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PC MINS 20070626 AP roved July 10, CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING JUNE 26, 2007 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gerstner at 7:03 p.m. at the Fred Hesse Community Room, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. FLAG SALUTE Commissioner Karp led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Karp, Knight, Ruttenberg, Tetreault, Vice Chairman Perestam, and Chairman Gerstner Absent: Commissioner Lewis was excused Also present were Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Rojas, Senior Planner Alvarez, Senior Planner Schonborn, Associate,Planner Sohn, and Associate Planner Dudman. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was unanimously approved as presented. COMMUNITCATIONS Director Rojas distributed one letter from the foliage owner related to Agenda Item No. 1 which was not included with the staff report. He also reported that at the June 19, 2007 meeting the City Council accepted the Planning Commission's recommended Equestrian Code Amendment. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda items) None PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. View Restoration Permit (Case No. ZON2007-000030): 28961 Palos Verdes Drive East Senior Planner Alvarez presented the staff report, explaining the number and types of trees that staff identified as significantly impairing the view from the primary viewing area. He explained staff's recommendations for the trees to restore the view for the applicant. Commissioner Tetreault noted that staff did not recommend replacement trees for trees 1 through 8, and asked staff if the foliage owner made any comments about staff's recommendation that they not be replaced. Senior Planner Alvarez answered that the foliage owner is aware of and understands staff's recommendations and has not made any comments about wanting replacement trees for the Eucalyptus trees. Chairman Gerstner opened the public hearing. William Johnson (applicant) stated that he was available for any questions from the Planning Commission. Commissioner Tetreault asked Mr. Johnson if he had read the staff report and recommendations, and understood the staff's recommendations regarding the trees. Mr. Johnson answered that he has read the staff report and agrees with the staff's recommendations. Chairman Gerstner asked Mr. Johnson if he had a preference in regards to crown reduction or removal. Mr. Johnson answered that he did not have a preference. Chairman Gerstner closed the public hearing. Commissioner Knight stated that he was in agreement with the staff report. Vice Chairman Perestam referred to a letter submitted by the foliage owner, and felt that there was some question as to whether or not the foliage owner preferred to have the Aleppo pine removed. Director Rojas noted that the language in the Resolution currently states that the pine tree be removed with the foliage owner's consent, thus leaving the door open for the possibility of removal if the foliage owner subsequently states a preference. Commissioner Ruttenberg moved to adopt P.C. Resolution 2007-43 thereby approving View Restoration Permit ZON2007-00003 as recommended by staff, seconded by Commissioner Knight. Approved, (6-0). Planning Commission Minutes June 26,2007 Page 2 2. Sign Program (Case No. ZON2006-00069): Westmont Plaza Associate Planner Sohn presented the staff report, explaining the requested action. She noted staff's concerns with the proposed signs and explained that the applicant had indicated revised plans would be submitted which addressed these concerns. She stated that staff has not yet received the revised plans, and since an extension has been granted and the deadline is within 2 weeks, staff is relegated to process the application on file. She added that the applicant accepts staff's recommendation and has stated they will be submitted a new application for the signs. Chairman Gerstner opened the public hearing, and there being no speakers, closed the public hearing. Commissioner Ruttenberg understood that it is not a requirement, but requested that some type of silhouette be erected to show the location and height of the new sign proposal. Chairman Gerstner asked staff whether the new sign will be reviewed by the City's Traffic Engineer. Director Rojas replied that only projects that are situated at corner sites are subject to review by the Traffic Engineer; however, if staff feels the new sign proposal will pose potential safety concerns, the project will be forwarded to the Traffic Engineer for review. Commissioner Karp felt that the addresses should be included on the signs and also felt that 12 feet was too tall and that 8 feet would be more appropriate. Vice Chairman Perestam moved to adopt P.C. Resolution 2007-44 thereby denying without prejudice, the Sign Permit as recommended by staff, seconded by Commissioner Karp. Approved, (6-0). 3. Conditional Use Permit (Case No. ZON2007-00213): 29661 Western Ave. Associate Planner Dudman presented the staff report, explaining the scope of the project and the need for the Conditional Use Permit. She stated that staff was able to .make all of the necessary findings and was therefore recommending approval of the Conditional Use Permit. Chairman Gerstner opened the public hearing. Jim Tadora (project planner) stated that his company requires 24 hour access to the facility, which is a leasing issue being negotiated with the property owners. He stated he was available for any questions. Planning Commission Minutes June 26,2007 Page 3 Commissioner Tetreault asked if this is a new site for the company or if T-Mobile was going to be replacing existing equipment at the site. Mr. Tadora answered that this is a new site for T-Mobile. Chairman Gerstner closed the public hearing. Commissioner Tetreault moved to adopt P.C. Resolution 2007-45 thereby approving the Conditional Use Permit as recommended by staff, seconded by Commissioner Knight. Approved, (6-0). NEW BUSINESS 4. Use Determination (Case No. ZON2007-00261): 27 Rockinghorse Road Senior Planner Schonborn presented the staff report. He explained that the request was for the Planning Commission to find that minor additions to existing single family residences in an Open Space Hazard Zone are similar to and no more intensive than permitted uses in that district. Chairman Gerstner asked staff if OH zones are primarily established because of geology in the area, and asked what defines the edge of an OH zone. Director Rojas explained that in some cases the OH zone,is in place due to geologic hazards, however staff has found that most of the OH zones are based on extreme slopes in an area, such as a canyon. He explained that there is a process in the City's Code that allows a property owner to adjust the boundary of an OH zone if there is evidence that it can be moved. Commissioner Knight reviewed the language in the staff report, and asked staff if the minor additions limited to 250 square feet was meant to be a cumulative number. Senior Planner Schonborn answered that it was meant to be a maximum total amount and that the language will be modified to reflect that. Commissioner Tetreault pointed out language in No. 4 which states that only one minor addition is allowed on the property from the day of this determination. He felt that language should take care of concerns with the language being too broad, and adding additional language might actually introduce ambiguity. Commissioner Ruttenberg asked if most of the homes in the OH zone were grandfathered in upon incorporation. Senior Planner Schonborn answered that all of the homes he has knowledge of in the OH zone were built pre-incorporation. Planning Commission Minutes June 26,2007 Page 4 Commissioner Ruttenberg stated that areas are zoned OH for a reason and did not understand how the City could say that adding 250 square feet is similar to and not more intensive than replacing or repairing an existing single family residence. He stated that replacing or repairing would be using the same footprint, however this proposal is allowing additional space to be built on. Senior Planner Schonborn explained that staff calls out breezeways, attached covered patios, and trellis areas, which are all areas considered being part of the footprint. As such, staff did not classify the enclosure of these improvements to constitute new area, since the structures already exist and count toward lot coverage. Commissioner Ruttenberg suggested that the words "or immediately adjacent to the private residence" be taken out for the sake of ambiguity. He also felt that the words "such as" should be removed and that the language be more specific. Commissioner Knight agreed, as he felt that the wording should be as specific as possible. Commissioner Tetreault felt that the wording of"such as" gives staff latitude in their decisions. He felt that because it is such a small square footage, staff should be able to have the latitude to approve something that is similar to a patio cover, etc. Commissioner Ruttenberg agreed that staff should be given some latitude. Chairman Gerstner summarized the discussion by stating that the language be amended to say "within the footprint of, or contiguous to the primary residence" and striking the words "such as". Vice Chairman Perestam moved to approve the Use Determination as amended to amend No. 1 to read "The minor addition is limited to use of previously developed area that is within the footprint of the primary residence." Seconded by Commissioner Ruttenberg. Director Rojas clarified that staff will apply this determination to anything on the property that is covered, which include the main residence, accessory structures and breezeways. The motion was approved via minute order, (6-0). APPROVAL OF MINUTES 5. Minutes of June 12, 2007 Commissioner Knight noted a clarification on page 2 of the minutes Planning Commission Minutes June 26,2007 Page 5 Commissioner Tetreault moved to approve the minutes as amended, seconded by Commissioner Knight. Approved, (6-0). ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS 6. Pre-Agenda for the meeting of July 10, 2007 The pre-agenda was discussed and approved. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Planning Commission Minutes June 26,2007 Page 6