PC RES 2008-008 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2008-0
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHOL VERDES APPROVINGE NO.Z 2 07 00(FOR
CONDITIONAL E PERMIT, GRADING PERMIT AND
ENVIRONMENTAL A SES NT),ALLOWING 1,380 CUBIC YARDS F
REMEDIAL I TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN
ADDITION THE EXISTING ITORY BUILDING MEASURING
THREE-STORIES ( '-8") IN HEIGHT TO MATCH THE HEIGHT OF THE
EXISTING IT Y BUILDING AND A TOTAL , 27 SQUARE
FEET, AT THE SALVATION Y' CRESTMONT COLLEGE FOR
OFFICER TRAINING LOCATED T 30840 HAWTHORNE
WHEREAS, on February 27, 2007, the Salvation Army submitted Case No.
ZON2007-00100, applications for an Environmental Assessment and Conditional Use
Permit for the Salvation Army Crestmont College for the Offer Training, located at 30840
Hawthorne Boulevard; and,
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2007, the project was deemed incomplete by Staff
pending the submittal of additional information; and,
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2007, upon submittal of all required information and
plans, including a Grading Permit application, the project was deemed complete by Staff;
and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act,
Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et. seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulation, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq., the City's Local CEQA
Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65962.5(f)(Hazardous Waste and Substances
Statement),the City of Rancho Palos Verdes prepared an Initial Study and determined that
there is no substantial evidence that the approval of Case No. ZON2007-00100 would
result in a significant adverse effect upon the environment and, therefore, a Negative
Declaration has been prepared and notice of same was given in the manner required by
law; and,
WHEREAS, after notice issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Development Code, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing
on February 12, 2008, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be
heard and present evidence.
NOW,THEREFORE,THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the intended uses
because the site measures 42-acres in area and a college has operated at the site since
P.C. Resolution No. 2008-08
Page 1
construction of the campus by Marymount College in 1958. The dormitory addition will
make up for the reduction in the number of overall units that resulted from the remodel of
the existing building. The addition will be located with sufficient setbacks within the
campus in an area that exceeds the minimum setbacks of the Institutional Zoning District.
Further, due to the topography of the site, the addition will not be visible to the public from
along Hawthorne Boulevard. Lastly, the subject property will continue to exceed the
minimum landscaping requirements, and contains existing fencing and walls along the
perimeter of the subject property.
Section 2: The site for the proposed use relates to streets and highways properly
designed to carry the type and quantity of traffic generated by the subject use as evidenced
by a traffic impact study that was reviewed and approved by the City's Traffic Engineer.
The existing parking capacity is adequate for the proposed addition and the current facility
can handle the traffic and parking demand of the proposed project. Further, it is not
anticipated that the proposed project would degrade future traffic conditions beyond
acceptable levels since the cadets enrolled at the college live onsite and there are no
students that attend the college that commute to the school for classes and training. As
such, based on the existing traffic volumes and the anticipated additional volume,there will
not be an adverse impact upon the level of service (LOS) at the project driveways and at
the adjacent intersections.
action 3® There will be no significant adverse effect on adjacent property or the
permitted use because the addition does not introduce a new use to the site, and the
location, height, design and appearance of the addition will integrate with the campus. The
addition does not create an incompatible land use since the use already exists, and it will
improve the overall quality of life for the students by providing living conditions that are
more suitable for families that attend the college. Furthermore, since the subject site is
100-feet below the elevation of the adjacent Hawthorne Boulevard roadway and 170-feet
below the residences across Hawthorne Boulevard, the project will not be visible from the
roadway or the residences and will not encroach into any view frame.
Section 4: The proposed project is consistent with the General Plan's
Institutional-Educational land use designation of the site, and with the types of land uses
permitted within the Development Code's Institutional Zoning District. Further, it is
consistent with General Plan Policy No. 6, page 93, as the project location and site design
have been reviewed to ensure their compatibility with adjacent sites. Further,the addition
integrates with the existing campus by incorporating the same architectural design and
exterior fagade treatments. Lastly, the addition is in a location that does not encroach into
any view frame from residences or from the street.
Section 5: Conditions have been imposed to protect the health, safety and
general welfare,which includes setback and buffers,fencing,landscaping, maintenance of
structures, and other conditions, as identified in Exhibit "A", attached hereto.
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Section 6: The remedial grading has been designed in a manner in accordance
with the geotechnical reports compiled for this project and approved by the City Geologist,
which will enhance soil stability and reduce the effects of the expansive soils conditions.
Section 7: The remedial grading is designed to improve surface drainage and to
ensure no ponding or surface runoff. Further, as part of the Building and Safety Division's
"plan check" process, drainage plans will be required to be submitted, reviewed and
approved prior to the issuance of a building permit. The drainage plans will ensure that
runoff and drainage of the site is adequate. Furthermore, the project complies with the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements since a "Storm
Water Planning Program Priority Project Checklist"and associated plans were approved by
the City's NPDES consultant. The plans develop and implement a program to incorporate
storm water pollution issues in the development planning phase of projects in order to
effectively prohibit non-stormwater discharges and reduce the discharge of pollutants from
stormwater conveyance systems to the maximum extent practicable
Section 8: The grading will not adversely affect the existing topography of the
site, as it will be concentrated to the area under the building footprint and no contours will
be impacted. The dormitory expansion will occur at the northern portion of the property, in
an area that is currently flat and used as an expansive lawn area between existing parking
lots and the existing dormitory building, and the grading will not be done to expand the flat
area and the slope will not be modified to accommodate the proposed addition.
Section 9: There will be no scarring of the natural landscape and vegetation since
the area maintains a flat pad area where the proposed addition will be constructed.
action 10A The project is in compliance with the Affordable Housing Ordinance of
the Development Code since the Crestmont College will restrict the units to low income
students/cadets.
Section 11® Any interested person aggrieved by this decision or by any portion of
this decision may appeal to the City Council. Pursuant to Chapter 17.80 of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code, any such appeal must be filed with the City, in writing and
with the appropriate appeal fee, no later than fifteen (15) days following the date of the
Planning Commission's final action.
Section 12, For the foregoing reasons and based on information and findings
contained in the Staff Reports, minutes, and records of the proceedings, the Planning
Commission hereby approves Case No. ZON2007-001 00 for a Conditional Use Permit and
Grading Permit, subject to the conditions of approval contained in the attached Exhibit"A",
attached hereto and made a part hereof, which are necessary to protect the public health,
safety, and welfare.
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PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 12th day of February 2008 by the
following roll call vote:
AYES: Gerstner, Knight, Perestam, Ruttenberg, Tetreault
NOES: Lewis
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: Tomblin
RECUSALS: None
Bill Gerstner
Chairman
Joel0 AICP
Dire Planning, and
Cod vori fsf oIrcement; and, Secretary
to the Planning Commission
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Exhibit "A"
Conditions of Approval
Case No. 2007® 01
(Conditional Use Permit & Grading Permit)
GENERAL
I Prior to the submittal of plans into Building and Safety plan check, the applicant
and/or property owner shall submit to the City a statement, in writing,that they have
read, understand and agree to all conditions of approval contained in this approval.
Failure to provide said written statement within ninety(90)days following the date of
this approval shall render this approval null and void.
2. The approval shall become null and void after one year from the date of approval,
unless approved plans are submitted to the Building and Safety Division to initiate
the "plan check" review process.
3. The proposed project, including site layout, the building heights and appearances,
shall be constructed and maintained in substantial compliance with the plans
reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission on February 12, 2008.
4. Approval of Case No. ZON2007-00100 (Conditional Use Permit and Grading
Permit) allows for an addition to the existing dormitory building at the Salvation
Army's Crestmont College for Officer Training located at 30840 Hawthorne
Boulevard. Specifically, the approved addition measures three-stories (33'-8") in
height and will match the height of the existing dormitory building. The total square
footage allowed by this approval for the addition measures 28,627 square feet.
Lastly, a total of 1,380 cubic yards of remedial grading is allowed, which includes
690 cubic yards of cut and 690 cubic yards of fill.
5. The Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement is authorized to approve
minor modifications to the approved plans or any of the conditions if such
modifications achieve substantially the same results as would strict compliance with
said plans and conditions. Otherwise, all other modifications shall be subject to
review and approval by the Planning Commission.
6. In the event that a Planning requirement and a Building &Safety requirement are in
conflict with one another, the stricter standard shall apply.
7. The hours of construction shall be limited to 7:00 a.m.to 7:00 p.m., Monday through
Saturday. No construction shall be permitted on Sundays or on legal holidays.
Further,trucks shall not park, queue and/or idle at the project site or in the adjoining
public rights-of-way before 7:00 AM, Monday through Saturday, in accordance with
the permitted hours of construction stated above.
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8. The construction site shall be kept free of all loose materials resembling trash and
debris in excess of that material used for immediate construction purposes. Such
excess material may include, but is not limited to: the accumulation of debris,
garbage, lumber, scrap metal, concrete, asphalt, piles of earth, salvage materials,
abandoned or discarded furniture, appliances or other household fixtures.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
9. The style, color and exterior materials of the dormitory addition shall be consistent
with the architectural style, color and exterior materials illustrated on the plans
approved by the Planning Commission on February 12, 2008.
10. The maximum height of the addition shall be limited to 33'-8",as measured from the
top of the parapet to the adjacent grade. In no case, however, shall the addition be
higher then the existing dormitory building.
11. The addition is limited to a maximum of three stories.
12. The addition is limited to maximum of 28,627 square feet of floor area.
'13. To remain in compliance with the provision of the Chapter 17.11, the Affordable
Housing Ordinance, all units in the dormitory building shall be for the exclusive use
of, and occupied only by students/cadets enrolled at the Crestmont College and
their families, as defined by the College.
14. The applicant shall execute and record an enforceable restriction in a form
acceptable to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement and the City
Attorney agreeing that the occupancy of the 20 new units shall be limited to low-
income students/cadets. Said restriction shall be recorded prior to building permit
final.
GRADING PERMIT
15. A total of 1,380 cubic yards of grading is allowed by the permit. Specifically, the
grading shall be limited to the footprint of the addition, shall be a balanced operation
whereby no import or export is allowed, and shall be conducted for the purpose of
removal and recompation in accordance with the recommendations of the
geotechnical and soils reports.
MISCELLANEOUS
16. All existing utility lines to the building shall be under-grounded. Further, any new
utility lines shall be placed underground.
17. All mechanical equipment shall be located to the rear of the building, and shall be
adequately screened from adjacent private properties and the public and private
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rights-of-way to the satisfaction of the Director of Planning, Building and Code
Enforcement.
18. No mechanical equipment is allowed on the roof of the addition, and no new
mechanical equipment is allowed on the existing dormitory building.
19. All mechanical equipment and the operation of machinery shall not exceed noise
levels in excess of sixty-five (65 dBA) decibels, as measured from the closest
property line adjacent to the mechanical equipment.
20. Any new trash enclosure(s) shall be fully enclosed and visually screened from the
public's view.
21. in the event that any of these conditions conflict with the recommendations and/or
requirements of another permitted agency or City Department, the stricter shall
apply.
22. Failure to comply with and adhere to all of these conditions of approval may be
cause to revoke the approval of the project by the Planning Commission after
conducting a public hearing.
23. The owner and applicant shall abide by all Municipal Code requirements pertaining
to the subject property.
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