PC RES 2005-010 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-1
RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNINGCOMMISSION F THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALPALOS VERDES RECOMMENDINGTHAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVE CASE NO.ZON2003-00520,A GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT
AND ZONE CHANGEFOR THE UPPER SAN RAMON CANYONARE (1
PROPERTIES LOCATED ET EE THE HEAD OF THE
CANYONAND PALOSVERDES DRIVE EAST, ADDRESSED AS 30648,
30650, 30652, 30658, 30676,30678, 30680, 30682 PALOS VERDES DRIVE
EAST, AND 2803, 2809, 2817, 2823, 2829, 2837, 2845 SAN RAMON
DRIVE).
WHEREAS, on June 26, 1975, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 75-43,
thereby adopting the General Plan of the City of Ranch Palos Verdes. With the adoption of
the General Plan, a land use designation of Natural Environment/Hazard was applied to the
entire San Ramon Canyon, including the upper San Ramon Canyon project area that
encompasses 30648, 30650, 30652, 30658, 30676, 30678, 30680, 30682 Palos Verdes
Drive East; and 2803, 2809, 2817, 2823, 2829, 2837, 2845 San Ramon Drive; and,
WHEREAS, in June 2003, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes officially completed a
drainage and slope stabilization project for the upper San Ramon Canyon area, located at
the head of the San Ramon Canyon. The project addressed the canyon erosion, drainage
for the area, repair of the erosion-damaged slope, and stabilization of the landslide caused
by a storm drain backup and overflow that occurred in 1998; and,
WHEREAS, on September 7, 2004, the City Council approved a General Plan
Amendment Initiation Request (GPAIR), thereby directing Staff to proceed with a General
Plan Amendment and Zone Change for the 15 properties that create the Upper San Ramon
Canyon project area, located between the head of the canyon and Palos Verdes Drive
East, from Natural Environment/Hazard to Residential (1 to 2 dwelling units per acre) and
from Open Space Hazard (OH) zoning to Single Family Residential (RS-2) zoning; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act,
Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et. seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq., the City's Local CEQA
Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65962.5(f)(Hazardous Waste and Substances
Statement), the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has prepared an Initial Study and determined
that there is no substantial evidence that approval of the General Plan Amendment and
Zone Change would result in a significant adverse effect on the environment, and therefore,
a Negative Declaration has been prepared and notice of the fact was given in the manner
required by law; and,
WHEREAS, after notice was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Development Code, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public
hearing on February 22, 2005, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity
to be heard and present evidence; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The proposed change in the General Plan Land Use Designation is
warranted since the proposed amendment is internally consistent with the General Plan.
Further, the site conditions are not consistent with the existing land use designation since
this area, which is developed with single-family residences, does not contain the extreme
physical constraints described in the "Natural Environment/Hazard Areas" section of the
City's General Plan (page 194) or illustrated in the City's General Plan (Figures 5, 11, &
14). Therefore, inasmuch as the proposed residential land use is consistent with other
properties in the area, the proposed change is consistent with the General Plan.
Section 2: The proposed change in the General Plan Land Use Designation is
warranted since this area has been developed with, and currently maintains residential
structures that were approved prior to the City's incorporation, when the properties were
zoned R-A-10,000 (Residential); the City's Public Works Department has recently
completed the San Ramon Drainage and Landslide Stabilization Project for the upper San
Ramon Canyon area, which addressed the canyon erosion, drainage for the area, repair of
the erosion-damaged slope, and stabilization of the landslide caused by the storm drain
backup and overflow in 1998; and the site conditions are not consistent with the existing
land use designation since this area, which is developed with single-family residences,
does not contain the extreme physical constraints described in the "Natural
Environment/Hazard Areas" section of the City's General Plan (page 194) or illustrated in
the City's General Plan (Figures 5, 11, & 14).
Section 3: The proposed General Plan Amendment is in the interest of the
property owners within the project area because this would enable them to conduct
improvement projects that are afforded to other property owners with residences that are
within a Residential Land Use Designation, which are in the immediate vicinity.
Section 4: The proposed Zone Change is warranted since it is consistent with the
General Plan. With the change in the General Plan Land Use Designation from Natural
Environment/Hazard to Residential, the change in zoning from Open Space Hazard (OH)to
Single Family Residential (RS-2) is required to keep the zoning consistent with the General
Plan Land Use Designation.
Section 5. For the foregoing reasons and based upon the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, Initial Study, Minutes and other records of these proceedings,
the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby recommends that the
City Council:
a) Approve the General Plan Amendment,thereby changing the General Plan Land
Use Designations of the upper San Ramon Canyon project area encompassing
P.C. Resolution No. 2005-10
Page 2
properties located at 30648, 30650, 30652, 30658, 30676, 30678, 30680, 30682
Palos Verdes Drive East; and 2803, 2809, 2817, 2823, 2829, 2837, 2845 San
Ramon Drive, specifically the area located between the head of the San Ramon
Canyon and Palos Verdes Drive East, from Natural Environment/Hazard to
Residential (2-4 dwelling units per acre) as illustrated in Exhibits A and B; and,
b) Approve the Zone Change, thereby rezoning the properties and portions of
properties from Open Space Hazard (OH)to Single Family Residential (RS-2)so
that the residential structures are located outside of the OH boundary and so that
the OH boundary follows the top head of the San Ramon Canyon where the
stabilization project was completed as illustrated in Exhibits A and B.
Section ; The Planning Commission action on this matter is advisory only; with
the final action on the matter being taken by the City Council at a future duly noticed public
hearing. Nonetheless, any interested person aggrieved by this decision or any portion of
this decision may appeal it to the City Council. Pursuant to Sections 17.60.060,
17.76.040(H)and 17.80.070 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, any such appeal
must be filed with the City, in writing, and with the appropriate appeal fee, no later than
March 9, 2005.
P.C. Resolution No. 2005-10
Page 3
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 22nd day of February 2005, by the -following
vote:
AYES: Mueller, Karp, Knight
NOES: Tetrault
ABSTENTIONS: Perestam
ABSENT: Gerstner
Paul Te-treault
Chairman
Jo I
Dire
for of Planning,
Building
Building and Code Enforcement; and,
Secretary to the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 2005-10
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