ORD 400U ORDINANCE NO. 400U
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES AMENDING
TITLE 17 OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE 16-FOOT
HEIGHT LIMITATION FOR RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES,
CLARIFYING THE FINDINGS REQUIRED FOR HEIGHT VARIATION AND
GRADING PERMIT APPLICATIONS, AND DECLARING THE URGENCY
THEREOF.
WHEREAS, on November 25, 1975, the City's first Municipal Code was adopted
establishing the City's 16-foot height limit and establishing a discretionary review
process for any individuals seeking to construct a residence exceeding 16-feet (Height
Variation Permit process); and,
WHEREAS, in 1979, the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (the "Municipal
Code") was amended to clarify that the Height Variation Permit process applies to both
new residences and additions to existing residences; and,
WHEREAS, on November 7, 1989, the voters of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes approved Proposition M (Cooperative Preservation and Restoration Ordinance)
which was incorporated into the Municipal Code; and,
WHEREAS, between 1996 and 1997, the City approved a major update and
overhaul Title 17 (Zoning) of the Municipal Code, which among other things, clarified
how to measure the 16-foot height limit on pad lots; and,
WHEREAS, on February 8, 2003 the City Council held a joint workshop with the
Planning Commission to discuss, among other things, the interpretation of existing
codes and the Height Variation Permit Findings involving the protection of residents'
views from proposed construction. At the meeting, the City Council directed Staff to
bring forward ideas to the Council at a future meeting to clarify or resolve the issues;
and,
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2003, the Planning Commission was asked to review
and provide feedback on the content and format of a draft Staff Report to the City
Council regarding the clarification and interpretation of existing codes and the Height
Variation Permit findings. The Planning Commission continued the discussion and
directed Staff to come back with more information regarding the historical interpretation
and application of the 16-foot height limit and the Height Variation Permit findings; and,
WHEREAS, on July 15, 2003, the City Council, at the request of a Council
member, discussed the issues pertaining to the existing Municipal Code and the Height
Variation Permit findings. At the meeting, the City Council unanimously reaffirmed the
historic interpretation and application of the 16-foot height, measured as set forth in the
Municipal Code based on the type of lot involved, as being a "by-right" height limit for all
residential properties in the City and clarified the interpretation of specific Height
Variation Permit Findings; and,
WHEREAS, at its July 15th meeting, the City Council initiated code amendment
proceedings in order to codify its interpretation and clarification of the 16-foot height limit
and the Height Variation Permit Findings; and,
WHEREAS, on August 9, 2003 a notice of an August 26, 2003 public hearing to
be held by the Planning Commission regarding proposed amendment of the Municipal
Code regarding height issues was published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News; and,
WHEREAS, on August 26, 2003, the Planning Commission, without discussion,
continued the public hearing to its September 9, 2003 meeting, at which time the item
was again continued to its September 23, 2003 meeting; and,
WHEREAS, after notices issued pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on
September 23, 2003 at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be
heard and present evidence regarding said amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal
Code as set forth in the Planning Commission Staff Report of that date; and,
WHEREAS, after reviewing the proposed text amendments, the Commission
directed Staff to prepare precise language for consideration at its October 28, 2003
meeting and continued the public hearing; and,
WHEREAS, at its October 28, 2003, the Planning Commission continued the
public hearing, without discussion, and again on November 25, 2003, continued the
hearing to its December 9, 2003 meeting; and,
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2003 the Planning Commission continued the
public hearing proceedings, and reviewed and considered the proposed code
amendments to Title 17, and adopted P.C. Resolution No. 2003-62 forwarding its
recommendations to the City Council for its consideration, and;
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2004, a notice of a public hearing on the code
amendment was published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News; and
WHEREAS, after notices issued pursuant to the requirements of Rancho Palos
Verdes Development Code, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on
February 17, 2004, at which time all interested parties were given the opportunity to be
heard and present evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The City Council has reviewed and considered the amendments to
Title 17 of the Municipal Code.
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 2 of 6
Section 2: The amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal Code are consistent
with California Government Code Section 65853, zoning amendment procedures.
Section 3: The City Council finds that the amendments to Title 17 of the
Municipal Code are consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan and Coastal
Specific Plan in that they uphold, 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 amendments to Title 17 of the
Municipal Code are substantially the same as previous provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code or any other ordinance repealed, amended or superseded upon
the enactment of this ordinance and that the amendments to Title 17 shall be construed
as a restatement and continuation of the previous provisions and as new enactment.
As such, to ensure certainty regarding standards applicable to current and future
applications for new structures or additions thereto, the amendments must become
effective as quickly as possible.
Section 5: The City Council further finds that there is no substantial evidence
that the amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal Code would result in new significant
environmental effects, or a substantial increase in the severity of the effects, as
previously identified in Environmental Assessment No. 694 and the Negative
Declaration, adopted through Resolution No. 97-25 in conjunction with Ordinance No.
320 for amendments to Titles 16 and 17 of the Municipal Code, since the new
amendments reaffirm the historic interpretation and application of the 16-foot height
requirement and clarify the Height Variation Findings. An Addendum (No. 10) to the
prior Negative Declaration has been prepared and is attached hereto as Exhibit `A'. The
City Council hereby finds, based on its own independent judgment, that the facts stated
in the Addendum are true because the minor revisions to Title 17 of the Municipal Code
will strengthen the Code and will not result in greater environmental impacts in the City.
Section 6: The City Council finds that the amendments to Title 17 of the
Municipal Code are necessary to preserve the public health, safety, and general welfare
in the area.
Section 7: The first paragraph of Paragraph B of Section 17.02.040 of Chapter
17.02 of Title 17 of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows, with all
remaining portions of Paragraph B of Section 17.02.040 of Chapter 17.02 of Title 17 of
the Municipal Code retained without amendment:
17.02.040 View Preservation and Restoration.
B. Regulations.
1. Building Height. Any individual or persons desiring to build a new structure or an
addition to an existing structure shall be permitted to build up to sixteen feet in height
pursuant to Section 17.02.040(B) of this Chapter provided there is no grading, as
defined in Section 17.76.040 of this Chapter, to be performed in connection with the
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 3 of 6
proposed construction, and further provided that no height variation permit is
required, and all applicable residential development standards are or will be met.
Approval for proposed structures or additions to existing structures exceeding
sixteen feet in height, may be sought through application for a height variation
permit, which, if granted pursuant to the procedures contained herein, will permit the
individual to build a structure not exceeding twenty-six feet in height, except as
provided in Section 17.02.040(B)(1)(d) of this chapter, or such lower height as
approved by the city, measured as follows:
Section 8: Paragraph C subsection (1)(e) of Section 17.02.040 of Chapter
17.02 of Title 17 of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
C. Procedures and Requirements
1. Preservation of Views Where Structures are Involved
e. A Height Variation application to build a new structure or an addition to an existing
structure at a height that exceeds the sixteen foot height limit up to the maximum height
permitted in Section 17.02.040(B)(1) of this chapter may be granted, with or without
conditions, if the following findings can be made:
i. The applicant has complied with the early neighbor consultation process established
by the city;
ii. The structure does not significantly impair a view from public property (parks, major
thoroughfares, bike ways, walkways or equestrian trails) which has been identified in
the city's general plan or coastal specific plan, as city-designated viewing areas;
iii. The proposed structure is not located on a ridge or a promontory;
iv. The area of a proposed new structure or addition to an existing structure, when
considering both the new area that is above sixteen feet and the new area that is below
sixteen feet, as defined in Section 17.02.040(B) of this Chapter, when considered
exclusive of existing foliage, does not significantly impair a view from the viewing area
of another parcel. If the viewing area is located in a structure, the viewing area shall be
located in a portion of a structure which was constructed without a height variation
permit or variance, or which would not have required a height variation or variance
when originally constructed had this section, as approved by the voters on November 7,
1989, been in effect at the time the structure was constructed, unless the viewing area
located in the portion of the existing structure which required a height variation permit or
variance constitutes the primary living area (living room, family room, dining room or
kitchen) of the residence;
v. If view impairment exists but it is determined not to be significant, as described in
Finding No. iv, is the proposed new structure or proposed addition to an existing
structure designed and situated in such a manner as to reasonably minimize the
impairment of a view.
vi. There is no significant cumulative view impairment caused by granting the
application. Cumulative view impairment shall be determined by: (a) considering the
amount of view impairment caused by the proposed structure; and (b) considering the
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 4 of 6
amount of view impairment that would be caused by the construction on other parcels of
structures similar to the proposed structure;
vii. The proposed structure complies with all other code requirements;
viii. The proposed structure is compatible with the immediate neighborhood character;
ix. The proposed structure does not result in an unreasonable infringement of the
privacy of the occupants of abutting residences.
Section 9: Table 02-A: Single-Family Residential Development Standards of
Section 17.02.040 of Chapter 17.02 of Title 17 of the Municipal Code is hereby
amended to delete footnote number 8, which currently reads "8. The front and side
setback for those portions of structures over sixteen feet in height shall be a minimum of
twenty—five feet in all residential zoned districts.", as shown in the amended Table 02-A
attached hereto as Exhibit `B'.
Section 10: Subparagraph 2 of paragraph E of Section 17.76.040 of chapter
17.76 of Title 17 of the Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
The proposed grading and/or related construction does not significantly adversely affect
the visual relationships with, nor the views from the "viewing area" of neighboring
properties. This finding shall not apply when the proposed grading will lower the grade
of the lot and will result in a structure that will create less view impairment than a
structure that could have been built in the same location on the lot to the maximum
building heights described in Section 17.02.040(B) of this Title;
Section 11: The rights given by any approval granted under the terms of Title
17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code prior to the effective date of the
adoption of said ordinance shall not be affected by the amendments to Title 17 by this
ordinance and shall continue in effect until and unless they are modified, revoked,
expired or are otherwise terminated according to the terms of the approval or the terms
of Title 17 as they existed prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
Section 12: The amendments to Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code as identified herein shall apply to all development applications that have not been
finally acted upon as of the effective date of this ordinance.
Section 13: The City Council finds and determines that the immediate
preservation of the public health, safety and welfare requires that this ordinance be
enacted as an urgency ordinance pursuant to Government Code Section 36937 and
shall take effect immediately upon adoption. Said finding and determination is based
upon the recitals set forth above and the following:
A. Clarifications proposed by this ordinance are necessary to ensure that the
provisions for structure height and view preservation consistently protect the health,
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 5 of 6
safety and welfare of the City and its residents and that disparate treatment of applicants
could result if the ordinance does not take immediate effect.
B. The amendments are declaratory of existing policy and practice, and if the
amendments did not take immediate effect, proposals for projects that fail to meet the
criteria, and which could adversely impact the pubic health, safety and welfare, could be
sought in order to evade the clarifying amendments, and therefore the ordinance must be
adopted to apply to all projects presently on file on for which final actions have not been
taken by the City, as well as any applications for development may be filed in the future.
C. Height and view impact issue regulation is consistent with the efforts of the
City to preserve the unique aesthetic values and characteristics of the City and the
individual properties within the City.
Section 14: For the foregoing reasons, and based on the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, Minutes, and other records of proceedings, the City Council of
the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby adopts the foregoing amendments to Title 17 of
the Municipal Code.
Section 15: The City Clerk is directed to certify to the passage and adoption of this
ordinance and to cause the full text of this ordinance to be published as required by law.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this day o Fr- •r ary 2004.
Vii ►.
7 " Mayor
Attest:
#
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. 400U was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a
regular meeting thereof held on February 17, 2004, and that the same was passed and
adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Clark, Long, Stern, Wolowicz and Mayor Gardiner
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None Y
City Clerk
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 6 of 6
EXHIBIT A— ORDINANCE NO. 400U
ADDENDUM NO. 10 TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/
NEGATIVE DECLARATION (EA/ND) NO. 694
February 17, 2004
On April 1, 1997, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 97-25, thereby adopting a
Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment No. 694 for amendments to Titles
16 and 17 of the City's Municipal Code. Prior to its adoption, the Negative Declaration
was circulated for public comment from March 4 through March 24, 1997 and no
substantive comments were received from any persons or responsible agencies. In
adopting the Negative Declaration, the City Council found: 1) that there would be no
significant adverse environmental impacts resulting from the adoption of the
amendments; 2) that many of the amendments were clarifications and minor non-
substantive revisions; and 3) that the substantive amendments would reduce impacts
on the environment since the requirements and regulations governing development in
the City would generally be strengthened, thereby further reducing any adverse impacts
to adjacent properties and upon the environment.
The City Council is currently considering amendments to Title 17 of the Development
Code, as it pertains to re-affirming the historical interpretation and application of the 16-
foot height limit and clarifying the Height Variation and Grading Permit findings. The
proposed amendments clarify the existing Code requirements and provide the decision
makers, Staff and the public with clearer direction on how to process residential
development applications. As such, the City Council has independently reviewed this
item and determined that the proposed amendments will not result in any new
significant environmental effects. Furthermore, the City Council finds that the
amendments are within the scope of EA/ND No. 694 that were prepared and adopted in
conjunction with the amendments to Titles 16 and 17, that were adopted on April 19,
1997 by the City Council. As a result, no further environmental review is necessary
other than the adoption of this Addendum No. 10.
Exhibit A
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 1 of 1
TABLE 02-A:SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
For exceptions and explanatory descriptions of these standards and for other development standards that apply to single-family residential areas,see Articles VI and VII of this title.The number which
follows an"RS-"designation indicates the maximum number of lots per acre permitted in the zone;the"RS-A"number indicates the minimum number of acres per lot permitted.
3,6 MINIMUM SETBACKS2'3'6 MAXIMUM
LOT MINIMUM SETBACKS MAXIMUM PARKING
DISTRICT DIMENSIONS' FOR CITY CREATED LOTS FOR LOTS CREATED PRIOR TO LOT HEIGHT3°4'7 REQUIREMENTS
INCORPORATION ANNEXATION COVERAGE
INTERIOR STREET FRONT INTERIOR STREET REAR less than 5,000 s.f.
AREA WIDTH DEPTH FRONT SIDE SIDE REAR SIDE SIDE of habitable space
=2 enclosed ga-
TTL ONE rage spaces
BOTH SIDE
SIDES 5,000 s.f.or more
RS-A5 5 acres 200 300 20 30 10 20 20 20 5 10 15 6% 16 of habitable space
=3 enclosed ga-
RS-1 1 acre 100 150 20 25 10 20 20 20 5 10 15 25% 16 rage spaces
RS-2 20,000 sf 90 120 20 20 10 20 20 20 5 10 15 40% 16
.
RS-3 13,000 sf 80 110 20 20 10 20 15 20 5 10 15 45% 16
RS-4 10,000 sf 75 100 20 20 10 20 15 20 5 10 15 50% 16
RS-5 8,000 sf 65 100 20 20 10 20 15 20 5 10 15 52% 16
1. For an existing lot which does not meet these standards,see Chapter 17.84(Nonconformities).
2. Lots of record,existing as of November 25,1975(adoption of this code),or within Eastview and existing as of January 5,1983(annexation),shall use these development standards for minimum
setbacks.
3. For description,clarification and exceptions,see Chapter 17.48(Lots,Setbacks,Open Space Area and Building Height).
4. For a description of height measurement methods and the height variation process,see Section 17.02.040 of this chapter.A height variation application shall be referred directly to the planning
commission for consideration,if any of the following is proposed:
A. Any portion of a structure which exceeds sixteen(16)feet in height extends closer than twenty-five(25)feet from the front or street-side property line.
B. The area of the structure which exceeds sixteen(16)feet in height(second story footprint)exceeds seventy-five percent(75%)of the existing first story footprint area(residence and garage);
and
C. Sixty percent(60%)or more of an existing garage footprint is covered by a structure which exceeds sixteen(16)feet in height(a second story).
D. The portion of a structure that exceeds sixteen feet in height is being developed as part of a new single-family residence;or
E. Based on an initial site visit,the director determines that any portion of a structure which is proposed to exceed sixteen(16)feet in height may significantly impair a view as defined in this
chapter.
5. For parking development standards,see Section 17.02.030(B)of this chapter.
6. A garage with direct access driveway from the street of access shall not be less than twenty feet from the front or street-side property line,which ever is the street of access.
7. Exterior stairs to an upper story are prohibited,unless leading to and/or connected to a common hallway,deck or entry rather than a specific room.
Exhibit B
Ordinance No. 400U
Page 1 of 1
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 19, 2004, she caused to be posted the following document
entitled: Ordinance No. 400U - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE CITY'S
MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE 16-FOOT HEIGHT LIMITATION FOR
RESIDENTIALLY ZONED PROPERTIES, CLARIFYING THE FINDINGS
REQUIRED FOR HEIGHT VARIATION AND GRADING PERMIT
APPLICATIONS,AND DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF, a copy of
which is attached hereto, in the following locations:
City Hall Ladera Linda Community Center
30940 Hawthorne Blvd. 32201 Forrestal Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes Rancho Palos Verdes
Ryan Park Hesse Park
30359 Hawthorne Blvd. 29301 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes Rancho Palos Verdes
I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is a true and correct affidavit
of posting. al /I
. l ../Aii :1
City Clerk