CC MINS 19961029 ADJMINUTES
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 29, 1996
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Mayor Lyon at the Hesse Park
Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard, notice having been given with
affidavit thereto on file. Following the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, roll call was
answered as follows:
PRESENT: McTaggart, Byrd, Hollingsworth, Ferraro, Mayor Lyon
LATE ARRIVAL: Councilwoman Ferraro at 7:06 P.M.
Also present were Assistant City Manager Brent Mattingly, City Attorney Carol Lynch,
Planning, Building & Code Enforcement Director Carolynn Petru, Principal Planner Joe
Rojas, City Clerk Jo Purcell and Recording Secretary Shirley Tanaka.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Councilman Hollingsworth moved, seconded by Councilman Byrd, to approve the
agenda. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Mayor Lyon reopened the public hearing on this review of the draft language of
Chapter 17.46 (Large Domestic Animal Overlay District). (1203 x 1801)
Principal Planner Rojas summarized the Staff Memorandum of October 15, 1996 and in
particular the public testimony that was presented at that meeting.
Addressing this matter were the following speakers: Muriel Titzler, 3 Ginger Root
Lane; Heidi Furer, 9 Via Costa Verde; Robert Maxwell, 7 E. Pomegranate Road; Betty
Strauss, 10 W. Pomegranate Road; Richard Bara, 1 Peppertree Drive; Kay Bara, 1
Peppertree Drive; Carl Gutierrez, 3 Clovetree Place; Jack Downhill, 20 Vanderlip Drive;
Toni Deeble, 3 E. Pomegranate Road; Ed Sutton, 1 Pomegranate Road; John Howard,
24260 Neece Avenue, Torrance; and Joe Deeble, 3 E. Pomegranate.
The concerns and opinions of these speakers centered on the following: limiting the
number of horses to three per property; opposition to commercialization of boarding
and to grandfathering present conditions; request for reconsideration for the restriction
on large deliveries in residential areas and how this might impact the delivery of horse
feed; the fact that there is indeed an increase in the horse population which needs to
be checked; that, contrary to the regulation that home occupations should not impact
the neighborhood that the boarding of horses did have a noticeable impact; why the
name of the "Q" zone had been changed to "Large Domestic Animal Overlay District:"
why the process of amending this particular section of the Code has taken such a long
time; that the Code should be in concert with the CC &Rs; the improbability and /or
difficulty in enforcing some of these recommended Code changes; a request that
horses be corralled closer to the residence of the owner and not allowed on the
periphery of property thus impacting adjacent neighbors; and, the need for an
Equestrian Committee to help solve these horsekeeping disputes.
Council discussion centered on the following concerns: whether the CC &Rs were more
effective than the Code; that the keeping of more than three horses on a property
should require the approval of the Equestrian Committee; if the Committee could
enforce nuisance abatement regulations and be given the authority to issue and revoke
permits; that Ladera Linda would be a good location for the Committee meetings; that
non profit programs should be given some consideration but must still be required to
have a permit and maintain good standards; that horses should be corralled closer to
the owner's property; that the number of horses was really not the problem, but rather
the lack of good horsekeeping; the number of people that should be on the Equestrian
Committee and whether they should be horseowners; and, a limitation on the vehicles
parked on the streets.
Finally, it was the consensus of Council to make the following code amendments to the
Large Domestic Animal Overlay District:
Two horses would be allowed on property with a minimum of 15,000 sq. ft. ;
each additional horse up to a maximum of 6 would require an additional 7,500
sq. ft.
Permit be required for more than 3 horses on a developed lot and for any horse
on a vacant lot (contiguous, or otherwise).
Horses to be corralled a minimum of 35 ft. from a residence and 50 ft. from the
neighboring residences.
Chapter be re- titled "Equestrian Overlay District."
Equestrian Committee have the authority to allow more horses and to take them
away if there are violations regardless of the total number, or even if the
City Council Minutes
Adjourned Regular Meeting
October 29, 1996
Page 2
conditions have been grandfathered.
Same regulations and permit procedures would apply to 501.C3 organizations.
Equestrian Committee would be required to notice adjacent property owners
and a shorter notice period so that the process is not too onerous. All decisions
of the Committee would be appealable to the City Council. A regular meeting
place should be established for the Committee.
Staff was directed to develop criteria for membership on the Committee of 7 to 9
members. The Committee should have a mix of people who reside within and
outside of the Equestrian zone some of which should be horse owners.
With regard to grandfathering for existing legal situations, horseowners would
have to submit a letter informing the City of the number of horses owned as of
October 29, 1996. Property owners would have 30 days to comply with
verification process after the effective date of the Code.
No business license or home occupation would be required as part of this
ordinance.
The Equestrian Committee would prepare guidelines to implement the Code,
subject to approval by the City Council.
Debris and manure would not be allowed to accumulate in the drainage courses.
It was the further consensus that the draft language for this section of the Code
be brought back at the next meeting.
Recess and Reconvene: At 8:45 P.M. the Mayor declared a recess. The meeting
reconvened at 9:00 P.M.
Council resumed its discussion of the code amendments as outlined in the staff report
and made the following changes to staff recommendations:
Chapter 17.60 - Conditional Use Permits - Insert section into code related to
promotional signs for new business and the length of time they can remain on view.
Section 17.62.030 - Insert clause "if business license is required by Code."
City Council Minutes
Adjourned Regular Meeting
October 29, 1996
Page 3
Recess: At 9:45 P.M. Mayor Lyon declared a recess. The meeting reconvened at
10:00 P.M.
Speaking to the matter of antennas were Jack Carter, 28911 Golden Meadow Drive;
Robert Keefer, 5148 Silver Arrow Drive; and, Dale Hanks, 5225 Middlecrest Road.
These speakers were concerned that restrictions would be placed on the use of ham
radio antennas and cited the fact that operation of these devices is protected by certain
FCC laws. Lois Larue, spoke in favor of requiring a C.U.P. for such radio antennas.
(At 10:00 P.M. Councilwoman Ferraro left the meeting.)
Audience Comments: Responding to Mayor Lyon's call for audience comments for
items not on the agenda was Lois Larue who spoke to the purchase of the Diamond
Brothers land and said that there should have been an appraisal of that property. Also,
she inquired about the notification process for the York Long Point property scoping
meeting.
Adjournment: On motion of Councilman Hollingsworth the meeting was adjourned at
10:25 P.M., to a Community Leaders' Breakfast to be held on Saturday November 2, at
Fred Hesse Community Park Room 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.
Attest:
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City Clerk
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City Council Minutes
Adjourned Regular Meeting
October 29, 1996
Page 4