PC RES 2018-026 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-26
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES CONDITIONALLY
APPROVING THE INSTALLATION OF AN AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEM CONSISTING OF 2 AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
UNITS, 3 FANS AND ASSOCIATED DUCTWORK TO BE
SCREENED WITH A 6' TALL SCREENING WALL ON THE ROOF
OF BUILDING "B" AT THE SALVATION ARMY PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 30840 HAWTHORNE BLVD. (CASE NO.
PLSR2018-0342).
WHEREAS, on September 14, 2018, the Applicant submitted a Site Plan Review
application to the Community Development Department requesting to remove 9 existing roof-
mounted air conditioning condenser units to accommodate the installation of an air conditioning
system consisting of 2 air conditioning units, 3 fans, and associated ductwork on the roof of
Building "B" at the Salvation Army property located at 30840 Hawthorne Boulevard;
WHEREAS, on October 2, 2018, Staff deemed the application complete for processing;
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2018, a public notice announcing the October 23, 2018 public
hearing was published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News and mailed to all persons owning
property within a 500' radius of the subject site;
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), Staff has
determined that the proposed project is Categorically Exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act(CEQA), under Article 19, Section 15301(a)of the California Guidelines
for Implementation of the CEQA. Specifically, the project consists of the installation of roof-
mounted mechanical equipment onto an existing building and has been determined not to have
a significant impact on the environment because it consists of minor exterior alterations of the
existing facilities, and will not introduce new or intensify potential environmental impacts
specifically related to noise or visual impacts;
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing on October 23,
2018, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present
evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The proposed project involves the removal of 9 existing roof-mounted air
conditioning condenser units to accommodate the installation of an air conditioning system
consisting of 2 air conditioning condenser units, 3 fans, and associated ductwork on the roof of
Building "B".
Section 2: The Planning Commission finds that the Site Plan Review for the removal
and installation of the roof-mounted air conditioning condensers, fans, and associated ductwork
is warranted because:
A. The roof-mounted air conditioning condensers, fans, and associated ductwork may be
erected above the height limits as they are designed to comply with, and will be
constructed in accordance with, all applicable technical codes, including but not limited to
the California Building Code (CBC). The proposed air conditioning condensers, fans, and
ductwork are typical for institutional buildings, and are not excessive in size in order to
properly perform the necessary ventilation and cooling functions for the existing building.
B. The roof-mounted air conditioning condensers, fans, and associated ductwork will not
cause significant view impairment from adjacent property, as defined in Section
17.02.040(A) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC). The closest
properties to the east on Albero Court and Nuvola Court are located approximately 800'
from the site, and are primarily oriented to the south in a different direction from the project
site and the building that will accommodate the proposed air conditioning condenser units,
fans and ductwork. The closest adjacent residences to the north on Via La Cresta and
Vallon Drive are located approximately 600' from the project site, and approximately 170'
higher in elevation, and the site, including Building "B", is not visible from their first floor
viewing areas. Although the site may be visible from the top of the slope along the rear
yards of these properties, that is not a protected viewing area according to the City's View
Ordinance in Section 17.02.040(A)(15) of the RPVMC, and any views from these locations
would impair views for the Terranea Resort, which views are not protected under the
RPVMC because views of property located on the Peninsula are not protected.
Section 3: Pursuant to Section 17.26.040(C) of RPVMC, the proposed project will be
screened from adjacent private properties and the public right-of-way with a 6'tall screening wall,
which will be painted in a neutral color in order to blend with the roof of the building.
Section 4: The proposed roof-mounted equipment complies with the required
development standards for the Institutional zoning district.
Section 5: Any interested person aggrieved by this decision or by any portion of this
decision may appeal the project to the City Council. Pursuant to Sections 17.02.040(C)(1)(g) of
the RPVMC, 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 October 23, 2018, the date of the
Planning Commission's final action.
Section 6: For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, Minutes and other records of proceedings, the Planning Commission
of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes conditionally approves the installation of an air conditioning
system consisting of 2 air conditioning condenser units, 3 fans, and associated ductwork to be
screened with a 6' tall screening wall on the roof of Building "B", which is an existing office and
training building located on the west side of the campus, just south of the existing
dormitory/apartment building.
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-26
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of October 2018, by the following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS LEON, PERESTAM, VICE CHAIRMAN BRADLEY, AND
CHAIRMAN JAMES.
NOES: NONE
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: COMMISSIONER NELSON
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI
„/..ALIP
William J. Ja • -s
Chairman
Ara Mihrani
Community Development Director; and,
Secretary of the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-26
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EXHIBIT 'A'
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR
PLANNING CASE NO. PLSR2018-0342
(30840 Hawthorne Boulevard)
General Conditions:
1. Prior to the submittal of plans into Building and Safety plan check, the Applicant and the
property owner shall submit to the City a statement, in writing, that they have read,
understand, and agree to all conditions of approval contained in this Resolution. Failure
to provide said written statement within ninety (90) days following the date of this approval
shall render this approval null and void.
2. The Applicant shall indemnify, protect, defend, and hold harmless, the City, and/or any of
its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments, agencies, and instrumentalities
thereof, from any and all claims, demands, lawsuits, writs of mandamus, and other actions
and proceedings (whether legal, equitable, declaratory, administrative or adjudicatory in
nature), and alternative dispute resolutions procedures (including, but not limited to
arbitrations, mediations, and other such procedures) (collectively "Actions"), brought
against the City, and/or any of its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments,
agencies, and instrumentalities thereof, that challenge, attack, or seek to modify, set
aside, void, or annul, the action of, or any permit or approval issued by, the City and/or
any of its officials, officers, employees, agents, departments, agencies, and
instrumentalities thereof (including actions approved by the voters of the City), for or
concerning the project.
3. Prior to conducting any work in the public right of way, such as for curb cuts, dumpsters,
temporary improvements and/or permanent improvements, the Applicant shall obtain an
encroachment permit from the Director of Public Works.
4. Approval of this permit shall not be construed as a waiver of applicable and appropriate
zoning regulations, or any Federal, State, County and/or City laws and regulations. Unless
otherwise expressly specified, all other requirements of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code shall apply.
5. Pursuant to Section 17.78.040 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, the Director
of Community Development is authorized to make minor modifications to the approved
plans and any of the conditions of approval if such modifications will achieve substantially
the same results as would strict compliance with the approved plans and conditions.
Substantial changes to the project shall be considered a revision and require approval by
the final body that approved the original project, which may require new and separate
environmental review and public notification.
6. The project development on the site shall conform to the specific standards contained in
these conditions of approval or, if not addressed herein, shall conform to the Institutional
zoning district development standards of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code,
including but not limited to height, setback and lot coverage standards.
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-26
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7. Failure to comply with and adhere to all of these conditions of approval may be cause to
revoke the approval of the project pursuant to the revocation procedures contained in
Section 17.86.060 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code or administrative citations
as described in Section 1.16 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code.
8. If the Applicant has not submitted an application for a building permit for the approved
project or not commenced the approved project as described in Section 17.86.070 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code within one year of the final effective date of this
Resolution, approval of the project shall expire and be of no further effect unless, prior to
expiration, a written request for extension is filed with the Community Development
Department and approved by the Director.
9. In the event that any of these conditions conflict with the recommendations and/or
requirements of another permitting agency or City department, the stricter standard shall
apply.
10. Unless otherwise designated in these conditions, all construction shall be completed in
substantial conformance with the plans stamped APPROVED by the City with the effective
date of this Resolution.
11. This approval is only for the items described within these conditions and identified on the
stamped APPROVED plans and is not an approval of any existing illegal or legal non-
conforming structures on the property, unless the approval of such illegal or legal non-
conforming structure is specifically identified within these conditions or on the stamped
APPROVED plans.
12. The construction site and adjacent public and private properties and streets shall be kept
free of all loose materials resembling trash and debris in excess of that material used for
immediate construction purposes. Such excess material may include, but not be limited
to: the accumulation of debris, garbage, lumber, scrap metal, concrete asphalt, piles of
earth, salvage materials, abandoned or discarded furniture, appliances or other household
fixtures.
13. All construction sites shall be maintained in a secure, safe, neat and orderly manner, to
the satisfaction of the City's Building Official. All construction waste and debris resulting
from a construction, alteration or repair project shall be removed on a weekly basis by the
contractor or property owner. Existing or temporary portable bathrooms shall be provided
during construction. Portable bathrooms shall be placed in a location that will minimize
disturbance to the surrounding property owners, to the satisfaction of the City's Building
Official.
14.Permitted hours and days for construction activity are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday
through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, with no construction activity permitted
on Sundays or on the legal holidays specified in Section 17.96.920 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Development Code. During demolition, construction and/or grading operations,
trucks shall not park, queue and/or idle at the project site or in the adjoining street rights-
of-way before 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and before 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, in
accordance with the permitted hours of construction stated in this condition.When feasible
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-26
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to do so, the construction contractor shall provide staging areas on-site to minimize off-
site transportation of heavy construction equipment. These areas shall be located to
maximize the distance between staging activities and neighboring properties, subject to
approval by the building official.
15. PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF BUILDING AND/OR GRADING PERMITS, a haul route
specifying the route for delivery of materials to the site shall be approved by the Public
Works Department.
Project Specific Conditions:
16. This approval shall allow the removal of 9 existing roof-mounted air conditioning
condenser units to accommodate the installation of an air conditioning system including 2
air conditioning condenser units, 1 supply fan, 2 exhaust fans, and associated ductwork
on the roof of Building "B"," which is an existing office and training building located on the
west side of the campus, just south of the existing dormitory/apartment building.
17. The new air conditioning condenser units shall measure 6' in height, the supply fans shall
measure 3.11' in height, and the exhaust fan shall measure 2.86' in height, as measured
from the top of the existing roof.
18. PRIOR TO BUILDING PERMIT FINAL INSPECTION, the approved roof-top mechanical
equipment and associated exposed ducts shall be screened from adjacent private
properties with a 6' tall screening wall, which shall be painted a neutral color as deemed
acceptable by the Director of Community Development.
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-26
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