CC MINS 19960710 ADJMINUTES
RANCHO) PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
PRE- SCREENING WORKSHOP
JULY 10, 1996
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Marilyn Lyon at 7 :00 p.m. Following the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, roll call was answered as follows:
PRESENT: McTaggart, Byrd, Ferraro, Hollingsworth, and Mayor Lyon
ABSENT: None
Also present were City Manager Paul D. Bussey, Planning, Building & Code
Enforcement Director Carolynn Petru, City Clerk Jo Purcell, City Attorney Carol Lynch,
and recording secretary Shirley Tanaka.
Also present were Planning Commission members Clark, Alberio, Cartwright, Franklin,
Ng, Vannorsdall and Whiteneck.
Approval of Agenda
Based upon the urgency of the matter and the fact that it did not arise until after the
publication of the agenda, Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman
Ferraro to amend the agenda and add discussion of the San Pedro Coast Guard
Housing matter.
Motion carried on the following roll call vote:
AYES: McTaggart, Byrd, Ferraro, Hollingsworth, and Mayor Lyon
NOES: None
RESOLUTION NO. 96 -55 - Coast Guard Housing (1101 x 305)
Mayor Lyon reported that the Department of Defense had proposal to transfer the
Coast Guard personnel to military housing facilities in Tustin. In an effort to retain the
Coast Guard personnel in San Pedro, Los Angeles City Councilman Svorinich was
going to meet with Department of Defense representatives in Washington next week
and he has requested our support from neighboring cities for this cause.
Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Ferraro to adopt Resol.
No. 96 -55 - A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Urging
that the United States Coast Guard Utilize the Navy's San Pedro Area Housing
Facilities. Motion carried.
Pre - screening Workshop for Long Point and Adjacent Properties (1804 x 1203)
City Manager Bussey opened the discussion by describing the project to include the
combination of properties owned by James York and Associates and the City.
Director Petru presented the staff report of July 10 recommending that a pre- screening
workshop be conducted to achieve the purposes as set forth in Resol. No. 89 -103: (1)
Maximize public review at the earliest feasible time; (2) Focus public review of the
issues of greatest significance to the community; (3) Provide early, non - binding
preliminary suggestions to encourage economically efficient private decisions; (4)
Encourage communication between elected and appointed officials; and (5) Implement
the General Plan and compliance with development regulations. Her report covered a
site description of the proposed Master Plan which consisted of four properties:
Long Point: Resort hotel and associated uses, public golf course,
residential uses, public parking and trails.
Upper Pt. Vicente Park: Public golf course, public parking and trails.
Lower Pt. Vicente Park: Public golf course and trails (public parking is provided on
currently developed portion of the site).
Subregion I: Public golf course, residential uses, public parking and
trails.
Additionally, her report contained a detailed project description and potential issues for
discussion:
• Expanding the approved 9 -hole golf course on Long Point into an 18 -hole public
golf course on the Point Vicente Park property (both the upper and lower
portions) and Subregion 1.
• Introducing a residential land use on the Long Paint property, including the
density, lot/structure size and general design criteria.
• Re- locating the Civic Center to another property or integrating it into the plan.
• Preserving both public and private views and vistas over the four sites.
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Pre - Screening Workshop
July 10, 1996
Page 2
• Design of the grading to minimize disturbance along the bluff edge and within
natural drainage courses, and to blend the project into the existing terrain.
• Providing adequate passive recreational areas, open space, parking, trails and
vista points for use by the general public.
• The necessity of preserving a minimum of 30% open space in conjunction with
the residential uses and providing a bluff road, or amending the Coastal Specific
Plan to modify these requirements.
• Providing for the preservation, replacement and /or enhancement of the existing
habitats, which include marine tide pools, riparian areas and coastal sage scrub,
and accommodating the wildlife that currently use these areas.
• Providing affordable housing in conjunction with the project.
• Adequately addressing any traffic and public safety concerns.
• Providing a connection (such as an underpass or overpass) for the golf course
across Palos Verdes Drive South from Long Point to upper Point Vicente Park
and then from Upper Point Vicente Park to Lower Point Vicente Park
(Interpretive Center).
• Ensuring that the project is sensitive to the existing residents living adjacent to
the site.
• Addressing water conservation in the design and construction of the golf course
and resort hotel.
James York stated that he had purchased the property in March 1995 and described
the Master Plan as containing a hotel, golf course, and trails.
Peter Templeton of the Templeton Planning Croup described how the Master Plan
would use the various pieces of property and their components: public golf course,
resort hotel, trails and coastal access.
Don Kott with the firm of Robert Trent Jones said that the site has the potential for a
world -class golf course. With the use of large pictures mounted for audience viewing,
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Pre - Screening Workshop
July 10, 1996
Page 3
he described the location of other golf courses that his firm has designed.
Gene Kikorian, of Economics Research Associates, submitted a list of key findings
showing the income generated by other golf courses in California and the fiscal
benefits for building this proposed golf course. (Mr. Kikorian's submittal is on file with
the City Clerk's office).
Council then inquired about revenues generated by other courses; the type of housing
they were considering for Subregion 1; the size of the hotel, and the sequence for
building the various components of the hotel.
The following persons spoke in favor of the proposal:
Jack Downhill, 20 Vanderlip Drive; James Hayes, 64 Via Capri; Jim Malakoff, 30017
Via Rivera; Irwin Helford, 27 Crest Road West; 3815 Bluff Street; Paul Spurney, 1 Via
Veneta; Risty Wood, 32333 Phantom Drive; Dave Ruth, 40 Cinnamon Lane; Bruce
Nelson, 67 Marguerite Drive; Donald Pehrson, 8 Shadow Lane; and David Moyers,
26535 Mazur.
Recess and Reconvene: At 8 :30 P.M. the Mayor declared a recess. The meeting
reconvened at 8:50 P.M.
Continuing with the public testimony, the following persons spoke in favor of the
proposal:
Richard Collins, 63 Marguerite Drive; Sunshine, 6 Limetree; Svein Faugner, 32506
Seahill Drive; Larry Goldsmith, 3815 Bluff Street, representing the Palos Verdes
Chamber of Commerce; and, Jeanette Mucha, 5538 Littlebow Road, who was
concerned how golfers could get across safely on Palos Verdes South and the location
of city hall.
Richard Bara, 1 Peppertree Drive, said it would be necessary for the project to go
through the process.
Lois Larue, 3136 Barkentine, spoke in opposition to this project.
Council inquiries focused on the following: Who would pay for the construction of a
new city hall; who would pay for the study; when would York and Associates be
prepared to present a timeline on this project; how many holes were planned at Long
Point; what was the general distribution of golf holes; if the project was economically
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Pre - Screening Workshop
July 10, 1996
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feasible without housing; how did they arrive at such a low cost for building the golf
course; what kinds of setbacks did they plan for the bluff areas; if affordable housing
was planned for the residential component of the project; how runoff rain water would
be captured; how the process will be started; and, what happens if one of the four
properties involved falls out of the equation.
It was the consensus that this proposed project would require more public input; it
should not present any financial risk to the City; that it should have high quality
features; be citizen friendly; have trails, parks and open space; should be subject to a
traffic study; have a maximum amount of open space; and, require approval of the
residents to change the General Plan.
Additionally, the City Council expressed concern about the financial return to the City
for the use of City land; and the high density component of the plan. The Council
urged residents to submit their concerns and opinions to the Council on this project.
Adjournment: At 10:00 P.M. the meeting adjourned on the motion of Councilwoman
Ferraro.
ATTEST:
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City Council Minutes
Pre - Screening Workshop
July 10, 1996
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