ORD 277 ORDINANCE NO. 277
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 17 OF
THE MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING THE ADDITION OF
A DEFINITIONS CHAPTER, AND AN AMENDMENT TO
TITLE 16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING THE
DELETION OF THE DEFINITIONS CHAPTER.
WHEREAS, on February 26 and March 23, 1991, the City Council
and the Planning Commission conducted joint workshops to discuss
ways to improve the City's planning review and permit application
process; and
WHEREAS, as a result of those discussions, the City Council
directed Staff to prepare amendments to certain sections of the
City's Municipal Code, in particular Titles 17 and 16; and
WHEREAS, a Subcommittee of the City Council and Planning
Commission was formed and which held noticed public workshops on
March 4, 25, April 29, June 10, 20, 24, July 11, and 15, 1991 and
which Subcommittee gave direction and made decision upon final
formulation of the amendments; and
WHEREAS, after notice pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code, Planning Commission public hearings
were held on August 13, 27, and September 10, 1991, at which time
all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and
present evidence regarding said amendments; and
WHEREAS, Environmental Assessment No. 628 was prepared in
accordance with the State of California Environmental Quality Act
and the State of California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
for said amendment, after which a Draft Negative Declaration was
prepared; and
WHEREAS, the City issued a public notice for the determination
of a Draft Negative Declaration on September 7, 1991 which public
comment period ran for 30 days, through October 7, 1991; and
WHEREAS, on September 10, 1991, the Planning Commission
adopted P.C. Resolution No. 91-44 recommending to the City Council
approval of the Draft Negative Declaration of Environmental
Assessment No. 628 and adopted P.C. Resolution No. 91-45
recommending to the City Council approval of amendments to Title 17
and Title 16; and
WHEREAS, after notice pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code, City Council public hearings were held
on October 1 and 15, 1991, at which time all interested parties
were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence
regarding said amendments; and
WHEREAS, on November 6, 1991, the City Council continued
discussion of the amendments, received written testimony, and
adopted Resolution No. 91-80 certifying the Negative Declaration of
Environmental Assessment No. 628; and
WHEREAS, on November 19 and December 3 , 1991, the City Council
continued discussion of said amendment, received written testimony,
and made a decision to move forward with the adoption procedure for
the amendment to Title 16 and the amendments to certain sections of
Title 17, and to continue discussion on proposed sections: 17. 02,
Single-family Residential (RS) Districts; 17. 04, Multi-family
Residential (RM) Districts; 17.32, Open Space Hazard (OH) District;
17. 60, Conditional Use Permits; 17.74, Residential Planned
Development Permit; and 17.76. 020, Antennas and satellite dishes;
and
WHEREAS, on January 21 1992, the City Council set aside the
remaining sections of Title 17 (except for Chapter 17.96, regarding
definitions) to be adopted with the remaining amendments to Title
17, as a whole, and reintroduced this ordinance, regarding the
addition of a definitions chapter to Title 17 and the deletion of
the definitions chapter from Title 16, for first reading.
NOW THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The City Council has reviewed and considered the
amendment to Title 16 and the amendment to Title 17 of the
Municipal Code.
Section 2: The City Council finds that the amendment to Title
16 and the amendment to Title 17 is consistent with California
Government Code Section 65853 , zoning amendment procedures.
Section 3 : The City Council finds that the amendment to Title
16 and the amendment to Title 17 is consistent with the Rancho
Palos Verdes General Plan and Coastal Specific Plan in that it
upholds, and do not hinder, the goals and policies of those plans,
in particular to carefully control and direct future growth towards
making a positive contribution to all elements of the community.
Section 4: The City Council finds that the amendment to Title
16 and the amendment to Title 17 is consistent with the purposes
and intent of Proposition M in that the revisions concerning the
Proposition M language merely relocate and reorganize that part of
the text.
Section 5: The City Council finds that the amendment to Title
16 and the amendment to Title 17, insofar as they are
substantially the same as previous provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code or any other ordinance repealed, amended or
Ordinance No. 277
page 2 of 33
superseded upon the enactment of this ordinance, shall be construed
as a restatement and continuation of those previous provisions and
not as new enactments.
Section 6: The rights given by any approval granted under the
terms of Title 16 and Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code prior to the effective date of this ordinance shall not be
affected by the amendment of Title 16 and the amendment of Title 17
by this ordinance and shall continue in effect until they are
modified, revoked, or expire or are otherwise terminated according
to the terms of the approval or the terms of Title 16 and Title 17
as they existed on the day before the effective date of this
ordinance.
Section 7: The City Council further finds that the amendment
to Title 16 and the amendment to Title 17 are necessary to preserve
the public health, safety, and general welfare in the area.
Section 8: For the foregoing reasons and based on the
information and findings included in the staff reports and records
of the proceedings, the City Council does hereby ordain the repeal
of Chapter 16. 04 of the Municipal Code (Definitions) and the
adoption of Chapter 17.96 of the Municipal Code (Definitions)
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this
reference.
Section 9: The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of
this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published in the
manner prescribed by law.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of February, 1992 .
9i(1J 04'
ATTEST:
IL, .ez, , _.e,,e0„....___
CITY CLERK
(
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES)
I, JO PURCELL, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
do hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City
Council of said City is five; that the foregoing Ordinance No. 277,
Ordinance No. 277
page 3 of 33
passed first reading on January 21, 1992, was duly and regularly
adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting
thereof held on February 4, 1992, and that the same was passed and
adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES: BROOKS, KUYKENDALL, BACHARACH AND MAYOR McTAGGART
NOES: NONE
ABSENT: RYAN
ABSTAIN: NONE
IL&
J.N
C Y CLERK
CX I Y OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
{
Ordinance No. 277
page 4 of 33
Chapter 17.96
DEFINITIONS
Sections:
I/ 17. 96. 005 Purpose and applicability.
17. 96. 010 Abutting.
17.96. 020 Access.
17.96. 030 Accessory building.
17.96. 040 Adjacent.
17.96. 050 Advertising structure.
17.96. 060 Advisory agency.
17.96. 070 Aggrieved person.
17.96. 080 Alley.
17.96. 090 Amusement park.
17.96. 100 Amusement ride.
17. 96. 110 Animal clinic.
17.96. 120 Announcement sign.
17 .96. 130 Apartment.
17 .96. 140 Area.
17.96. 150 Automobile service and repair.
17. 96. 160 Automobile service station.
17. 96. 170 Banner.
17.96. 180 Base district.
17 .96. 190 Basement.
17.96. 195 Bedroom.
17.96.200 Billboard and outdoor advertising sign.
17.96.210 Buildable area.
17.96.220 Building.
17.96.230 Building frontage.
17.96. 240 Building height.
17 .96.250 Building, main.
17.96.255 Building official.
17.96.260 Building pad.
17. 96.270 Building setback line.
17.96.280 Canopy.
17.96.290 Carport.
17. 96. 300 Cellar.
17.96. 310 Cleared areas.
17. 96. 320 Cluster development.
17. 96. 330 Coastal appealable development.
17. 96.340 Coastal excluded development.
17. 96. 350 Coastal non-appealable development.
17.96. 360 Coastal risk of adverse environmental impact.
17.96.370 Commercial antenna.
17 .96.380 Common wall.
17.96. 390 Community apartment house.
17 .96.400 Condominium.
17.96.410 Contractor's sign.
17.96.420 Convenience store.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 5 of 33
17 .96.430 Cut.
17.96.440 Day nursery or day care center.
17 .96.450 Dedicated land.
17 .96.460 Density.
17.96.470 Design.
17 .96.480 Development.
17 .96.490 Development site.
17 .96.500 Directional sign.
I/
17.96.510 Director.
17 .96.520 Downslope.
17.96.530 Driveway.
17 . 96.540 Dwelling unit.
17. 96.550 Educational institutions.
17 .96.560 Emergency work.
17.96.570 Engineering geologist.
17 .96.580 Excavation.
17 . 96.590 Excluded development.
17.96. 600 Existing parcel.
17 .96.610 Export.
17 .96. 620 Extreme slope.
17 .96. 630 Family.
17. 96. 640 Fence.
17 .96. 650 Fill.
17 .96. 660 Final map.
17 .96. 670 Flag lot.
17 .96. 680 Flags and pennants.
17.96. 690 Flashing sign.
17 .96.700 Floor area.
17 .96.710 Foliage.
17 .96.720 Freestanding sign.
17.96.730 Frontage.
17 . 96.740 Game video, arcade.
17.96.750 Garage.
17 .96.760 General plan.
17.96.770 Grade, natural.
17 .96.780 Grade, preconstruction.
17.96.790 Grading.
17 .96.800 Grading, balanced.
17.96.810 Grading, contractor.
17 .96.820 Grading, remedial.
17.96.830 Guest house.
17 .96.840 Hearings officer.
17.96.850 Hedge.
17 .96.860 Height of sign.
17. 96.870 Hotel.
17 .96. 880 Illuminated sign.
17 . 96.890 Improvements.
17 . 96.895 Kitchen.
17 .96.900 Land coverage.
17 .96.910 Landscaping.
17.96.920 Large family day care.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 6 of 33
17 . 96.930 Large domestic animals.
17 . 96.940 Loading space.
17. 96.950 Lot.
17 .96.960 Lot area or size.
17.96.970 Lot, corner.
I/ 17.96.980 Lot, corner reversed.
17.96.990 Lot coverage.
17.96. 1000 Lot depth.
17.96. 1010 Lot, interior.
17.96. 1020 Lot, through.
17 .96. 1030 Lot width.
17.96. 1040 Mechanical equipment.
17.96. 1050 Microwave.
17.96. 1060 Mobile home.
17.96. 1070 Mobile home park.
17.96. 1080 Motel.
17.96. 1090 Moving or rotating sign.
17.96. 1100 Neighborhood character.
17.96. 1110 Nonconforming.
17.96. 1120 Nursery school.
17.96. 1130 Off-premises sign.
17 .9 6. 114 0 Off-sale.
17.96. 1150 Off-site improvements.
17.96. 1160 On-premises sign.
17.96. 1170 Open space.
17.96. 1180 Owner.
17 .96. 1190 Parcel.
17.96. 1200 Parcel map.
17.96. 1210 Parcel of record.
17.96. 1220 ' Parking area.
17. 96. 1230 Parking space.
17.96. 1240 Passive recreation.
17 .96. 1250 Permanent identification sign.
17 .96. 1260 Person.
17.96. 1270 Pervious surface.
17.96. 1280 Placed or displayed.
17.96. 1290 Pool, swimming or ornamental.
17.96. 1300 Privacy.
17 .96. 1310 Product advertising.
17.96. 1320 Promotional sign.
17.96. 1330 Public works projects.
17 .96. 1340 Relay tower.
17 .96. 1350 Residence.
1/ 17.96. 1360 Retail store.
17 .96. 1370 Retaining wall.
17 .96. 1380 Retaining wall, downslope.
17.96. 1390 Retaining wall, side yard.
17.96. 1400 Retaining wall, upslope.
17. 96. 1410 Room.
17.96. 1420 Row house.
17.96. 1430 Satellite dish antenna.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 7 of 33
17.96. 1440 Scale.
17.96. 1450 Service station.
17 .96. 1460 Setback.
17. 96. 1470 Shopping center.
17.96. 1480 Shopping district.
17 .96. 1490 Sign.
17. 96. 1500 Sign area.
17.96. 1510 Sign structure.
17. 96. 1520 Single-feed reverse vending machine.
17.96. 1530 Site. I/
17. 96. 1540 Site plan.
17.96. 1550 Slope, man-made.
17.96. 1560 Small collection facility.
17. 96. 1570 Small family day care.
17.96. 1580 Soils engineer.
17.96. 1590 Stock cooperative.
17. 96. 1600 Stockpile.
17 .96. 1610 Story.
17 . 96. 1620 Street.
17 .96. 1630 Street, private.
17. 96. 1640 Structural alteration.
17.96. 1650 Structure.
17.96. 1660 Style.
17 .96. 1670 Subdivision.
17. 96. 1680 Supervised grading.
17.96. 1690 Temporary.
17.96. 1700 Temporary sign.
17 .96. 1710 Tentative map.
17 .96. 1720 Trailer.
17.96. 1730 Under-canopy sign.
17 .96. 1740 Upslope lot.
17 .96. 1750 Use.
17.96. 1755 Use development or alteration.
17 .96. 1760 Use, primary.
17. 96. 1770 Vegetation.
17.96. 1780 Veterinary clinic.
17 .96. 1790 View, far.
17 .96. 1800 View, near.
17.96. 1810 Viewing area.
17 .96. 1820 View restoration committee.
17 . 96. 1830 Visitor-serving use.
17. 96. 1840 Wall.
17 .96. 1850 Window sign.
17 .96. 1860 Windscreen.
17 . 96. 1870 Yard.
17. 96. 1880 Yard, front.
17 .96. 1890 Yard, rear.
17. 96. 1900 Yard, side.
17.96. 005 Purpose and applicability. This chapter provides
precise meaning or significance to a word, phrase or expression.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 8 of 33
This chapter applies to Title 15, Title 16 and Title 17 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code.
17.96. 010 Abutting,. "Abutting" means two or more lots or
parcels of land sharing a common boundary line.
17. 96. 020 Access. "Access" means the place or way by which
pedestrians and vehicles have safe, adequate, and suitable ingress
and egress to a property or use as required by this code.
17.96. 030 Accessory building. "Accessory building" means a
building or part of building not exceeding twelve feet in height,
the use of which is incidental to that of the main building,
structure, or use on the same lot. Where an accessory building is
a part of, or joined to, the main building, the accessory building
shall be counted as part of the main building.
17.96. 040 Adjacent. "Adjacent" means two or more lots or
parcels of land separated by a street or alley or otherwise in
close proximity.
17.96. 050 Advertising structure. "Advertising structure"
means the same as "sign. "
17.96. 060 Advisory agency. "Advisory agency" means both the
planning commission and the director of planning, having authority
to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove tentative and
parcel maps and tentative tract maps, as delegated by this title.
17. 96. 070 Aggrieved person. "Aggrieved person" means any
person who testified personally or through a representative at any
public hearings in connection with the decision or action appealed,
or who informed the director of planning of an interest in the
subject of a hearing.
17 .96. 080 Alley. •"Alley" means a public or private way, at
the rear or side of property, permanently reserved as a means of
secondary access to abutting property.
17.96. 090 Amusement park. "Amusement park" means a
commercial entertainment land use consisting of one or more
amusement rides, with or without other commercial entertainment
land uses, primarily in an outdoor setting.
17.96. 100 Amusement ride. "Amusement ride" means a
mechanical device which is not coin-operated, which provides or
promotes motion, and which is not a primary means of transportation
within a site or from one site to another. "Amusement ride"
includes, but is not limited to, carousals, ferris wheels, roller
coasters, water slides and similar devices.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 9 of 33
17 .96. 110 Animal clinic. "Animal clinic" means the same as
"veterinary clinic. "
17.96. 120 Announcement sign. "Announcement sign" means a
sign intended to direct attention to the nature of construction on
the premises.
17.96. 130 Apartment,. "Apartment" means a room or suite of
two or more rooms in a multiple dwelling, occupied or suitable for
occupancy as a residence for one family.
17. 96. 140 Area.
A. "Gross area" means the total area of a parcel or lot,
including any proposed public highways, streets, or alleys or other
public sites.
B. "Net area" means the area of a parcel or lot,
excluding any proposed public highways, streets or alleys, or other
public sites.
17. 96. 150 Automobile service and repair. "Automobile
service ad repair" means the repair, replacing of, or adding of
parts to motor vehicles.
17 . 96. 160 Automobile service station. "Automobile service
station" means an area which provides for the servicing of motor
vehicles, including tube and tire repairs, battery charging,
storage of merchandise and supplies related to the servicing of
motor vehicles, sale of gasoline and lubricants, automobile washing
(not including mechanical car wash) , and grease racks, but
excluding body and fender work, painting, repair and rebuilding of
electrochemical batteries, or other work of a similar nature.
17.96. 170 Banner. "Banner" means a sign generally made of
flexible material, usually cloth, paper, or plastic, temporary in
nature.
17 . 96. 180 Base district. "Base district" means a the base
zoning designation established by the city development code,
including any combined districts established by the code.
17.96. 190 Basement. "Basement" means a space wholly or
partly underground, and having more than one-half of its height,
measuring from its floor to its ceiling, below the average
adjoining grade; if the finished floor level directly above a
basement is more than six feet above grade at any point, such
basements shall be considered a story.
17. 96. 195 Bedroom. "Bedroom" means any room or rooms used
or intended to be used for sleeping purposes.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 10 of 33
17.96.200 Billboard and outdoor advertising sign.
"Billboard" and "outdoor advertising sign" mean a sign usually
designed for use with changing advertising copy and which normally
are used for the advertisement of goods produced or services
rendered at locations other than the premises on which the signs
are located.
17.96.210 Buildable area. "Buildable area" means the ground
areas designed or proposed to be occupied by all buildings and
structures on a lot.
17. 96.220 Building. "Building" means any fixed structure
consisting of wall(s) and roof built and maintained for the
support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or
property of any kind. "Building" shall not mean a "mobile home" or
"trailer. "
17 .96.230, Building frontage. "Building frontage" means
those building elevations which face upon a public street pr
parking area between the building and the street.
17 .96.240 Building height. "Building height" means the
maximum vertical dimension of a structure determined under the
standards of Section 17. 02 .040.A.1 of this Code, unless a different
definition is provided by this Code for application in a particular
context.
17.96.250 Building, main. "Main building" means a building
within which is conducted the principal use permitted on the lot,
as provided by this code.
17.96.255 Building official. "Building official" means the
officer or other designated authority charged with the
administration and enforcement of the Uniform Building Code, or the
building official's duly authorized representative.
17.96.260 Building pad. "Building pad" means any portion of
a lot that has been graded to form a level area to accommodate a
structure.
17. 96.270 Building setback line,. "Building setback line"
means the minimum distance as prescribed by city code between any
property line, or private easement boundary used for vehicular
and/or pedestrian access, and the closest point on any building or
structure above ground level on the property.
17.96. 280 Canopy. "Canopy" means a structural, ornamental,
roof-like appendage, freestanding or attached to a building, which
extends over public or private walkways, driveways, etc.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 11 of 33
17 .96. 290 Carport. "Carport" means a permanent roofed
structure with not more than two enclosed sides used or intended to
be used for automobile shelter and storage.
17.96. 300 Cellar. "Cellar" means that portion of a building
between floor and ceiling which is wholly or partly below grade and
so located that the vertical distance from grade to the floor is
equal to or grater than the vertical distance from grade to
ceiling.
17.96. 310 Cleared areas. "Cleared areas" means land areas
where vegetation has been removed to the extent that native soil is
disturbed.
17 .96. 320 Cluster development. "Cluster development" means
the planning and development of land so that houses are grouped or
clustered together, leaving the remaining land undivided for common
use.
17.96. 330 Coastal appealable development. "Coastal
appealable development" means an action taken by the city on a
coastal permit application for nay of the following that may be
appealed to the Coastal Commission:
A. Developments approved by the city between the sea and
the first public road paralleling the sea or within three hundred
feet of the inland extent of any beach or of the mean high-tide
line of the sea where there is not beach, whichever is the greatest
distance. The grounds for appeal are limited to the following:
1. The development fails to provide adequate
physical access for public or private commercial use or interferes
with such uses,
2 . The development fails to protect public views
from any public road or from a recreational area to, and along, the
coats,
3 . The development is not compatible with the
established physical scale of the area,
4. The development may significantly alter
existing natural landforms,
5. The development doe snot comply with shoreline
erosion and geologic setback requirements;
B. Developments approved by the city located on
tidelands, submerged lands, public trust lands, within one hundred
feet of any wetland, estuary, stream or within three hundred feet
of the top of the seaward face of any coastal bluff;
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 12 of 33
C. Any development which constitutes a major public
works project or a major energy facility, with an estimated cost of
more than fifty thousand dollars.
17.96. 340 Coastal excluded development. "Coastal excluded
development" means:
A. Improvements, including replacement of any structure
destroyed by a natural disaster (other than a major public works
facility , repairs, or maintenance of existing structures in the
coastal specific plan district unless any of the following could
result:
1. A risk of adverse environmental effect,
2. An adverse effect to public access,
3 . A change in use contrary to the coastal
specific plan;
B. Any category of development determined by the coastal
commission to have no potential for any significant local impact on
coastal resources or public access;
C. The installation, testing, and placement in service
or the replacement of any necessary utility connection between
approved development and an existing service facility that conforms
to city ordinances;
D. Public works projects which include the erection of
public signs, the painting or removing paint from curbs, the
maintenance and repair of public streets, the installation and
maintenance of landscaping, the maintenance of city utilities,
repair and improvement to structures maintained, used or owned by
the city, and the repair, replacement, maintenance or development
of public facilities under emergency circumstances.
17.96. 350 Coastal non-appealable development. "Coastal non-
appealable development" means any proposed development within the
coastal specific plan district that is not appealable and is not
excluded.
17 .96. 360 Coastal risk of adverse environmental impact.
"Coastal risk of adverse environmental impact" includes, but is not
limited to the following:
A. Any significant alteration of landforms, including
removal or placement of vegetation on a beach or within fifty-feet
of the edge of a coastal bluff, or in areas of natural vegetation
designated as significant natural habitat;
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 13 of 33
B. The expansion or construction of water wells or
septic systems;
C. Any addition to a single-family residence where any
coastal permit issued for the original structure indicated that any
future additions would require a coastal permit.
17.96. 370 Commercial antenna. "Commercial antenna" means
all satellite dish antennas, relay towers, and towers and antennas
for the transmission or reception of radio, television and
communication signals except those designed in connection with "ham
radio" operations by the occupant of the property where the tower
is located. "Commercial antennas" shall also not include antennas
owned or operated by governmental agencies.
17.96. 380 Common wall. "Common wall" means any structure or
device forming a physical barrier between two or more dwelling
units or between a dwelling unit and a public or quasi-public space
(laundry rooms, recreation rooms, garages, etc. ) . Construction of
a common wall shall be one of the following types:
A. Cavity Wall. Two standard construction, parallel
walls separated by a two-inch air space as per current uniform
building laws;
B. Staggered Stud. A wall in which studs are staggered,
so that each stud makes contact with only one wall surface, as per
current uniform building laws.
17 .96. 390 Community apartment house. "Community apartment
house" means a residential complex in which an undivided interest
in the land either in fee simple or a term of years, is coupled
with the right of exclusive occupancy in ana apartment located
therein.
17.96. 400 Condominium. "Condominium" means an estate in
real property consisting of an undivided interest in common in a
portion of a parcel of real property together with a separate
interest in space in a complex devoted to residential purposes
located on such real property.
17. 96.410 Contractor's sign. "Contractor's sign" means a
sign stating the names of those individuals or firms directly
connected with the construction project. Said sign may include the
name of the city in which their business is located and emergency
telephone numbers.
17 . 96.420 Convenience store. "Convenience store" means a
retail grocery, generally open to the public before eight a.m. or
after nine p.m. that is intended to conveniently provide a wide
variety of products and services such as packaged food items,
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 14 of 33
sundry household products, heated, cooked, or otherwise prepared
snacks, self-serve beverage and dairy product vending machines,
soup or salad bars, alcoholic beverages, and/or various personal
and entertainment services such as ATMs, and videotape rentals, and
not characterized by the predominant sale of a single type of
I/ product such as alcoholic beverages or fast food. The director of
environmental services shall determine whether a single type of
product or service is predominant.
17.96.430 Cut. "Cut" means an excavation of the earth.
17.96.440 Day nursery or day care center. "Day nursery or
day care center" means any group of buildings, building, or portion
thereof used primarily for the daytime care of children.
17 .96.450 Dedicated land. "Dedicated land" means land
deeded to the city and legally accepted as such for public use.
17.96.460 Density. "Density" means the number of dwelling
units that may be constructed per acre or per square foot of lot
area.
17.96.470 Design. "Design" means:
A. Street alignment, grades and widths;
B. Drainage and sanitary facilities, including
alignments and grads thereof;
C. Location and size of all required easements and
rights-of-way;
D. Fire roads and breakways;
E. Lot size and configuration;
F. Traffic access;
G. Grading;
H. Land to be dedicated for park or recreational
purposes; and
I/ I. Such other specific requirements in the plan and
configuration of the entire subdivision as may be necessary or
convenient to ensure conformity to or specific plan implementation
of the general plan.
17.96.480 Development. "Development" means, on land in or
under water, the placement or erecting of any solid material or
structure; discharge or disposal of any dredged material or of any
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 15 of 33
gaseous, liquid, solid or thermal waste; grading, removing,
dredging, mining, or extraction of any materials; change in the
density or intensity of use of land, including, but not limited to,
subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (commencing with
Section 66410 of the Government Code) , and any other division of
land, including lot splits, except where the land division is
brought about in connection with the purchase of such land by a
public agency for public recreational use; change in the intensity
of use of water, or of access thereto; construction,
reconstruction, demolition, or alteration of the size of any
structure, including any facility of any private, public, or
municipal utility, and the removal or harvesting of major
vegetation other than for agricultural purposes. As used in this
definition, "structure" includes, but is not limited to, any
building, road, pipe, flume, conduit, siphon, aqueduct, telephone
line and electrical power transmission and distribution line.
17 .96.490 Development site. "Development site" means the
ground area of a building, together with all the open space
required by Titles 16 and 17. A building site may encompass more
than one lot.
17 .96. 500 Directional sign. "Directional sign" means a sign
erected for the purpose of informing the viewer of the approximate
route, direction, or location of a given goal, not including
advertising.
17 .96. 510 Director. "Director" means the Director of
Planning of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
17 . 96. 520 Downslope. "Downslope" means a lot that slopes
downward from the main street of access.
17.96.530 Driveway. "Driveway" means a paved access to an
off-street parking facility.
17 .96. 540 Dwelling unit. "Dwelling unit" means one or more
habitable rooms which are intended or designed to be occupied by
one family with facilities for living and the cooking and/or
preparation of food.
17.96. 550 Educational institutions. "Educational
institutions" means public and other nonprofit institutions
conducting regular academic instruction at preschool, kindergarten,
elementary, secondary, and college levels, and including graduate
schools, universities, and nonprofit research institutions. Such
institutions must either (A) offer general academic instruction
equivalent to the standards prescribed by the State Board of
Education, or (B) confer degrees as a college or university of
undergraduate or graduate standing, or (C) conduct research. This
definition doe not include schools, academies, or institutes,
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 16 of 33
incorporated or otherwise, which operate for profit, nor does it
include commercial or trade schools.
17.96.560 Emergency work,. "Emergency work" means work made
necessary to restore property to a safe condition following a
I/ public calamity, or work required to protect persons or property
from an imminent exposure to danger, or work by private or public
utilities when restoring utility service.
17.96.570 Engineering geologist. "Engineering geologist"
means a person who is trained in the application of geological data
and principals of engineering problems dealing with naturally
occurring rock and soil for the purposes of assuring that geologic
factors are adequately considered in engineering practice.
17 .96.580 Excavation. "Excavation" means any act which
earth, sand, gravel, rock, or other similar material is cut int,
dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated, or
bulldozed, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.
17.96.590 Excluded development.
A. Improvements, including replacement of any structure
destroyed by a natural disaster (other than a major public works
facility) , repairs, or maintenance to existing structures unless
any of the following apply:
1. A risk of adverse environmental effect,
2 . An adverse effect to public access,
3 . A change in use contrary to the coastal
specific plan;
B. Any category of development added by the coastal
commission that has no potential for any significant local impact
on coastal resources or public access;
C. The installation, testing, and placement in service
or the replacement of any necessary utility connection between
approved development and an existing service facility that conforms
to city ordinances;
D. Public works projects which include the erection of
I/ public signs, the painting or removing paint from curbs, the
maintenance and repair of public streets, the installation and
maintenance of landscaping, the maintenance of city utilities,
repair and improvement to structures maintained, used or owned by
the city, and the repair, replacement, maintenance or development
of public facilities under emergency circumstances..
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 17 of 33
17. 96.600 Existing parcel,. "Existing parcel" means any
parcel as it existed and was defined by boundaries at the effective
date of this title and Title 17.
17.96. 610 Export. "Export" means excess earth material
that is removed from a grading project and deposited off-site or
the process of removing earth material and depositing it off-site.
17. 96. 620 Extreme slope. "Extreme slope" means a grade of
thirty-five percent or greater.
17 .96. 630 Family.
A. "Natural family" means an individual of two or more
persons related by blood or marriage (Includes adopted children or
those pending adoption) , excluding servants, living together as a
single housekeeping unit in a dwelling unit.
B. "Unrelated family" means an individual or no more
than five persons related or unrelated by blood or marriage,
excluding servants, living together as a single housekeeping unit
in a dwelling unit.
C. "Foster family" means an individual or two or more
persons related by blood or marriage (includes adopted children or
those pending adoption) and up to six children cared for as foster
children or up to six mentally disordered or otherwise handicapped
persons, provided in such case the total number of persons living
in the dwelling unit does not exceed eight persons, and further
providing that the keeping of the persons is licensed by the state
as a full-time foster care home, family care home, or group home.
17 .96. 640 Fence. "Fence" means any structural device
forming a physical barrier which is so constructed that not less
than ninety percent of the vertical surface is open to permit the
transmission of light, air and vision through said surface in a
horizontal plane. This includes wire mesh, steel mesh, chain link,
louvered glass, stake, and other similar materials. (For board or
other solid barriers, see "Wall. ")
17 .96. 650 Fill. "Fill" means any act by which earth, sand,
gravel, rock or any other similar material is deposited, placed,
pulled or transported by man, and includes the conditions resulting
therefrom.
17.96. 660 Final map. "Final map" means a map prepared in
accordance with the provisions of this title and designed to be
placed on record in the office of the county recorder.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 18 of 33
17 .96. 670 Flag lot. "Flag lot" means a lot in the
approximate configuration of an L, with the leg or pole functioning
primarily as an access way to the main body of the lot.
17.96. 680, Flags and pennants. "Flags and pennants" means
I/ devices generally made of flexible materials, usually cloth, paper,
or plastic, and displayed on strings. They may or may not contain
any copy and are primarily intended to draw attention, temporary in
nature.
17.96. 690 Flashing sign. "Flashing sign" means a sign which
contains or is illuminated by lights which are intermittently on
and off, change in intensity, or which create the illusion of
flashing in any manner.
17 .96.700 Floor area. "Floor area" means the sum of the
gross areas of the several floors of a building.
17.96.710 Foliage,. "Foliage" means natural growth of trees,
shrubs and other plant life.
17.96.720 Freestanding sign. "Freestanding sign" means a
sign standing on the ground, not attached to a building. Signs
mounted flat on legitimate walls or legitimate architectural
extensions (such as wing walls, pergolas, etc. ) will not be
considered freestanding.
17.96.730 Frontage. "Frontage" means that portion of a
parcel of property which abuts a public or approved private street
or highway.
17. 96.740 Game arcade, video. "Video game arcade" means
any premises which maintains four or more games of skill or
amusement whereby machines, contests, devices, games, tables,
boards or amusements, the operation of which is permitted,
controlled, obtained, conducted, allowed, authorized or made
possible by the depositing of any coin, plate, disc, slug or key
into any slot, crevice or other opening or receptacle, or by the
payment of any fee or fees, and where said machine, contest ,
device, game, table, board or amusement tests, or provides a means
for testing, the skill of the operator thereof with reference to
its operation or the resulted thereof.
I/ 17. 96.750 Garage.
A. "Private garage" means a completely enclosed,
detached accessory building, o r portion of a main building on the
same lot as a dwelling for the housing of vehicles of the occupants
of the dwelling.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 19 of 33
& B. "Public garage" means any garage other than a private
garage.
17.96.760 General plan. "General plan" means the adopted
general plan of the city, including elements, amendments and
additions.
17 .96.770 Grade, natural,. "Natural grade" means the ground
surface unaltered by artificial means.
17 .96.780 Grade, preconstruction. "Preconstruction grade"
means the ground surface as it exists prior to any proposed
alteration.
17.96.790 Grading. "Grading" means excavation or fill or
any combination thereof, and includes the conditions resulting from
any excavation or fill.
17.96.800 Grading, balanced. "Balanced grading" means
cutting and filling of a site which does not require the export or
import of earth material.
17. 96.810 Grading contractor,. "Grading contractor" means a
person licensed and regulated by the State of California who
specializes in grading work or is otherwise licensed to do grading
work.
17 .96.820 Grading, remedial. "Remedial grading" means
excavation, fill or any combination thereof which involves a
redistribution of earth materials for the purpose of reestablishing
the stability and continuity of said area.
17 .96.830 Guest house,. "Guest house" means living quarters
located within an accessory building, which does not have a
kitchen, located on the same premises with a main building and
occupied solely by members of the family, temporary guests or
persons regularly employed on the premises. A "guest house" is not
a "second unit. "
17.96.840 Hearings officer. "Hearings officer" means the
director of planning, or authorized staff member, who is to conduct
certain public hearings.
17 .96.850 Hedge. "Hedge" means shrubbery or trees planted
and maintained in such a manner as to create a physical barrier.
17 .96.860 Height of sign. "Height of sign" means the
distance of the average surface grade immediately surrounding the
base of the sign to the top of its highest element, including any
structural element.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 20 of 33
17. 96.870 Hotel. "Hotel" means any building or portion
thereof designed or used or containing six or more guest rooms or
suites of rooms or a combination of six or more guest rooms or
suites of rooms, and not more than two dwelling units, but not
including any institutions in which human beings are housed or
detained under legal restraint.
17.96.880 Illuminated sign. "Illuminated sign" means a sign
in which a source of light is used in order to make readable the
message. This definition includes internally and externally
lighted signs and reflectorized, glowing, or radiating g signs.
17. 96.890 Improvements. "Improvements" means, within the
appealable areas, changes to the structure which increases square
footage no more than ten percent and do not add a story or a loft
and do not require a variance. Outside the appealable area,
"improvements" deans changes to the structure which requires only
a site plan review.
17.96.895 Kitchen. "Kitchen" means an area used for cooking
or the preparation of foods.
17.96.900 Land coverage. "Land coverage" means a man-made
structure, improvement or covering that prevents seventy-five
percent of the normal precipitation from directly reaching the
surface of the land underlying the structure, improvements or
covering. Such structures, improvements or coverings include roofs
and surfaces paved with asphalt, stone or the like, such roads,
streets, basketball courts, and patios.
17.96.910 Landscaping. "Landscaping" means the planting and
continued maintenance of ornamental plant material and includes the
installation, use, and continued maintenance of a permanent
irrigation system.
17.96. 920 Large family day care. "Large family day care"
means the care at a single-family residence of seven to twelve
children, inclusive, including children who reside at the home, as
defined by the California Department of Social Services
regulations.
17.96.930, Large domestic animals. "Large domestic animals"
means the following (any female with her offspring, and/or recently
born young of the same species whom she is nursing shall be
considered as one animal until weaned) :
A. Horses, which term includes all equines;
B. Cows, which term includes all bovines;
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 21 of 33
C. Goats, which term includes all caprines, . except
males, which are specifically prohibited after weaned; and
D. Sheep, which term includes all ovines.
17. 96. 940 Loading space. "Loading space" means an off-
street space or berth on the same lot with a main building or
contiguous to a group of buildings, for the temporary parking of
commercial vehicles while loading or unloading, and which has
access from a street, alley, or other permanent means of ingress
and egress.
17 . 96.950 Lot. "Lot" means:
A. A parcel of real property with a separate and
distinct number or other designation shown on a plat recorded in
the office of the county recorder; and/or
B. A parcel of real property delineated on an approved
record of survey, lot split, or subparceling map as filed in the
officer of the county recorder or the department of planning, and
abutting at least one public street; and/or
C. A parcel of real property containing not less area
than required by the district in which it is located, abutting at
least one public street and held under separate ownership from
adjacent property prior to the effective date of this title or
Title 16.
17 .96.960 Lot area or size. "Lot area or size" means the
total of the area, measured in horizontal plane, within the lot
lines of a lot.
17. 96. 970 Lot, corner. "Corner lot" means a lot located at
the intersection or interception of two or more streets at an angle
of not more than one hundred twenty degrees. If the angle is
greater than one hundred twenty degrees, the lot shall be
considered an interior lot.
17.96.980 Lot, reversed corner. "Reversed corner lot" means
a corner lot, the side line of which is substantially a
continuation of the front lot lines of the lot to its rear, whether
across an alley or not.
17 .96.990 Lot coverage. "Lot coverage" means that portion
of a lot or building site which is occupied by any building or
structure, parking area or driveway.
17.96. 1000 Lot depth. "Lot depth" means the horizontal
distance between the front and rear lot lines.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 22 of 33
17 .96. 1010 Lot, interior. "Interior lot" means a lot other
than a corner lot.
17.96. 1020, Lot, through. "Through lot" means a lot having a
frontage on two dedicated streets, not including a corner or
reversed corner lot. The director shall determine which frontage
or frontages shall be considered as the lot front or lot frontages
for purposes of compliance with yard and setback provisions of this
title or Title 16.
17 .96. 1030 Lot width. "Lot width" means the distance between
the side lot lines when measured between the front and rear lot
lines parallel to the front property line or to a tangent at the
midpoint of a curved front property line.
17 .96. 1040, Mechanical equipment,. "Mechanical equipment"
means any heating, cooling, venting, or similar equipment or
appurtenance serving a structure.
17. 96. 1050 Microwave,. "Microwave" means any electromagnetic
signals of any frequency three hundred megahertz or higher.
17 .96. 1060 Mobile home. "Mobile home" means a prefabricated
structure relocated on a site and placed on a permanent foundation.
17.96. 1070 Mobile home park. "Mobile home park" means any
area or tract of land where space is rented or sold to owners or
users of mobile homes, auto trailers or trailer coaches.
17.96. 1080 Motel. "Motel" means a group of dwellings used
for commercial purposes, such as a building or group of two or more
detached, semi-detached or attached buildings containing guest
rooms or dwelling units with automobile storage space provided in
connection therewith, which building or group is designed,
intended, or used primarily for the accommodation of transient
automobile travelers; including groups designated as auto cabins,
motor courts, motels, and similar designations.
17 .96. 1090 Moving or rotating sign. "Moving or rotating
sign" means a sign or device designed to attract attention by
visual means through the movement or semblance of movement of the
whole or any part of the sign, including rotation, special
lighting, or wind-actuated devices.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 23 of 33
17.9 6 110 0, Neighborhood character. "Neighborhood char ' er'
means the existing characteristics in terms of the following:
A. Scale of surrounding residences;
B. Architectural styles and materials; and
P
C. Front yard setbacks.
17.96. 1110 Nonconforming. "Nonconforming" applies to lots,
uses, and structures which were legal under the previous
development codes but do not meet the standards of this title or
Title 16.
17.96. 1120 Nursery school. "Nursery school" means public or
private educational facilities for more than twelve preschool
and/or kindergarten age children in any zoning district.
17.96. 1130 Off-premises sign. "Off-premises sign" means a
sign identifying a business or product at some location other than
the property where the sign is displayed.
17. 96. 1140 Off-sale. "Off-sale" means the purchase of a
retail product for use or consumption off the premises.
17. 96. 1150 Off-site improvements. "Off-site improvements"
means the installation or construction of facilities outside the
boundaries of a private parcel or lot, such as street paving, curbs
and gutters, sidewalks, street trees, street lights, street signs,
sewers, utilities, and drainage structures.
17. 96. 1160 On-premises sign. "On-premises sign" means a sign
located on the same parcel with the business or product being
identified or advertised.
17.96. 1170 Open space. "Open space" means any space or area
that is open and unobstructed from the ground upward, except for
permitted encroachments, and is not used for private streets,
driveways, parking, or loading.
17.96. 1180 Owner. "Owner" means the individual, firm,
association, syndicate, partnership, or corporation having
sufficient proprietary interest in a portion of land, and while
used in this title or Title 17 in the masculine gender and singular
number, it shall be deemed to mean the feminine and neuter gender
and plural number whenever required.
17. 96. 1190 Parcel. "Parcel" means an area of contiguous land
owned by a person(s) .
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 24 of 33
17.96. 1200 Parcel map. "Parcel map" means a map prepared and
submitted for any subdivision creating four parcels or less and for
those subdivisions containing five or more parcels under those
conditions contained in this title.
17.96. 1210 Parcel of record. "Parcel of record" means an
area of land shown on a separately bounded area on a recorded
subdivision plat or deed, or a number of contiguous areas of land
owned by a person, all of which are shown as separately bounded
areas on a recorded subdivision plat or deed.
17.96. 1220 Parking area.
A. "Private parking area" means and open area, other
than a street, used for the parking of automotive vehicles capable
of moving under their own power and restricted from general public
use.
B. "Public parking area" means an area, other than a
private parking area or street, used for the parking of vehicles
and available for public or quasi-public use, either free or for
remuneration.
17.96. 1230, Parking space. "Parking space" means a space
exclusive of driveways, ramps, columns, loading areas, or work
areas, within a building or open parking area for the parking of
one automobile.
17.96. 1240 Passive recreation. "Passive recreation" means
outdoor recreation activities that are non-structured in nature
(picnicking, sightseeing, nature study areas, etc. ) .
17.96. 1250 Permanent identification sign. "Permanent
identification sign" means a sign which directs attention to a
principal business, profession, industry, or building located on
the premises upon which the sign is displayed.
17 .96. 1260 Person. "Person" means a person, firm,
association, copartnership, joint venture, corporation, or any
entity, public or private in nature, other than the city.
17 .96. 1270 Pervious surface. "Pervious surface" means any
structure, improvement, or surface which allows at least seventy-
five percent of the normal precipitation to reach the ground
surface underlying it.
17.96. 1280 Placed or displayed. "Placed" or "displayed"
include erected, constructed, posted, painted, printed, tacked,
glued, carved, or otherwise fastened, fixed, or made visible in any
manner whatsoever. This includes changing the copy or color on
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 25 of 33
existin g signs,ns, but shall not include maintenance and repainting of
existing copy in the same color.
17.96. 1290 Pool, swimming or ornamental,. "Swimming or
ornamental pool" means any body of water measuring more than
eighteen inches deep at its deepest point, whether above or below
the surface of the ground. Said pool shall not be located in any
required front or street side yard.
17.96. 1300 Privacy. "Privacy" means reasonable protection
from intrusive visual observation.
17 .96. 1310 Product advertising,. "Product advertising" means
a sign or portion of a sign which directs attention to accessory or
secondary products or services sold on the premises by specific
name, brand name, trademark or logo; temporary in nature.
17.96. 1320 Promotional sign. "Promotional sign" means a sign
intended to direct attention to a special event or product;
temporary in nature.
17 .96. 1330 Public works projects. "Public works projects"
means any action undertaken by the city or under contract to the
city or by any other governmental entity to construct or alter any
public structure, utility or right-of--way, including improvement of
public streets and development of public utilities.
17 .96. 1340, Relay tower. "Relay tower" means any parabolic
reflector or similar antenna array regardless of mounting methods
and all appurtenant equipment necessary for the receiving and/or
transmitting of microwave signals from and/or to any earth-based
transmitting and/or receiving facility of any type.
17 .96. 1350 Residence. "Residence" means a building or
portion thereof designed or used for human habitation.
17 .96. 1360 Retail store. "Retail store" means a business of
selling goods, wares, or merchandise directly to the ultimate
consumer.
17. 96. 1370 Retaining wall. "Retaining wall" means a wall
which holds back earth and which is constructed to Rancho Palos
Verdes Building Code standards.
17.96. 1380 Retaining wall, downslope. "Downslope retaining
wall" means a retaining wall which is located downslope from the
primary structure.
17 .96. 1390 Retaining wall, side yard. "Side yard retaining
wall" means a retaining wall which is located in or along those lot
lines which are at right angles to the front property line.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 26 of 33
17.96. 1400 Retaining wall, upslope. "Upslope retaining wall"
means a retaining wall which is located upslope from the primary
structure.
17.9 6. 1410 Room. "Room" means an unsubdivided portion of the
I/ interior of a dwelling unit, including bathrooms, closets,
hallways, and service porches.
17.96. 1420 Row house. "Row house" means a residence which
shares a common side wall or walls with another residence.
17.96. 1430 Satellite dish antenna. "Satellite dish antenna"
means a parabolic reflector or similar antenna with a parabolic
surface, regardless of mounting method, designed solely to receive
satellite-delivered signals.
17 .96. 1440 Scale. "Scale" means the square footage and lot
coverage of a residence and ancillary structures.
17.96. 1450 Service station. "Service station" means the same
as "automobile service station. "
17.96.1460 Setback. "Setback means the minimum horizontal
distance between the lot line and the structure line, or a line
parallel to the lot line if there is not structure.
17.96. 1470 Shopping center. "Shopping center" means a group
of commercial establishments, planned, developed, owned, and
managed as a unit, with parking provided on the property.
17.96. 1480 Shopping district. "Shopping district" means a
collection of individual stores standing on separate lot/parcels
along street frontage or clustered in a contiguous area, with or
without off-street parking.
17.96. 1490, Sign,. "Sign" means any physical form of visual
communication which is intended to be viewed from public areas.
Any structures or building appurtenances which are or were at one
time used for visual communication and which do not have any other
legitimate function are also defined as signs. In addition, the
definition of a sign includes all parts, portions, units, and
materials composing same, together with illumination, frame,
background, structure and support and anchorage therefor. This
definition shall not apply to the interior display of merchandise,
but does apply to interior window signs large enough to be read by
those in vehicles passing at the permissive speed in the nearest
travel lane of public street or highway right-of-way.
17. 96. 1500 Sign area. "Sign area" means the surface space
within a single contiguous perimeter containing words, letters,
figures, or symbols, together with any frame, material or color
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 27 of 33
forming an integral part of the spiay but excluding support
structures, face of building, and incidental parts not drawing
attention to the subject matter.
17 . 96. 1510 Sign structure. "Sign structure" means a
structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign. A
sign structure may be a single pole or may or may not be an
integral pert of the building.
17.96. 1520 Single-feed reverse vending machine. "Single-feed
reverse vending machine" means an automated, mechanized device
which accepts one or more types of empty beverage containers,
including, but not limited to, aluminum cans, glass, and plastic
bottles, one at an time, for sorting and mechanical processing
entirely within the machine.
17 .96. 1530 Site. "Site" means a lot or parcel of land or a
series of lots or parcels of land joined together under one
ownership.
17. 96. 1540 Site plan. "Site plan" means a plan, prepared to
scale, showin g accurately and with complete dimensioning, all of
the uses proposed for a specific parcel of land.
17 .96. 1550 Slope, man-made. "Man-made slope" means a slope
altered or created by grading activities.
17 .96. 1560 Small collection facility. "Small collection
facility" means a center, occupying an area not exceeding five
hundred square feet, for the acceptance, donation, redemption or
purchase of recyclable materials from the public. Such facilities
include bulk feed reverse vending machines, one or more single feed
reverse vending machines occupying an area greater than fifty
square feet, attended or unattended drop-off collection areas and
structures, kiosk or igloo type collection units, mobile collection
facilities, and any structural enclosures for these facilities.
Power-driven processing equipment is not permitted except as
contained within reverse vending machines.
17 .96. 1570 Small family day care. "Small family day care"
means the care at a single-family residence of six or fewer
children, including children who reside at the home, as defined by
the California Department of Social Services regulations.
17 .96. 1580, Soils engineer. "Soils engineer" means a civil
engineer licensed by the state and experienced in soil mechanics
and slope stabilities, whose qualifications shall be acceptable to
the city engineer.
17 .96. 1590 Stock cooperative,. "Stock cooperative" means a
corporation formed or availed of primarily for the purpose of
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 28 of 33
holding title to, either in fee simple or for a term of years,
improved real property, if all or substantially all of the
shareholders of such corporation receive a right of exclusive
occupancy in a portion of the real property, title to which is held
by the corporation, which the transfer of the share or shares of
stock in the corporation held by the person having such right of
occupancy.
11 17.96. 1600, Stockpile. "Stockpile" means imported earth
temporarily placed for future fill on or off-site.
17.96. 1610 Story. "Story" means a space in a building
between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next
above, or if there be no floor above, then the space between such
floor and the ceiling or roof above.
17.96. 1620 Street. "Street" means a public thoroughfare or
right-of-way dedicated, deeded, or condemned for the use as such,
other than an alley, which affords the principal means of access to
abutting property, including avenue, place, way, drive, lane,
boulevard, highway, road, and any other thoroughfare, except as
excluded in this code.
17.96. 1630 Street, private. "Private street" means any lot
not dedicated as a public street over which a private easement for
road purposes has been recorded and used or intended to be used for
ingress to or egress from a lot or lots which may or may not have
frontage on a public street.
17 . 96. 1640 Structural alteration. "Structural alteration"
means any change in or alteration to the structure of a building
involving a bearing wall, column, beam or girder, floor or ceiling
joists, roof rafters, roof diaphragms, foundations, piles,
retaining walls, or similar components.
17 .96. 1650 Structure. "Structure" means anything constructed
or built, any edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work
artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some
definite manner, which is located on, under, or on top of the
ground on a parcel of land utilized for residential purposes. This
definition shall exclude antenna supports, skylights, solar panels,
and similar structures not involving the construction of habitable
area.
17.96. 1660 Style. "Style" means design elements which
consist of, but are not limited to:
A. Facade treatment;
B. Height of structure;
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 29 of 33
C. Open space between structures;
D. Roof design;
E. The apparent bulk or shape of the structure; and
F. The number of stories.
17.96. 1670 Subdivision. "Subdivision" means the division of
any improved or unimproved land, shown on the latest equalized
county assessment roll as a unit or as contiguous units, for the
purpose of sale, lease, or financing, whether immediate or future.
Property shall be considered as continuous units even if it is
separated by roads, services, utility easements, or railroad
rights-of-way. Subdivision includes a condominium project, as
defined in Section 783 of the Civil Code, or a community apartment
project, as defined in Section 11004 of the Business and
Professions Code or a stock cooperative as defined in Section
11003 .2 of the Business and Professions Code. The conveyance of
land to a governmental agency, public entity, or public utility
could not be considered a division of land for purposes of
computing the number of parcels.
17 .96. 1680 Supervised grading. "Supervised grading" means
grading done under the supervision of a soils engineer.
17 .96. 1690 Temporary. "Temporary" means a use of land or
structures not intended to be of permanent duration and having a
specific time period.
17.96. 1700 Temporary sign. "Temporary sign" means a sign
constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, or other similar lightweight
material, with or without frames, and including painted windows,
intended to be displayed for a period not to exceed sixty days.
17 .96. 1710 Tentative map,. "Tentative map" means a map made
for the purpose of showing the design of a proposed subdivision and
need not be based on an accurate or detailed final survey of the
property.
17 .96. 1720 Trailer. "Trailer" means a vehicle without motive
power, designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle and to be used for
recreational purposes or for carrying persons and property,
including trailer coach and travel trailer.
17 .96. 1730 Under-canopy sign. "Under-canopy sign" means a
lighted or unlighted sign attached to the underside of a canopy
projecting over public or private sidewalks or right-of-way.
17 .96. 1740 Upslope lot. "Upslope lot" means a lot that
slopes upward from the main street of access.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 30 of 33
17.96. 1750 Use. "Use" means the purpose for which land or a
building is arranged, designed, or intended, or for which either
land or building is or may be occupied or maintained.
17.96. 1755 Use development or alteration. "Use development
or alteration" means any human activity involving the changing of
topography of the land, erection of buildings or structures, the
creation of land coverage, subdivision of land, the construction of
drainageways or conduits, removal or destruction of rare or
endangered species of vegetation or wildlife, the transmission of
storm or waste water and any other similar activity; or the
maintenance of any activity upon land.
17. 96. 1760 Use, primary. "Primary use" means the most
important purpose for which a particular zoning district was
established. Thus: in a residential district it would be
dwellings; in a commercial district it would be the retail sale of
goods, the provision of services to the public, and office
functions; in institutional districts it would be major,
public/quasi public institutional and auxiliary uses; in
cemetery districts it would be permanent interment; in open space
districts it would be limited recreational use in OH districts and
outdoor recreational uses in OR districts.
17.96. 1770 Vegetation. "Vegetation" means any living plant
organism, such as grasses, chaparral, brush, shrubs, trees.
17. 96. 1780 Veterinary clinic. "Veterinary clinic" means a
facility in which animals no larger than the largest breed of dog
receive medical or surgical treatment, clipping, bathing, or
similar services. No overnight boarding of animals is permitted,
other than those requiring emergency treatment or those recovering
from surgery or anesthetic.
17.96. 1790 View, far. "Far view" means a scene located off
the Peninsula including, but not limited to, the ocean, Los Angeles
basin, city lights at night, harbor, Vincent Thomas Bridge,
shoreline or offshore islands. Such a view shall not include
vacant land that is developable under the city code, distant
mountain area not normally visible, nor the sky, either above
distant mountain areas or above the height of offshore islands.
Such a view may extend in any horizontal direction (three hundred
sixty degrees of horizontal arc) and shall be considered as a
single view even if broken into segments by foliage, structures or
other interference.
17.96. 1800 View, near. "Near view" means a scene located on
the Peninsula including, but not limited to, a valley, ravine,
equestrian trail, pastoral environment or any natural setting.
Such a view shall not include vacant land that is developable under
the city code, distant mountain area not normally visible, nor the
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 31 of 33
sky, either above distant mountain areas or above the height of
offshore islands. Such a view may extend in any horizontal
direction (three hundred sixty degrees of horizontal arc) and shall
be considered as a single view even if broken into segments by
foliage, structures or other interference.
17 . 96. 1810 Viewing area. "Viewing area" means that area of
the structure (excluding bathrooms, hallways, garages, or closets)
or lot (excluding the setback areas) where the owner and city
determine the best and most important view exists. The finished
floor elevation of any viewing area must be at or above existing
grade adjacent to the exterior wall of the part of the building
nearest to said viewing area. The determination shall be made by
balancing the nature of the view to be protected and the importance
of the area of the structure or lot from where the view is taken.
Once finally determined for a particular application, the viewing
area may not be changed for any subsequent application. In the
event the city and owner cannot agree on the viewing area, the
decision of the city shall control. A property owner may appeal
the determination of viewing area. In such event, the decision on
viewing area will be made by the body making the final decision on
the application. A property owner may preserve his or her right to
dispute the decision on viewing area for a subsequent application
without disputing the decision on pending application by filing a
statement to that effect indicating the viewing area the property
owner believes to be more appropriate. The statement shall be
filed with the city prior to consideration of the pending
application by the city.
17.96. 1820 View restoration committee. "View restoration
committee" means a planning commission for limited purpose, as
defined b y Chapter 2 .21 of this Code, appointed by the city council
to consider applications for view restoration permits where foliage
is a factor. The terms and qualifications of office shall be
established by the city council. The committee shall consist of
seven members and three alternates, representing as diverse a
geographical mix of members and alternates as is practical. The
view restoration committee shall draft regulations and policies to
guide the actions of the committee, which shall be binding after
approval by the city council. In the event the workload of the
view restoration committee declines to an extent deemed by the city
council to make the continuation of the view restoration committee
impractical, the city council shall disband the view restoration
committee and transfer its work to the planning commission created
and established by Chapter 2 .20. When the term "planning
commission" is referred to in this Code it shall mean the Planning
Commission of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes as defined in Chapter
2 .20 and shall not mean the "view restoration committee" as defined
in this section.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 32 of 33
17 .96. 1830 Visitor-serving use. "Visitor-serving use" means
a commercial or non-commercial use intended primarily to serve
visitors to an area, such as hotels, motels, conference centers,
restaurants, retail shops, etc.
17 .96. 1840 Wall. "Wall" means any structure or device
forming a physical barrier, which is so constructed that ten
percent or more of the vertical surface is closed and prevents the
passage of light, air, and vision through said surface in a
horizontal plane. This includes concrete, concrete block, wood, or
other materials that are solid and are so assembled as to form a
solid barrier.
17 .96. 1850 Window sign. "Window sign" means a sign painted,
attached, glued, or otherwise affixed to or near a window and
designed to be viewed from adjoining streets.
17.96. 1860 Windscreen. "Windscreen" means any fence, wall,
structure, device or landscaping material used to shield an area
from the wind.
17. 96. 1870 Yard. "Yard" means any open space on the same lot
with a building or a dwelling group, which open space is unoccupied
and unobstructed from the ground upward to the sky, except for the
projections and/or accessory buildings or structures permitted by
this Title or Title 16.
17 .96. 1880 Yard, front. "Front yard" means a yard between
the front yard setback line and the front lot line, street
easement, or highway setback line, and extending the full width of
the lot.
17 . 96. 1890 Yard, rear. "Rear yard" means a yard between the
rear yard setback line and the rear lot line, extending the full
width of the lot.
17 . 96. 1900 Yard, side. "Side yard" means a yard extending
from the front yard setback line, or from the front lot line where
no front yard is required by this title or Title 16, to the rear
yard setback line, or rear lot line where no rear yard is required
by this title or Title 16, between a side lot line and the side
yard setback line. "Interior side yard" means a side yard not
abutting a street. "Street side yard" means a side yard abutting
a street.
Exhibit "A," Ordinance No. 277
page 33 of 33
ORD. NO. 277
AA
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS AFFIDAVIT OF POSTING
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
The undersigned, being first duly sworn, deposes and
says:
That at all times herein mentioned, she was and now is
the appointed City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes;
That on February 7, 1992 she caused to be
posted the following document entitled:
• ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT TO TITLE 17 OF THEMUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING
TIIE ADDITION OF A FEFINITIONS CHAPTER, AND AN AMENDMENT—TO TITLE
16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE, REGARDING THE DELETION OF THE DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER.
a copy of which is attached hereto, in the following
locations:
City Hall Los Angeles County Fire Station
30940 Hawthorne Blvd. Miraleste Station
Rancho Palos Verdes 4000 Miraleste Plaza
Rancho Palos Verdes
U. S. Post Office
28649 S. Western Ave. Ladera Linda Community Center
Rancho Palos Verdes . 32201 Forrestal Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes
. Hesse Park
29301 Hawthorne Blvd. Rancho Palos Verdes Park
Rancho Palos Verdes 30359 Hawthorne Blvd. ,
Rancho Palos Verdes
I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is a
true and correct affidavit of posting.
r
•
CITY CLERK
•
30940 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD I RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA 90274-5391 I (213)377-0360