27] majority of that area already developed
[00:22:29] with 16,000 square foot lots. Uh, that's
[00:22:33] why this project is proposing a variance
[00:22:35] to match those lots.
[00:22:36] >> Okay. Um, and so would there be a case
[00:22:39] if someone had another 5 acre parcels
[00:22:42] that we would not give a variance?
[00:22:44] >> It would be determined on a case-byase
[00:22:46] basis. there are certain findings that
[00:22:48] we have we have to make in order to uh
[00:22:50] consider a variance.
[00:22:52] >> Okay. All right. Thanks. Um and by the
[00:22:54] way, thank you uh for um actually
[00:22:57] showing the pictures of in the landscape
[00:22:59] sometimes in the the the plan that came
[00:23:02] out. They just had the all the little
[00:23:05] circles and everything. Um and there's a
[00:23:08] whole bunch of them. I don't know every
[00:23:09] plant. I know a few, but it saves us
[00:23:12] time. I I can only tell when you
[00:23:15] actually see a picture of a plant what
[00:23:17] it's ultimately going to look like and
[00:23:18] that's important. Uh so that we can
[00:23:22] visualize when all the landscaping in
[00:23:24] what the area is going to look like. So
[00:23:27] uh I guess that was added. So thank you
[00:23:29] for that. Uh the
[00:23:32] IID I know there's no electrical there
[00:23:35] right now but are all other utilities in
[00:23:39] >> Yes, that's correct.
[00:23:41] >> Okay. Um, and the side streets, Ginger
[00:23:45] Rogers and Landy, will they have to be
[00:23:48] improved to a public street standard,
[00:23:50] curbs and gutters and all that sort of
[00:23:52] thing?
[00:23:53] >> Yes, they will have to. Um, Landy Lane
[00:23:56] and Ginger Rogers Road are considered u
[00:23:58] local public streets. So, they will have
[00:24:00] to be improved to those standards.
[00:24:03] >> Okay. And again, this is a subdivision
[00:24:06] only. There's nothing for houses or
[00:24:09] vertical development. This is only the
[00:24:11] subdivision, correct?
[00:24:13] >> Yes, that's correct.
[00:24:14] >> Okay. All right. Okay. Those are all my
[00:24:16] questions. Thank you.
[00:24:18] >> Thank you. Um, frankly, I just read
[00:24:20] through the staff report and felt very
[00:24:22] comfortable with it and I think I would
[00:24:25] agree with their recommendation.
[00:24:27] So, at this point, unless there are
[00:24:29] further comments or questions from the
[00:24:30] commissioners, we'll ask for a motion.
[00:24:34] >> A motion.
[00:24:36] >> And a second.
[00:24:38] >> A second.
[00:24:39] >> Thank you.
[00:24:41] Please vote.
[00:24:48] >> Motion carries 40.
[00:24:52] >> Okay,
[00:24:53] now we're going to be moving into item
[00:24:55] 4B. Um
[00:24:58] Pamela uh the property that's coming up
[00:25:03] is uh my proximity of my residence is
[00:25:07] within the bounds set by the state. So I
[00:25:11] have to recuse myself. So if you will
[00:25:13] give me a few minutes to get out of here
[00:25:16] and I will actually leave the room and
[00:25:18] come back in when this particular item
[00:25:21] is through.
[00:25:23] >> Certainly. And now the planning
[00:25:25] commission is going to take a fivem
[00:25:26] minute recess, so we'll reconvene at
[00:25:28] 2:30.
[00:25:31] >> Welcome back. The recess is now over and
[00:25:33] we're moving to item 4B, the
[00:25:36] environmental assessment case number
[00:25:38] EA24-00009,
[00:25:41] minor variance case number V24-00005,
[00:25:46] and tenative track map case number
[00:25:48] TTM24-00003,
[00:25:52] TTM 38971.
[00:25:55] And now we'll have a staff report from
[00:25:58] Ben.
[00:26:00] Uh, good afternoon members of the
[00:26:01] planning commission. Um, the um 19.81
[00:26:06] acre project site currently consists of
[00:26:08] eight parcels and is located north from
[00:26:10] the intersection of Mirage Cove Drive
[00:26:12] and Peterson Road. Uh, the project site
[00:26:14] has street furnages along Mirage Cove
[00:26:17] Drive, Neielson Road, Peterson Road, and
[00:26:20] Kelly Lane.
[00:26:22] Um, the existing general plan and zoning
[00:26:24] designation of the project site is
[00:26:26] residential estate. Uh the project site
[00:26:28] is mostly surrounded by properties also
[00:26:30] zoned residential estate, but some
[00:26:32] portions to the north are next to the
[00:26:34] whitewater storm channel. Some portions
[00:26:36] to the west are next to mobile home park
[00:26:39] and a small portion to the south is next
[00:26:41] to medium-density residential zoned
[00:26:43] land.
[00:26:45] Uh the proposed project will subdivide
[00:26:47] 19.81 acres into 16 single family
[00:26:50] residential lots. Uh the residential
[00:26:53] subdivision will not be gated and no
[00:26:55] single family residence architectural
[00:26:57] plans are currently proposed as part of
[00:26:59] this project. Uh detailed site planning,
[00:27:01] building footprints, floor plans,
[00:27:03] exterior designs, landscaping and uh
[00:27:06] sight specific grading will be submitted
[00:27:07] for review during the development review
[00:27:09] application process for the future
[00:27:11] development of the proposed parcels. Uh
[00:27:13] the development of the parcels will be
[00:27:16] subject to the development standards of
[00:27:17] the underlying residential estate zoning
[00:27:19] district. But again, no um plans are
[00:27:22] currently submitted for development of
[00:27:24] the parcels. Um the applicant has
[00:27:26] confirmed that access to the um parcels
[00:27:28] will be from Peterson Road. Uh the two
[00:27:31] yellow parcels shown on screen are part
[00:27:33] of the minor variance request and a 2%
[00:27:36] reduction in the minimum 1acre um
[00:27:38] minimum lot size is requested due to
[00:27:41] these parcels requiring um city rightway
[00:27:44] dedications on three street frontages
[00:27:46] which puts a constraint and limits the
[00:27:48] amount of u property that these parcels
[00:27:51] can have. Um the proposed single family
[00:27:54] residential parcels range in size from
[00:27:56] 0.98 acres uh just for the two um that I
[00:28:00] just mentioned to uh 1.55 acres for an
[00:28:04] overall project density of 0.90 acres um
[00:28:08] which is less than the 1 acre maximum in
[00:28:10] the residential estate zone. On screen
[00:28:12] is the first phase of the subdivision.
[00:28:14] Uh the proposed subdivision complies
[00:28:16] with the city's development standards
[00:28:17] pertaining to the minimum lot size,
[00:28:19] density, dimensions um for the
[00:28:22] residential estate zone uh with the
[00:28:24] proposed uh minor variance.
[00:28:26] Uh the second phase of the project uh
[00:28:28] which is uh the northern half of the
[00:28:31] project site uh involves the subdivision
[00:28:33] and development of the remaining seven
[00:28:35] parcels. Each parcel will have its own
[00:28:37] retention basin uh to manage storm water
[00:28:40] on site and complies with all municipal
[00:28:41] code regulations for the residential
[00:28:43] estate zone. Um staff would like to add
[00:28:47] the following additional conditions of
[00:28:48] approval um on the project uh one um
[00:28:52] which reads as determined to be feasible
[00:28:54] by the city engineer. Curb and gutter
[00:28:57] shall be installed along the project
[00:28:58] frontage on Neielen Road and Peterson
[00:29:01] Road with the curb face at a width to be
[00:29:03] determined during plan check. Uh the
[00:29:06] second additional condition will read
[00:29:08] existing tamaris trees on the project
[00:29:10] site shall be removed within six months
[00:29:13] uh from a final determination on the
[00:29:15] proposed project by the city council.
[00:29:17] And the last additional condition uh
[00:29:19] will read uh the ultimate roadway width
[00:29:22] as determined by the city engineer shall
[00:29:24] be installed by the applicant on
[00:29:26] Peterson Road fronting the following
[00:29:28] addresses uh 38841,
[00:29:31] 38785
[00:29:33] and 38775
[00:29:36] Peterson Road.
[00:29:38] A mitigated negative declaration based
[00:29:40] on environmental assessment case number
[00:29:43] EA24-00003
[00:29:45] was repaired. Mitigation measures were
[00:29:47] recommended for biological resources and
[00:29:50] tribal cultural resources. A notice of
[00:29:52] intent to adopt uh a mitigated negative
[00:29:54] declaration was distributed for a 30-day
[00:29:56] comment period which began on July 21st,
[00:29:59] 2025 to August 19th, 2025. a one comment
[00:30:04] uh letter was received and a response to
[00:30:06] these comments were incorporated into
[00:30:07] the environmental document.
[00:30:11] Um in addition uh one comment letter or
[00:30:14] two comment letters um were um provided
[00:30:18] by the public on this item um which uh
[00:30:21] were distributed to the planning
[00:30:22] commission prior to the meeting. And at
[00:30:24] this time, staff recommends that the
[00:30:26] city council or that the planning
[00:30:27] commission recommend to the city council
[00:30:29] one approval of the filing of a
[00:30:31] mitigated negative declaration
[00:30:34] um based on environmental assessment
[00:30:35] case number EA24-00009
[00:30:39] and uh two approval of minor variance
[00:30:42] case number V24-00005
[00:30:47] and three approval of a tenative um
[00:30:50] track map case number TTM24-00003.
[00:30:53] three subject to the conditions of
[00:30:55] approval um with the addition of the
[00:30:58] additional conditions and based on the
[00:31:00] content and findings in the staff
[00:31:02] report. Uh that concludes staff's
[00:31:03] presentation and staff is available to
[00:31:05] answer any questions and we also have um
[00:31:07] the uh project engineer um in the
[00:31:10] audience as well.
[00:31:11] >> Great. Thank you, Ben. All right. Will
[00:31:13] the city clerk please open to public
[00:31:15] comment? Yes, K. Williams.
[00:31:26] Good afternoon.
[00:31:28] I'm hoping you're Yeah, you changed it
[00:31:31] the timing and it's on. Okay. Um, so I'm
[00:31:35] going to read this to so we don't hold
[00:31:38] it up too much. Um, so my name is Kay
[00:31:40] Williams. My husband Ron and I live
[00:31:42] within the proposed subdivision under
[00:31:44] discussion today. We built our home on
[00:31:46] Peterson Road and moved in August of
[00:31:49] 2001. We enjoy living in our area and
[00:31:52] look forward to homes being built on
[00:31:53] these residential estate lots. As
[00:31:56] members of the community, we appreciate
[00:31:58] the planning commission's work to
[00:31:59] implement standards that benefit the
[00:32:01] whole area. With that said, I only have
[00:32:04] a few items with which I hope the
[00:32:06] commission will consider when
[00:32:08] cooperating with the developer. Number
[00:32:10] one, I see is already being addressed.
[00:32:12] The Tamaris trees at the north end of
[00:32:14] Peterson must be taken out. They're
[00:32:17] overgrown and over the past few winters,
[00:32:19] the homeless have found it a desirable
[00:32:21] location. Um, this has led to trash in
[00:32:24] the area, outright damage of local
[00:32:26] property, and altercations with
[00:32:28] individuals with mental health issues.
[00:32:30] Um, for the pro proposed homes to be
[00:32:32] built safely, the tamist trees must be
[00:32:35] removed. Number two, the lots in the pro
[00:32:38] proposed area must be cleaned of dead
[00:32:40] brush for fire prevention. Um, I have
[00:32:43] several emails with code enforcement
[00:32:45] promising action over the years and it's
[00:32:48] never been taken care of. The lot should
[00:32:50] um also be treated with a covering to
[00:32:52] mitigate the blow sand that this
[00:32:54] creates. Three, Peterson is a quiet
[00:32:57] street. However, when there are
[00:32:59] accidents or delays on Highway 111,
[00:33:01] travelers unfamiliar with the area drive
[00:33:04] speedily down Peterson or Mirage Cove.
[00:33:07] They think they are able to get through
[00:33:08] to other major streets even though there
[00:33:11] are signs posted contradicting this
[00:33:14] belief. Um, we desire that the developer
[00:33:16] consider placing a structure at key
[00:33:19] points to give drivers a visual uh clue
[00:33:22] that they're entering private areas and
[00:33:25] that the roads dead end. Um, four, while
[00:33:28] researching the many particulars of this
[00:33:31] development, I noticed there's no
[00:33:32] mention of the equestrian trail. There
[00:33:35] is an equestrian easement near the north
[00:33:37] end of Peterson on the east side to
[00:33:40] allow horses to be ridden from Peterson
[00:33:42] to the Butler Trail. When we built, we
[00:33:44] were required to put in an equestrian
[00:33:46] trail split rail fence as did our
[00:33:49] neighbor to the north. I do not see a
[00:33:52] trail designated on any of the maps in
[00:33:55] um attachment six. And so for the
[00:33:57] continuity of the area, it seems this
[00:33:59] needs to be added or otherwise what was
[00:34:01] the point of the requirement? And then
[00:34:04] also, this is a general statement about
[00:34:06] that same thing. Um, we also had to put
[00:34:09] in split rail fencing at the back of our
[00:34:11] property along Butler Trail. Our split
[00:34:14] rail is significantly further back from
[00:34:17] the trail and looks quite ridiculous,
[00:34:20] like an afterthought. And at the time,
[00:34:22] we questioned the distance as we gave up
[00:34:25] a sizable part of our lot. A person
[00:34:27] within planning agreed that it was not
[00:34:29] appropriate, but that was the rule to be
[00:34:31] followed. So maybe you can come out
[00:34:33] sometime. I mean, it's been like 24
[00:34:35] years and rethink it sometime. Um
[00:34:37] because it truly distracts from the feel
[00:34:39] of the trail. So thank you for the
[00:34:41] considerations. Thank you.
[00:34:43] >> Thank you very much, Tony Ringling.
[00:34:53] >> Good afternoon, commissioners and staff.
[00:34:55] My name is Tony Ringline, representing
[00:34:56] GHA Investments, Mario Gonzalez. Our
[00:34:59] address is 30875 date Palm Drive,
[00:35:02] Cathedral City. Our company is currently
[00:35:05] under contract to purchase approximately
[00:35:07] 2.12 acres located at the southeast
[00:35:09] corner of Peterson Road in Mirage Cove
[00:35:11] Drive, directly south of and across from
[00:35:14] the subject proposed project. We have
[00:35:17] initiated the entitlement process with
[00:35:18] the city of Rancher Mirage and are
[00:35:20] finalizing details to move forward with
[00:35:22] subdividing the property into two 1acre
[00:35:24] lots consistent with the existing
[00:35:26] zoning. Our intention is to build two
[00:35:29] custom homes in the future. We
[00:35:31] understand understand the project before
[00:35:33] you is currently seeking approval of its
[00:35:35] t TPM for 16 1acre lots. We would like
[00:35:39] to formally express our support for this
[00:35:41] project. Add additionally we
[00:35:43] respectfully request the commission
[00:35:45] consider the following conditions as
[00:35:47] part of your approval. That the property
[00:35:49] owner be required to properly maintain
[00:35:51] the vacant land including the removal of
[00:35:54] the overgrown trees and vegetation. This
[00:35:56] would help deter illegal encampments and
[00:35:58] promote a safer environment for nearby
[00:36:00] residents and the broader community
[00:36:02] until the property is developed.
[00:36:04] Also, that the developer would be
[00:36:06] required to implement only highquality
[00:36:08] design standards for street sections,
[00:36:10] landscaping, perimeter walls,
[00:36:12] architectural wall elements, and
[00:36:14] material finishes. When home designs are
[00:36:16] eventually submitted, we encourage a
[00:36:18] diversity of architectural styles rather
[00:36:20] than a uniform appearance of
[00:36:22] contemporary white box homes. A blend of
[00:36:25] timeless and modern designs will better
[00:36:27] complement the character of this
[00:36:28] neighborhood and its fabric.
[00:36:31] Given that this project involves the
[00:36:33] assembly of multiple non-ontiguous
[00:36:35] parcels, we request that a comprehensive
[00:36:37] development and phasing plan be
[00:36:39] submitted as part of the future planning
[00:36:41] process. There are many raw edges to
[00:36:44] this site, so a proper phase map and
[00:36:46] buildout plan should be required of the
[00:36:48] developer. Lastly, as we conducted our
[00:36:50] own due diligence, we became aware of
[00:36:52] the potential opportunity to gate and
[00:36:54] privatize portions of all or all of
[00:36:57] Mirage Cove Drive and Peterson Road. GHA
[00:36:59] investments would be supportive of this
[00:37:01] concept as it could create a community
[00:37:03] character similar to that of Clansancy
[00:37:05] Lane located in Rancher Mirage. A
[00:37:07] desirable and well-maintain maintained
[00:37:10] private enclave would be a value added
[00:37:12] element to the development. Thank you
[00:37:15] for your time and consideration. We are
[00:37:16] in support of the project's approval and
[00:37:18] appreciate the opportunity to share our
[00:37:20] thoughts and comments. Thank you.
[00:37:22] >> Thank you,
[00:37:23] >> Janine Bar.
[00:37:34] >> Hi, I'm Janine Bar 3871 Neielson. Can
[00:37:38] you put up number four again, please? Is
[00:37:40] that possible?
[00:37:42] Um my pro first of all I want to say we
[00:37:45] came the other day and we met with Ben
[00:37:46] and Maya and they were absolutely
[00:37:48] wonderful. They were very knowledgeable,
[00:37:51] helpful, friendly. It's probably the
[00:37:54] best meeting I've ever had with the
[00:37:56] city. So I commend you guys for that. We
[00:37:58] really appreciate it. Um my property
[00:38:03] shares a lot with lot seven. We and I
[00:38:06] really appreciate the fact that they are
[00:38:08] not going to have ingress and egress on
[00:38:10] Neielson. I am at the end of the dead
[00:38:13] end there and I really like not having
[00:38:15] people drive past my lot. So, I
[00:38:17] appreciate that. But I do have a
[00:38:20] question and I want to make sure I
[00:38:22] understood.
[00:38:23] They're going to be required to put
[00:38:25] curbs and gutters on Neielson Road.
[00:38:28] Correct.
[00:38:31] >> So, um the purpose of the public
[00:38:33] comments is not a questions and answers.
[00:38:35] If the planning commission wants to
[00:38:37] address um your comments, uh they would
[00:38:39] do so during their um comment period.
[00:38:42] >> I can't I can't talk about that. But I
[00:38:45] guess my my question is I just want to
[00:38:48] make sure if if he is going to put in
[00:38:50] curbs and gutters that you guys think
[00:38:53] about the fact that it needs to flow
[00:38:56] towards
[00:38:57] Mirage Cove and not towards us.
[00:38:59] Otherwise, we're going to end up with
[00:39:02] water in front of our properties cuz
[00:39:03] they do not have curbs and gutters
[00:39:05] anywhere else on on um Neielson Road.
[00:39:09] That's that's my concern with the curb
[00:39:11] and gutter thing. And I do we have to
[00:39:13] wait until another time to talk about
[00:39:15] that, which is fine. I just want it in
[00:39:18] everybody's mind that it needs to flow
[00:39:20] not towards us
[00:39:25] cuz we have we have no sewers, no curbs
[00:39:27] and gutters, no anything down there.
[00:39:29] It's basically a dirt road.
[00:39:30] >> Would the commissioners like me to
[00:39:32] address the question?
[00:39:34] >> Uh, so
[00:39:35] >> please.
[00:39:36] >> Absolutely. So, curbon gutter is
[00:39:38] conditioned on the site on Neielson uh
[00:39:40] but with further study done by the city
[00:39:42] engineer. So, at that time the
[00:39:44] appropriate flow will be taken into
[00:39:46] account.
[00:39:46] >> Okay. Okay. Thank you guys.
[00:39:49] >> Thank you.
[00:39:52] Vicky Peterson.
[00:40:04] I am Vicky Peterson, 38752 Neielson Road
[00:40:08] in this project area. And uh I too want
[00:40:12] to ditto what Janine said. Minina and
[00:40:15] Ben were wonderful on Monday when we
[00:40:17] came in and really appreciate your
[00:40:19] knowledgeability and your time and um
[00:40:22] and all of your service as well. And um
[00:40:25] so the one thing that I woke up in the
[00:40:28] middle of the night thinking about after
[00:40:30] our talk was um equestrian as as Kay
[00:40:35] brought up. Um,
[00:40:38] so years ago there was a builder that
[00:40:41] bought all those properties and uh he
[00:40:44] came and met with all of the people
[00:40:46] around and he wanted to um subdivide the
[00:40:50] lots and make them much smaller than
[00:40:52] what this is being proposed which we're
[00:40:55] very grateful that they're keeping to
[00:40:57] the area with that. Um, and so the first
[00:41:01] thing I did was brought uh this planning
[00:41:06] sheet, chart, whatever it was, to Dana
[00:41:08] Hbert.
[00:41:10] And uh we sat down and talked about it
[00:41:12] and I'm so sorry to hear about his
[00:41:14] passing.
[00:41:15] Yeah. So Dana then showed up at my
[00:41:20] house. He called me and he said, "Can I
[00:41:21] come over?" And uh we became good
[00:41:24] friends and he was a good friend to our
[00:41:26] neighborhood. I know our neighborhood is
[00:41:28] surrounded by different various things
[00:41:31] like mobile home parks and you know
[00:41:33] there's some condos and different things
[00:41:36] but our little area right there is so
[00:41:38] special and it's so beautiful and many
[00:41:41] of us have lived there for a lot of
[00:41:42] years and we love it and one of the
[00:41:46] things that Dana was opposed to is that
[00:41:49] we are the only area left in Rancho
[00:41:52] Mirage that has equestrian and the 1acre
[00:41:56] deal and that that was taken away slowly
[00:41:59] from Clancy Lane. And that was the other
[00:42:02] thing that this builder wanted to do. He
[00:42:03] he wanted to build small homes and then
[00:42:06] put all the horses at the end. And so I
[00:42:10] woke up in the middle of the night and
[00:42:11] I'm thinking, well, there there is a
[00:42:14] horse trail on the side of my home.
[00:42:17] There is one. And um and Mina had said
[00:42:20] all the horse trails will remain the
[00:42:22] same. Well, many years ago, 20 or so, uh
[00:42:27] the builder at the time or whoever owned
[00:42:28] that property came in and put up a chain
[00:42:30] link fence, which was illegal, and took
[00:42:32] that easement. Well, he couldn't take
[00:42:34] that easement because it was illegal in
[00:42:36] in my in my what I was told. And so, I
[00:42:40] came in and I I came in here and I filed
[00:42:42] a written uh report and complained about
[00:42:45] that fence. I came in a couple times
[00:42:47] after that and complained about that
[00:42:49] fence and nobody ever did anything about
[00:42:52] the fence. So I thought, okay, well,
[00:42:54] it's illegal, so it'll be just fine. But
[00:42:57] now, as K brought up, there's no horse
[00:42:59] trails. And Miny, you had said to us
[00:43:02] that the horse trails that are there
[00:43:04] will remain there.
[00:43:06] So that's my issue is that I would like
[00:43:08] that horse trail to remain there.
[00:43:13] Thank you.
[00:43:15] >> Thank you.
[00:43:18] >> That was the last speaker card. Is there
[00:43:19] anyone else who would like to provide
[00:43:21] public testimony on this item?
[00:43:24] That was the last speaker.
[00:43:26] Commissioners, can I clarify just a few
[00:43:28] points?
[00:43:28] >> Yes, of course. Uh the subject project
[00:43:32] is in condition to uh install any uh
[00:43:36] equestrian trails. So, if there are any
[00:43:38] trails uh designated on the subject
[00:43:40] parcels, those trails would not be a
[00:43:43] part of the project moving forward. uh
[00:43:45] staff did an in-depth analysis on
[00:43:47] whether those trails would be necessary
[00:43:49] um and determined that at this point in
[00:43:51] time those trails would not be necessary
[00:43:53] and is not recommending the installation
[00:43:55] of equestrian trails on the subject map.
[00:44:03] >> Okay. Uh Ben, did you say the engineer
[00:44:06] for the project was here? Perhaps he
[00:44:07] could give us some information as well
[00:44:09] and answer some qu some of the questions
[00:44:10] that were brought up.
[00:44:11] >> Yes. Uh Phil, do you want to come up to
[00:44:13] the podium?
[00:44:24] Good afternoon, commissioners and staff.
[00:44:27] Um, what are the questions you'd
[00:44:30] specifically like me to address?
[00:44:33] Um,
[00:44:34] >> gutters and trailers.
[00:44:36] >> Um, about the curb and gutter.
[00:44:39] >> The curb and gutter. the we we don't um
[00:44:43] if you if could you bring up those
[00:44:44] conditions the three that were added um
[00:44:47] please
[00:44:49] we don't
[00:44:51] object to the to adding curbon gutter to
[00:44:54] Peterson and Neielson as directed um by
[00:44:58] staff or we'll work with city staff to
[00:45:00] install those as as they desire. Um uh
[00:45:04] the only thing that I I see that impacts
[00:45:07] what we're proposing our preliminary
[00:45:09] grading plan is that we've set our pad
[00:45:11] grades for the homes
[00:45:13] um based on having flush edge of edge of
[00:45:17] curb edge of pavement for Peterson. And
[00:45:20] if we're raising if we're putting in 6in
[00:45:22] curb we just want to reserve the ability
[00:45:24] to raise our pads 6 to 12 in um to what
[00:45:29] we show on our tenative map exhibits.
[00:45:32] So, I know that sometimes that's
[00:45:34] problematic during plan check. Um, so
[00:45:37] I'd like to request that.
[00:45:41] Um,
[00:45:43] in terms of the ultimate rideway width
[00:45:47] um along the three addresses on
[00:45:49] Peterson, I'm not sure is that between
[00:45:52] lots seven and eight. Are those the
[00:45:54] three existing lots between
[00:45:58] >> um it's between um between or in front
[00:46:01] of lots 14 and 13.
[00:46:03] >> Okay.
[00:46:04] >> These these three houses here.
[00:46:05] >> Okay. So
[00:46:07] we would just ask that if you could just
[00:46:12] add a provision that you know it's
[00:46:14] subject to the
[00:46:16] there being rightway street rightway
[00:46:18] available or in place um along those
[00:46:22] property frontages.
[00:46:24] Um I think there is for the two to the
[00:46:27] east two to the north but the south one
[00:46:30] I'm not not too sure. We've ordered
[00:46:32] title reports on the property, but we're
[00:46:35] not sure if an exist there's an existing
[00:46:37] street easement or not for that
[00:46:39] property.
[00:46:43] And then uh I the uh owners aren't
[00:46:46] available um to attend the meeting, but
[00:46:49] they did ask me regarding the tamaris
[00:46:51] trees if we could respectfully uh
[00:46:54] request that you um that they be
[00:46:58] required to remove those at the time
[00:47:00] they commence soil disturbance
[00:47:02] activities, rough grading.
[00:47:05] um have their permits, have their map
[00:47:07] recorded that um have their SW plan in
[00:47:10] place, their erosion control plans that
[00:47:13] that they um be required to have it have
[00:47:17] the uh trees removed at no later than
[00:47:19] that time.
[00:47:21] Um
[00:47:23] in terms of the equestrian trails, we'll
[00:47:25] we'll follow city uh staff's direction
[00:47:27] on that uh on Peterson.
[00:47:31] Um I'm available for any more questions.
[00:47:34] I wanted to thank Ben for your help with
[00:47:37] getting us to where we're at today. Been
[00:47:39] a really tremendous help.
[00:47:42] Thank you.
[00:47:43] >> I I have a question. Um can you tell us
[00:47:46] a little bit more about the project in
[00:47:48] terms of the style of homes and also how
[00:47:51] long this project would take to build
[00:47:53] out?
[00:47:54] >> I don't I've asked the owners don't
[00:47:56] haven't started any kind of planning
[00:47:59] home planning. and they've just said
[00:48:01] that they, you know, want to build
[00:48:03] what's appropriate for the character of
[00:48:05] the neighborhood and of course adhere to
[00:48:08] the market conditions at the time. That
[00:48:10] that's pretty much it at this time. They
[00:48:12] don't
[00:48:15] um
[00:48:15] >> Chair Chanter, I can expand a little bit
[00:48:17] on that. Uh we don't have vertical plans
[00:48:19] uh submitted to us yet, but once we do,
[00:48:21] they will be required to meet all city
[00:48:23] uh design standards and and
[00:48:25] requirements, and we'll need to go
[00:48:26] through the appropriate process
[00:48:28] depending on if they're designing a
[00:48:30] tract or a custom uh single family home
[00:48:32] per lot.
[00:48:33] >> Thank you.
[00:48:37] >> Any other questions?
[00:48:39] >> Well, you mentioned trying moving the um
[00:48:41] Tamas trees removal until ground
[00:48:44] clearance. So would that be? So I'm
[00:48:46] asking for staff's recommendation in
[00:48:48] regards to the maintenance of the lot.
[00:48:50] Um we did have like blow sand and debris
[00:48:54] on the lots. Is it typical that is done
[00:48:56] at disturbance or is just left as is and
[00:49:00] the city enforces the way it looks?
[00:49:02] >> Given the potential nuisance that those
[00:49:04] trees um have a record of being, we uh
[00:49:07] recommended the six-month time frame in
[00:49:10] order to uh address that nuisance. um
[00:49:12] code has had a few cases out there. Um
[00:49:16] typically they would be uh removed once
[00:49:18] the site uh work has begun, but because
[00:49:21] we're unclear on the timeline, a tracked
[00:49:23] map could take a year, year and a half
[00:49:25] to begin, depending on how you go
[00:49:27] through the process, we were hoping to
[00:49:29] address the nuisance a little bit faster
[00:49:31] than that.
[00:49:33] I understand that there's a history of
[00:49:35] uh homelessness in that area where the
[00:49:38] tamist trees are and that's been of
[00:49:40] concern of the folks that live there for
[00:49:42] a long time. So I think that timing is
[00:49:44] of essence there.
[00:49:49] Any other questions? All right. Thank
[00:49:50] you very much.
[00:49:51] >> Okay. Thank you.
[00:49:56] >> Do we have any other public comment? All
[00:49:59] right. No. Yes.
[00:50:03] Yes. No, ma'am. Please step up to the
[00:50:05] podium.
[00:50:12] >> Vicky Peterson, I'm just a little
[00:50:14] unclear. Um I I heard you say that there
[00:50:17] would be no new horse trails, but what
[00:50:20] about the existing one where the fence
[00:50:22] was never taken down?
[00:50:25] >> Would the commissioner like me to
[00:50:26] address the question?
[00:50:26] >> Yes, please. Uh if it's part of the map
[00:50:29] that's being considered, then that would
[00:50:30] no longer be a trail.
[00:50:32] >> Well, who who considered that? Because
[00:50:34] it was a trail. So, who's taking it
[00:50:36] away? It
[00:50:36] >> it's a recommendation from staff to the
[00:50:39] planning commission and to the city
[00:50:40] council for ultimate determination.
[00:50:43] >> Okay. So, how do we unrecommend that?
[00:50:47] >> You're making your comment um right now.
[00:50:51] >> Okay. Because it it was a trail. It is a
[00:50:53] trail. There's a trail coming this way
[00:50:55] and then it stopped because the the
[00:50:57] owner at that time put up this fence and
[00:51:00] chainling fence wasn't even allowed in
[00:51:02] our area. I did file a complaint. It
[00:51:04] should be in your in your files years
[00:51:07] ago. I did come back. Nothing ever
[00:51:09] happened. So when I built my beautiful
[00:51:13] beautiful wall, um I made sure that it
[00:51:17] was here so that there could still be
[00:51:18] the horse trail. So, I just I just want
[00:51:22] that to be I want that. I don't want to
[00:51:24] lose that. There shouldn't be any
[00:51:25] reason. And it's not his property. It's
[00:51:27] the easement for the horse trail. So,
[00:51:31] please consider that.
[00:51:32] >> All right. Thank you.
[00:51:33] >> Thank you. And are you able to pull up
[00:51:36] that trail that we're
[00:51:38] some sort of image that
[00:51:40] >> I can pull up an aerial, but I don't
[00:51:42] believe I have a um picture of the
[00:51:44] trail.
[00:51:46] >> Okay. Well, we'll if there are no
[00:51:48] further public comments, we're going to
[00:51:50] move into commissioner comments and
[00:51:51] we'll start with uh Commissioner
[00:51:53] Agustinini.
[00:51:54] >> I'm waiting. I'm going to see if Ben can
[00:51:56] pull up that.
[00:51:56] >> Sure.
[00:52:06] >> Only have closeups, but nothing um
[00:52:09] specifically kind of zoomed in just uh
[00:52:10] due to the very large size of this
[00:52:12] subdivision and its scattered nature.
[00:52:16] So, okay. So, the trail I'm not that
[00:52:18] familiar with that fence that was in
[00:52:20] installed, but the there was a trail
[00:52:22] that ends at a a fence. Are you aware of
[00:52:25] what the
[00:52:27] >> believe it might be kind of around this
[00:52:29] bottom area down over here?
[00:52:32] Go ahead.
[00:52:33] >> The the plan that uh specifies that
[00:52:36] trail dates back to the I'm going to
[00:52:38] look at our city engineer 80s 81 uh
[00:52:42] dates back to 81. Um with the recent
[00:52:45] proposal, staff re-evaluated some of the
[00:52:48] requirements. Um the trail was planned
[00:52:51] for, but with moving this project
[00:52:53] forward, we determined that the the
[00:52:54] equestrian trails out there are
[00:52:56] underutilized and that uh it would be
[00:52:59] our recommendation to move forward
[00:53:01] without it.
[00:53:04] I I think uh
[00:53:07] that I think having the uh developer
[00:53:10] come up and speak kind of answered a
[00:53:12] number of my other questions. Um so I
[00:53:14] don't have any other further comments
[00:53:16] other than what we discussed.
[00:53:20] >> Okay. Uh Commissioner Beal,
[00:53:23] >> is there an actual easement for this
[00:53:25] horse trail or or is it a recorded
[00:53:28] easement? Um is there any legal bearing
[00:53:32] on the horse trail.
[00:53:34] >> I'm gonna ask our city engineer if if he
[00:53:36] has the answer to that one.
[00:53:44] >> Good afternoon, commissioners. As of
[00:53:46] right now, I'm not aware of any official
[00:53:48] easement, but we can definitely get the
[00:53:49] uh title report and that would show any
[00:53:52] officially recorded easements.
[00:53:56] >> Thank you.
[00:53:58] >> Is that it?
[00:53:59] >> Okay. And my comments follow the
[00:54:02] questions about the equestrian trail.
[00:54:03] Also, several people brought this up.
[00:54:05] Um, my understanding is there's a great
[00:54:07] history there. Goes far back than 81. It
[00:54:10] goes back to the time of Frank Sinatra
[00:54:12] when he lived there. He and his wife
[00:54:14] often use those trails and their
[00:54:15] friends. Um, so there's a lot of
[00:54:17] tradition and history in the
[00:54:19] neighborhood for the trails. And if in
[00:54:21] fact the uh the chainlink fence was put
[00:54:24] up illegally and never taken down, that
[00:54:26] is something to consider. So, I'm hoping
[00:54:28] the staff will maybe take a second look
[00:54:30] at this issue and reconsider that
[00:54:33] portion of it.
[00:54:35] And that's those are my comments.
[00:54:39] So, do we have a motion with maybe a a
[00:54:44] caveat with regard to the equestrian
[00:54:47] trail? Excuse
[00:54:49] >> a motion.
[00:54:52] >> Well, could you mention the caveat with
[00:54:54] that? I'd like to make the motion that
[00:54:56] the planning commission recommend to the
[00:54:58] city council approval of the filing of a
[00:55:00] mitigated negative declaration number
[00:55:03] 2025 070800
[00:55:06] 0 based on environmental assessment case
[00:55:09] number EA24-00009
[00:55:13] and approval of a minor variance case
[00:55:15] number VA24-00005
[00:55:20] and approval of a tenative trackm case
[00:55:22] number TTM24-
[00:55:25] 00003
[00:55:27] in parentheses TTM 38971
[00:55:31] subject to the conditions of approval
[00:55:32] with added conditions and based on the
[00:55:35] content and findings of the staff
[00:55:37] report.
[00:55:41] Okay. Uh was that enough to address the
[00:55:44] also the question on the equestrian
[00:55:46] trail? Excuse me.
[00:55:50] to mention that as an amendment or a
[00:55:52] caveat.
[00:55:53] >> May I recommend just adding uh with
[00:55:55] staff looking into the um the trail uh
[00:56:00] inclusion? Perfect.
[00:56:03] >> Okay.
[00:56:04] And
[00:56:06] >> can I
[00:56:07] >> No, not now. Do we have a second?
[00:56:13] So, just to be clear, we're approving
[00:56:16] item 4B as is with the caveat of staff
[00:56:20] >> reviewing the equestrian trail.
[00:56:23] >> That's correct.
[00:56:24] >> The added conditions that staff
[00:56:26] presented in the PowerPoint
[00:56:27] presentation.
[00:56:27] >> Correct. So, that I will make that
[00:56:28] second.
[00:56:29] >> All right. Thank you very much.
[00:56:32] >> And we'll vote.
[00:56:55] Motion carries 30 with vice chair Bryant
[00:56:59] recuse
[00:57:01] >> and then the planning commission is
[00:57:02] going to recess for a few minutes uh to
[00:57:04] allow vice chair Bryant to come back to
[00:57:06] the dis.
[00:57:08] >> Sorry. All right. And now we're moving
[00:57:11] into the non-aggenda public comments.
[00:57:18] Do we have anyone who would like to
[00:57:20] speak at this?
[00:57:20] >> I did not receive any speaker cards. Is
[00:57:22] there anyone in the audience who would
[00:57:23] like to speak on something that is not
[00:57:25] on today's agenda?
[00:57:28] >> Something that's not on the agenda?
[00:57:30] >> Okay, please come up and state your
[00:57:33] name.
[00:57:43] I would like that fence taken down
[00:57:45] finally. I have this beautiful wall and
[00:57:47] I have this much chainlink fence above
[00:57:49] it and at some point it would be nice to
[00:57:51] have that taken down like after 20 years
[00:57:54] or so. So that's my comment and thank
[00:57:58] you.
[00:57:58] >> Thank you.
[00:58:01] >> Is there anyone else who would like to
[00:58:02] speak on something not on the agenda?
[00:58:04] That was the only speaker.
[00:58:06] >> All right. Thank you. Well, hearing no
[00:58:08] further comments, we will adjourn the
[00:58:10] meeting. Thank you very much.