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PC MINS 19780124• M I N U T E S City of Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission Regular Adjourned Meeting January 24, 1978 The meeting was called to order at 7:44 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by Chairman McTaggart. PRESENT: Bacharach, Hinchliffe, Hughes, McTaggart ABSENT: Rosenberg Also present were Director of Planning Sharon Hightower, Associate Planner Gary Weber, and Assistant Planner Charlie Jencks. MINUTES APPROVAL On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mrs. Bacharach, and unanimously carried, the minutes of the meeting of December 21, 1977, were approved with the following amendment: page 3, paragraph 11, line 2, should read "...for three single family units placed to maximize the view. The applicant..." On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded by Mr. Hughes, and unanimously carried, the minutes of the meeting of January 10, 1978, were approved with the fol- lowing amendment: page 4, paragraph 3, line 2, should read "...be passed on, but she would check and verify this." COMMUNICATIONS Director Hightower referred to a letter from the City Attorney which the Com- mission received this evening. She said the Commission could meet with the City Attorney on February 7. TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 33206 Mr. Weber said following the meeting of CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 31 December 13, an informal meeting was San Pedro Hill -Crest Road (East) held between the applicant, the consul - Applicant: S&S Construction Co. tant, staff and two members of the Com - Landowner: Palos Verdes Properties mission with the greatest expertise in the field of radiation. It was deter- mined at that meeting that further analysis of radiation exposure should be performed. He said he did not have the results of the additional testing due to inclimate weather. He reviewed the revised site plan, including modifications to the grading concept, road- way design, and the incorporation of a trail and vista point. He said the prime staff concern was the impact of the steeper created slopes. He said the applicant is proposing a 28 -foot width for all two-way road segments and an 18 -foot width for all one-way road segments. He said the applicant is providing a secondary egress, a trail system and look -out station. He said the pictures showing what the development would look like, as viewed from below, will not be ready until the next meeting. Staff recommended that the Commission reach a consensus on the proposed grading, roadway de- sign, and trail system. The public hearing was re -opened. George Putnam, vice-president of S&S Construction Company, said the radia- tion concern has not yet been resolved due to the weather. He said he had extensive work sessions with the engineer and architect re what grading could and could not be done, and he discussed the proposed slopes. He said much of the property will be out of view from the adjacent properties. He said additional parking and turn -outs will be provided on Crest Road. Mr. Hinchliffe was concerned about the enforcement of limiting the secondary egress to one-way traffic for egress only. Mr. Hughes requested information on the grading, specifically the maximum amount of proposed fill. Mr. Hinchliffe asked for a cross section on the upper level of lots as they relate to the radar facility. On motion of Mr. Hughes, seconded by Mr. Hinchliffe, and unanimously carried, the public hearing was closed. The Commission reached a consensus on the following: the design of the turn -outs, with review by the Director of Public Works re street design standards; and for a two-way road system throughout, as they felt it would be impossible to enforce as a one-way road and, therefore, that section of the road should be widened for two-way usage. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 37 Mr. Weber reviewed the staff report, 6610 Palos Verdes Drive South noting that conceptual approval had Applicant: Hanna -Barbera Marineland been granted at the last meeting and Landowner: Hollywood Park, Inc. that a draft resolution and conditions had been prepared. He reviewed the en- vironmental assessment procedures, since questions had been raised re the adequacy of the Initial Study. He said he discussed with the Director of Public Works the entrance design, the left turn lane, and moving the directional sign. He said the Director of Public Works responded to these issues as follows: the City will move the sign and is now looking for a location; the modified entrance design is adequate for the existing traffic and would very likely be adequate for future traffic; and modification of the left turn pocket was feasible and he would be looking into a dual left turn pocket and extending the pocket to allow for more stacking. Mr. Hughes asked if the applicant would agree to an additional condition that the theater be made available during off -hours to the general public and various groups on a net cost basis in a manner similar to that of the school district. Mr. Downs said it would be difficult for him to agree to a condition which would in effect force them to lease at cost to the general public when it does not conflict with the normal operations, and pointed out that the school district is supported by public funds, whereas Marineland is a private enterprise. Director Hightower said she did not think the City could require any private party to rent their facilities. The other Commissioners agreed. Mrs. Bacharach proposed a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes, to adopt Resolu- tion P.C. No. 78-26, thereby granting Conditional Use Permit No. 27, subject to the conditions in Exhibit "A", which were amended as follows: Condition #1 -- add "...within one (1) year unless development has been initiated." Condition #6 -- line 2, should read "...steps shall be under- taken by the applicant:" Condition #7 -- line 2, should read "...a written plan for the purpose of reducing Marineland..." Condition #8---- add ""...undertaken by the Director of Planning." ;. Condition #9" -- should read as follows: "Prior to any 'special events', which are defined as any event not typical to the normal operation of Marineland, a Special Use Permit application shall be sub- mitted." Roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Bacharach, Hinchliffe, Hughes, McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Rosenberg 1/24/78 PLANNING COMMISSION MINTUES -2- 0 PARCEL MAP NO. 5649 PARCEL MAP NO. 6862 Applicant: Thomas Outland because of scheduling problems with company. Staff recommended approval 16 Mr. Weber said the applicant was re- questing a six-month extension of Parcel Map No. 5649 (lot line adjust- ment on Via Colinita) and Parcel Map No. 6862 (lot split above library) the County Engineer and the title of both requests. On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded by Mr. Hughes, and unanimously carried, the Commission granted a six-month extension for Parcel Map No. 5649. On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded by Mr. Hughes, and unanimously carried, the Commission granted a six-month extension for Parcel Map No. 6862. RECESS At 9:20 p.m. a brief recess was called. The meeting reconvened at 9:30 p.m. with the same members present. SITE PLAN REVIEW NO. 438 Mr. Jencks reviewed the background of 7300 Via Collado this request for an antenna. He said Applicant: Joseph Agronick approval had been granted for the pro - Appellant: James Morrison ject on November 7, and that objections received resulted in a re -inspection which revealed that the antenna erected was not of the same profile as that which was approved. A new application was submitted and subsequently approved. He explained that complaints from the appellant continued to be received and as the effort between the appli- cant and the appellant to work out a compromise failed, an appeal was filed on December 27. Staff recommended that the approval be upheld since the antenna does not adversely affect views or property values from adjacent property owners. Public participation was opened. James Morrison, 7284 Berry Hill Drive, submitted and read a letter to the Commission concerning six grounds for appeal and nine additional concerns. He felt there should be notification df the neighbors with antenna requests and recommended a separate application be used for antennas. He said he was opposed to the location of this antenna as it obstructs his view. Mrs. Morrison spoke in opposition to the structure. Harold Bowen, next door neighbor of the Morrison's, spoke in opposition to the structure. The applicant was not present. Public participation was closed. After Commission discussion, Mr. Hughes proposed a motion, seconded by Mrs. Bacharach, to uphold the appeal of Site Plan Review No. 438 because the location of the antenna creates an adverse effect on the view. They re- quested that the applicant be informed of this decision and his right to appeal, and that he must file another application and submit a plan for a different location. Roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Bacharach, Hinchliffe, Hughes, McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Rosenberg GRADING NO. 238 28011 Lobrook Drive Applicant/Appellant: William Adams the grounds that all of the criteria cannot be adequately met or served. Public participation was opened. Mr. Jencks gave the background of the request and said the project was denied by staff on December 6 because of failure to meet the criteria in Section 9667 of the Development Code. Staff recommended denial of the appeal on for evaluation of grading applications 1/24/78 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -3- William Adams, 28011 Lobrook Drive, said he had an engineer draw up plans which met the retaining wall heights, and showed a drawing of the proposed tennis court as it would be viewed from Ambergate Drive. He also showed pictures and said the court level would not block anyone's view and was visible only from the balcony of the neighbor's home. Bill Mitchell, 28017 Lobrook, said the court would require f6ncing which would cause an impairment to his view. He said he was opposed to a loom- ing structure immediately adjacent to his property. Mrs. Mitchell expressed concern about the closeness of the structure. Public participation was closed. Mr. Jencks said the applicant has indicated he would remedy the current problems on the grading plan. Mr. McTaggart expressed concern about changing anything concerned with drainage without checking with the County. He felt that grading in extreme slopes has been allowed only for the purpose of the main use of the property and that slopes should have a natural appearance. Mr. Hughes proposed a motion, seconded by Mr. Hinchliffe, to deny the appeal of Grading No. 238 based on the Commission's determination that: 1. The proposed grading is excessive beyond that necessary for the permitted primary use of the lot; and 2. The proposed grading would significantly adversely affect the visual relationships with, or the views from, neighboring sites. Roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Bacharach, Hinchliffe, Hughes, McTaggart NOES: None ABSENT: Rosenberg Mr. McTaggart advised the applicant of his right to appeal this decision to the City Council within fifteen calendar days. GRADING NO. 241 Director Hightower said the applicant 2 Top Rail Lane was appealing a staff denial of a re- Applicant/Appellant: quest to add 49 cubic yards of fill to David English a horse trail in a canyon. She said the request was denied because staff determined that the proposed grading, taken cumulatively with all other grading which has been done on the site, is excessive beyond that necessary for the permitted primary use of the lot. She said the trail also cuts through an area of Open Space Hazard. She showed pictures and said the area was considerably steep. Staff recom- mended denial based on excessive and unnecessary scarring of the natural landscape. Mr. Hinchliffe asked if staff was aware of the letter delivered to the Commission by the applicant and, if so, what was staff's response to the specific points mentioned in the letter. Director Hightower said she was not given a copy of the letter, but had seen a copy of it, and that staff disagreed with most of the points men- tioned. Dave English, 2 Top Rail Lane, said the scarring which was the original complaint of the neighbors is over with, and that the request did not con- cern a great deal of dirt. He said it should not change the topography at all. Speaking in favor of the request were: Howard Cohn, 2638 Colt Road; Richard Todd, 8 Top Rail Lane; Dave Weston, 104 Rockinghorse Road; Richard Scott, 35 Rockinghorse Road; and a resident of Goldenspur. They felt the project would make the lower trail less steep, less dangerous, and would benefit the entire area, as it is the only trail in the area on which to ride. 1/24/78 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -4- Arthur Brock, 2831 Colt Road, spoke in opposition to the request, saying that there has been illegal grading in the canyon and permits issued to exceed the allowable grading. He said he supported staff's position as being sound, just, and accurate. Mr. English showed pictures of the area in question. Public participation was closed. Mrs. Bacharach felt since the trail was there and seems to be a community resource at this point, that it should be made safe and should allow access. Mr. Hinchliffe was concerned that this appears to be an on-going subject and has been a piece -meal effort over a long period of time. He felt on a cumulative basis, it is excessive. Mr. Hughes concurred and felt additional fill was unnecessary. Mr. McTaggart did not feel raising the trail would make it any safer. Mr. Hinchliffe proposed a motion, seconded by Mr. Hughes, to deny the appeal of Grading No. 241 based on excessive and unnecessary scarring of the natural landscape. Roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Hinchliffe, Hughes, McTaggart NOES: Bacharach ABSENT: Rosenberg Mr. McTaggart advised the applicant of his right to appeal this decision to the City Council within fifteen calendar days. STAFF REPORTS Director Hightower said the City Attorney would meet with the Commission at the meeting of February 7 re the tree trim ordinance. She said the meeting will probably take place right at 7:30 p.m. Director Hightower said there was no facility available in the City for the joint Planning Commission/staff meeting. The Commission agreed to hold the meeting at Ante's Restaurant in San Pedro at 6:00 p.m. February 15. COMMISSION REPORTS Mr. McTaggart said he called the City Attorney today re antenna applications and was advised that the Commission make sure the findings are spelled out when making the decision. Mr. Hughes expressed concern about the poor lighting in the City Council Chambers, as several of the fixtures have burned out and are not being re- placed. ADJOURNMENT At 11:45 p.m. it was moved, seconded, and carried, to adjourn to Tuesday, February 7, 1978, at 7:30 p.m. 1/24/78 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -5-