PC RES 2015-003 T -1
P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE CITY'S ACQUISITION
OF A TAX-DEFAULTED PARCEL (APN 7572-004-001) NEAR CHERRY
HILL LANE IN THE PORTUGUESE BEND LANDSLIDE AREA IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE RANCHO
PALOS VERDES GENERAL PLAN.
WHEREAS, on August 19, 2014, the City Council authorized the Mayor and City Clerk to
sign an agreement to purchase tax-defaulted properties with the Los Angeles County Treasurer
and Tax Collector for a vacant parcel located in the vicinity of Cherry Hill Lane in the Portuguese
Bend Landslide area, specifically APN 7572-004-001 (known as 37 Cherry Hill Lane); and
WHEREAS, Section 65402(a) of the California Government Code requires that no real
property shall be acquired by dedication or otherwise for street, square, park or other public
purposes, if the adopted general plan or part thereof applies thereto, until the location, purpose
and extent of such acquisition have been submitted to and reported upon by the planning
agency as to conformity with said adopted general plan or part thereof; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council's action on August 19, 2014, initiated a General Plan
Consistency Finding for the acquisition of one parcel (Assessor's Parcel Nos. 7572-004-001;
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 reviewed the request and determined that the
proposed request would not have a significant impact on the environment and has, therefore,
been determined to be exempt (Section 15325); and,
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a public meeting on January 27, 2015, at
which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission hereby finds as follows
with respect to the location, purpose and extent of the acquisition of Assessor's Parcel No.
7572-004-001 near Cherry Hill Lane in the Portuguese Bend Landslide area:
A. The location of the property acquisition is consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes
General Plan. The subject property is located within an active landslide area but is
surrounded by developed and undeveloped lots, which account for the Natural
Environment/Hazard and Residential 1-2 du/ac land use designation for the property.
The property is unimproved, which creates no conflicts with the Open Space-Hazard
(OH) zoning district regulations. The General Plan notes that the subject property is in
an "[area] with considerations for public health and safety," as well as an "[area] for
preservation of natural resources. " The City's acquisition of this property will remove
P.C. Resolution No. 2015-03
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the possibility of private development in this location, which could otherwise be contrary
to the public health, safety and general welfare.
B. The purpose of the property acquisition is consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes
General Plan. The purpose of the property acquisition is to increase the City's access
from Cherry Hill Lane to the bottom of Portuguese Canyon where there are existing
drainage improvements, the maintenance of which is critical to the effectiveness of the
City's on-going landslide abatement and roadway maintenance efforts. Development of
this property is strictly limited by its current Open Space Hazard zoning designation and
its location within the City's Landslide Moratorium Area. In addition, several Natural
Environment Policies in the City's General Plan support the acquisition of this property
for infrastructure maintenance purposes, specifically:
Policy No. 4: Allow no further development involving any human occupancy within the
active landslide area.
Policy No. 5: Develop, as a part of any specific area planning study, a more detailed
definition of the limits and composition of any [Resource Management
Districts] related to Health and Safety, with particular reference to the
active/old landslide areas, the sea cliff erosion setback and critical
extreme-slope areas.
Policy No. 11: Stringently regulate irrigation, natural drainage and other water-related
considerations in both new development and existing uses affecting
existing or potential slide areas.
C. The extent of the property acquisition is consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes
General Plan. In the past the City and its former Redevelopment Agency have acquired
several lots in this area for the purpose of improving access to and maintenance of
drainage facilities and adjoining public streets (i.e., Palos Verdes Drive South). The
acquisition of the property would be a continuation of the City's past efforts to maintain
and improve critical infrastructure.
Section 2: Any interested person aggrieved by this decision or by any portion of this
decision may appeal to the City Council. Pursuant to Section 17.80.070 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, any such appeal must be filed with the City, in writing, setting forth the
grounds of the appeal and any specific actions requested by the appellant, and accompanied by
the appropriate appeal fee, no later than fifteen (15) days following January 27, 2015, the date
of the Planning Commission's final action.
Section 3: For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, Minutes and all other records of the proceedings, which are
attached hereto and made a part thereof by reference, the Planning Commission hereby finds
that the City's acquisition of Assessor's Parcel No. 7572-004-001 near Cherry Hill Lane in the
Portuguese Bend Landslide area is consistent with the goals and policies of the Rancho Palos
Verdes General Plan.
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27th day of January 2015, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners Cruickshank, Emenhiser, Gerstner, James, Tomblin, Vice Chair
Nelson and Chairman Leon
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
RECUSALS: None
o�
Gordon Leon
Chairman
llIlli
Joel Roj- a ICP,
Commu I evelopme, t Di -ctor; and,
Secreta • he Plannin• -ommission
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