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PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
6:00 PM
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Skye Daley, Chair
Rich Malacoff, Vice-Chair
Craig Loe, Commissioner
Danny Lee, Commissioner
Ralph Thompson, Commissioner
• CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Vice-Chair Rich Malacoff
Attendee Name Title Status
Skye Daley Chair Absent
Rich Malacoff Vice-Chair Present
Ralph Thompson Commissioner Present
Craig Loe Commissioner Present
Danny Lee Commissioner Present
• STAFF PRESENT
Melody Arechiga, Associate Planner
Sandra Molina, Deputy Director of Development Services
Andrew Firestine, Director of Development Services
John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works
Leila Moshref-Danesh, Assistant City Attorney
Breanna Lemus, Administrative Assistant
• CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA
No changes to the agenda.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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A. Minutes of October 18, 2023
A motion was made by Commissioner Thompson and seconded by Commissioner Loe to approve the minutes of the October 18, 2023 meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ralph Thompson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Craig Loe, Commissioner
AYES: Rich Malacoff, Ralph Thompson, Craig Loe, Danny Lee
B. Minutes of November 1, 2023
A motion was made by Commissioner Thompson and seconded by Commissioner Lee to approve the minutes of the November 1, 2023 meeting.
RESULT: APPROVED [3 TO 0]
MOVER: Ralph Thompson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Danny Lee, Commissioner
AYES: Rich Malacoff, Ralph Thompson, Danny Lee
ABSTAIN: Craig Loe
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments.
3. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
A. CASE NO.: Conditional Use Permit No. 23-003
Variance No. 23-004
APPLICANT: MFA Architects/Desert Kush, Chris McFadden
LOCATION: 67455 East Palm Canyon Drive, (APN: 681-300-005) REQUEST: Approval of a Conditional Use Permit to establish a new cannabis business (dispensary site) within an
existing 1,953 square -foot building within the PCC
(Planned Community Commercial) Zoning District,
including a variance request to remove parking lot
shading requirement (hereinafter r eferred to as
“Project”).
A staff presentation was made by Associate Planner Melody Arechiga.
Public Comment:
Chris McFadden, Palm Desert, California
Al Franz, Indio, California
John Sulyer, Cathedral City, California
Sergio Rusneac, Palm Desert, California
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Kevin Conner, Cathedral City, California (written)
A motion was made by Commissioner Thompson and seconded by Commissioner Lee to deny Variance No. 23-004
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Ralph Thompson, Commissioner
SECONDER: Danny Lee, Commissioner
AYES: Rich Malacoff, Ralph Thompson, Craig Loe, Danny Lee
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Malacoff and seconded by Commissioner Thompson to find that the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section No. 15303, Class No. 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) and approve Conditional Use Permit No. 23-003 subject to the attached Conditions of Approval and based on the findings contained in the staff report with requested changes.
The commission added new condition of approval No. 3.49 and revised conditions of approval as follows:
Condition No. 3.28 – All cultivation of cannabis shall occur in an enclosed locked structure.
Condition No. 3.29 – The Applicant shall provide a plan and proof of coordination with Regional Water and Waste Water treatment provider to determine appropriate pretreatment pr ocedures, if any, required for industrial effluent from the facility.
Condition No. 3.37 – The facility may require a business emergency plan for the storage of hazardous materials or ext remely hazardous substances, and shall obtain the necessary permits and/or clearanc es from the County of Riverside Department of Environmental Health.
Condition No. 3.41- The applicant shall install automatic closures on all interior and exterior Cultivation Dispensary facility doors.
Condition No. 3.45 – The Applicant shall install Air Curtains on all exterior doors.
Condition No. 3.4 6 – The applicant shall place anti-door anti-odor gels and diffusers near all Dispensary exterior doors and windows.
Condition No. 3.47 – If hazardous materials, flammable gas, flam mable liquefied gas, fl ammable and combustible liquids, or other flammable material, as thos e terms are defined in CFC Sec tion 202, are to be used in the processing of cannabis, then provisions of CFC Section 407 shall be applicable where hazardous materials subject to permits under CFC Section 50 ( Hazardous
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Materials) are located on the licensed premises or where required by the fire department official.
Condition No. 3.48 – The Storage, use and handling of compressed gases in compressed gas containers, cylinders, tanks and systems shall comply with CFC Chapter 53, including these gases regulated elsewhere in the Cathedral City Municipal Code. Partially ful l compressed gas containers, cylinders o r tanks containing residual gases shall be considered as full for the purposes of the controls required. Compressed gases classified as hazardous material s shall also comply with CFC Chapter 50 for general req uirements and CFC Chapter 53 addressing specific hazards, including CFC C hapter 58 (Flammable Gases) , CFC Chapter 60 (Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials) , CFC Chapter 63 (Oxidizers, Oxidizing Gases and Oxidizing Cryogenic Fluids) and CFC Chapter 64 (Pyrophoric Materials). Prevention control and mitigation of dangerous conditions related to storage, use, dispensing, mi xing and handling of flammable and combustible liquids shall be in accordance with CFC Chapters 50 and 57.
New Condition 3.49 – Comply with the 50% shading requirement of the parking lot to the satisfaction of the Director of Development Services.
RESULT: APPROVED [4 TO 0]
MOVER: Rich Malacoff, Vice-Chair
SECONDER: Ralph Thompson, Commissioner
AYES: Rich Malacoff, Ralph Thompson, Craig Loe, Danny Lee
4. NON PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
A. CASE NO.: Zoning Ordinance Amendment 23-002
APPLICANT: City of Cathedral City
LOCATION: City-wide
REQUEST: Discussion of SB 9 allowing for housing development and urban lot splits in single family zones.
A staff presentation was made by Deputy Director Sandra Molina. The Commission followed with questions for clarification, and requested examples and alternative lot layouts of potential application of SB 9.
5. COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Vice-Chair Malacoff thanked everyone for their patience as he chaired his first meeting.
6. CITY ATTORNEY REPORT
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No items to report.
7. CITY PLANNER REPORT
Director of Development Services Andrew Firestine, noted the next upcoming Planning Commission meeting was December 20, 2023.
• ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was closed at 7:49 PM
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