PC RES 2006-038 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2006-38
RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDESE E I TO THE CITY COUNCIL
THE PTI F AN ORDINANCETO AMENDTITLE 17 OF THE
CITY'S MUNICIPAL CODE TO ESTABLISHE L Tl FOR THE
USE OF CARGO CONTAINERSPUBLIC AND PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2004, after considering oral and written testimony, based
on a staff request, the City Council directed Staff to initiate a code amendment to
regulate the use of cargo containers; and,
WHEREAS, on August 28, 2004 a notice was published in the Palos Verdes
Peninsula Nears; and,
WHEREAS, after notices issued pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, the Planning Commission conducted public hearings on
September 14, 2004, November 9, 2004, January 11, 2005, February 8, 2005, April 12,
2005, June 28, 2005, August 9, 2005, and September 13, 2005, at which times all
interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence
regarding said amendments to Title 17 as set forth in the Planning Commission Staff
Report of that date; and,
WHEREAS, on September 13, 2005, the Planning Commission adopted
P.C. Resolution No. 2005-42 recommending approval of the proposed amendments to
Title 17 to the City Council; and,
WHEREAS, subsequent to the Planning Commission's action, the Director of
Planning, Building and Code Enforcement and the Building Official identified further
revisions to Title 17 that should also be made to implement this code amendment, and
revised the proposed code language accordingly; and,
WHEREAS, although the City Council was scheduled to consider the Planning
Commission's recommendation on February 7, 2006, the City Attorney opined that the
matter should be remanded to the Planning Commission for review of the additional
proposed revisions to Title 17; and,
WHEREAS, on April 5, 2006, a public hearing notice was mailed to all parties
who had previously expressed interested in this matter, and the same notice was
published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News on April 8, 2006; and,
WHEREAS, after notice issued pursuant to the provisions of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on April
25, 2006, June 13, 2006, and July 25, 2006, at which times all interested parties were
given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence regarding said amendments to
Title 17 as set forth in the Planning Commission Staff report of that date.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The Planning Commission has reviewed and considered the
amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal Code.
Section 2: The Planning Commission finds that the amendments to Title 17 of
the Municipal Code are consistent with California Government Code Section 65853,
zoning amendment procedures.
Section 3: The Planning Commission finds that the amendments to Title 17
are consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan and Coastal Specific Plan in
that they preserve and enhance the community's quality living environment, and
enhance the visual character and physical quality of existing neighborhoods.
Section 4: The Planning Commission further finds that there is no substantial
evidence that the amendments to Title 17 would result in new significant environmental
effects, or a substantial increase in the severity of the effects, as previously identified in
Environmental Assessment No. 694 and the Negative Declaration, adopted through
Resolution No. 97-25 in conjunction with Ordinance No. 320 for amendments to Titles
16 and 17 of the Municipal Code, since the new amendments provide regulations that
would reduce impacts to properties within the City and the environment by protecting
the aesthetic quality of the area. An Addendum (No. 13) to the prior Negative
Declaration has been prepared and is attached hereto as Exhibit W. The Planning
Commission hereby finds, based on its own independent judgment, that the facts stated
in the Addendum are true because the revisions to the Development Code will
strengthen the Code with no potential environmental impacts.
Section 5. The Planning Commission finds that the amendments to Title 17
are necessary to preserve the public health, safety, and general welfare in the area,
while balancing property rights.
Section 6: Section 17.96.345 of Title 17 is hereby established to read as
follows (the underlined text represents new language and the E;tFikethF()U text
represents deleted language):
Section 17.96.345 Cargo Containers
A "Cargo Container" means a pre-manufactured structure, of metal
construction, that is delivered to a site as a fully assembled unit. This
shall be a container that was odginally designed and fabricated as a
shipping container for use as portable storage, but shall exclude storage
P.C. Resolution No. 2006-38
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sheds that are assembled at the site. Any permitted cargo container shall
not exceed a height of 8'-6", a width of 8', and a length of 40'.
Section 7: Section 17.76.170 of Title 17 is hereby established to read as
follows (the underlined text represents new language and the strikethrough text
represents deleted language):
Section 17.76.170 Cargo Containers
Cargo containers shall not be stored, maintained, or otherwise kept on any property
within the City except as follows:
A. Short Term Uses (one year or less): The following short term uses of cargo
containers may be permitted.
1. Temporary Construction Storage — One or more cargo containers maybe
used for temporary storage in conjunction with construction allowed
through an active building permit, in accordance with the provisions set
forth in Section 17.56.020() of this Municipal Code. The time period for
which a cargo container may be used for temporary construction storage
under this subsection is limited to the time when the building permit is
active, as determined by the City's Building Official. A cargo container
approved pursuant to this subsection shall not require approval of a
separate buildingep rmit.
2. Temporary Emergency Storage — In the event that a structure in any
zoning district becomes uninhabitable due to an involuntary act, or due to
a voluntary act against the structure(s), which is not the fault of the
property owner or lessee, one or more cargo containers may be used for
temporary storage of household materials until said structure is repaired or
reconstructed, but for no more than 180 days unless additional time is
approved by the Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement.
Nevertheless, in no case shall the tempora!y emergency storage exceed
12 months. The location of the cargo container is subiect to the review
and approval of the Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement
and the Building Official. A cargo container approved pursuant to this
subsection shall not require approval of a building permit.
3. Temporary Storage on City Property — For City-owned property
,(regardless of the underlying zoning district), one or more cargo
containers may be permitted for a period not to exceed 12 months in the
3-year period with the approval of the City Manager. A cargo container
approved pursuant to this subsection shall not require approval of a
building permit.
P.C. Resolution No. 2006-38
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B. Long Term Uses (longer than one year): The following long term uses of cargo
containers may be permitted. Additionally, each carpo container shall be painted
an earth tone color that is approved by the Director of Planning, Building, and
Code Enforcement and shall not contain any names, logos, or other markings
painted on, or otherwise attached to, the exterior of the container. A building
permit shall be obtained for the long term use of a carpo container.
1. City-Owned Property — For City owned property (regardless of the
underlying zoning district), one or more carpo containers for long-term
storage use may be permitted with approval of the City Manager. The
number of carpo containers allowed and the time period for which a carpo
container may be used under this subsection shall be established by the
City Manager
2. Commercial and Institutional Zones —The use of one carpo container for
long-term storage may be permitted, provided the carpo container is
substantially screened from view from any other private property, public
right of way, or street easement, subject to the review and approval of the
Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement. The applicant shall
construct a silhouette of the proposed carpo container to demonstrate to
the Director that this provision will be satisfied. Requests for more than
one cargo container on a single parcel shall be subject to the review and
approval of the Planning Commission. A building permit shall be obtained
for the long-term use of a cargo container under this subsection.
C. Prohibited Uses — Prohibited uses of cargo containers include, but are not limited
to, the following:
1. Specialized foundations for structures as described in section 15.04.060 of
the Municipal Code.
D. Development standards — The following development standards shall apply to all
cargo containers proposed for long-term use (longer than 1 year):
1. Unless incorporated into the design of a residence that meets all the
applicable zoning and building code regulations:
a. Cargo containers shall not be used for human habitation.
b. Cargo containers shall not have any factory-built or field applied
electrical, plumbing, heating, or air conditioning systems.
Furthermore, the cargo container shall not be connected to a power
system.
c. Cargo containers shall not be stacked on top of each other or on
any other structure.
2. A scaled site plan drawn to show the location of all existing buildings,
parking spaces, and the size and location of the proposed cargo
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container(s) shall be submitted. Additionally, the site plan shall show
all slopes on the lot, as well as all slopes adjacent to the subject site.
3. Caro Containers shall be setback a minimum 5' from any property
line.
4. Cargo Containers shall not block, obstruct, or reduce in any manner
any required exits, windows, vent shafts, parking spaces, and/or
access driveways.
5. Cargo Containers shall comply with the hillside setback requirements
of the Building Code, as adopted by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
(H/3 from the top of slope and H/2 from toe of slope).
6. Refuse and/or debris shall not be stored in, against, on, or under the
cargo container.
7. The ca[go containers shall be constructed of metal, except for a wood
floor within the metal shell. Structural plans and calculations are not
required.
E. Amortization - All cargo containers shall conform to the requirements of this
section.
1. Cargo containers for which prior approval was granted by the city or another
a ec�ncy with jurisdiction over permit issuance shall be allowed to remain,
subiect to continued compliance with their original conditions of approval, if
any.
2. Cargo containers that have been installed without prior approval of the City
shall be allowed to remain for one year after which they shall be brought into
conformance with the requirements of this chapter or removed within ninety
(90) days of the date written notice is mailed to the property owner. Penalty
fees are waived for all applications submitted within this period.
Section 8. Paragraph E of Section 17.56.020 of Title 17 is hereby established
to read as follows (the underlined text represents new language and the
text represents deleted language):
E. Cargo containers. Cargo containers may be used in any zone for temporary
storage in conjunction with construction allowed through an active building
permit, provided that the City's Building Official determines that the active
building permit warrants the use of a cargo container for tempora! storage forage and
is needed to facilitate construction. For purposes of this section, an active
building permit shall mean a building permit that has not expired, has not been
revoked, and has not been finaled. In the event that an active buildinq permit is
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finaled, revoked, or expired, any cargo containers used for temporary storage
shall be removed from the property within ten (10) calendar days of said
expiration revocation, or finalization. The number and location of carpo
containers on construction sites shall be subiect to the approval of the City's
Building Official and shall be placed in a location that will minimize disturbance
to the surroundina property owners.
Section ® The rights given by any approval granted under the terms of Title
17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code prior to the effective date of the
adoption of said ordinance shall not be affected by the amendments to Title 17 by this
ordinance and shall continue in effect until and unless they are modified, revoked,
expired or are otherwise terminated according to the terms of the approval or the terms
of Title 17 as they existed prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
Section 10: The amendments to Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code as identified herein shall apply to all development applications submitted after the
effective date of the adoption of said ordinance and to all development applications that
have not been decided upon prior to the effective date of the adoption of said ordinance.
Section 11, For the foregoing reasons, and based on the information and
findings included in the Staff Report, Minutes, and other records of proceedings, the
Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby recommends that the
City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Title 17 of the City's Municipal Code to
regulate the use of cargo containers on public and private property.
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 25 th day of July 2006, by the following
vote:
AYES: Commissioners Lewis, Perestam, Rutenberg and Tetreault,
Vice Chairman Gerstner
NOES: Commissioner Karp
ABSTENTION: none
ABSENT: Chairman Knight
Bill Gers r
Vice Chairman
r�
Jopf Rojas, AICP
Di ecto of Plann' g, wilding
an' C e Enforc nt; and,
Secretary to the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 200638
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ADDENDUM NO. 13 TO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/
NEGATIVE DECLARATION (EA/ND) NO. 694
July 25, 2006
On April 1, 1997, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 97-25, thereby adopting a
Negative Declaration for Environmental Assessment No. 694 for amendments to Titles
16 and 17 of the City's Municipal Code. Prior to its adoption, the Negative Declaration
was circulated for public comment from March 4 through March 24, 1997 and no
substantive comments were received from any persons or responsible agencies. In
adopting the Negative Declaration, the City Council found: 1) that there would be no
significant adverse environmental impacts resulting from the adoption of the
amendments; 2) that many of the amendments were clarifications and minor non-
substantive revisions; and 3) that the substantive amendments would reduce impacts
on the environment since the requirements and regulations governing development in
the City would generally be strengthened, thereby further reducing any adverse impacts
to adjacent properties and upon the environment.
The Planning Commission is currently reviewing amendments to Title 17 of the
Municipal Code that would establish regulations regarding the use of cargo containers
on private property. The proposed amendments are intended to reduce impacts to
properties within the City and the environment by protecting the aesthetic quality of the
area. As such, the Planning Commission has independently reviewed this item and
determined that the proposed amendments will not result in any new significant
environmental effects. Furthermore, the Planning Commission recommends that the
City Council find the amendments to be within the scope of EA/ND No. 694 that were
prepared and adopted in conjunction with the amendments to Titles 16 and 17, which
were adopted on April 19, 1997 by the City Council. As a result, the Planning
Commission recommends to the City Council that no further environmental review is
necessary other than the City Council's adoption of this Addendum No. 13.
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