Rick Hutcheson for Palm Springs City Council

For Immediate Release

Contact: Rick Hutcheson
760-325-9094
Rick@RickHutcheson.com

PALM SPRINGS PLANNING COMMISSIONER RICK HUTCHESON AUTHORS SUMMARY OF LONG-RANGE GENERAL PLAN FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT

Palm Springs, CA, May 17, 2007 – Palm Springs Planning Commissioner Rick Hutcheson has submitted a comprehensive summary of the city’s long range development plans to the Commission for consideration. Commissioner Hutcheson is available for further explanation and comment on the summary; its key portions are as follows:

Section 2. The Planning Commission has independently reviewed the Draft 2007 Update of the General Plan, errata sheets, Staff’s recommendations in response to public comments and Commissioner comments, and has directed staff to incorporate language in the Draft 2007 Update implementing the following objectives for consideration by City Council:

1. To ensure that thatwhen variances from the Zoning Code are granted by City in Planned Developments, that developers utilizing such Planned Developments should be required to provide benefits to the City in proportion to the exceptions granted:

a. Supplement #2 p. 13 – “Study the Planned Development Process and establish a matrix of benefits and variances that would establish proportionality between variances granted and benefits required to be returned to the City.”

[Note followingfrom Draft Update:

i. 4-33 – provide incentives to developers to add pedestrian trails and infrastructure

ii. 5-18 – require developers dedicate or pay to analyze an in lieu trail fee

iii. 9-30 – require developers to include gathering spaces within project design appropriate to size of development

iv. 9-34 – requiredevelopers to include in site design gathering places and public amenities such as miniplazas, arcades, courtyards, benches, outdoor eating, shade structures, accent lighting, public art, shade trees, water

v. 9-60 – provide green planning site design incentives…]

2. To protect neighborhood character and guard against new construction of a style or scale inappropriate to existing neighborhoods (e.g.,“McMansionization”), a minimum lot size should be required for future Planned Developments. (Not a staff recommendation – recently discussed at meeting of Office of Neighborhood Involvement.)

3. To better achieve City Council’s direction that the economy of Palm Springs be diversified such that Palm Springs becomes the first choice for new business, one sector that the City should specifically target for business development should be industry and business connected with conservation and renewable energy such as solar energy and wind energy.

a. #3 p. 2 – Propose adding a policy that reads, “Encourage Green Technologies, renewable energy and related activities as a business development goal and to attract this type of business activity to Palm Springs.”

b. Errata #12 – Add to 5-33 under Alternative Energy Resources –

“The favorable wind conditions, nearly year round sunshine and the adjacency of major regional utility corridors at the area at the north end of the City provides a unique opportunity for development of clean, renewable and alternative energy production and distribution industries in Palm Springs.

Encouraging industries based on clean technologies are consistent with the City’s General Plan policies and goals as a leader in energy conservation and in attracting and creating a diverse and stable economic base.”

c. Errata #12 – Create a new policy to read: “Support development of alternative fuel and generating industries such as cogeneration, solar, wind, ethanol and natural gas, fuel-cell technologies and other alternative and sustainable fuel sources and generating industries to provide more reliability in the supply of electricity to the City and to promote development of clean, sustainable and alternative energy industries in the City.”

4. To better achievethe objectives recently adopted by City Council setting guidelines for the Chino Canyon alluvial fan:

a. #2 p 8 – “Add language to Action 9.2 in the Land Use Element to mention that the City should work with Friends of Palm SpringsMountains and Riverside Land Conservancy on preservation of the ChinoCanyon alluvial fan.”

b. #2 p. 8 – Amend Policy 9.11 to read – “Encourage acquisition of hillside parcels by public trusts or other conservation-oriented entities where such parcel acquisition contributions to City-wide open space conservation goals and plans.”

5. Re Goal 29 on Page 9-59 – Establish the City as a leader in energy efficient and environmentally sustainable development and planning practices.

a. #2 p. 15 – Add policy language setting this goal: “City should become the conservation leader in the Coachella Valley with respect to water and resource conservation in parks, medians, greenbelts and at public buildings.”

b. #2 p. 19 - Specifically add language to 29.4 requiring desertfriendly landscaping on Tahquitz median.

6. Encouragepreservation of Tahquitz Wash, Whitewater River Wash, Palm Canyon Wash as valuable open spaces and community resources.

a. Errata Sheet #6, p. 2 – add specific policy incorporating this language – “Recognize the Whitewater River Wash, the Palm Canyon Wash, and the Tahquitz Wash as valuable open spaces and community resources, encouraging the preservation of their recreational trail heritage. Seek to develop trails and related limited facilities for horseback riding, hiking, bicycling and jobbing in the washes that interconnect with City parks and recreational areas, and provide linkage opportunities between open areas and other desert cities and trail systems.”

7. The Draft 2007 Update specifically identifies Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, Mediterranean style and Mid-Century Modern as reflecting the culture, history and character of Palm Springs in a way that makes the City unique. Therefore, gateways, city graphics, directional signs, public art and architecture for new neighborhoods should reference and incorporate the City’s existing architectural vocabulary in order to reinforce the uniqueness of Palm Springs. [See Draft Update pp. 9-2, 9-12, 9-19, 9-24.]

a. #2 p 12 – Revise Goal 1 to read: “Create a safe, aesthetically pleasing and unified community appearance within the context of distinct districts and neighborhoods that reflect the unique design characteristics and architecture in Palm Springs.

b. #2 p 12 – Revise Goal 2 to read: “Create clear, distinctive, and attractive gateways at key primary and secondary entry points that incorporate the unique character, design attributes and significant architectural elements found throughout Palm Springs.”

c. #2 p 12 – Revise Policy 2.3 to read: “Replace obsolete entry elements and enhance the gateways to the downtown area with te incorporation of signage, landscaping, building setbacks, architectural detailing and other elements that reflect the unique aesthetic characteristics of Palm Springs.” Drop the word policies at the end of Goal 17.

d. #2 p 12 – Revise Goal 33 to read: “Create a visually distinctive and attractive entry to Palm Springs along the I-10 corridor that reflects the unique aesthetic qualities, architecture and design features of Palm Springs.

8. The Draft 2007 Update should require future revisions to the Zoning Code to incorporate more guest parking.

a. #2 p.15 – Add General Plan Policy on p. 9-33 under Goal 15 that reads, “Assess off-street parking requirements in the Zoning Ordinance and revise to meet contemporary parking standards with the objective that parking standards should be increased to accommodate guest parking in developments.”

9. Better preserve small hotels and inns as a unique characteristic of Palm Springs and mobile home communities as a viable form of low income housing.

a. #3 p. 2 – Recommend revising policies to maximize the preservation of mobile home parks as a source of safe and affordable housing stock in the City and that the small hotel uses should be retained as a means of preserving a unique characteristic of Palm Springs.

b. #2 p. 16 – “Establish a task force to evaluate and propose an incentive program for preserving small hotels.” Ensure that stakeholders including hoteliers and property owners are included.

c. #2 p. 4 – Change Policy 7.5 to read: “Consider financial and other incentives to small hotels and mobile home parks that assure their economic viability.”

10. Ensure that appropriate downtown amenities exist for residents and tourists a. #2 p. 15 – Amend policy 6.2 of the Community Design Element to read – “Ensure that gathering places, nodes, activity centers, parks and the downtown are provided with appropriate pedestrian amenities such as shade structures, seating, bike racks, [drinking] fountains, pet amenities and public toilet facilities.”

11. With respect to pp. 3-32 and 3-33 of Draft Update, add policy requiring the City to perform faster and more predictable processing of applications by citizens and developers, provided that those applicants fully comply with City regulations.

a. #2 p. 13 – Planning Commission and City Council agendize as a specific study session topic reviewing the development application process and outline possible streamlining opportunities.

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