CC RES 2006-005RESOLUTION NO. 2006-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES APPROVING CASE NO. ZON2004- 00409, FOR
REVISIONS TO HEIGHT VARIATION NO. 884 AND GRADING PERMIT
NO. 2154, APPROVING THE NEW LOCATION OF THE TWO -STORY
RESIDENCE, REQUIRE THE REMOVAL OF A PORTION OF THE
SECOND STORY BALCONY TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE
TRACT SETBACK REQUIREMENT, REMOVE THE ADDITIONAL
GRADING PLACED ON THE SITE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE
RESIDENCE, AND ALLOWING A 495.5 SQUARE FOOT ONE STORY
ADDITION ALONG THE REAR OF THE RESIDENCE, FOR PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 6270 OCEAN TERRACE DRIVE (LOT 20/TRACT 31617).
WHEREAS, on April 5, 1977, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 77 -22,
thereby approving Tract No. 31617 and establishing a BGR line in the rear yards of the
eighty (80) single - family residential lots. The purpose of the BGR line was for "grading
and visual" purposes to articulate the view of the development as seen from below and
to prevent grading and construction from encroaching into the slope and the trail
easement located at the rear of the properties; and,
WHEREAS, on October 5, 1993, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 93 -86,
Amendment No. 1 to Tract No. 31617 to allow at -grade accessory uses outside the
BGR line; and,
WHEREAS, on August 24, 1999, the Planning Commission approved Height
Variation No. 884, allowing the construction of a new two- story, single - family residence
with attached garage measuring a total of 6,696 square feet, on a vacant parcel located
at the end of the Ocean Terrace Drive cul -de -sac. The proposed height was 22' -3" as
measured from the highest pre- construction (existing) pad elevation on the rear of the
lot to be covered by the structure to the ridge line of the structure, and 25 -feet high as
measured from the point where the lowest foundation meets finished grade to the ridge
line of the structure for the property located at 6270 Ocean Terrace Drive (Tract
31617/Lot 20); and,
WHEREAS, consistent with the Tract's requirement for development of the
subject property, the residence was conditioned to maintain a 15 -foot setback from the
15 -foot wide trail easement along the south (rear) property line; and,
WHEREAS, on October 20, 1999, the City issued a building permit for
construction of the new residence; and,
WHEREAS, as the site was prepared for construction of the new residence and
the foundation was being prepared, the applicant's Registered Engineer of record,
submitted certified documentation attesting that he had measured features of the new
residence and certified that the building location was consistent with the approved
plans. Further evidence, in the form of an inspection report from the Engineer's firm
conducted on December 21, 1999, confirmed that "set backs are per approved plans
and construction staging by this firm ". Since the documentation, which was prepared
and certified by the applicant's Engineer, stated that the improvements to this property
were per the approved plans bearing the stamp of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, the
Building and Safety Division conducted the required inspections related to plumbing,
mechanical, electrical and structural work throughout calendar year 2000; and,
WHEREAS, on January 27, 2000, Grading Permit No. 2154 was approved by the
Planning Commission during construction of the residence for a total of 1,616 cubic
yards of remedial grading under the building footprint, which included 856 cubic yards of
removal, 760 cubic yards of re- compaction and 96 cubic yards of export; and,
WHEREAS, during final inspection, it was noticed that the building pad was not in
compliance with the approved plans. Staff then requested that the owner, Mr. Ahamed,
prepare and submit an as -built plan; and,
WHEREAS, on March 2, 2001, Mr. Ahamed submitted an as -built plan prepared
by his Engineer, and it was discovered that the extent of the grading went beyond the
approved boundaries on the property into the City's trail easement and onto an adjacent
property that was not encompassed within the approval. It was also discovered that the
house encroached into the setback from the trail easement, and a rear balcony
extended beyond the tract's building /grading restriction (BGR) line; and,
WHEREAS, it was also determined that the existing trail (i.e., McBride trail) was
not located entirely within the established trail easement on the subject property, so that
a portion of the trail traverses the adjacent, separately owned, Upper Filiorum property;
and,
WHEREAS, the subject property owner submitted the necessary
and fees on July 28, 2004; and,
WHEREAS, the City deemed the applications complete on August 12, 2004; 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), Staff found no evidence that Case No. ZON2004 -00409
would have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, the proposed project
has been found to be categorically exempt under Class 1 (Section 15301), since the
project does not intensify the use of the lot because the property currently is developed
with a single - family residence; and,
Resolution No. 2006 -05
Page 2 of 5
WHEREAS, on September 14, 2004, after notice issued pursuant to the
requirements of the Rancho Palos Verdes Development Code, the Planning
Commission continued the item to October 26, 2004; and,
WHEREAS, on October 26, 2004, the Planning Commission continued the item
to the November 23, 2004; and,
WHEREAS, on November 23, 2004, the Planning Commission held a duly
noticed public hearing, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to
be heard and present evidence; and,
WHEREAS, on November 23, 2004, the Planning Commission found that since
the balcony encroaches into the required setback, the location results in an
unreasonable privacy infringement upon the residence at 6264 Ocean Terrace Drive,
that the two southernmost windows along the eastern fagade of the second story must
contain translucent material, and that the balcony support columns and grading beyond
the BGR line were appropriate. As such, conditions were incorporated to remove that
portion of the balcony that encroaches into the required 15 -foot setback and require that
other than up to two support columns, all portions of the balcony maintain the required
15 -foot setback, and require the two most southerly windows along the eastern fagade
of the second floor to be modified to contain translucent glazing; and,
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2004, the Planning Commission adopted P.C.
Resolution No. 2004 -51 and 2004 -52, recommending that the City Council approved
Case No. ZON2004 -00409 for a revision to Height Variation No. 884 and Amendment
No. 2 to Tract No. 31617, provided that the balcony be modified to ensure compliance
with the required setback from the trail easement, provided that the two southernmost
windows along the eastern fagade of the second story contain translucent material, and
provided the applicant enter into an agreement with the City; and,
WHEREAS, after notice was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Development Code, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on
March 15, 2005, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be
heard and present evidence, and the City Council gave direction to Staff regarding the
content of a proposed resolution and agreement to be considered by the City Council in
conjunction with the adoption of the resolution; and,
WHEREAS, after notice was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Development Code, the continued public hearing was conducted by the
City Council on July 19, 2005, at which time all interested parties were given an
opportunity to be heard and present additional evidence, and the City Council gave
additional direction to Staff regarding the content of the a proposed resolution and
agreement to be considered by the City Council in conjunction with the adoption of the
resolution; and,
WHEREAS, on August 2, 2005, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2005-
Resolution No. 2006 -05
Page 3 of 5
83, approving Case No. 2004 -00409 for a revision to an approved Height Variation and
an amendment to Tract No. 31617. The approval allowed Mr. Ahamed's residence to
remain in the location where it was erroneously constructed, with a condition that
requires removal of 10 -feet of the rear yard balcony to ensure that a 15 -foot setback is
maintained between the trail easement line and the balcony structure. Further, the
amendment allows two balcony support columns and grading on a slope steeper than
10- percent to remain beyond the BGR line; and,
WHEREAS, after notice was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Development Code, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on
November 1, 2005, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be
heard and present evidence, and the City Council considered revisions proposed by the
applicant that included removing 10 -feet of the second story balcony along the rear
(south) elevation so that the balcony maintains a minimum 15 -foot setback from the trail
easement line, removing the fill material southwest of the residence, and adding a 495.5
square foot one -story addition along the rear of the residence under the remaining
portion of the balcony and continued the item to the January 17, 2006 City Council
meeting; and,
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2005,
consideration by the City Council, depicting
November 1, 2005 City Council meeting.
Mr. Ahamed formally submitted plans for
the revisions that were considered at the
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The Revision to Height Variation No. 884 approves the "as- built"
location of the new residence, which was constructed 15 -feet farther towards the rear of
the property. The Revision also requires the removal of 10 -feet of the balcony with 5-
feet to remain, thereby resulting in a 15 -foot setback from the trail easement line.
Lastly, the Revision approves a 495.5 square foot one -story addition along the rear of
the residence under the remaining 5 -foot portion of the balcony. The City Council
hereby finds that as revised, the residential structure continues to be compatible with
the immediate neighborhood, and the structure size continues to be within the structure
size range founding the immediate neighborhood. Furthermore, the new location of the
residential structure does not result in significant view impairment from the viewing area
of another parcel.
Section 2: Since the residence was constructed 15 -feet farther south, 10 -feet
of the balcony is required to be removed and the two most southerly windows along the
eastern fagade of the second floor shall be modified to contain frosted /translucent
glazing to address privacy infringement upon the adjacent property to the east, located
at 6264 Ocean Terrace Drive. As such, approval of the Revision to Height Variation No.
884 incorporates conditions to require removal of a portion of the balcony and that the
two most southerly windows along the eastern fagade of the second floor to be modified
to contain translucent glazing.
Resolution No. 2006 -05
Page 4 .of 5
Section 3: The Revision to Grading Permit No. 2154 approves the removal of
up to 538 cubic yards of fill material to restore the area southwest of the residence to
preconstruction conditions.
Section 4: The work approved under the Revisions to Height Variation No. 884
and Grading Permit No. 2154 does not require a tract map amendment, thus, there is
no longer a nexus to require the applicant to improve or provide for a better trail solution
on adjacent properties or require the applicant to enter into an agreement with the City
to make off -site improvements to the trail.
Section 5: For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and
findings included in the Staff Report, Minutes and other records of these proceedings,
the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby approves Case No.
ZON2004- 00409, a Revision to Height Variation No. 884 to approve the new location of
the two -story residence and allowing a 495.5 square foot one -story addition along the
rear under the remaining five feet of the balcony, and a revision to Grading Permit No.
2154 to conduct up to 538 cubic yards of grading to restore the slope area to the
southwest of the residence, subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A ", attached
hereto and made a part hereof, which are necessary to protect the public health, safety,
and welfare.
Section 6: The time within which the judicial review of the decision reflected in
this Resolution, if available, must be sought is governed by Section 1094.6 of the
California Code of Civil Procedure and other applicable short periods of limitation.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 17th day of January 2006.
Attest:
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
ayor
I, Carolynn Petru, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that the
above Resolution No. 2006 -05 was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on January 17, 2006.
Resolution No. 2006 -05 - Exhibit "A"
Conditions of Approval
Case No. ZON2004 -00409
1. Except as expressly amended by the following conditions, all conditions of
approval associated with Tract No. 31617 (illustrated in Resolution No. 77 -22)
and associated with Amendment No. 1 to Tract No. 31617 (illustrated in
Resolution No. 93 -86) shall remain in full force and effect.
2. A minimum of 10 -feet of the second story balcony along the rear (south)
elevation shall be removed so that the balcony maintains a minimum 15 -foot
setback from the trail easement line, which is equivalent to a 30 -foot setback
from the rear (south) property line, as such line existed at the time the Planning
Commission approved Height Variation No. 884 (August 24, 1999), within 180
days of this approval. SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE
BUILDING OFFICIAL, A REAR SETBACK CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED BY
A LICENSED LAND SURVEYOR OR ENGINEER PRIOR TO THE POURING
OF FOOTINGS.
3. Revision to Height Variation No. 884 allows a 495.5 square foot one -story
addition along the rear of the residence, under the remaining balcony as modified
by condition no. 2 above. SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND APPROVAL BY THE
BUILDING OFFICIAL, A REAR SETBACK CERTIFICATION IS REQUIRED BY
A LICENSED LAND SURVEYOR OR ENGINEER PRIOR TO THE POURING
OF FOOTINGS.
4. The two most southerly windows along the eastern fagade of the second floor
shall be modified to contain frosted /translucent glazing within 90 days of the date
of this approval, subject to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning, Building
and Code Enforcement.
5. Revision to Grading Permit No. 2154 requires up to 538 cubic yards of grading to
remove the fill material on the slope on the subject property, which includes the
City's trail easement located southwest of the residence, and the adjacent
property to the south. The area shall be restored to preconstruction topography,
as illustrated on the plans approved by the City Council by October 17, 2006.
However, if the adjacent property owner to the south does not grant permission
to the applicant to remove the fill material from the property to the south by July
17, 2006, then Mr. Ahamed shall submit plans that are satisfactory to the City by
October 17, 2006, to remove the fill that was placed on the subject property at
6270 Ocean Terrace, including the City' trail easement that traverses the
property. The plans must include any necessary retaining walls or
improvements, as required by the Public Works Department to ensure that public
access through the trail easement on the subject property is properly designed
and functional. Said plans shall be submitted to the Public Works Department for
review and approval. The applicant shall complete the work in accordance with
the approved plans within 90 -days of Public Works approval of the plans.
6. The applicant shall comply obtain all necessary permits and approvals required
by the Building Department and City Geologist.
Resolution No. 2006 -05
Exhibit A