PC RES 2005-049 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2005-49
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION F THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE C11YS PURCHASE F THE
"PORTUGUSE BEND" AND "A UA A AGA CANYON" PROPERTIES IS
CONSISTENT WITH THE RANCHO PALOS VE ES GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS, the Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP) Act of 1991 provides
for the preparation and implementation of large-scale natural resource conservation plans that
identify and provide for the protection and perpetuation of natural wildlife diversity, while
allowing for compatible and appropriate development and growth, and providing comprehensive
management and conservation of multiple species; and,
WHEREAS, the City has entered into an NCCP agreement with the California
Department of Fish and Game and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to develop a
NCCP subarea plan that would encompass the entire City; and,
WHEREAS, on August 31, 2004, the City Council certified the Environmental Impact
Report for and approved a NCCP Subarea Plan that will create a 1200-acre nature preserve
that stretches roughly from the San Pedro border to Point Vicente; and,
WHEREAS, the nature preserve will be created primarily through the dedication of City-
owned lands and the acquisition of key privately held properties and will be managed in
partnership with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy ("PVPLC"); and,
WHEREAS, the City and PVPLC have been successful in raising over $17 million to
acquire 424 acres of privately held open space; and,
WHEREAS,.the City Council has entered into a purchase agreement with Palos Verdes
Portuguese Bend, LLC to purchase approximately 424-acres in Portuguese Bend (the
"Portuguese Bend Property") and approximately 39 acres in Agua Amarga Canyon (the "Agua
Amarga Canyon Property") by the end of 2005; and,
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65402 requires that a local agency not acquire
real property for public purposes until the location, purpose and extent of such acquisition has
been submitted to and reported upon by the planning agency as to conformity with the
agency's adopted General Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City's purchase of the 424-acre Portuguese Bend Property and the
39-acre Agua Amarga Canyon Property (collectively, the "Properties"), which will be dedicated
to create a 1200-acre nature preserve under the City's adopted NCCP Subarea Plan is
consistent with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan for the following reasons:
A. It is the goal of the General Plan's "Natural Environment Element" to conserve, protect,
and enhance its natural resources, beauty, and open space for the benefit and
enjoyment of its residents and the residents of the entire region, while ensuring that
future development recognizes the sensitivity of the natural environmental and is
accomplished in such a manner as to maximize the protection of it. (RPV General Plan,
p. 4). The purchase of the Properties will further this goal; and,
B. It is a further policy of the General Plan's "Natural Environment Element" to maintain the
existing natural vegetation of the City in its natural state to the maximum extent possible
in all existing and proposed developments, to the extent commensurate with good fire
protection policies, and to encourage the re-establishment of appropriate native plants.
(RPV General Plan pp. 44-45.) The purchase of the Properties is consistent will further
this goal and will allow the City to preserve and enhance the existing open space in its
natural state; and,
C. It is a policy of the General Plan's "Urban Environment Element/Recreation Activity
Section" to provide access to all public recreational land and to seek County, State, and
Federal funds or sharing funds to acquire lands. (RPV General Plan p. 99.) The
purchase of the Properties will further this goal by allowing the City to preserve natural
open space with native vegetation for the benefit and enjoyment of its residents and the
residents of the entire state. Moreover, the acquisition is being funded by a combination
of public and private funds from a variety of sources as contemplated by the
aforementioned policy.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 13th day of December 2005, by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners Karp, Gerstner, Perestam, Vice Chairman Knight, Chairman
Tetreault
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Mueller
aul etreault
Chairman
J461 Rojas, AICP
Lan
rec r of Planniauilding
Di.ode Enforcement; and,
Secretary to the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 2005-49
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