PC MINS 19770421M I N U T E S
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Planning Commission
Special Adjourned Meeting
April 21, 1977
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. in the City Council Chambers,
30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by Chairperson McTaggart.
PRESENT: Bacharach, Blue, Hughes, Rosenberg, McTaggart
ABSENT: None
Also present were Director of Planning Sharon Hightower and Associate
Planner Larry Davis.
Mr. McTaggart announced that the Environmental Committee would be having
another hearing on the environmental impact report of the Coastal Plan on
April 27 at 7:30 p.m. and that anyone with input on the environmental as-
pects should attend that meeting.
Director Hightower distributed to the Commissioners a package containing
material on policy.,. General Plan amendment and Code amendment proposals
for consideration at a work session.
COASTAL SPECIFIC PLAN The public hearing was re -opened.
Penny Miller, 29112 Firthridge, repre-
senting the Palos Verdes Peninsula
League of Women Voters, expressed the concerns of the League and submit-
ted to the staff the letter which she read to the Commission. The con-
cerns expressed by the League were re protecting marine resources, main-
taining coastal agricultural land, preserving the visual qualities of
coastal view -sheds, protecting the aesthetic qualities, avoiding hazards,
having coastal recreation consistent with natural resources, and provid-
ing adequate public access to coastal areas. She further said the League
was concerned about the increases in density, particularly those proposed
for Subregion #1 and #7, and the ambiguities on the map on page N-38,
what was meant by "marginally stable", and felt the City should actively
consider more ways to obtain open space such as requiring dedication of
open space land.
Mrs. Bacharach said as President of the League, a procedure has been es-
tablished whereby she had nothing to do with the statement made tonight
and will have nothing to do with any statements in the future to be pre-
sented to the City.
Mr. McTaggart announced that there will be work sessions on the Coastal
Plan following this hearing and that before any recommendations are made
to the Council, the Commission will review everything thoroughly.
Barbara Gleghorn, 28850 Crestridge, said she had specific comments from
people who were unable to attend the hearing, as follows:
Dorian Dunlavey urged the Commission to take into consideration
the preservation of a reasonable amount of agriculture in
Subregion V.
Janet and Ralph Porter were concerned with the traffic impact
and felt it would be less if the density were one unit per
acre or agricultural.
Betty Field was very concerned with keeping the -density low
along the coastline...
Faye. -and Jim Kuhns felt the City must leave an area for fruit
and flowers.
Another woman (not named) felt perhaps it would be necessary
to reactivate "Save Our Coastline".
P.C. MINUTES 4/21/77
Mrs. Gleghorn suggested a way for agricultural use to remain would be to
create a residential -agricultural planned development in Subregion V,
with the homes on one unit per acre lots and the agricultural land on a
commonly -owned lot. She suggested consulting the present farmers of the
region re this.
Scotty Wuerker said she was also thinking in long range terms re agricul-
ture by looking at the food shortage.
Lester Whalley, 1212 West Gardena Boulevard, Gardena, representing people
interested in purchasing some -coastal property, said a great deal of the
coastal land has a very shallow top soil and, therefore, limited growth
potential. He said the tax rate would -have to be lowered on the property
in order for farming to be feasible, and that the City would have prob-
lems with an agricultural Program and with low density due to the tax
rate. He said there is a shortage of homes and that with the water
shortage, it is difficult to maintain the landscaping on large lots. He
suggested having planned development areas instead, as some of these pro-
perties will not be easy to develop. Re trails, he felt the City would
be creating liability by develping an attractive nuisance. He felt ac-
cess should be provided to the ocean, but it was too dangerous to have
trails along the bluff.
Dodie Burkhart said she lives across from the bluff and has pictures of
all the people who now use the area, and that no one has ever fallen over.
Frank Nargin, South Pasadena, said people with large lots do not maintain
the entire area any more, just the area right around the home. He sug-
gested a planned community development to provide the City with complete
control over all pro3ects. He said people with large lots in Covina and
other areas are now requesting lot splits because of the maintenance
problems and the taxes.
Ray Scallobrino felt the coastline should be maintained in the most
natural way possible.
Ms. Gleghorn said she lives in an area with lots 1/2 to 1 acre in size
and where horses are allowed. She said the lots are not covered with
weeds and that people are using low -maintenance types of planting because
of the water shortage.
Mr. Whalley said the property is always taxed based on the best and high-
est use. He said it appears that the people up on the hill are interested
in preserving the open space of the land below in order to enjoy their
view at the expense of the property owners of the land below who are pay-
ing high taxes for their property. He felt there should be some balance.
Tom Johnson, Palos Verdes Estates, owner of property on Via Campesina,
said he was very interested in maintaining the rural atmosphere with one
unit per acre lots. Re the Berry property, he said he would develop with
a minimum number of units.
Barbara Hein felt access roads should be built only in areas which are
currently not developed, not in areas which are now developed. Re re-
source management, she said at the time the General Plan was adopted,
the County had developed the concept of coastal resource management, and
that this could be used as a protection in terms of zoning. She said
she had written material on file from the County re this.
Mr. McTaggart requested a copy of the information she has, and she agreed
to submit it.
Ralph Jester asked if architectural control has been considered. Mr.
McTaggart said except for the Miraleste area which is controlled by the
Palos Verdes Estates Art Jury, the only architectural control in the
City is through the homeowners associations.
Mr. Jester said he would recommend it for the City as low density does
not necessarily provide an aesthetically pleasing development, and that
guidance is important. He suggested a study be undertaken of the pros
and cons of architectural control. He agreed to help in any way he could.
P.C. MINUTES -2- 4/21/77
In response to Commission questions, Director Hightower said she was
quite familiar with architectural review boards and that many cities have
them. She said if the Commission wished to recommend this, it should be
a city-wide regulation; not 3ust part of this coastal plan; that the
board can be formed without an election, as the members are appointed by
the Council as with any other commission. She said some cities require
experts on the commission, others require only lay people, and others
require some of both.
Mr. McTaggart suggested discussing this at a work session.
George Shaw, 28101 Lobrook, asked how the elaborate guidelines on U-66
would be implemented.
Mr. Davis said those guidelines were very much like the criteria in the
grading ordinance, that they are just guidelines and all do not have to
be met.
Mr. Jester said Palos Verdes Estates has regulations which could be used
as guidelines.
Tim Burrell, 4038 Exultant, representing the Seaview Residenta Associa-
tion, of which he is president, said 1) re Subregion #6 and #7, the As-
sociation,was more concerned with design criteria rather than density,
and would like to see the preservation of a vista and maintenance of an
open effect rather than a solid wall of homes along the roadway; 2) re
Palos Verdes Drive South and street improvements, there are service roads
providing access to both sides of the street right now; 3) re access to
the bluffs and ocean, the Association is in favor of the coastal bluff
trail and removing the existing fences; 4) re future development of the
Portuguese Bend area, that beach utilization be limited because of the
access problems.
Mr. McTaggart told Mr. Burrell that if he receives any more input from
the Homeowners Association to inform the.Commission.
Public hearing was closed.
RECESS At 9:00 p.m. a brief recess was called.
The meeting reconvened at 9:15 p.m.
with the same members present.
FUTURE MEETINGS The Commission and staff discussed
the work session schedule and the fol-
lowing schedule was agreed --upon:
Coastal Specific Plan work sessions were scheduled for April 28 and May 5
and if the Commission has not completed its study at the meeting of the
5th of May, an additional work session might be set for May 12; a work
session on tree trimming, grading, antenna, and code amendments was set
for May 19; a hearing for the Antenna Ordinance was set for May 31.
Mr. McTaggart said the Council still wished to schedule a joint meeting.
He suggested a Monday evening during a week when there was no regular
Planning Commission meeting. He said if anyone has any items to place
on that agenda to please let him know, and that one item already scheduled
is legal representation for the Planning Commission at certain hearings.
Mr. Blue suggested legal representation specializing in land use as an
item, and said perhaps the City Attorney could recommend a consultant.
Re.the Short Course for Planning Commissioners meeting in San Francisco
on June 2 and 3, Director Hightower said there was money available in
the budget for the Commissioners to attend this, and that those inter-
ested in attending and in having the City handle the reservations, etc.,
should informthe staff.
All of the Commissioners indicated they would like to attend, but Mr.
Rosenberg was not sure he would be able to. Mr. McTaggart asked that
staff make his reservations, Mr. Rosenberg said not to pre -register him,
and the others said they would call staff.
P.C. MINUTES -3- 4/21/77
• �l
Director Hightower reminded the Commission to hold onto the material dis-
tributed to them tonight, as they will be discussing the issues at the
May 19 work session.
HOMEOWNERS MEETING Mr. McTaggart said at a meeting the
previous evening with presidents of
homeowners associations, it was de-
cided to develop an organization to better represent the homeowners to
the City, and that-Lif everyone agrees, he has volunteered to be the------.
liaison. He said they further requested that all information they re-
ceive from the City be dated (re draft code amendments, etc.).
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:45 p.m. it was moved, seconded,
and carried, to adjourn to Tuesday,
April 26, 1977, at 7:30 p.m.
P.C. MINUTES -4- 4/21/77