ORD 066 REPEALED BY ORDINANCE 78 11/25/75
ORDINANCE NO. 66
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES,
CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR CERTAIN HEIGHT LIMITA-
TIONS AND AMENDING THE INTERIM ZONING ORDINANCE
AND ORDINANCES NUMBER 16, 16U, 42, 51U, 52U AND
52 OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES, AND AMEND-
ING THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY
ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 . The City Council finds that buildings
which by virtue of their height or location unreasonably ob-
struct the scenic view formerly enjoyed by neighboring land-
owners and residents, depress property values, discourage
economic development, inhibit public convenience by obstruct-
ing the passage of light and air , reduce tax income to the
City by reason of lower property valuation, and are detrimental
to the public health, safety and welfare. For the reasons
stated, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes does hereby enact the
following Height Limitation Ordinance whose purpose is to
prevent unreasonable obstructions of scenic view by building
construction.
Section 2. The Interim Zoning Ordinance of the City
of Rancho Palos Verdes, being Los Angeles County Ordinance No.
1494 as amended, adopted by reference by Ordinances No. 16 and
No. 16U, codified by Ordinance No . 42 and extended by Ordinances
No. 51U, 52U and 52 of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes; and said
Ordinances No. 16, 16U, 42, 51U, 52U and 52 are hereby amended
by adding a new Section 4 . 7 in said Ordinances No. 16, 16U, 51U,
52U and 52 to read a follows:
"Section 4 . 7 . Notwithstanding the provisions of
Section 1 hereof, adopting said Los Angeles County Ordi-
nance No. 1494 by reference as the Interim Zoning Ordi-
nance, said Ordinance No. 1494 is amended by amending
Section 208 . 5 thereof, entitled, "Zone R-1 - Height
Limit" to read:
'Section 208. 5 Zone R-1 - Height Limit.
Every residence and every other building in
Zone R-1 shall have a height of not to exceed one
( 1 ) story,N or sixteen ( 16 ' ) feet, including the
basement, but excluding the cellar , except that
if hillsides or other similar topographical con-
ditions create practical difficulties or un-
necessary hardships in the way of carrying out
the strict letter of this Section, and the Direc-
tor so finds, the Director may modify this height
limit to the extent necessary to limit such prac-
tical difficulties or unnecessary hardships. This
Section does not apply to conditional permit uses
which shall be subject to the provisions of Section
501 .10 . Any individual or person desiring to
construct a residence or other building exceeding
one ( 1) story or sixteen ( 16 ' ) feet in height may
apply for a "special permit" which, if granted
pursuant to the procedures contained herein, will
permit said individual to construct a two ( 2 )
story house, not exceeding thirty ( 30 ' ) feet in
height . For the purpose of measuring height
pursuant to this Section, downhill lots shall be
measured from the center line of the street, and
uphill lots shall be measured from the grade at
the highest point on the lot to be covered by the
primary structure .
A. Any person desiring to apply for a special
permit shall complete and fill out an application and
submit it to the Director of Planning together with a
fifty ( $50. 00 ) dollar fee . The Director of Planning
may grant the applicant permission to build a two
( 2) story house of a maximum height of thirty (30 ' )
feet, if the Director finds as follows:
1 . Notice of the application to build
a house exceeding one ( 1 ) story or sixteen
( 16 ' ) feet in height has been given to property
owners within five hundred ( 500 ' ) feet of the
lot.
2 . The proposed structure is compatible
with existing structures in the neighborhood.
3 . The second story and/or house is sit-
uated in such a manner as to minimize view ob-
struction.
4 . The cumulative effect of the proposed
structure and existing structures, or future
structures of a similar character which could
be constructed in the neighborhood will not
adversely impact the neighborhood view.
5 . The proposed structure is not located
on a ridge or promontory, which would accentuate
the impact of a two story structure on the
neighborhood view.
6. The structure will not unreasonably
interfere with the neighborhood vista.
D. In the event the Director of Planning refuses
to grant the special permit, or in the event the Director
grants a permit and an affected property owner objects
to the granting of the special permit, an appeal may
be taken to the Planning Advisory Committee . In order
for the Planning Advisory Committee to overrule the
Director of Planning, it must specifically find, in
the case of an appeal by an applicant, that all the
conditions listed herein have been met or , in an appeal
by a property owner , that the applicant failed to
Ordinance No. 66
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comply with or meet any of the above listed conditions .
C. The decision of the Planning Advisory Committee
may be appealed to the City Council , who, in order
to grant a special permit, must find that the conditions
listed in this article have been met by the applicant.
D. In approving a special permit, the Planning
Director , Planning Advisory Council, or City Council may
make the special permit subject to such conditions as they
deem necessary to minimize view obstruction and increase
compatibility of the proposed structure with the neighbor-
hood.
E . Anyone appealing a decision of the Planning
Director or Planning Advisory Council, must file a
Notice of Appeal together with the sum of twenty-five
($25. 00) dollars to cover costs. ' "
Section 3 . The Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code is
amended by adding Section 9103 in Chapter 1, Article IX to read:
"Section 208 . 5 . Zone R-1 - Height Limit.
Every residence and every other building in Zone R-1 shall
have a height of not to exceed one ( 1) story, or sixteen ( 16 ' )
feet, including the basement, but excluding the cellar , except
that if hillsides or other similar topographical conditions
create practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the
way of carrying out the strict letter of this Section, and the
Director so finds, the Director may modify this height limit
to the extent necessary to limit such practical difficulties
or unnecessary hardships. This Section does not apply to
conditional permit uses which shall be subject to the pro-
visions of Section 501. 10 . Any individual or person desiring
to construct a residence or other building exceeding one ( 1)
story or sixteen ( 16 ' ) feet in height may apply for a "special
permit" which, if granted pursuant to the procedures contained
herein, will permit said individual to construct a two ( 2)
story house, not exceeding thirty ( 30 ' ) feet in height. For
the purpose of measuring height pursuant to this Section,
downhill lots shall be measured from the center line of the
street, and uphill lots shall be measured from the grade at
the highest point on the lot to be covered by the primary
structure .
A. Any person desiring to apply for a special
permit shall complete and fill out an application
and submit it to the Director of Planning together
with a fifty ( $50 . 00 ) dollar fee . The Director
of Planning may grant to the applicant permission
to build a two ( 2) story house of a maximum height
of thirty ( 30 ' ) feet, if the Director finds as follows:
1. Notice of the application to build a
house exceeding one ( 1 ) story or sixteen ( 16 ' )
ORDINANCE NO. 66
-3-
feet in height has been given to property owners
within five hundred ( 500 ' ) feet of the lot.
2 . The proposed structure is compatible
with existing structures in the neighborhood.
3 . The second story and/or house is situ-
ated in such a manner as to minimize view obstruc-
tion.
4 . The cumulative effect of the proposed
structure and existing structures, or future
structures of a similar character which could
be constructed in the neighborhood will not
adversely impact the neighborhood view.
5. The proposed structure is not located
on a ridge or promontory, which would accentuate
the impact of a two story structure on the
neighborhood view.
6 . The structure will not unreasonably
interfere with the neighborhood vista.
B. In the event the Director of Planning refuses
to grant the special permit, or in the event the Director
grants a permit and an affected property owner objects
to the granting of the special permit, an appeal may
be taken to the Planning Advisory Committee . In order
for the Planning Advisory Committee to overrule the
Director of Planning, it must specifically find, in
the case of an appeal by an applicant, that all the
conditions listed herein have been met or , in an appeal
by a property owner , that the applicant failed to
comply with or meet any of the above listed conditions .
C. The decision of the Planning Advisory Committee
may be appealed to the City Council , who, in order
to grant a special permit, must find that the conditions
listed in this article have been met by the applicant.
D. In approving a special permit, the Planning
Director , Planning Advisory Council, or City Council may
make the special permit subject to such conditions as they
deem necessary to minimize view obstruction and increase
compatibility of the proposed structure with the neighbor-
hood.
E. Anyone appealing a decision of the Planning
Director. or Planning Advisory Council, must file a
Notice of Appeal together with the sum of twenty-five
($25. 00) dollars to cover costs. '"
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of April
1975 , by the following vote:
AYES: Buerk, Dyda, Ruth, R. Ryan, M. Ryan
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
MAYOR
ORDINANCE NO. 66
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ATTEST:
/0/6L /
4 - ,
City Cler
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and
correct copy of Ordinance No. 66 passed and adopted by the
City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes at a meeting
thereof held on the 15th day of April , 1975, and that
said Ordinance was posted pursuant to law.
/
City lerk
ORDINANCE NO. 66
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS. CERTIFICATE OF POSTING
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
The undersigned declares and certifies under penalty of
perjury:
That he at all times herein mentioned was and now is the
duly qualified and acting City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes, California;
That on the Z204.4day of a. % .Z' 19 WI' , he
caused to be posted in three conspicuous public places, as required
by law,
_
6 4
a copy of which is attached hereto, in the following public places
in this City:
, City Hall
31244 Palos Verdes Drive West
Los Angeles County Fire Station
4000 Miraleste Plaza
• Ridgecrest Intermediate School ' '
28915 Northbay Road
Dated this 4020,4244day of a.. 6.4.4;er - , 19 741'7
LEONARD G. WOOD, CITY CLERK
EX OFFICIO CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
By
Deputy