Architectural Review Committee unanimously recommends Forest Lawn Cathedral City specific plan for Planning Commission review

The Cathedral City Architectural Review Committee voted unanimously on Feb. 18 to recommend the Forest Lawn Cathedral City Specific Plan to the Planning Commission, moving a multi-decade plan for the site forward for public hearing and further review.

Planning staff presented the specific plan as a framework for phased redevelopment of a roughly 10-acre Forest Lawn site at the southwest corner of Ramon Road and Duval Drive. Staff said the plan anticipates about 30,000 square feet of occupied space (offices and chapels), roughly 315,000 square feet of nonoccupied area dedicated to interment, and "approximately 84,000" interment spaces at full build-out. The proposal includes a General Plan amendment and rezoning to allow cemetery and ancillary uses.

"The specific plan will provide the framework for the ultimate build out of the 10 acre site," a Planning staff presenter said, outlining permitted uses such as mortuaries, crematoria, mausoleums, columbaria, chapels and ancillary services. The presenter described design standards including a maximum height of 45 feet and setbacks of 15 feet at first level along the west and south (adjacent to RV parks), with an additional 5-foot step-back for second stories; setbacks along Duval and Ramon were described as 10 to 15 feet.

Staff also walked through the conceptual site plan and aesthetics, saying the design places taller buildings along site edges to protect interior garden spaces, and includes water features, mosaics and a palette of materials such as stucco and precast concrete. Minimum planting sizes were described (trees: 24-inch box; shrubs: one-gallon minimum) and a master plant palette was included in the plan.

Planning staff recommended that the ARC "recommend Planning Commission approval of the project," and explained the next steps: the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the specific plan, general plan amendment and zone change; the council would make the final decision after Planning Commission review.

Dennis Madison, senior vice president of architecture and engineering at Forest Lawn, spoke for the applicant team and asked the committee for the recommendation. "We respectfully request your recommendation to the Planning Commission and are happy to answer questions or respond to comments that you may have," Madison said, introducing his chief architect and consultants.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about the south-area redevelopment, which staff confirmed would be a complete rebuild that removes an existing storage facility, and about which areas are already under construction under prior approvals. After discussion, committee member Haas moved to approve the staff recommendation; Chair Bouchard seconded. The motion carried "all ayes," forwarding the ARC recommendation to the Planning Commission.

The committee also received brief staff updates on other local projects, including marketing of the former Burlington site, tenanting at Cathedral Cove Shopping Center, and progress on the Nirvana Estates grading and map work. The ARC adjourned shortly after the vote; the Planning Commission will schedule a public hearing on the Forest Lawn specific plan as the next step.

What happens next: the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the specific plan, General Plan amendment and zoning change and then forward a recommendation to the City Council, which takes final action.