WRITTEN
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
CITY COUNCIL
MEETING
NOVEMBER 18, 2025
1 From: Janice Trayes <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2025 3:13 PM
To: City Clerk Mail; Linda Evans; Deborah McGarrey; John Pena; Kathleen Fitzpatrick; Steve Sanchez; Jennifer Nelson
Cc: Michael Tidus; [email protected]; Jon McMillen; Ashley Young Subject: Letter re Request for Continuance of the 111 Corridor Specific Plan Attachments: Letter to La Quinta City Clerk and Council Members (w-encl.).pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Flagged
Dear City Clerk and Council Members, on behalf of Michael Tidus of Jackson Tidus, please see the attached letter regarding the above referenced subject line.
Best, Janice
Janice Trayes
Trademark Paralegal
D: 949.851.7624 / C: 310.880.5585
[email protected]
[email protected] (Trademark Dept. email)
2030 Main Street, Suite 1500, Irvine, CA 92614
O: 949.752.8585 / F: 949.752.0597
www.www.jacksontidus.law
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This message is intended only for the designated recipient(s). It may contain confidential or proprietary information and may be subject to the attorney-client privilege or other confidentiality protections. If you are not a designated recipient, you may not review, copy or distribute this message. If you receive this in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete this message. ****************************************************************************************** Jackson Tidus is a recognized Partner in ABA-EPA's Law Office Climate Challenge ****************************************************************************************** CITY COUNCIL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 - WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM LOZEAU DRURY, LLP!PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NO. 1 - SILVERROCK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2025-0002 (ADDENDUM NO.3 TO EA 2002-453) CITY COUNCIL MEETING - NOVEMBER 18, 2025 - WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM JACKSON TIDUS ON BEHALF OF WASHINGTON 111,
LTD (WASHINGTON PARK) - REQUESTING A CONTINUANCE
PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NO. 1 - HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN - EA 2024-0002, ZC 2024-0002, ZOA 2024-0002, SP 2022-0002 Irvine Office
2030 Main Street, Suite 1500
Irvine, California 92614
t 949.752.8585 f 949.752.0597
Westlake Village Office
2815 Townsgate Road, Suite 200
Westlake Village, California 91361
t 805.230.0023 f 805.230.0087
www.jacksontidus.law
November 12, 2025 Direct Dial:
Email:
Reply to:
File No:
949.851.7424
[email protected]
Irvine Office
9740-126507
VIA EMAIL AND U.S. MAIL
Monika Radeva, City Clerk
78495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, California 92253
Email: [email protected]
Linda Evans, Mayor
Deborah McGarrey, Mayor Pro Tem
Jose Pena, Council Member
Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Council Member
Steve Sanchez, Council Member
Jennifer Nelson, City Council & City Manager
78495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, California 92253
Email: [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected] ;
[email protected]
Re: Request for Continuance of the 111 Corridor Specific Plan, Public Hearing Scheduled for November 18, 2025.
Dear City Clerk and Council Members:
We represent Washington 111, LTD (“Washington Park”), the operator and developer of the Washington Park Shopping Center.
We are respectfully requesting that the City Council continue this hearing.
Washington Park has concerns about the current draft of the Highway 111 Corridor Specific Plan.
We have been in communication with the City’s Staff about these issues. Staff has been quite helpful in solving a number of concerns. However, Staff cannot solve all of these issues. We believe that Staff would need City Council direction on some of the issues we have raised.
La Quinta City Council Email: [email protected] November 12, 2025
Attached is a letter dated October 17, 2025, outlining some of these issues.
We will be at the hearing on November 18th to discuss with you directly.
As you know, the proposed Specific Plan is using a “form base” code for the first time.
The Staff says that form based codes allow for “Adaptability”.
For this reason we would appreciate the Council allowing us to meet with the Planning Staff to identify how Washington Park, an existing development approved by a Specific Plan, and the community can benefit from the integration of some of the requirements in the proposed Highway 111 Specific Plan
Very truly yours,
Michael L. Tidus
MLT/ay
w/encl.
cc: William Ihrke, Esq., La Quinta City Attorney (w/encl.); (via email: [email protected]) Jon McMillen, La Quinta City Manager (w/encl.); (via email: [email protected]) 1726352.1
Irvine Office
2030 Main Street, 15th Floor
Irvine, California 92614
t 949.752.8585 f 949.752.0597
Westlake Village Office
2815 Townsgate Road, Suite 200
Westlake Village, California 91361
t 805.230.0023 f 805.230.0087
www.jacksontidus.law
October 17, 2025 Direct Dial:
Email:
Reply to:
File No:
949.851.7424
[email protected]
Irvine Office
9740-126507
VIA EMAIL ONLY ([email protected])
William H. Ihrke, Esq.
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
18575 Jamboree Road 9th Floor
Irvine, CA 92612
Re: Washington Park/City of La Quinta/Highway 111 Corridor Specific Plan::Envision 2050 (“111 Specific Plan”)
Dear Bill:
As a follow-up to our call I wanted to outline for you several issues that the proposed 111 Specific Plan poses to Washington Park Shopping Center.
As I mentioned, the Washington Park parcel ownership consist of more entities than just Jack Tarr’s entity. I attach a site plan showing the various owners of the parcels. The site plan is color coded to show the different entity ownership. Under the 111 Specific Plan as proposed, if development is sought on one of the remaining pads, and/or a building is modified (and meets building modification requirements of the proposed development code), the proposed 111 Specific Plan makes it unclear (or impossible) for the developer to realistically comply with the newly required Civic and Open Spaces (or other common areas requirements) requirements. The remaining parcels are too small to provide for Civic and Open Spaces on a particular parcel and the other owners of the Shopping Center parcels are unlikely to want to donate their land for another developer’s project.
The fundamental concern of Washington Park is that it has an approved Specific Plan that has guided its development. The remaining unbuilt parcel and future lessors need consistency and assurance of what they can build and operate at the Shopping Center.
Washington Park was approved by the City as a Specific Plan. The purpose of this approval method was to insure adequate implementation of the General Plan and for providing guidance for ensuring orderly growth and community needs. Requirements of this Specific Plan along with “Permitted Uses” are part of stakeholder expectations. This new Development Code and Specific Plan may cause many of the stakeholders concern about how they will develop their property in the future.
The revisions to the Code cause some uncertainty. We have brought a number of these issues to the Staff’s attention, and they have addressed several of the prior concerns, but some of Mr. William H. Ihrke
October 17, 2025
the issues require City Council or City Manager involvement. The following are the issues that Washington Square suggests should be resolved as soon as possible:
1. 9.105.020 Highway 111 Mixed Use (HMU) Zone Standards Section C. Zones Established – 2. Overlay Zones - b. Auto-Oriented Development Overlay Zone (AOD) : “The AOD Overlay Zone implements the “AutoOriented Development Policy” and applies to all parcels or portions of parcels within 300 feet of Highway 111 as measured from the edge of the Highway 111 right-of-way, see Figure 9.105-020-3 (in the Development Code).”
Washington Park Concern: The Auto-Oriented Overlay Zone, as proposed only encompasses that part of the frontage along Hwy 111 noted above. Some of the Permitted Uses that are now only allowed within the AOD have been stripped from the overall HMU (due to the prescribed areas that define the AOD, see Figure 9.105-020-3 AOD Overlay) and therefore not allowed within the greater portion of the Washington Park Shopping Center. The Uses that were previously allowed within the current CG Zone (and Washington Park Specific Plan) are now not allowed in the proposed Highway Mixed Use Zone (HMU). Stakeholders of parcels outside of the AOD are now limited to Uses that do not include, restaurants with drive thru’s, service stations, auto repair, auto repair-specialty shops, car washes, vehicle sales (New and Used), vehicle leasing.
2. 9.105-030 Supplemental Standards
Section D. Open Space and Section H. Civic Space Standards.
Washington Park Concern: Washington Park parcel ownership(s) consist of multiple entities (for various parcels). See attached site plan. Thus, if and when a project is proposed on remaining pads, and/or a site or building is modified (and meets building modification requirements of the proposed development code), the applicant is required to meet the requirements of the proposed Open Space and/or Civic Space. However an applicant cannot impose requirements of the required Civic and Open Spaces (or other common areas requirements) on other owners of the shopping center. The Washington Park Shopping Center has CC&Rs that control the relationship of the property owners to each other. The City has reviewed and approved these CC&Rs so it would be almost impossible to impose these new requirements when control of common areas is not in control of the applicant for a project. For example, should the carwash be submitted for approval, the approval (by Conditions) cannot impose open space or civic space requirements on Cinemark as they do not own or have control of the Cinemark property.
Further, while the carwash would be required to meet requirements of Open Space, we question whether the carwash (or other proposed Uses) would be the most appropriate location for such spaces.
Mr. William H. Ihrke
October 17, 2025
3. Table 9.105-020-5 Permitted Uses in the HMU and AOD Overlay This Table depicts the Permitted Uses within each of the noted Overlay Zones. The current Specific Plan was Approved to allow certain Uses including but not limited to restaurants with drive thru’s, service stations, auto repair, auto repair-specialty shops, car washes, vehicle sales (New and Used), vehicle leasing.
Washington Park Request: That the following Uses be added to the Use Tables with the following designations “Permitted, Conditional Use Permit, Minor Site Use Permit” a. Auto Dealership (New and Used)
b. Carwash
c. Auto Concierge/Automotive Country Club (e.g. Finish Line Auto Club) d. Self-Storage
There has been expressed interest for above “Uses” and negotiations with property stakeholders have been underway, therefore it is our opinion that not allowing these Uses would be a conflict with existing Specific Plan. While the fact that IID cannot service properties at this point has caused stalls in negotiations, we expect that development would increase and negotiations would continue forward once those IID issues are resolved.
Washington Park was approved by the City of La Quinta Planning Commission as a Specific Plan (Washington Park SP-1987-011). The purpose of this approval method was to insure adequate implementation of the General Plan and for providing guidance for ensuring high quality development, and orderly growth that aligns with the community vision. Requirements of this Specific Plan along with “Permitted Uses” are part of stakeholder expectations. This new Development Code and Specific Plan may cause many of the stakeholders concern about liability for future needs. In as much as Washington Park has successfully implemented the Specific Plan requirements. It is our opinion that Washington Park should be exempt from the proposed Specific Plan and Development Code as they relate to the above requirements and further, that the Uses noted above be allowed as suggested.
-Because there are already approved and developed parcels in the Washington Park Shopping Center under the existing Specific Plan, the remaining parcel owners would then be disproportionally affected by these new rules.
-As you know, Washington Park installed a water fountain as its Civic Open Space in its common area. What we have found out is that the fountain is being used as a bathtub by the homeless transients, and the open landscape park areas are being used by them as their “safe spot.” This has an adverse impact not only on our tenants, but on the public.
It is crucial to Washington Park that the 111 Specific Plan be either more specific about how it handles situations facing Washington Park, or, as you suggested as a possibility, an Mr. William H. Ihrke
October 17, 2025
implementation policy that the City Council approves via resolution or ordinance governing the 111 Specific Plan as it applies to Washington Park. We believe a meeting with Staff and you at the City would be helpful to iron out these issues.
Very truly yours,
Michael L. Tidus
MLT:ay
1 November 17
th
, 2025
VIA EMAIL TO: [email protected]
City of La Quinta
Design & Development
Attn: Cheri Flores
78495 Calle Tampico
La Quinta, CA 92253
Re: WRITTEN COMMENTS REGARDING THE HIGHWAY 111 CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN, ZONE CHANGE 2024-0002, ZONING ORDINANACE AMENDMENT 2024- 0002, SPECIFIC PLAN 2022-0002, AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 2024- 0002, TO BE REVIEWED IN THE CITY OF LA QUINTA CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 18TH, 2025
Dear Members of the La Quinta City Council:
Sunridge Properties is currently coordinating with the City of La Quinta Planning Department and the City Manager’s office on a Master Agreement related to Sunridge’s active proposal for an AC Hotel by Marriott. The proposed hotel is in response to the City’s “Notice of Availability/Offer to Dispose of Surplus Property” pertaining to Riverside County Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 600020057, which notice is Dated January 3rd 2025.
The aforementioned Master Agreement involves multiple parties who have coordinated in good faith on property boundaries and site plans. On October 29th 2025, The City of La Quinta recorded a certificate of compliance related to those coordinated property boundaries/plans between the active commercial and affordable housing proposals for APN 600020057.
Sunridge was only more recently made aware of the Highway 111 Corridor Specific Plan, but it remains unclear from the related materials and communications received about it thus far, on how the zoning changes and amendments therein will affect active proposals pertaining to the City’s “Notice of Availability/Offer to Dispose of Surplus Property” pertaining to Riverside County Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) 600020057.
We respectfully ask that the City Council consider not approving any zoning changes or amendments that might adversely impact, limit, or materially change ongoing active proposals related to any Notice of Availability issued by the City of La Quinta. If the Highway 111 Corridor Specific Plan moves forward, we request that (APN) 600020057 not be part of any zoning changes or amendments therein.
Sincerely,
Bradon Welker
Director of Development
Sunridge Properties, Inc.
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