Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

This is the uh regular meeting of the planning commission for Tuesday, February 10th, 2026. May we have the call or the uh roll call, please? Commissioner Lombardo, present. Commissioner Nandell, present. Commissioner Parker, present. Commissioner Row, present. Commissioner Wagstaff, present. All right. Uh, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Repeat after me. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Our first agenda item is uh selection of chairman and vice chairman. And I turn that over to Miss Palmer. So uh this is the I'm I'm happy to take this feel. So this is the point of uh the commission where I think uh every year every two years I can't recall uh we do have a selection of chair and vice chair. Um we don't normally whoever gets uh chair, whoever gets vice chair, we generally don't uh do the seating until next time because you know the entire changing of the seats. Um but we could go ahead and take the um if there's a nomination for we're going to do it hopefully in two two tranches. The first one is nomination of chair and then second is nomination of vice chair. Uh wish that with that I will turn it over to the to the commission to see what the pleasure is. I have a nomination for Jim for chair again.

I second that.

Voice. Commissioner Lombardo, four. Commissioner Nandell, four. Yes. Commissioner Parker, four. Commissioner Row, four. Commissioner Wagstaff four. Motion passes unanimously. All right. Now for vice vice chairman. I nominate uh Christopher Wagstaff for vice chair. I'd like to nominate um Joe Lombardo for vice chair.

Why don't we go ahead then first take um the first nomination. Was there a second to the first nomination? Um, no. No second to the first nomination. I'll second the first nomination. Okay. Um, and then we'll take a vote on the first nomination, which was uh Commissioner Wagtop for vice chair. Commissioner Lombardo. Um, I guess abstain since he nominated me. Uh, Commissioner Nandell. Uh, no wait, this is for this is for the one you for uh the not for uh Christopher,

correct? Right. Your answer. Your vote is still no, right? You you seconded the motion. Wait, you recommended you you seconded his nomination here. I'll fix this. I'll second Joe. Okay. That way we can vote on No. Chris declined. Okay. That's okay. Okay, that makes sense that if if Exactly. If you've declined, that's absolutely fine. So, we'll go ahead and take the first motion off the table. Second motion would be for uh we have a motion for um for Commissioner uh Lombardo. Was there a first I can't remember who made that. Thank you. Thank you. Um Commissioner Row made that. And is there a second?

Okay, fantastic. Second by Wagstaff. Go ahead, Commissioner Lombardo. If I can vote for myself. Sure. Commissioner Nindell, yes. Commissioner Parker, yes. Commissioner Row, yes. Commissioner Wagstaff, yes. Motion passes unanimously. I'd like to thank Mr. Wagstaff for a couple of years of of service. Thank you. Second. Second. Awesome. Mr. chair, if I may interrupt just real quick. First of all, that is that is that's my first time in 25 years that that happened. So,

um, great. We have such a great commission. Um, but what I would who I would like to introduce is Katherine Aed. She is an associate with my office. Um, I'm not going anywhere. Um, as everybody knows, I've been with the city for about 13 years. I hope to be with the city another 13, 30, I don't know. I'm 50, so hopefully a while longer. But um I do need some backup every now and again, especially at the planning commissions. Uh cuz not only do I do planning commission, I also do city council obviously. And uh Katherine has shown a great interest and actually has done a lot of work behind the scenes um for Desert Hot Springs and showed a great interest in planning. And when I asked, hey, do you want to kind of shadow me maybe for 6 months, a year, we don't exactly know what, she's like, absolutely. So um so she's going to be with me, I think, for a bit. And uh maybe one day actually sit here as well so I could take a break for a little bit. Just a little bit. Um that's I wanted to uh introduce Katherine.

Thanks. Thank you. Happy to be here. Welcome. Yeah. Okay. So, next thing on our agenda is the approval of the agenda. Everyone has reviewed the agenda. Do we have someone who wants to make a motion to approve and second it? I recommend approval. I'll second. All right. Commissioner Lombardo, four. Commissioner Nindell, yes. Four. Commissioner Parker, four. Commissioner Row, yes. Commissioner Wagstaff, four. Motion passes unanimously.

All right. It's popping up on our screen now. Did Oh, it's not. Okay, got it. All right. Our first agenda item is the uh planning commission regular meeting minutes December 9th. We need another vote uh to approve. Second. Who wants to approve the minutes? I vote to approve. I'll second. Are you stuck? Commissioner Lombardo, four. Commissioner Nandell, yes. Four.

Commissioner Parker, four. Commissioner Row, four. Commissioner Wagstaff, four. Motion passes unanimously. All right, it's time for public comments. At this time, pursuant to the Brown Act, any person may comment on matters of general interest within the subject matter jurisdiction of the planning commission not listed on the agenda. If you would like to come up and speak, uh, please give your name and come on up. And for number two, it's not okay. And turn on the speaker, please.

Good evening, commissioners. Um, I am the former vice chair of the planning commission. I served with jerk boss and I'd hate to see Jennifer demise from from being legal counsel. So yeah, so she is definitely an asset to the city and I'm actually very happy to see Doria Wells actually as the city manager. She is definitely the right fit for the city of Desert Hot Springs. The reason I wanted to come forward is I understand that you're reviewing the general uses for uh the city of Desert Hot Springs and portions of the city. Um I'm passionate about the city of Desert Hot Springs. I served for three and a half years. Unfortunately, I resigned because my father was um diagnosed with cancer and I felt like I needed to be there for my family first. Um what I would like to bring up is city branding. um opportunities that are available if you are looking at the general plan in sections of the city um designated for future development. The 62 corridor I understand was um designated for retail shopping. Um, that is awesome, but I would like to see as a former planning commissioner a architectural design element added to that portion of the city. Um, so it's cohesive and that we present Desert Hot Springs and we pivot in the right direction for 2035 and refacing Desert Hot Springs as the new frontier of the Coachella Valley and that we have architectural guidelines if we're building stuff up there retailwise

that makes us a showpiece for the alley, not just some thrown together hodgepodge of different architecture. There needs to be con uh architectural conform up in that corridor. I personally live in Skybornne and I want to see that area developed to where it possibly has upper echelon shopping and we have a new west desert hot springs to present just like North India which is not a city, North Fontana which is not a city, North Rialto which is not a city but the new face of Rialto, the new face of Fontana, the new face of India. We can be that and that is why I'm here to speak to you tonight so you're on the same page of moving and pivoting the city in the right direction. We have two great councilmen that were just elected to this city council. Dirk Voss I served with on the planning commission. He has a strategic plan for the city of Desert Hot Springs. And I believe him being the mayor pro Tim is an asset to the city of Desert Hot Springs. Daniel Pittz also has a background in in um code enforcement just like Durk. They have other city experience that is valuable to the city of Desert Hot Springs. And Doria being the fact that she's vested, she grew up here, is immensely valuable to the city of Desert Hot Springs. So, let's have a vision of 2035 of looking at Desert Hot Springs as the new west frontier, the new west Desert Hot Springs, and the new vision for the Coachella Valley. That's all I wanted to

say. And then also, would you consider renaming Worsley Road to RL Coffee Memorial Parkway? RL Coffee was the first hotel you're here with a mineral spa. Would you consider naming Karen Avenue Hilda D. Gray Memorial Parkway? Hilder was the first woman to homestead in the river in in Desert Hot Springs, a parcel of property. What how fantastic would it be to have our city manager, who is a female, present the renaming of the first woman to ever homestead in Desert Hot Springs. We would meet front page of the LA Times with that renaming and then Paul Avenue Cabat York's Yorks Memorial Parkway. We need to go back to rebranding our city to make our city amazing. This is an amazing city and we need to recognize that. So, I'm hoping that you guys will all have that same vision that I do and the heart that I do for Desert Hot Springs. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any other speakers? No. All right, then let's move on to our first public hearing. Conditional use permit number 25-13, an application to establish a statelicicensed adult daycare healthc care center located at 66680 at Koma Avenue. Um, Patricia Villa Gomez, would you please get the staff report?

Yes, thank you. So, this is an application for a conditional use permit for a proposed adult day healthc care center located at 66680 AMO Avenue within the mixeduse neighborhood zoning district. The site plan, as shown here, provides an existing building with approximately 5,390 ft, singlestory, a paved parking lot area, and an outdoor area that will be landscaped for outdoor activities. The applicant will provide services for adults to help maintain independence and well-being. The goal is to restore and maintain optimal capacity for self-care, independence, and self- advocacy to prevent unnecessary hospitalization. Smile ADHD is a community-based adult service program that is licensed by the state department of health and aging. The program will assist adults to stay connected within the community, reduce isolation, a place to socialize, participate in activities while benefiting from supervision and nursing care. Here is a landscape inspiration that include Arizona mosquets, autumn sage, dune evening, prime rose, desert olives, and blue agave. In accordance to SQA, the project is found to be categorically exempt from from SQA pursuant to section 15301 class number one existing facilities. And with that, this is a recommendation that the planning commission approve the following. One, certify the SQA exemption and approve conditional use permit number 25-13 to establish and operate a statelicic adult del day healthc care center located at 66680 AO Avenue subject to the conditions of approval and findings. That concludes my report. I'm available if you have any

questions and the applicant is also here. Thank you. Do we have any questions of staff from the planning commission? No. No. Nope. All right. Let's open the public hearing. Um, we'll take testimony from the applicant. Would someone would the applicant like to come up and speak? Can you push the button please to turn it on? Right. Give us your name please.

Uh good evening. My name is uh Nesso Masmanian. I'm with Max Business Consultants, a consultancy firm out of uh Los Angeles, California. And um we um uh the inception of this project started um about almost a year ago when Dr. L and Mr. Chris Chen wanted to um establish a adult day daycare just like uh Miss Patricia said and the the program is to help provide uh services for the elderly. Um it's a day program where they come in around 9:00 a.m. the hours of operation until 2. Uh we we provide um meal service which would be mostly catering and delivered. So we're not really going to use the kitchen. um mainly just for preparation and packing and you know um and we're also going to provide uh some health services. So uh I know you guys have a um uh health center here um but the here we we will provide comprehensive um psychosocial, spiritual, medical, uh physical um lunch. So we we we're going to feed the elderly. We're going to look at any uh predisposing health conditions they may have. Um and the program is directed to keep the um elderly out of the hospitals and in the comfort of their own home, a place where they can come and socialize, get consultations from many different health care professionals regarding any health conditions that may arise or are currently existing. And we are going to um you know have entertainment. Um currently we have applied with the California

Department of Public Health CDPH for a uh license uh to operate and also with SEBAS who works directly with ADA which is um the regulatory body that is going to accredit us for the program. Um both parties have accepted our application and they are the part of the corrections process. One of the items on there that's been holding us back for I would say about 5 months now has been the uh conditional use permit. Now, we weren't able to provide that because back in, I'd say o uh October, Novemberish when we wanted to um have this uh December and January, we we couldn't. Um and so here we are today. Um and and and the project has really been extended and um it is kind of difficult on the budget. I won't get into details but it has been very um difficult and also we are in the process of you know improving the property by adding in um you know a sprinkler system and getting in you know all the safety preparations and uh you know the planning uh that we went through so far. Uh so right now the both the department of health and seabbass are uh going to give us approval contingent upon the the conditional use permit. So I would say it's you know really um crucial for for us to to get that in order for us to be able to go through with some of the improvements and inspections and permits that we need to finalize the process. Um, this is going to bring several jobs to the community.

It's going to bring a really good program for the community and the city. Um, and again, it's uh providerowned. So, we have a doctor and we also have um experience wi with us helping out with um uh applications like this to bring um programs to help the elderly um that are cost-effective for the government for Medicare medical and also um you know by keeping them out of the hospital and out of you know like home health agencies where they charge thousands of dollars per day. this would be safer for them and it it it would also be able to get the almost the same services that they would get with the exception of impatient care. Um like I said we have everywhere from registered nurses, social workers, psychologists, medical doctors, um and the list goes on and on. Uh they'll they'll be checking vital signs. they'll be, you know, going through and uh providing meal services and and right right now we're re we're really at a like a a stand uh on on the everything and we were actually hoping to to get the clearance or the conditional use permit um last year, but obviously due to timing commissions and availability uh of yourselves and uh we we we've been kind of um pushing through and just uh maintaining the lease which which is uh a very large amount. And um we we're we want to kindly and humbly ask um based off what we've already presented to uh Patricia and Mr. Clark

and everyone at the um uh building and safety uh Mr. for Steven Fox with his um STD 850 and the fire clearances. We've uh um ran through fire safe corridors making sure that we have all the uh fire safety. Uh we just the gentlemen were just here um at the property and they gave us a quote going to install roughly about 70 sprinklers and make sure that the place is absolutely safe and uh accommodate for the elderly. Uh they will be um either dropped off by transportation and picked up. Uh they can bring themselves in if that's possible. Uh they are ambulatory. So and we're going to basically go through some of those things like we said, healthc care, feeding, entertainment. Um and just uh again we we we based off our timelines right now we we really um it it's been hurting us and uh we're here kindly and humbly asking if if we can get the permit and the permission to move forward with our project and bring a really great program to to the community. um leadership and the governing body um h are you know like I said really outstanding members of the community doctors and um real estate investors um you know we have several consultants attorneys helping with making sure that everything meets regulation code we have uh our architects who have provided fullscale blueprints for both the inside and outside of the building. Um, making sure that you know all functions, all systems are functioning properly and safely.

Very good. All right. Do we have questions? I do. Yes. Can you elaborate on it's we're hearing it's an adult daycare center, but we're hearing a lot about medical. Is this is this an adult daycare center where the the medical will be available or that's the expectation?

It'll be available. So we basically would be able to screen the participants. They're not patients. They are participants according to CBAS, ADA and CDPH and all the regulatory bodies. And basically it's not healthc care driven but the health care aspect is there as a bonus to help both the community and the you know um Medicare and the government save money and streamline you know whether if the participant is healthy and their vital signs are fine because you know we'll check blood pressure we'll check blood sugar for diabetics and and if their blood sugar is 400 Then we'll say why don't you go see our you know registered nurse and the registered nurse will do a comprehensive assessment at which point if it's determined that they need a specific specialist whether our medical doctor Dr. L who's here today um who's also part of the governing body and a shareholder of the organization and and his wife Dr. ritual will be hands-on in making sure that they get the proper direction to where they're going. Most of these type of facilities historically in my experience, which has been about 15 years, um that's not the main thing that they want to do in these places. And it's really unfortunate because some of these people really need it. They they they have these conditions that some of them don't even know about. and if we can catch them early, which is what we're trying to do there. We're not some we're not we're a facility according to the Department of Health. So, we are a healthc care facility. However, it's not primarily healthcare driven. It's more just of like it's basically on the same scale of child

daycare. Now, this is the adult version. So we are um making sure that you know elderly people have more predisposing conditions active conditions that need to be addressed. So um it it it's one of the things not the main or primary thing uh you know the feeding and the um you know uh we get the meals uh the entertainment socialization it kind of helps with morality and just um quality of life so to speak. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome.

Who else has questions? Anyone? I have one question. Who are your clients? Are they residents of Desert Hot Springs? Are they from California or? Um, a great question. Um they are residents of uh lo Angeles um with um excuse me um so yeah um within the greater Los Angeles area um Lagouna Beach one of the leadership is from Laguna Beach and um Mr. Chen has several properties that he kind of switches off. I was actually asking about the the participants.

Oh, the participants. Excuse me, sir. Uh the participants are primarily going to be from here because it logistically would make more sense. Yes, absolutely. We're focused on uh the city of Desert Hot Springs and neighboring cities. Uh our service area is able to cover all of California. However, that wouldn't be feasible for, you know, some people from up north. It would have to make sense logistically. So, I would say if if they can commute here to make it here at 9:00 a.m. and and and even people from LA are welcome to come. However, LA has a lot of them and it's very concentrated and and we wanted to do this program and to create this opportunity for uh this particular city because there is not a lot of them and in order for us we went through a screening process. So it any other business whether it's a hospital, a home health, a pharmacy, doesn't matter. You have you could just apply with the department of health. But when it comes to the ADHC, you have to first go through a screening process and it's a very vigilant screening process where they check background checks and um and and so uh they they we've went through the screening process and they've ran through all those things and said that yes, this place could use one. It's not concentrated. Uh I know uh rehab centers was a concern here. That's not the direction we're going for. Uh we were actually asked a couple times about that and we're like no we don't want to do that. We are focused on this because the the city could use one.

Um I'm Dr. Roman L. Um Tan I I don't know who asked the question here about the participants. I do. Yeah. So we're going to service pretty much Desert Hot Springs and then the surrounding cities. We will be offering a a transportation service. We haven't figured out the exact diameter yet, but everybody who's in probably a 30 minute bus 15 to 30 minute bus uh ride away will probably offer transportation to them. So, are you going to advertise your services and people contact you or do you have a listing? Absolutely. Yeah. Or do you already have a list of seniors who want to participate or

We are going to go uh go to the doctor's offices. We're going to be fairly aggressive in getting the word out there. The program does not entail the patients pay any the clients pay anything. This is all 100% medical medical funded. So it's in their interest, you know, to to join us basically. So we'll be advertising to the churches and community centers and the doctor's offices. And how many participants will you have at any one time? Uh about 150. 150. Yep. In the facility? Yes, sir. Oh, okay. It's big enough. It's a fairly large space. It's big enough for

15,000 every 15 per every 15 square feet. So, um we're actually approved for 220, but we don't want to go to the max. We just want to uh you know, we'll kind of see where we don't want to squish everyone together. We'll see where it goes, but yeah, we were thinking from 120 to about 150 participants. And uh yeah, that's that's the goal. And do they come every day or just when they want to? Monday through Friday. The hours are actually 8 to 2. So, we'll we'll be opening the doors at 8. They'll check in. They'll do vital signs with the nurses and then the nurse will, you know, if there's a if there's a flag, they'll let the medical staff know, but they don't have to come if they don't want to.

Absolutely. No, it's completely optional. Completely optional. Yeah. Yeah. Now, is this just for individuals that are medical eligible? We do take private pay, but it's this is it's targeted for medical people. Okay. Thank you. And doctor, do you will you be writing scripts out of there for prescriptions or I haven't decided yet. So, it's something that I'm toying with because I have to talk to my wife as well. She might be taking some of the brunt and I have a friend over here close by. So, I might get him involved as well too. Very rare. And is it is it open to other than elderly like special needs, you know, young adults that are home with their parents and it's not just for elderly? Uh, yes. So, anywhere from ranges 50 and up. 50 50 and up.

50 and up. Yeah. And we'll we obviously we'll make exceptions for those who who need it basically. Good. Yeah. Any other questions?

Um I don't think I have any more. Thank you. We'll take um let's see. Do we have any testimony from anyone in favor of this action? Guess you're all in favor of it. Okay. And no one opposed. I don't see anyone here in opposition and uh no one neutral I assume. No need for applicant rebuttal. So let's close the public hearing and public planning commission discussion. Do we have anything we want to discuss amongst ourselves? Motion.

Okay. So then we'll take a motion. And please remember to include the certification of the SQUA exemption. Right? That's part of we have to do that too. I will make a motion that we accept a conditional use permit number 2513 and the certify the exemption. Certify the SQA exemption. Right. I second that. Commissioner Lombardo four. Commissioner Nandell four. Commissioner Parker four. Commissioner Row four. Commissioner Wagstaff

four. Motion passes unanimously. All right. Congratulations. Yeah. Good. Good luck. We'll send invitation to you when we have the open. We would love to see it. Yeah. We That would be nice. When do you anticipate opening? When do you anticipate opening in a perfect as soon as you guys question?

So, uh once we get the conditional use permit, uh the I have to resubmit everything to the department of health and to sebass and then that's probably going to take roughly about two months which we have some improvements to make on the building during that time frame as we discussed with Mr. Fox and um Mr. Clark's uh departments. So, we're working on those simultaneously. So, we're hoping April. Um, you know, if if it's sooner, even better. If it's later, hopefully not. Once we get the inspection, once that goes, basically, we can open anytime after that. So, we're targeting inspection date probably midappril to early May. Very good.

Yeah. And and both of them have already accepted our applications. The corrections, the only outstanding correction was the cup. All right. Very good. Thank you. Thank you guys. Appreciate your time. Thank you so much. All right. Um I guess there are no more public comments. Um so let's turn to chair and planning commission member reports. Do any of us have anything we want to report? No. Okay. Community development director report, please.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do have a couple of updates for you. Uh firstly I wanted to mention a couple of promotions in the department. Patricia Villa Gomez has been promoted to planning manager and Ava Laura has been promoted to associate planner. Congratulations and I would just say I'm fortunate to have two high highly qualified planners working with me in the planning division and want to congratulate them on their promotions and they're nice people too. They're a pleasure to work with

that. Well, uh secondly, at the upcoming March 10th meeting, we'll be presenting the annual progress report uh that we submit to the state department of housing community development each year. Uh there is some good news uh to share. Uh we mainly CAT is still crunching the numbers. Uh but it looks like we ended 2025 with 245 dwelling units permitted as opposed to 136 in 2024. So over 100 more and we're hoping that 2026 will be even better. Uh we also entitled two more affordable housing developments when within the city in 2025 Park Lane Homes and the crossings on Camino Companero. And then the third sorry uh the third thing uh I wanted to mention is well I mentioned in our December meeting that the city of Desert Hot Springs was recommended by state staff for the ASIC award that is the affordable housing sustainable communities and is a competition held annually basically coming from the cap and trade funds which are now called CAP invest funds. Uh, ASIC provides lowinterest loans to support affordable housing and grants to jurisdictions for sustainable infrastructure. The city partnered with Abode communities to jointly submit this application and I'm pleased to announce that the city received an award in the rural innovation program category for $36 million. Uh, this is a highly competitive award and only four rural cities were awarded statewide. uh we beat the next city by half a point. So that's how competitive it was. Uh this is um uh this award will help fund the first phase of Parklane Homes

uh project which consists of 87 units in the early childhood education center uh using a $24 million loan and 11.2 million uh to the city and grants for infrastructure. This would be infrastructure to remake Pearson Boulevard uh into a complete street with wider sidewalks, ADA improvements, street lights, shade trees, street furniture and additional parking. Uh it develops a transit station with sunlight, adds additional bike lanes, and funds a microtransit service to the emergency job emerging job center at Indian Canyon. So, uh, we are assisting Abode in obtaining the rest of the funding needed for the affordable housing component. Believe it or not, 24 million is not enough. Uh, and they are looking at applying for the TCACK or tax credits to help fully fund phase one. Once they get started with the housing, then we can get started with the infrastructure. And that's my updates. Um, we're at the end. Unless anyone has anything else they want to say, then the meeting's adjourned. Okay.

Thank you. Is anyone here from the building department or is it all just planning? Oh, over there. Okay. Thank you guys so much. Thank you. Thank