December 11, 2025 Planning Commission - City of Rancho Mirage

Transcript text

AI transcript text.

[00:00:11] It's 2 o'clock and I'd like to call the
[00:00:13] meeting to order for the regular
[00:00:14] planning commission meeting uh December
[00:00:17] 11th, 2025. Welcome everyone.
[00:00:21] First item on the agenda is the flag
[00:00:24] salute. And would uh Commissioner
[00:00:26] Agugustini please lead us? Everyone,
[00:00:28] >> please stand. Place your hand over your
[00:00:30] heart and begin after me.
[00:00:32] >> Slow down a minute.
[00:00:33] >> I'm sorry. Slow down. Went too fast.
[00:00:38] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[00:00:41] United States of America and to the
[00:00:43] republic for it stands nation
[00:00:48] indivisibley
[00:00:49] and justice for all.
[00:00:57] [snorts]
[00:00:59] All right. Could we have a roll call,
[00:01:00] please?
[00:01:03] >> Commissioner Agustinini,
[00:01:04] >> present.
[00:01:05] >> Commissioner Beiel,
[00:01:06] >> present.
[00:01:07] >> Commissioner Gray,
[00:01:08] >> present.
[00:01:08] >> Vice Chair Bryant,
[00:01:10] >> present.
[00:01:10] >> And Chair Chanter,
[00:01:12] >> present.
[00:01:12] >> And we have a quorum.
[00:01:14] >> Great. All right, we'll start with the
[00:01:16] commissioner comments and I'll start to
[00:01:18] my left.
[00:01:20] Commissioner Gray.
[00:01:25] Thank you, chair.
[00:01:28] Uh, I have no comments today other than
[00:01:30] to commend the staff as always for the
[00:01:32] thorough and complete work they did. And
[00:01:35] next, but not last,
[00:01:39] back to you.
[00:01:41] >> All right, Commissioner Beal,
[00:01:45] >> no comments.
[00:01:46] >> And Commissioner Gray,
[00:01:50] excuse me, I'm sorry, Commissioner
[00:01:52] Agustinini. Uh, just welcome everybody
[00:01:55] back. It's been a little while since our
[00:01:56] last meeting and happy holidays to
[00:01:58] everybody.
[00:02:00] >> All right, Commissioner Bryant.
[00:02:03] >> Uh, no comments today.
[00:02:05] >> All right. And I too wish everyone happy
[00:02:07] holidays.
[00:02:10] All right. And now we need approval of a
[00:02:12] minutes.
[00:02:14] Has everyone had a chance to read them?
[00:02:16] Are there any corrections?
[00:02:19] Okay. Hearing none. Do we have a motion
[00:02:21] to approve?
[00:02:26] >> I I'll make the motion to approve the
[00:02:28] minutes.
[00:02:28] >> Thank you. And a second.
[00:02:29] >> I'll second.
[00:02:30] >> And we have a second. Please vote.
[00:02:42] >> Motion carries 5. Thank you. So, the
[00:02:45] meeting minutes for October 9th have
[00:02:47] been approved.
[00:02:49] And now we'll go to the first agenda
[00:02:51] item which is uh 4A
[00:02:54] and the staff will be presenting. Uh so
[00:02:56] would could we have a staff report
[00:02:58] please?
[00:03:01] Thank you chair chanter and good
[00:03:03] afternoon planning commissioners. For
[00:03:05] your consideration today is a tenative
[00:03:07] parcel map number 39233 for a four lot
[00:03:10] residential subdivision off of Clansancy
[00:03:13] Lane. The case numbers are environmental
[00:03:15] assessment case number EA25-00005
[00:03:20] and tenative parcel map number
[00:03:22] TPM25-00001.
[00:03:27] Today's request is for the approval to
[00:03:29] subdivide 5.05 acres into four single
[00:03:32] family lots with lot sizes averaging a
[00:03:35] little bit over an acre in size. No
[00:03:38] residential development plans are
[00:03:40] proposed with this request.
[00:03:44] The subject property is located between
[00:03:46] Clansancy Lane and the Whitewater River
[00:03:48] Channel about 400 ft east of Bob Hope
[00:03:51] Drive.
[00:03:54] The project site is zoned RE for
[00:03:56] residential state and is surrounded
[00:03:58] predominantly by single family
[00:03:59] residences under the same zoning
[00:04:01] district.
[00:04:05] The subdivision proposed four
[00:04:07] residential lots and two letter lots for
[00:04:09] common areas, including a private
[00:04:11] culde-sac street off of Clancy Lane and
[00:04:14] landscaped areas. This design is similar
[00:04:17] to the subdivisions previously approved
[00:04:19] by the planning commission in 2014 and
[00:04:21] 2021, though those approvals expired
[00:04:24] because a final map was not recorded.
[00:04:27] The project site is a relatively flat
[00:04:30] north to south oriented parcel. Drainage
[00:04:33] currently flows from the northwest to
[00:04:35] the southeast and that pattern will
[00:04:37] remain generally the same. Each parcel
[00:04:40] will include a retention basin sized to
[00:04:43] capture and retain on-site storm water
[00:04:45] and surface runoff.
[00:04:47] The proposed building pads will average
[00:04:50] an elevation of 214
[00:04:53] ft. These elevations are compatible with
[00:04:56] the pads of adjacent residential lots
[00:04:59] and were selected based on the site's
[00:05:01] existing topography.
[00:05:03] The subdivision complies with all
[00:05:05] applicable standards in the city's
[00:05:06] development code. The resulting project
[00:05:09] density is 0.94 dwelling units per net
[00:05:12] acre, which is below the maximum
[00:05:14] allowable density of one dwelling unit
[00:05:17] per net acre within the res residential
[00:05:20] estate zoning district.
[00:05:22] Any future home construction within this
[00:05:24] subdivision will be subject to the
[00:05:26] city's development review process and
[00:05:29] shall comply with all development
[00:05:31] standards.
[00:05:34] A concept a conceptual landscape plan
[00:05:36] has been submitted for the common areas.
[00:05:39] Because the entry has shifted from the
[00:05:41] center of the parcel to the east, the
[00:05:44] existing wall along Clansancy Lane will
[00:05:45] be removed and replaced with a new 6-ft
[00:05:48] tall off-white smooth stuckle wall
[00:05:50] accented with vertical openings for
[00:05:52] visual interest. The Clancy Lane Parkway
[00:05:55] will be landscaped with six 36-inch box
[00:05:58] uh desert museum pala verde trees,
[00:06:01] Sanhill fruitless olive trees, and six
[00:06:04] date palms with a 20ft brown trunk
[00:06:06] height. Additional plantings in
[00:06:08] including luganvia and new gold lantana
[00:06:12] will provide color and texture. The
[00:06:14] plant pallet features predominantly low
[00:06:17] and moderate water use species and
[00:06:19] complies with all applicable city
[00:06:21] landscape standards.
[00:06:24] The project has been reviewed for
[00:06:26] compliance with the California
[00:06:28] Environmental Quality Act. The city has
[00:06:30] determined that it qualifies for a
[00:06:31] categorical exemption under SQA section
[00:06:34] 15315 for minor land divisions as the
[00:06:37] project meets all criteria required for
[00:06:40] this exception.
[00:06:44] As a part of the project review, staff
[00:06:46] routed the project for comments to city
[00:06:48] departments and responsible agencies and
[00:06:51] any applicable comments received have
[00:06:52] been incorporated into the conditions of
[00:06:55] approval. All a all agencies are
[00:06:58] expected to provide service to the
[00:07:00] proposed parcels. The proposed
[00:07:02] subdivision is in conformance with the
[00:07:04] city's general plan and zoning ordinance
[00:07:07] and all applicable requirements of the
[00:07:08] subdivision map act. Staff received one
[00:07:12] written comment in support of the
[00:07:13] project which is included in agenda
[00:07:15] packet under attachment six. In
[00:07:18] addition, staff received and responded
[00:07:20] to one email regarding this request.
[00:07:23] Those comments were distributed to the
[00:07:25] planning commission prior to this
[00:07:26] meeting.
[00:07:28] Staff recommends that the planning
[00:07:29] commission approve one the filing of a
[00:07:31] notice of exemption pursuant to the SQA
[00:07:34] guidelines section 15315 for minor land
[00:07:37] divisions and two tenative parcel map
[00:07:40] number C map case number TPM25-00001
[00:07:45] for TPN 39233
[00:07:48] subject to the conditions of approval
[00:07:50] and based on the content and findings in
[00:07:52] the staff report. This concludes my
[00:07:54] presentation and I'd be happy to address
[00:07:56] any questions the commissioners may
[00:07:58] have. Thank you.
[00:07:59] >> Thank you, Joy. Will the city clerk now
[00:08:02] open to public comment?
[00:08:04] >> Yes. Thank you. I did not receive any
[00:08:06] speaker cards. Is there anyone in the
[00:08:08] audience who would like to provide
[00:08:09] public testimony on item 4?
[00:08:12] No speakers.
[00:08:14] >> All right. Thank you. We'll close public
[00:08:15] comment. And now I'm going to ask each
[00:08:17] commissioner if they have any questions
[00:08:19] or comments. And I'll start to my left.
[00:08:22] Commissioner Gray,
[00:08:24] >> thank you. Um, I just wanted to state
[00:08:27] that I'm familiar with this project
[00:08:29] because a very dear friend of mine who
[00:08:32] is unfortunately now deceased lived
[00:08:34] immediately across Can Clancy Lane from
[00:08:37] this project and we often talked about
[00:08:40] whether it would be developed. I think
[00:08:43] this also came before the planning
[00:08:45] commission in a prior iteration when
[00:08:47] there was some discussion about moving
[00:08:49] the location of the gates and access to
[00:08:52] the property because of the placement of
[00:08:55] certain
[00:08:57] um
[00:08:59] utility boxes that were a consequence of
[00:09:01] the undergrounding of this area. And I'm
[00:09:04] sure most of the neighbors here are
[00:09:06] tired of looking at an empty lot with
[00:09:08] windblown sand. So, I'm uh I'm heartened
[00:09:11] to see that we have a developer here
[00:09:13] that is moving forward to try and
[00:09:16] develop this parcel in a very exclusive
[00:09:18] part of uh Rancho Mirage. And I think it
[00:09:21] appears to be well thought out and well
[00:09:23] presented. So, I'm in favor.
[00:09:27] >> Thank you, Commissioner Agustini.
[00:09:30] >> I have no comments.
[00:09:31] >> All right. Commissioner Beiel,
[00:09:33] >> I have no comments.
[00:09:35] >> All right. And I'll just make one
[00:09:36] comment and that is that it looked uh
[00:09:38] very much in order and attractive, but
[00:09:41] I'm sure Commissioner Bryant might have
[00:09:43] some comments about landscaping.
[00:09:45] Commissioner Bryant,
[00:09:49] >> would I shock you if I had no said I had
[00:09:51] no comments?
[00:09:53] >> Yes.
[00:09:54] >> Um, so, uh, I've been familiar with
[00:09:57] Clansancy Lane for many, many, many
[00:09:59] years. We have a lot of friends that
[00:10:01] live down there. So, Sunday I took a
[00:10:03] drive down Clancy Lane. not only to look
[00:10:06] again at the property but the entire
[00:10:08] Clancy Lane and
[00:10:12] the first thing that popped out at me
[00:10:15] it's important that this development the
[00:10:18] frontage of it if you go down Clancy
[00:10:20] Lane um on both sides of the street
[00:10:23] there's a lot of trees shrubs u and it's
[00:10:26] important that the landscaping
[00:10:29] for this
[00:10:31] uh blend in so it enhances is Clancy
[00:10:35] Lane and is also close to the entrance.
[00:10:38] So, uh that's very important that the is
[00:10:41] consistent landscaping in front. Uh the
[00:10:44] other one, uh there are a lot of weeds
[00:10:46] and trash out there and u uh I I would
[00:10:50] like to see that removed uh post haste.
[00:10:54] Um and and are there any plans to make
[00:10:58] that a condition to remove all the trash
[00:11:00] and the weeds?
[00:11:06] U I will address Commissioner Ry, I will
[00:11:08] address your comment on the um landscape
[00:11:11] or the parkway. Um the current property
[00:11:14] owner did send a crew out um and to
[00:11:16] clean up the parkway this morning and
[00:11:19] remove um any of the um excess debris.
[00:11:25] >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Uh,
[00:11:29] of course I'm always going to say uh no
[00:11:31] jagged rocks and cactus out front.
[00:11:33] Hopefully again it will uh match Clancy
[00:11:37] Lane. Uh there was a house there was
[00:11:39] built in the early7s I believe and it I
[00:11:43] don't know if it burned down or just got
[00:11:44] dilapidated was torn down some years
[00:11:46] ago. Originally though the house was on
[00:11:48] septic. There was no sewer there. And
[00:11:51] are the septic systems, tanks, pits,
[00:11:53] whatever they are, are they still there
[00:11:55] or?
[00:11:57] >> So the house was burned down um around
[00:12:00] 2011 and 2012. And that and the during
[00:12:04] the during the demolition of that uh
[00:12:07] structure, the septic tank was also or
[00:12:10] septic system was also removed at that
[00:12:12] time in 2013.
[00:12:13] >> All right. Um the other is the is the
[00:12:16] channel lined behind the house? Is there
[00:12:18] an issue with the water district? the
[00:12:20] 300 foot building restriction.
[00:12:23] >> The channel is lined and so therefore
[00:12:26] the 300 foot setback requirement from
[00:12:28] the water district does not apply here.
[00:12:30] >> Okay. All right. Uh and I guess this
[00:12:33] would be a question for the developer.
[00:12:35] Are you going to build houses or sell
[00:12:39] the parcels for people to build uh their
[00:12:42] own houses? What's the plan for that?
[00:12:46] >> Yes, please come forward.
[00:12:49] Thank you.
[00:12:53] >> Okay.
[00:12:57] >> The plan is to the plan's in flux. We're
[00:13:02] designing four houses. And whether or
[00:13:05] not they all get built at once or if he
[00:13:08] sells them, you know, with with the the
[00:13:11] lots, with the plans, he he really
[00:13:13] doesn't know at this point.
[00:13:15] >> Okay. All right. [snorts] Okay. Thank
[00:13:17] you. Yep.
[00:13:18] >> Um, again, I'm glad to see this develop.
[00:13:21] It's a great piece of property and
[00:13:23] Clancy Lane is a uh
[00:13:26] a very nice area and so that will
[00:13:29] certainly enhance the area to have that
[00:13:31] develop rather than sitting empty. So,
[00:13:34] those are my comments.
[00:13:36] >> Thank you, Commissioner Bryant, and
[00:13:39] thank you, Joy, for answering the
[00:13:40] questions and for the architect to
[00:13:43] respond. Do we have a motion?
[00:13:47] I'd like to make a motion that the
[00:13:49] planning commission approve the filing
[00:13:51] of a notice of exemption based on the
[00:13:52] environmental assessment case number
[00:13:54] EA25-00005
[00:13:57] in pursuant to the California
[00:13:59] Environment Quality Act section
[00:14:02] 15315 minor lands division and two
[00:14:06] approve tenative partial map case number
[00:14:08] TPM25-00001
[00:14:12] [snorts] in parenthesis TPM 39233 three
[00:14:16] subject to the conditions of approval
[00:14:17] and based on the content findings in the
[00:14:19] staff report.
[00:14:20] >> I'll second that.
[00:14:22] >> Thank you. And will you please vote now?
[00:14:35] >> Motion carries 5. Thank you. All right,
[00:14:39] we'll move on to the second item. That's
[00:14:41] 4B
[00:14:42] and uh the staff report. Uh, let's see.
[00:14:45] Lesie, please give us a staff report.
[00:14:51] >> Thank you, Chair Chanter, and good
[00:14:52] afternoon, members of the planning
[00:14:54] commission. For today's consideration,
[00:14:56] we have the proposed Global Wildlife
[00:14:58] Discovery Museum.
[00:15:01] The project site is located south of the
[00:15:03] Atrium Shopping Center, which is bounded
[00:15:05] by Highway 111 to the west and Mirage
[00:15:07] Cove Drive to the south. The site
[00:15:10] consists of three parcels that will be
[00:15:11] merged into one, totaling 6 78 acres.
[00:15:15] The subject site had been previously
[00:15:17] developed for the Chart House restaurant
[00:15:19] built in 1978, which was demolished in
[00:15:22] 2013 due to fire damage. Since then, the
[00:15:25] project has remained vacant. Although
[00:15:27] the restaurant was demolished, the
[00:15:28] parking lot remains and will be
[00:15:30] reconfigured for the proposed project.
[00:15:35] The project proposes construction of a
[00:15:37] one-story 21,967
[00:15:41] ft museum building which will require
[00:15:43] removal of a small portion of the
[00:15:45] adjoining hillside. Since the structure
[00:15:47] exceeds the 20ft height limit, an extra
[00:15:50] 2 ft of setback is required for each
[00:15:52] additional foot of height. This results
[00:15:54] in a minimum required front setback of
[00:15:57] 53 feet and a required side setback of
[00:15:59] 40 ft. The pro the project proposes a
[00:16:02] front setback of approximately 80 ft and
[00:16:04] a side setback of approximately 64 feet
[00:16:07] which exceeds the setback requirements.
[00:16:11] Access to the proposed development will
[00:16:13] continue to use the existing 33 foot
[00:16:15] wide driveway off Highway 111 which will
[00:16:18] connect directly to the museum's front
[00:16:20] plaza. A secondary signalized driveway
[00:16:22] on Atriumway is located about 320 ft
[00:16:26] north of the 33 foot drive 33 foot wide
[00:16:29] driveway. To serve the new overflow
[00:16:31] parking lot, an 8-ft sidewalk shown in
[00:16:34] green, and a new driveway will be added
[00:16:36] along Mirage Cove Drive. Pedestrians
[00:16:39] will be able to reach the overflow
[00:16:40] parking lot using either the existing
[00:16:42] Highway 111 sidewalk or a proposed
[00:16:45] nature pathway shown in purple. The main
[00:16:48] parking lot provides 89 parking spaces
[00:16:50] and the overflow parking lot provides 16
[00:16:53] parking spaces which includes four bus
[00:16:55] parking spaces. The bus parking spaces
[00:16:58] are 10 and 1/2 ft from the eastern
[00:17:00] property line. Five ADA parking spaces
[00:17:03] are located in the main parking lot and
[00:17:05] one ADA parking space is in the overflow
[00:17:07] parking lot.
[00:17:10] The floor plan depicts several exhibit
[00:17:12] spaces. No live animals will be included
[00:17:14] in the exhibits and the exhibits will
[00:17:16] showcase replicas of the animals
[00:17:18] environment. The museum will feature a
[00:17:20] lobby, flexible event space, wildlife
[00:17:22] exhibits, a gift shop, a coffee kiosk,
[00:17:25] and administrative areas that support
[00:17:27] daily operations and programming.
[00:17:31] This slide depicts the proposed
[00:17:33] materials. The material palette
[00:17:35] incorporates earthy tones and natural
[00:17:37] textures reflecting the museum's focus
[00:17:40] on wildlife. The combination of plaster,
[00:17:43] metal, and stone also creates a layered
[00:17:45] facade with variation in texture and
[00:17:47] depth.
[00:17:49] The museum's finished floor slopes
[00:17:52] gradually from south to north, which
[00:17:54] follows the natural exterior grade and
[00:17:56] meets the lower elevation. The north end
[00:17:58] of the building reaches a maximum height
[00:18:00] of 35 ft from the lower elevation. At
[00:18:03] the south end, near the front entrance,
[00:18:05] the cantal levered roof line reaches a
[00:18:07] maximum height of 34 ft. This roof line
[00:18:10] will showcase a fox metal finish and a
[00:18:11] rusted iron hue, adding a distinctive
[00:18:14] touch to the overall design. Clear, stur
[00:18:16] windows will be strategically placed
[00:18:18] throughout the building to frame views
[00:18:19] of the ridge line and bring natural
[00:18:21] light into the interior. The windows and
[00:18:24] door frames will be crafted from dark
[00:18:26] bronze anodized metal. Exterior
[00:18:28] materials include warm tone stone stone
[00:18:31] veneer and laser cut aluminum accents.
[00:18:33] The building's design will incorporate
[00:18:35] various wall heights, creating dynamic
[00:18:37] vertical and horizontal planes. The
[00:18:39] layered facade will incorporate warm and
[00:18:42] dark gray plaster, porcelain tile with a
[00:18:44] maple brown wood finish, a mural wall,
[00:18:47] and rusted iron fox metal panels.
[00:18:52] The east portion of the building will be
[00:18:54] tucked into the adjoining mountain
[00:18:55] hillside. Similar to the front entrance,
[00:18:58] the back of the building will contain
[00:18:59] dark bronze anodized metal windows and a
[00:19:02] fox metal roof line in a rusted iron
[00:19:04] color. The maximum height is 33 ft from
[00:19:07] the lower elevation.
[00:19:11] This slide shows the north and south
[00:19:12] elevation viewpoints of the building.
[00:19:14] The south elevation will blend in with
[00:19:16] the mountain slope and will not be
[00:19:18] visible from Mirage Cove Drive. This
[00:19:20] facade features window glazing, the
[00:19:22] rustered iron roof line, and laser cut
[00:19:24] aluminum as accents. On the north side,
[00:19:27] a dedicated service area is attached to
[00:19:29] the museum. It is screened by an 8ft
[00:19:31] high cement plaster wall measured from
[00:19:34] the higher elevation. The wall will be
[00:19:36] painted a warm beige color with a custom
[00:19:38] mural proposed in the future. Additional
[00:19:40] accent materials include a rusted iron
[00:19:43] plastered wall, warm and dark gray
[00:19:45] plastered walls, and a rusted laser cut
[00:19:47] aluminum wall.
[00:19:50] This slide illustrates the conceptual
[00:19:52] landscape plan. One artificial bobab
[00:19:54] tree will be placed near the front
[00:19:55] outdoor plaza which is anticipated to be
[00:19:58] approximately 20 ft 25 ft tall. Along
[00:20:02] Highway 111, a total of 42 new trees are
[00:20:05] proposed, which include 17 48 inch box
[00:20:09] desert museum polar Verde trees, five
[00:20:11] 36-in box tipple trees, three 24in box
[00:20:15] sweet acacas, eight 15t date palms, and
[00:20:19] nine 15 ft California palms. 18 existing
[00:20:23] filera palms will remain, which brings
[00:20:25] the total to 60 trees. Along Mirage Cove
[00:20:28] Drive, three 48inch box desert museum
[00:20:31] poliver trees are proposed along the
[00:20:33] landscape parkway with additional trees
[00:20:35] located within the parking area. Along
[00:20:38] the eastern property line next to the
[00:20:40] bus parking spaces, there is an existing
[00:20:42] 4ft high retaining block wall. This area
[00:20:45] will be screened with seven 48 in box
[00:20:48] desert museum poliver trees and five
[00:20:50] 36inch box tipple trees. The planting
[00:20:53] palette features red bird of paradise,
[00:20:56] gold and purple, gold and purple
[00:20:58] antennas, and Mexican feathered grass.
[00:21:00] The plan includes 865 shrubs and 239
[00:21:05] accent plants with 7% of shrubs in 15
[00:21:08] gallon sizes and 93% in 5 gallon sizes.
[00:21:12] The covered ground will be Indiana gold
[00:21:14] crushed rock, 3/8 in in size, and the
[00:21:17] meandering nature pathway will be made
[00:21:19] of decomposed granite. Accent materials
[00:21:22] along the pathway will include four to
[00:21:24] eight inch Baja custa rubble, glass, and
[00:21:26] flag stone pieces.
[00:21:29] The applicant is proposing three
[00:21:31] different types of light fixtures which
[00:21:33] include a double head, single head, and
[00:21:35] indirect lighting poles. The single and
[00:21:37] double head light fixtures will be
[00:21:39] installed in the parking lot areas, and
[00:21:41] the indirect lighting poles will be
[00:21:43] installed along the the walking nature
[00:21:45] pathway. All freestanding light fixtures
[00:21:48] will be painted brown to match the
[00:21:49] existing light poles in the atrium
[00:21:51] shopping center. The indirect light
[00:21:53] poles are 12 ft in height and the rest
[00:21:56] of the light fixtures are conditioned to
[00:21:58] be 16 ft for the light fixtures that are
[00:22:00] adjacent to the residential uses.
[00:22:04] The project was evaluated under cal
[00:22:06] under the California Environmental
[00:22:08] Quality Act and the mitigated negative
[00:22:10] declaration was determined to be the
[00:22:12] appropriate level of environmental
[00:22:14] review. The initial study was circulated
[00:22:17] for a 30-day public review period
[00:22:19] starting October 13 to November 12,
[00:22:22] 2025. The M andd analyzed potential
[00:22:25] impacts across various environmental
[00:22:27] categories with mitigation measures
[00:22:29] addressing biological resources,
[00:22:31] cultural and tribal cultural resources
[00:22:34] and geology and soils. All environmental
[00:22:36] impacts were found to be less than
[00:22:38] significant.
[00:22:40] The proposed project was reviewed by the
[00:22:42] architectural review working group on
[00:22:44] July 28th. The only request was to
[00:22:47] provide a clear and accessible path of
[00:22:48] travel from the parking lot to the main
[00:22:50] entrance. The plans have been revised to
[00:22:52] include a decorative ADA path of travel
[00:22:55] which leads from the parking lot to the
[00:22:56] front outdoor plaza. Public hearing
[00:22:59] notices were distributed on November
[00:23:01] 25th, 2025. Staff received one public
[00:23:04] comment prior to agenda distribution and
[00:23:06] additional public comments have been
[00:23:08] received and provided to the planning
[00:23:10] commissioners. Staff recommends the
[00:23:12] planning commission make the actions as
[00:23:14] shown on the screen.
[00:23:16] This concludes my presentation. I'd be
[00:23:18] happy to answer any questions.
[00:23:20] >> Any questions?
[00:23:22] All right. Thank you, Leslie. And now
[00:23:25] I'd like to have the city clerk open to
[00:23:27] public comment.
[00:23:28] >> Thank you again. I did not receive any
[00:23:30] speaker cards. Is there anyone in the
[00:23:31] audience who would like to provide
[00:23:33] public testimony on item 4B?
[00:23:36] Okay, please step to the podium and
[00:23:38] state your name.
[00:23:50] Hi, I'm Diana Allen. I live in Desert
[00:23:52] Bra, which is adjacent to the proposed
[00:23:55] museum. Um, I'm wondering, I'm the
[00:23:59] grounds and security chair this year.
[00:24:01] We're a cooperative residential uh
[00:24:04] community. Will we be able to work at
[00:24:07] all with the um architect or the planner
[00:24:10] on the area that's immediately adjacent
[00:24:13] to our dog park and and our pickle ball
[00:24:16] court, which is what it will be facing.
[00:24:19] In terms of walls or protective um right
[00:24:23] now, we have a chainlink fence in that
[00:24:25] area. Um,
[00:24:28] I'm wondering if that's a possibility or
[00:24:30] if we can put in a request formally
[00:24:33] because it will affect our our property.
[00:24:36] The lighting as well may be shining into
[00:24:38] our um homes.
[00:24:41] >> Is there someone from the applicant side
[00:24:43] that would like to respond?
[00:24:46] >> We're still in the public comment
[00:24:47] section right now. So, uh, if the
[00:24:48] planning commission desires for staff to
[00:24:50] answer those questions when the public
[00:24:52] comment period is over, we'd be happy to
[00:24:54] do so at that time.
[00:24:55] >> All right. Thank you. We'll we'll get
[00:24:56] back to that.
[00:24:57] >> Thanks. And we're also curious, will
[00:24:59] they be taxiderermy animals or replicas
[00:25:02] made out of polymer or some other um
[00:25:06] artificial and natural combination of
[00:25:08] materials? We're all wondering.
[00:25:11] [laughter]
[00:25:12] >> All right. Thank you. Is there anyone
[00:25:14] else who would like to provide public
[00:25:15] testimony?
[00:25:17] >> That was the only speaker.
[00:25:20] >> Okay. Thank you. we close public comment
[00:25:22] and I'll start with the commissioner's
[00:25:24] comments or questions to my left again.
[00:25:27] Commissioner Bryant.
[00:25:34] >> Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm
[00:25:37] >> Commissioner Gray.
[00:25:39] >> It's not often I am [clears throat]
[00:25:40] right.
[00:25:40] >> It's not often that I am confused with
[00:25:42] such an eminent authority as
[00:25:45] Commissioner Commissioner Bryant, but I
[00:25:47] am grateful for that. Thank you.
[00:25:49] >> U All right. I have a few questions for
[00:25:51] the applicant. Um I the project seems
[00:25:55] for the most part well thought out
[00:25:56] thought out well designed but I'm
[00:25:58] curious about the genesis of this
[00:26:01] project. Where is this museum derived
[00:26:04] from? Who is supporting it? And where is
[00:26:07] the you know where are the funds coming
[00:26:09] to build what is a very significant uh
[00:26:12] in terms of cost new museum on a
[00:26:16] challenging lot.
[00:26:20] Is anybody like to talk address that?
[00:26:30] >> Hi, good afternoon. I'm I'm the attorney
[00:26:32] for the project. I'm Robert Gillowand.
[00:26:34] I'm a local attorney here in Palm
[00:26:36] Desert. U I've been working with the
[00:26:38] team to develop this beautiful museum.
[00:26:41] Uh sir, to answer your question, uh this
[00:26:43] is a foundation that is funded. It's a
[00:26:45] very well-healed foundation. Um the uh
[00:26:49] head of the foundation is a elderly
[00:26:51] gentleman um and he is uh very much uh
[00:26:54] you know excited about this project and
[00:26:57] uh we we are all very excited about this
[00:27:00] project. This is going to be something
[00:27:01] very special. I think it's going to be
[00:27:02] you know there's the big three I call it
[00:27:04] in the valley the living desert the air
[00:27:07] museum and the uh tram and I think this
[00:27:10] will be added to that to be the fourth
[00:27:13] big item here in the valley with this
[00:27:15] museum. But uh I can assure you that uh
[00:27:17] this foundation is well healed
[00:27:19] financially and they're fully committed
[00:27:21] to this project to move forward. As a
[00:27:23] result um we have a very uh toprated
[00:27:26] team that's been put together to develop
[00:27:28] and plan this museum for this community
[00:27:31] and it'll be a tremendous benefit I
[00:27:33] believe to the community. I have others
[00:27:34] that can m we have the architect of
[00:27:36] course is here. We also have uh some
[00:27:38] other uh museum arts who works with the
[00:27:41] Smithsonian who's on our team. Uh, so we
[00:27:44] can answer some of those questions as
[00:27:45] well if you have any of those.
[00:27:47] >> And what's the name of the foundation?
[00:27:49] >> Um, the foundation is RS Foundation.
[00:27:51] >> RS.
[00:27:52] >> Yes.
[00:27:53] >> Okay.
[00:27:53] >> RSH. Mhm.
[00:27:55] >> All right. So,
[00:27:56] >> all right.
[00:27:56] >> That satisfies my concern. Thank you.
[00:28:00] >> Uh, I don't have any other further
[00:28:02] questions.
[00:28:02] >> All right. Good. Uh, Councilman
[00:28:04] Agustinini.
[00:28:07] Well, that was David took my first
[00:28:09] question from the applicant was how
[00:28:11] would it be ran and now I understand
[00:28:12] it's a foundation and so obviously a
[00:28:14] nonprofit. Um [snorts] the other thing
[00:28:16] that caught my eye since I've been in
[00:28:18] the valley the chart house was kind of a
[00:28:19] staple occasion kind of a landmark. Um
[00:28:22] [snorts] they did mention that I think
[00:28:24] it was in the environmental report about
[00:28:26] commemorating the uh chart house. Was
[00:28:29] that talked about or put into the plans
[00:28:32] for the for the foundation because it
[00:28:33] was such an iconic. It's where I went to
[00:28:35] prom, but
[00:28:38] >> would the applicant team like to address
[00:28:41] the architecture for the site?
[00:28:49] >> Good afternoon. Uh my name is John
[00:28:51] Vukick with Press Vuk Greenwood
[00:28:54] Architects and uh we are thrilled to be
[00:28:58] part of this uh design team and and this
[00:29:01] this this team for this project. Um uh
[00:29:06] in terms of your your question about the
[00:29:08] the old chart house, um the chart house
[00:29:11] certainly drew inspiration from the
[00:29:12] mountain um in its in its design and and
[00:29:17] we've done that as well. Um
[00:29:20] we're we're so privileged to have the
[00:29:24] this site because it has a a mountain
[00:29:26] right on right on the property. It's
[00:29:28] only one of the two spots in the valley,
[00:29:29] I think, that have where the mountain
[00:29:32] has come over on the other side of
[00:29:33] Highway 111. Uh the other spot would be
[00:29:36] the the cliff house over in Lita. Um,
[00:29:39] and so we've we've used that
[00:29:44] uh in in terms of our site planning
[00:29:46] where we've actually nestled the
[00:29:47] building into the into the site um much
[00:29:51] the way the chart house did where you
[00:29:52] can you can see the the mountain through
[00:29:54] the the high windows on the east side of
[00:29:57] the building and and we'll actually
[00:30:00] reconstruct the mountain inside the
[00:30:03] building. So, it'll come it'll come
[00:30:04] through into the building and it'll be
[00:30:07] part of what we use for exhibits. Um,
[00:30:11] we've also uh created a a thin this thin
[00:30:15] elegant roof line um that that sort of
[00:30:19] butterflies
[00:30:21] um on the building. and and that
[00:30:23] actually was something when we were
[00:30:25] looking at the mountain, we noticed that
[00:30:26] it has a a very distinct saddle um where
[00:30:30] the mountain dips down and then it goes
[00:30:33] back up and there's a saddle in the
[00:30:35] middle. So, if you look at it, what
[00:30:37] you'll see is that we've actually uh
[00:30:39] mimicked that down below with the roof
[00:30:41] line of the building.
[00:30:44] And then as as you as uh as Lesie um so
[00:30:48] eloquently presented, we have a a huge
[00:30:51] mix of materials and shapes that happen
[00:30:53] under that under that roof line along
[00:30:56] with with a lot of glass. So it's very
[00:30:58] it's a very light uh building with with
[00:31:01] a lot going on.
[00:31:07] I agree. I mean it's a a resource a a a
[00:31:11] beautiful looking project. Um, and I
[00:31:14] hope for lots of success for that. Uh,
[00:31:17] so those are my only comments.
[00:31:19] >> Thank you. All right. And I I agree. The
[00:31:22] architectural plans look exceptional.
[00:31:25] Looks like a very beautiful building and
[00:31:27] it is a spot that's been vacant for a
[00:31:29] long time. It will be nice to have
[00:31:31] something that's attractive there. Um, I
[00:31:33] also think it's nice that it will
[00:31:35] attract not only tourists, but it will
[00:31:38] be open, I think, to children as well.
[00:31:40] We don't have that many uh opportunities
[00:31:43] in Rancho Mirage to have something for
[00:31:45] children and a museum with animals would
[00:31:47] appeal I would think to children. So
[00:31:50] that's good. Um is there someone in the
[00:31:53] in the room today who can answer or
[00:31:55] respond to the two issues that our
[00:31:58] previous public uh speaker asked about
[00:32:00] with regard to security and types of
[00:32:03] animals if they're taxiderermy or
[00:32:05] otherwise.
[00:32:10] >> [snorts]
[00:32:10] >> I
[00:32:11] >> I'll start. I'll take the part about
[00:32:13] security and and lighting, I believe.
[00:32:15] >> Yes.
[00:32:16] >> Um and that's that's I think a a concern
[00:32:19] that both Desert Braar residents as well
[00:32:23] as small mountain residents have. Um,
[00:32:26] I've um I've walked the site extensively
[00:32:31] uh all around all around this mountain
[00:32:33] and over the top and and um um there's
[00:32:37] certainly a lack of security there right
[00:32:39] now. Um um the the east side of the
[00:32:43] mountain is is
[00:32:45] um sort of a highway for for
[00:32:50] transients and and nefarious sorts of
[00:32:53] activities. Um
[00:32:57] so in in terms of security
[00:33:00] what I can say is uh first of all when
[00:33:02] we start construction
[00:33:06] this will be barricaded um right now at
[00:33:08] the north end of the mountain by desert
[00:33:10] Braar and at the south end there's a
[00:33:11] portal where they go behind the behind
[00:33:14] there that'll all be barricaded
[00:33:17] for over a year during construction. Um
[00:33:21] um so there'll be no ability for any of
[00:33:23] that to go on. So, we're going to scrape
[00:33:26] all the all the trash and and and extra
[00:33:29] growth uh that's there away, clean it
[00:33:32] up, and then we're going to barricade
[00:33:34] it. Um um so there won't be any kind of
[00:33:37] activity like that. Once we're done, um
[00:33:40] we're going to have a security system u
[00:33:43] with cameras and lasers. um the sheriff
[00:33:46] will be notified if there are any
[00:33:48] trespassers or or if there's any kind of
[00:33:51] activity going on that shouldn't be
[00:33:53] there. Um and and I can tell you I've
[00:33:56] been working with this owner for for
[00:33:58] quite some time now and this ownership
[00:34:00] is is not going to put up with that. Um
[00:34:04] maybe uh I'm going to have the owner rep
[00:34:06] come up in a in a few seconds and maybe
[00:34:08] he can he can emphasize how much they're
[00:34:11] just not going to put up with that. Um,
[00:34:14] [snorts] as far as lighting goes, um, we
[00:34:17] have a phototric plan that that we
[00:34:20] produced as part of this. Uh, the lights
[00:34:22] that we're using are are LED lights that
[00:34:24] are well shielded. um the phototric plan
[00:34:28] uh was produced to show the levels of
[00:34:30] light around the property from each
[00:34:33] light fixture and and that there's
[00:34:35] actually zero light that will spill over
[00:34:40] the property line um onto neighboring
[00:34:42] properties. Um so uh lighting is is not
[00:34:46] going to be a concern. Um it it's
[00:34:49] actually a a a plus because um there's
[00:34:52] less nefarious activity going on on a on
[00:34:56] a developed lit piece of property than
[00:34:58] there is when you have an empty piece of
[00:35:00] property uh that's dark. Um, so I I um I
[00:35:06] could I could meet with um anyone who
[00:35:08] has concerns later about and show them
[00:35:10] in more detail about the lighting and
[00:35:12] how that's not going to be something
[00:35:14] that's going to be offensive uh off the
[00:35:17] property.
[00:35:19] >> Thank you. And is there anyone that can
[00:35:22] respond to the question about the actual
[00:35:24] animal exhibits in
[00:35:26] >> in Yes.
[00:35:27] >> Okay.
[00:35:30] This is uh Paul Omode with the
[00:35:33] ownership.
[00:35:34] >> Thank you.
[00:35:39] >> Good afternoon.
[00:35:40] >> Uh my name is Paul Omad. I represent the
[00:35:42] communications and marketing uh for the
[00:35:43] museum and thanks for having us here
[00:35:45] chair and commissioners and staff. Yes,
[00:35:47] the the museum is going to showcase
[00:35:50] animals from around the world. So it's
[00:35:51] your chance in the Coachella Valley to
[00:35:53] see something from through the eyes of
[00:35:55] an animal throughout the world. Then we
[00:35:57] brought in museum arts to design the
[00:35:59] interiors for us. And so you'll walk
[00:36:01] through literally different parts of the
[00:36:04] world with animals displayed in them.
[00:36:06] These animals come through a number of
[00:36:08] sources. It's all from a private
[00:36:09] collection uh by someone a longtime
[00:36:11] resident of the valley here. Um the
[00:36:14] collection is in fact animals that have
[00:36:16] deceased in a number of ways. That could
[00:36:18] be animal mortality in the wild or in a
[00:36:20] zoo that come to us and they're
[00:36:22] taxiderermy. It could be things that you
[00:36:24] have been hunted by hunter
[00:36:25] conservationists that are collected for
[00:36:27] the purposes of display so that you can
[00:36:30] learn from them. Our goal is and the
[00:36:32] name is discovery. We want people to be
[00:36:34] able to discover the natural world
[00:36:37] through the eyes of the animals of the
[00:36:39] world. And so that's what we're bringing
[00:36:40] here to the valley. So the answer to the
[00:36:42] question is yes. It is animals from
[00:36:44] around the world.
[00:36:45] >> Great. Thank you. I think that answered
[00:36:46] the question.
[00:36:48] All right. Uh let's see. Commissioner
[00:36:51] Beiel,
[00:36:52] >> no comments.
[00:36:53] >> All right. And Commissioner Bryant,
[00:36:58] >> well, u I can't think of a better
[00:37:01] development, uh
[00:37:04] that could go on the site if the chart
[00:37:07] house burned down wasn't there anymore.
[00:37:09] Um uh this looks spectacular. And as
[00:37:13] gentleman, sir, I didn't get your name.
[00:37:15] the legal council uh
[00:37:19] there the uh air museum the the living
[00:37:23] desert reserve uh very unique places and
[00:37:27] in Rancho Mirage I think this is going
[00:37:29] to be another unique place joining the
[00:37:31] children's discovery museum the library
[00:37:33] observatory Eisenhower medical center
[00:37:37] and to have a development of museum of
[00:37:40] this quality in our tiny city is really
[00:37:44] something special So, uh I I welcome it.
[00:37:48] Um uh and it sounds like, uh a lot of
[00:37:52] care has been taken as far as the
[00:37:54] neighbors, the lighting and all that
[00:37:56] sort of thing. Uh taking some cues from
[00:37:59] the old chart house where it was
[00:38:01] actually built in the mountain so you
[00:38:02] could sit there and eating. You felt
[00:38:04] like you were in the mountain. And our
[00:38:07] family over there, I bet we ate there
[00:38:08] 500 times. Uh and so that was a you
[00:38:13] know, very unique thing. Um,
[00:38:18] and someone else mentioned uh there are
[00:38:21] only two places I believe sir the
[00:38:23] architect in the valley where the
[00:38:25] mountain is on the east side of uh 11 11
[00:38:29] and that's here in the uh the cliff
[00:38:32] house. So um I welcome it. It looks
[00:38:35] fantastic. And one of the questions that
[00:38:37] it seems like the is the baobob tree is
[00:38:40] that the kind of the signature
[00:38:44] uh if you will of the uh of the museum
[00:38:47] the baobob tree
[00:38:50] coming from Africa uh you can just you
[00:38:53] don't have to come up just uh yes okay
[00:38:57] uh so uh I read up about it uh it's a
[00:39:01] very uh incredible tree they live for
[00:39:04] over a thousand years. U and there are
[00:39:08] only nine species in the world. Six are
[00:39:11] in Madagascar.
[00:39:12] Uh two in Africa and one I believe in
[00:39:14] Australia. Um and I believe originally
[00:39:18] they were going to transplant one. And
[00:39:19] so I read and said, you know, uh the
[00:39:22] odds of transplanting one and having it
[00:39:25] last are very minimal unless it's a tiny
[00:39:27] one, but if it's only four or five feet
[00:39:29] high, we're going to have to wait for
[00:39:31] 500 years for it to get any height. So,
[00:39:34] uh, a a replica is probably the best
[00:39:36] thing, but again, I I think that's a
[00:39:38] wonderful,
[00:39:40] what do you call it? A symbol of of this
[00:39:43] museum and what you're trying to do
[00:39:45] because those trees have not only uh
[00:39:49] they're physical, but they have a lot of
[00:39:50] cultural significance to the indigenous
[00:39:53] people that are around them for all kind
[00:39:55] of reasons. So, I think it fits in
[00:39:58] really well with the story uh that
[00:40:00] you're trying to create. Um so uh with
[00:40:05] that um I live near there and so I go by
[00:40:09] that area you know hundreds of times and
[00:40:12] a uh I did talk with Mina and her team
[00:40:15] Tuesday and again thank you as always
[00:40:17] Mina for taking the time for all of us
[00:40:20] up here uh to go through uh so many
[00:40:23] things that are the nuances of
[00:40:26] everything that comes before the
[00:40:27] planning commission. Um, and so one of
[00:40:30] the concerns I have is the is you're
[00:40:33] going
[00:40:35] um I guess towards Palm Springs towards
[00:40:37] Frank Sinatra, you pass over Mirage Cove
[00:40:40] in the turn-in lane. Uh traffic there
[00:40:43] speeds through way more than the uh
[00:40:46] speed limit. And I'm concerned that
[00:40:49] people that are used to it, they're
[00:40:50] looking at the traffic light that turns
[00:40:52] into the atrium. And I'm concerned that
[00:40:55] that's a someone's going to get rear
[00:40:57] ended there. There's probably no room
[00:40:59] and I wouldn't suggest a deceleration
[00:41:01] lane. And uh so I would ask the city to
[00:41:05] look very carefully should that be
[00:41:07] closed off and let people right turn in
[00:41:11] at the traffic light and then come
[00:41:12] around uh and park. And there's plenty
[00:41:16] of access for parking. Um, and then that
[00:41:19] would also give you some more room for
[00:41:21] your for [clears throat] your courtyard
[00:41:23] or your people outside rather than
[00:41:25] having cars coming in. But I think it's
[00:41:28] very dangerous. And uh, we're going to
[00:41:30] have an accident there. And again, I I
[00:41:33] live down Mirage Cove, so I come up
[00:41:35] there all the time as today. Cars when
[00:41:38] the traffic light is green coming this
[00:41:41] way to Frank Sinatra there, people are
[00:41:44] going 55, 60 miles an hour. and uh when
[00:41:47] of course the traffic is the highest in
[00:41:49] the wintertime uh and that's when you're
[00:41:52] going to have most of your visitors. So
[00:41:53] I just think it's something that should
[00:41:55] be carefully uh looked at. Um
[00:41:59] so turning uh uh to the parking lot on
[00:42:04] Mirage Cove. Um
[00:42:10] there the parking lot there there's
[00:42:14] really two things. one all the things to
[00:42:17] develop that, but there's a vacant
[00:42:18] parcel on the other side of the street
[00:42:21] and I'm not sure who owns it, what it's
[00:42:23] going to be developed. Um, but I think
[00:42:26] it's important when we approve
[00:42:28] something, we're looking down the road
[00:42:31] and see what could happen. So, when that
[00:42:33] other parcel gets developed, u, I think
[00:42:36] it's important that those two go
[00:42:39] together. And when people go on Mirage
[00:42:41] Cove, it it's kind of an entrance, kind
[00:42:44] of a monument, and it makes it look
[00:42:46] nice. Part of the reason is if you go
[00:42:49] down Mirage Cove, there are about 15 or
[00:42:51] 18 parcels that uh infill parcels, if
[00:42:55] you will, that are going to be
[00:42:57] developed, single family residential.
[00:43:00] And uh last week the uh the city council
[00:43:04] approved a 16 parcel 1 acre subdivision
[00:43:08] on the Peterson Road area. So there are
[00:43:11] a lot of very prime parcels to be
[00:43:13] developed. And uh if we think of again
[00:43:18] each decision kind of has cumulative
[00:43:20] impacts. That's why this parking lot is
[00:43:22] so important, the landscaping and
[00:43:25] everything else because the thing on the
[00:43:28] other side, the other vacant parcel,
[00:43:30] sooner or later something's going to be
[00:43:31] there. Uh maybe a little park might be
[00:43:34] nice, but still so when you come in on
[00:43:36] Mirage Cove because uh the people down
[00:43:39] there that will help the residential
[00:43:41] development. So when people come in um
[00:43:45] and
[00:43:46] um so specifically on the lot I think
[00:43:50] it's been said that there was concerns
[00:43:53] uh and then we had a letter from one of
[00:43:55] the residents in the small mountain
[00:43:57] condominiums. There's a 4ft wall back
[00:43:59] there and then there's a the tennis
[00:44:02] courts and so on. Uh and I understand
[00:44:04] there's no plans to increase the height
[00:44:07] of the wall. Uh but the trees alone
[00:44:10] there uh some of them a lot of them are
[00:44:12] palveries and those don't make good uh
[00:44:15] screening. [clears throat]
[00:44:16] They're very beautiful and they make
[00:44:18] nice monument trees but they're not and
[00:44:21] I have a bunch of them. So they don't
[00:44:23] make good screening and I would
[00:44:26] encourage the type of trees along that
[00:44:29] back part along Small Mountain
[00:44:31] Condominium and along that back area
[00:44:33] that are create a solid kind of hedge
[00:44:36] type where you can't see through uh both
[00:44:39] for the the visual for the people that
[00:44:42] live back there, the noise and so on. um
[00:44:46] uh
[00:44:47] uh as opposed to trees that u you'll be
[00:44:52] able to see through. And so if they're
[00:44:54] not going to increase the height of the
[00:44:55] wall, also if that's going to be an
[00:44:58] parking area for buses, uh buses are 10
[00:45:01] ft high or 9 ft high or 10 ft high or
[00:45:04] something like that. And uh so a taller
[00:45:06] trees, I I think vertical type trees
[00:45:09] that go up 12, 14, 15 feet would screen
[00:45:13] all of that parking from the uh small
[00:45:16] mountain condominiums. And then the same
[00:45:18] thing is along Mirage Cove. I can't
[00:45:20] tell. Is there a wall along Mirage Cove
[00:45:24] uh uh from on on the side of Mirage Cove
[00:45:27] and then you make the corner on 111? Is
[00:45:30] there a proposed wall there?
[00:45:33] There are no walls being proposed along
[00:45:35] Mirage Cove or Highway 111. Um the only
[00:45:38] walls are for the main parking area.
[00:45:42] >> Okay. So again, uh not saying they have
[00:45:45] to be a wall, but I think there should
[00:45:47] be uh some sort of screening trees. So
[00:45:50] uh it when you're going along 111, you
[00:45:52] can't see into the cars and the parking
[00:45:55] uh because it doesn't make a good visual
[00:45:57] for people coming along 111. And over
[00:46:00] time, the city has plans to make some
[00:46:03] serious uh planning as far as Highway
[00:46:06] 111, the whole streetscape and
[00:46:08] everything else, and that would blend
[00:46:10] into it. So, I mean, personally, I don't
[00:46:13] like to see uh uh go be driving along
[00:46:15] and be looking into a parking lot. And
[00:46:18] it can be done with landscaping. It
[00:46:20] doesn't have to be done with a uh a
[00:46:22] wall.
[00:46:24] Um the other question on that part the
[00:46:26] billboard is that billboard staying or
[00:46:28] is it going to be removed at some point?
[00:46:32] >> The billboard will be remaining
[00:46:34] >> be removed.
[00:46:35] >> No, it will remain
[00:46:36] >> and and is it on the is it a separate
[00:46:40] piece of property or is it a lease of
[00:46:42] that? Is it a lease a lease or
[00:46:44] something?
[00:46:45] >> It's not on lease land. Um but that
[00:46:48] billboard is not part of the project. Um
[00:46:51] it has its own easement for the
[00:46:53] billboard.
[00:46:55] >> So So uh but is it on the fee property
[00:46:59] that uh that where the parking lot is or
[00:47:03] is it actually a separate deed parcel?
[00:47:05] >> It it's not its own separate parcel. So
[00:47:08] um can we pull out the project slides
[00:47:10] >> and we can have somebody from the
[00:47:11] applicants team explain kind of that
[00:47:12] billboard easement.
[00:47:15] >> Hello. I'm I'm Robert Gilland as I
[00:47:17] introduced myself earlier and good
[00:47:19] question sir. As you know, there's a
[00:47:20] very large billboard that's on the lot
[00:47:23] that my client will now own. Um,
[00:47:26] however, that large billboard uh is on
[00:47:29] an easement that we don't have control
[00:47:31] over. So, we have no ability to remove
[00:47:34] it or take it off. Although, there is an
[00:47:37] interest, I will tell you, from the
[00:47:39] owner of the billboard because I don't I
[00:47:41] think we would all agree it's not the
[00:47:43] most attractive billboard and certainly
[00:47:45] not in the city of Rancher Mirage. and
[00:47:47] whatever we could do to revi remove it
[00:47:49] or change it I think would be a big
[00:47:51] positive. I think there's an opportunity
[00:47:54] um that I'd like to talk with Colin
[00:47:56] about um in further detail about what we
[00:47:58] can do I think because I've had
[00:48:00] extensive extensive discussions with
[00:48:02] that owner of the billboard and they
[00:48:05] have some ideas but I need to share them
[00:48:07] you know it's not part of our project. I
[00:48:10] have no control of doing anything other
[00:48:11] than trying to bring an agreement
[00:48:13] together to the city. Um, which would be
[00:48:16] a big benefit I think to make it that
[00:48:18] that corridor much more attractive. But
[00:48:20] I think it's a discussion that we can
[00:48:22] have and I'll and I'll talk to Colin
[00:48:24] about that further. Okay. I hope I
[00:48:26] answered your question.
[00:48:27] >> Yes, I did.
[00:48:29] >> Thank you.
[00:48:29] >> And and thank you. I'm glad something be
[00:48:31] look being looked at it. Um Okay. Um,
[00:48:39] so now I guess going from the parking
[00:48:41] lot walking to the uh the walkway
[00:48:43] [clears throat] from the parking lot
[00:48:45] over to the facility. Um,
[00:48:49] uh, are there going to be any shade
[00:48:51] trees along that walkway or will it be
[00:48:54] out in the kind of the open sun, so to
[00:48:56] speak? Are there any uh date palms or
[00:49:00] something lining it to create shade on
[00:49:02] that walkway from the parking lot to the
[00:49:05] uh main building?
[00:49:07] >> Can we pull up the slides?
[00:49:17] >> Uh good afternoon. Um I am Chuck
[00:49:19] Shepardson with HSA Design Group. We're
[00:49:22] the landscape architects for the
[00:49:23] project. We're based here in Palm Desert
[00:49:27] and we've been here for over 30 years
[00:49:30] designing projects throughout the
[00:49:31] valley.
[00:49:32] >> Um, if you're talking about the that
[00:49:33] that secondary walkway that's connecting
[00:49:35] between the overflow parking and the
[00:49:38] main facility. Yes.
[00:49:39] >> Is that your question?
[00:49:40] >> Yes.
[00:49:40] >> Yes. There are you can see there's
[00:49:42] there's palveries
[00:49:44] um towards more towards the west side
[00:49:48] towards the entrance into the museum and
[00:49:50] there's some existing California fan
[00:49:52] palms that are right to the the east of
[00:49:56] that that we're going to remain. So the
[00:49:58] whole feel is to make it feel like
[00:49:59] you're walking through a kind of a
[00:50:00] natural oasis through there. Um, that's
[00:50:03] why we've got the the the little accent
[00:50:05] areas that have some some blue glass and
[00:50:08] some um flag stone features to it that
[00:50:11] kind of emulates another um design that
[00:50:15] was done over on a median in Palm Desert
[00:50:17] that the owner of this facility really
[00:50:19] liked and asked us to incorporate
[00:50:21] something similar to that too. So that's
[00:50:23] the whole, you know, idea is to create
[00:50:24] that oasis effect all down through
[00:50:26] there. So there's going to be plenty of
[00:50:28] trees to provide shade and everything
[00:50:30] else as you're walking down that path.
[00:50:31] Okay. Uh, hang up there for a second
[00:50:33] while you mention it.
[00:50:34] >> No problem.
[00:50:35] >> Uh, again, it's just one of my things.
[00:50:38] Uh, I noticed some of the places you
[00:50:40] have the, uh, glass I call it or
[00:50:43] whatever it is,
[00:50:44] >> right? Recycled glass is referred to,
[00:50:48] >> It's what?
[00:50:49] >> Recycled glass.
[00:50:50] >> Recycled glass. Um, my opinion, I don't
[00:50:54] think that fits in with the overall
[00:50:56] scheme of the the design, the beautiful
[00:50:59] design of the buildings and all the
[00:51:00] trouble and it is spectacular. I mean,
[00:51:03] the colors and the textures and
[00:51:05] everything and uh the to me the glass uh
[00:51:09] actually takes away from it because
[00:51:11] you're going along and you're it just
[00:51:14] doesn't fit. U
[00:51:17] my opinion uh and they use it different
[00:51:19] places. I've seen it around here, Palm
[00:51:21] Desert in the middle of the thing. Uh
[00:51:24] so, uh I I just think it actually kind
[00:51:27] of takes away because it it doesn't fit
[00:51:29] with all the other beautiful things that
[00:51:30] you're doing. So, ju just just an
[00:51:32] opinion,
[00:51:33] >> right? Yeah. We did a similar feature
[00:51:36] over in the ina delpo in in Palm Desert
[00:51:40] many years ago.
[00:51:40] >> Yeah.
[00:51:41] >> Uh where we created again another, you
[00:51:43] know, oasis Indian canyon type of feel
[00:51:46] in there. Um, and we did do some of the
[00:51:49] the glass within the the um paving
[00:51:52] material, uh, to make it look like there
[00:51:54] was a a river running through there, a
[00:51:57] creek if you will, to give it that oasis
[00:51:59] type of feel. And we feel this will do
[00:52:01] the same thing here in this project. And
[00:52:03] we feel it's an appropriate spot for it.
[00:52:05] >> Okay.
[00:52:06] >> Again, it's an opinion, right? I totally
[00:52:08] agree.
[00:52:09] >> Yeah, just an opinion.
[00:52:09] >> Totally an opinion, right? It kind of
[00:52:11] goes along with the uh mine is big uh
[00:52:16] jaded rocks.
[00:52:17] >> Right. Uhuh. [laughter]
[00:52:19] >> All right. Uh and then my last comment
[00:52:23] uh in the courtyard looks there's a
[00:52:24] water feature in there. A round thing
[00:52:26] with a water feature.
[00:52:27] >> Right.
[00:52:28] >> Um is there uh it doesn't Can you bring
[00:52:31] that up? Doesn't seem like there. There
[00:52:33] you go. You got it up. Uh, do you think
[00:52:35] that area is going to be pretty hot
[00:52:37] because there are no palm date palms or
[00:52:40] anything around it to shade or there's
[00:52:41] no if people are sitting out there is it
[00:52:44] going to be pretty hot out there?
[00:52:46] >> I know your um
[00:52:50] your rooftop comes out over that does it
[00:52:52] not a portion of that? a portion of it.
[00:52:57] >> A portion of it does it's not it's not
[00:52:59] reflected in that
[00:53:00] >> but but in the afternoon western sun
[00:53:04] >> yes
[00:53:05] >> beyond that plaza
[00:53:06] >> right and then there's date palms there
[00:53:08] that'll provide shade that are just on
[00:53:09] the west side of that. So when the
[00:53:11] western sun is there where that's the
[00:53:14] most intense sun we have is the western
[00:53:16] sun right
[00:53:17] >> it'll provide shade in that and
[00:53:18] hopefully the structure of that balbo
[00:53:21] feature will provide shade from the
[00:53:23] south end of it as well. Uh well, one of
[00:53:25] the benefits of getting rid of the uh
[00:53:27] turn in there is that you can put
[00:53:29] landscaping
[00:53:31] >> without having cars come in right there.
[00:53:33] You can put some date palms or something
[00:53:34] if you got rid of that turn in.
[00:53:36] >> Right.
[00:53:37] >> So,
[00:53:38] >> we have four of them right there, you
[00:53:39] know, adjacent to that other little
[00:53:40] secondary walk that goes into that plaza
[00:53:42] from the
[00:53:44] >> um from 111 right there.
[00:53:46] >> Okay.
[00:53:48] >> Okay. U that that answers my questions.
[00:53:51] All right. Thank you very much. And
[00:53:52] again, uh, spectacular project u, and it
[00:53:56] looks like
[00:53:58] collectively you've been working on this
[00:54:00] a long long time. Um, and it's going to
[00:54:04] be a magnificent thing to have both in
[00:54:06] the valley as well in Rancho Mirage. So,
[00:54:09] I'm looking forward to seeing it there
[00:54:12] and I'll be one of your first visitors.
[00:54:14] Vice Chair Bryant, can I also just
[00:54:15] clarify that there is an additional
[00:54:17] condition of approval uh within the
[00:54:18] staff report for block wall and
[00:54:21] additional landscape uh to help screen
[00:54:23] that overflow parking lot. It's
[00:54:25] condition of approval number 37.
[00:54:27] >> Okay. All right. Thank you.
[00:54:30] >> All right. Thank you for your insightful
[00:54:33] comments and uh questions, Commissioner
[00:54:35] Bryant, and thank you for the research
[00:54:37] on the Balbo tree. I felt like I was
[00:54:39] reading National Geographic.
[00:54:42] [laughter]
[00:54:43] All right. Any other questions or
[00:54:45] comments by our commissioners?
[00:54:49] All right. Do I have a a motion?
[00:54:54] I'd like to make the motion that the
[00:54:56] planning commission adopt resolution
[00:54:57] number 2025-PC
[00:55:01] in parentheses next in order
[00:55:02] recommending that the city council take
[00:55:04] the following actions. One, adopt
[00:55:07] resolution number 2025
[00:55:09] parenthesis next in order adopting and
[00:55:12] approving the mitigation monitoring and
[00:55:14] reporting program and mitigated ne
[00:55:16] negative declaration parenthesis
[00:55:20] SCH
[00:55:22] pound 202510436
[00:55:26] for the proposed project based on the
[00:55:29] environmental
[00:55:31] assessment case number EA25-0000
[00:55:35] 003
[00:55:37] and two adopt resolution number 2025
[00:55:40] next in order approving preliminary
[00:55:42] development plan case number PDP25-00003
[00:55:47] regarding the proposed global w global
[00:55:50] wildlife discovery museum.
[00:55:53] >> I'll second.
[00:55:55] >> Thank you. We have a motion and a
[00:55:56] second. Please vote.
[00:56:04] >> [clears throat]
[00:56:06] >> Chair Chanter, can you try your vote one
[00:56:07] more time?
[00:56:08] >> Oh, there it it wasn't appearing. Thank
[00:56:10] you.
[00:56:11] >> Motion carries 5-0.
[00:56:13] >> Very good.
[00:56:15] All right. And now it's time for the uh
[00:56:18] public to speak on items that are not on
[00:56:21] the agenda and you would have three
[00:56:23] minutes each. Are there any speakers?
[00:56:28] >> Sorry, I did not receive any speaker
[00:56:30] cards. Is there anyone in the audience
[00:56:31] who would like to speak on something
[00:56:32] that is not on today's agenda? No
[00:56:35] speakers.
[00:56:36] >> All right. In that case, then I will
[00:56:38] call for adjournment and it is three
[00:56:41] minutes to three.
[00:56:46] >> Thank you.