PC MINS 19760713M I N U T E S
City of Rancho Palos"Vefdes APPROVED AS
Planning Commission PRESENTED
Regular Adjourned Meeting July 27, 1976
July 13, 1976
The meeting was called to order at 7:42 p.m. in the Palos Verdes Penin-
sula Unified School District Building, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by
Chairman Shaw.
PRESENT: Blue, McTaggart, Rosenberg, Shaw
ABSENT: None
Also present were Director of Planning Sharon W. Hightower and Associate
Planner Larry Davis.
MINUTES APPROVAL On motion of Mr. Rosenberg, seconded
by Mr. McTaggart and unanimously car-
ried, the minutes of June 16, 1976,
were approved as presented.
The minutes of June 22, 1976, were corrected to show the recess terminat-
ing at 10:09 p.m. On motion of Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. Blue, and
unanimously carried, the minutes -of June 22, 1976, were approved as cor-
rected.
On motion of Mr. Blue, seconded by Mr. Rosenberg, and unanimously carried,
the minutes of June 24, 1976, were approved as presented.
GRADING APPLICATION #70 Director Hightower indicated a revised
3027 Crest Road plan had been submitted the day prior
Applicant: James Davis to the meeting; staff had not had an
opportunity to verify the total volume
figures contained in the application.
However, based on the assumption that the figures are valid, this matter
could be considered at this time. Substantial additional landscaping is
proposed by the new plan; however, based -on extreme slopes and excessive
grading, staff's recommendation is for denial.
The applicant, James Davis, indicated the tennis court is 2' higher than
the previous plans called for, in order to reduce the amount of excava-
tion.
Following discussion, it was moved by Mr. McTaggart, seconded by Mr.
Rosenberg and carried, that Grading Application #70 be approved, with
Mr. Blue dissenting.
PARCEL MAP #3795 Director Hightower indicated -that,
67 Headland Drive following the City Engineer's re -
Applicant: Roy Yoshimura view of the geology report for the
project, it was his suggestion that
the applicant's geologist make a
recommendation regarding the private sewage system, since the geology
report did_.no.t-address that matter. No recommendation from the geo-
logist had been received; therefore, it was staff's recommendation that
consideration of the parcel map be tabled pending receipt of the recom-
mendation. However, if the Commission wished to approve the parcel map,
a resolution,with attached conditions was drafted, with the recommenda-
tion that two additional conditions be imposed.
Mr. Yoshimura indicated agreement with the proposed conditions.
It was moved by Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. McTaggart, and unanimously
carried, that Resolution No. 76-7 (P.C.) be adopted, approving Parcel
-1-
Map #3795, subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A", with the
following additional conditions: (1) A waiver bd signed and submitted
not opposing any future sewer assessment district formation; (2) The
City shall be supplied a reproducible copy of the final map.
TENTATIVE TRACT #32673 Associate Planner Davis indicated
Hawthorne Boulevard - Alta Vista the Traffic Committee had reviewed
Applicant: South Bay Engineering access to the tract, with the recom-
mendation that the access be moved
south to align with Dupre. It was
staff's recommendation that the Commission approve the report prepared
by staff, subject to amended conditions, and forward the report to the
City Council.
On motion of Mr. McTaggart, seconded by Mr. Rosenberg, and unanimously
carried, condition 4(c) was changed to read: "A provision.... This shall
be through an assessment district."
On motion of Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. Blue, and unanimously carried,
the staff -recommended changes to the conditions were approved, specifi-
cally: (1) condition 5(a): "Limit the height of all structures to 16,0"
on lots which fall within the area shown on plans on file with the
Environmental Services Department. Structure height...." (2) condition
5(b): "Limit the height of walls and fences for lots adjacent to,
Hawthorne Boulevard to not exceed...."
Concern was expressed that the width of the lots be sufficient to accom-
modate a house without the need of a setback modification.
Don Dawson, of South Bay Engineering, indicated the following: (1) The
public parkway area should not be included in the assessment district;
(2) The developer will build all the houses himself; he does not anti-
cipate requiring any setback modifications. The footprints of the houses
will probably be roughly worked out prior to grading, and in the course
of these preliminary plans, special attention will be given to the nar-
rower lots, lots 21, 22, 5, 42, 43, and 29; (3) The applicant is satis-
fied with the meanings of the conditions recommended by staff.
On motion of Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. Blue and unanimously carried,
the Commission recommends approval of Tentative Tract #32673 to the
City Council, subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A", as
amended.
GRADING APPLICATION #58 Director Hightower summarized the
6443 Chartres Drive request for approval of grading for
Applicant: Oscar Robinson a single family residence, with the
recommendation that the plan be ap-
proved with conditions.
Wayne Willenberg, owner of the lot, indicated agreement with staff's
recommendation.
Victor Cabas, President of the Palos Verdes Monaco Homeowners Associa-
tion, expressed concern with how such a change might affect the height
of the structure.
Dave Alger, 30201 Oceanaire, questionned the legality of the size of the
lot in question.
On motion of Mr. Blue, seconded by Mr. McTaggart and carried, Grading
Application #58 was approved on the condition that it be revised and
that the Director be authorized to approve a revised grading plan which
reduces the rear yard slope to a percentage equal to or less than 66.60
without significantly increasing the area affected by grading.
GRADING APPLICATION #60 Director Hightower summarized the
6443 Chartres Drive request for approval of grading for
Applicant: Oscar Robinson a single family residence, with --the
-
-recommendation that the application
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either be denied or tabled for
and grading on slopes steeper
proposed grading substantially
grading area.
revisions, based on proposed construction
than 350, steep slope of the driveway, and
in excess of the maximum permissible
Alice Hamner:;. owner of the lot, indicated willingness to have her de-
signer revise the plans.
On motion of Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. McTaggart, and unanimously
carried to table consideration of Grading Application #60.
RECESS
At 9:00 p.m. a brief recess was
called. The Commission reconvened at
9:10 p.m. with the same members present.
VARIANCE #6 Director Hightower indicated the ap-
30159 Avenida de Calma plicaftt had requested that the matter
Applicant: Thomas Schorer be tabled; the appropriate Commission
and Associates action is to open the public hearing
and continue it.
Chairman Shaw declared the hearing open. On motion of Mr. -'Blue, seconded
by Mr. McTaggart and unanimously carried, the public hearing on Variance
#6 was continued to the next regular meeting.
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT #13 Director Hightower summarized the re -
30250, 30256 Avenida Selecta quest for a conditional use permit
Applicant: Cayman Development for a joint use/ownership, private
tennis court on two single family
lots, with the recommendation that
the request -be approved, subject to conditions.
Chairman Shaw declared the public hearing open.
Don Owen, of. Cayman Development Company, indicated agreement with staff's
recommended conditions.
Speaking in opposition to the proposal were the following individuals:
Dr. and Mrs. Camplin, 30235 Avenida Selecta; Klaus Schuegraf, 30331
Cartier; Victor Cabas, President of the Palos Verdes Monaco Homeowners
Association, 31021 Marne: The major concerns expressed included: noise
intrusion, adverse visual impact, noise reverberation in the cul-de-sac
area, and the matter of a precedent being set for more such structures in
the area.
There being no further testimony, the hearing was closed.
It was moved by Mr. Rosenberg, seconded by Mr. Blue, that Conditional Use
Permit #13 be denied on the basis of the findings that it will adversely
affect adjacent properties and that the proposed conditional use permit
does not --provide for regulation of noise, vibration, etc., as provided in
Section 9715(E)(5). The motion carried, with Mrs. Shaw dissenting.
TENTATIVE TRACT #32614 Associate Planner Davis reviewed the
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT #14 application for a tentative tract map
Crest and Crenshaw and conditional use permit to allow
Applicant: Great American development of 34 single family de -
Land & Development tached homes under the provisions of
Residential Planned Development on 8.5
acres at the north-west corner of
Crest Road and Crenshaw Boulevard. Mr. Davis reviewed major issues associ-
ated with the proposal, indicating staff's recommendation in each case,
with the overall recommendation that the public hearing be opened, the
major issues discussed, and the matter be continued to the next regular
meeting.
Nick Harrison of E. L. Pearson; Bill Schworer of Great American Land and
Development Company; and Paul Thoryk, architect for the project, repre-
sented the applicant, summarizing the architecture, design, and intent of
the project.
P.C. -3- 7/13/76
Speaking in opposition to the proposal were the following individuals:
Wallace Williams, 5605 Sunmist; Charles Kelly, 5501 Mistridge; Dennis
Plunkett, 5601 Whitecliff; George Hurst, 5612 Sunmist; Caroline Sorli,
5622 Sunmist; and Joe Der, 5618 Sunmist.
The major concerns expressed by those in opposition included the follow-
ing: (1) The view corridors through the project are not continuous;
there will be significant obstruction of views from adjacent properties.
Houses should be relocated to -reduce the obstruction; (2) The project's
density is too high; (3) Some of the proposed houses are too close to
the rear property lines and will adversely affect the privacy of ad-
jacent lots; no -setback modifications should be granted; (4) Access to
the project might be unsafe; (5) Retaining walls for the project might
adversely affect neighboring properties; (6) What type of fencing will
be used to surround the property to provide security?
Dave Alger, President of the Del Cerro Homeowners Association, expressed
concern with the access and traffic impacts of -the project.
Mssrs. Harrison, Schworer and Thoryk indicated the following: (1) View
corridors could be improved by repositioning some of the houses; (2) The
proposed project already provides for less grading and more open space
than the Development Code requires; (3) By removing some internal trees
and re -aligning the road, the entire project could be moved further away
from the adjacent residences; (4) A traditional tract would probably re-
quire substantially more grading than the RPD; (5) The developer would
not be receptive to reducing the number of units; (6) At most, a mean-
dering wrought iron fence would be used around portions of the property;
however, the developer would prefer to use only landscaping.
During Commission discussion of the project, the following concerns were
raised: (1) Trees in the center of the site may not be as important to
retain as those on the periphery; (2) The Commission might be amenable to
greater amounts of grading and removal of more trees to facilitate the
relocation of the houses to reduce view obstructions; (3) Consideration
should be given to reducing the density of the project; the current den-
sity proposed seems too high for the lot; (4) The matter of access should
be referred to the Traffic Committee for recommendation; (5) Plans for
tennis court lighting should be submitted; (6) More information is needed
in order to make a decision on the desirability of a residential planned
development on this property vs. a traditional tract development, and
the comparative ability of each type of subdivision to solve the topo-
graphy, view, housing orientation, vegetation problems associated with the
property.
Mr. Schworer-indicated schematic drawings of various alternatives would
be prepared for the Commission's review; however, concern was expressed
that unnecessary plans not be reqfiired due to excessive cost and time
delay.
On motion of Mr. McTaggart, seconded by Mr. Blue and unanimouslycarried,
the public hearing was continued to the next regular meeting.
STAFF REPORT
exclusively with grading
meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Director Hightower 'requested the
Commission to hold a special meeting
on Thursday, July 22, 1976, to deal
applications. The Commission agreed to such a
At 12:40 a.m.
and carried to
July 15, 1976,
it was moved, seconded
adjourn the meeting to
at 7:30 p.m.
P.C. -4- 7/13/76