PC MINS 19790424M I N U T E S
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Planning Commission
Regular Adjourned Meeting
April 24, 1979
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. in the City Council Chambers,
30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by Vice -Chairperson Bacharach.
PRESENT: Brown, Hinchliffe, McTaggart, Bacharach
ABSENT: Hughes
Also present were Director of Planning Sharon Hightower and Assistant Plan-
ner Karen Heit.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded
by Mr. McTaggart, and unanimously car-
ried, the minutes of the meeting of
March 27, 1979, were approved as presented.
GRADING APPLICATION NO. 358 Ms. Heit said the project was for the
3300 Via Campesina construction of a single family resi-
Applicant/Landowner: York & Voce dence in an RS -2 zone. She said the
proposed residence met all of the,
Code requirements. She said the
total average slope was 39 percent or greater and that more than 25 per-
cent of all grading activity was proposed on slopes greater than 35 per-
cent. She further described the project site and the project specifica-
tions. Staff recommended that the Commission require that the plan be
revised to relocate the proposed structure so that it minimized distur-
bance to the extreme slopes.
Jim York, York & Voce Construction, said the main problem with moving the
structure to the northerly portion of the lot was that it would lower the
elevation of the house and that there would be no view. He said he would
rather build it as proposed than follow staff's recommendation.
The Commission expressed concern about the steepness of the driveway and
suggested shifting the house and lowering the slope of the driveway,
using the higher ground for recreation.
On motion of Mr. Hinchliffe, seconded by Mrs. Bacharach, and unanimously
carried, Grading Application No. 358 was denied with the suggestion that
the recommended revisions be made and resubmitted to the Commission.
Mrs. Bacharach advised of the right to appeal this decision to the City
Council within fifteen calendar days.
VARIANCE NO. 38 Ms. Heit explained that this request
31429 Marne Drive was to allow for a wall which exceeds
Applicants/Landowners: John and the height limitation in both the
Barbara Dolan front and sideyard setback areas.
She reviewed the background of the
project, the Code considerations,
and staff's evaluation of the required findings. Staff recommended denial
based on the inability to'make the four required findings.
Public hearing was opened.
John Dolan, 31429 Marne Drive, said he purchased the property in 1976 and
noticed the lack of outdoor living area. He said he contracted a builder
to construct a deck in the rear. After the deck was under construction in
January of 1977, he was informed by the contractor that the deck could
not be built as proposed because the required supports would exceed the
City's 12 -foot height limit. He said he called the City in 1978 but
apparently misinterpreted the information he received regarding wall res-
trictions, and that he received approval from the homeowners association.
He said he contracted a different builder for the wall and that construc-
tion was completed on March 15, 1979. He felt this contractor may not
have been licensed. He said he received notice from the City stating
that the wall was not in compliance with the Code on March 17. He felt
the four findings were met as the enclosed area is the only outdoor living
area available, and the wall height was necessary to ensure privacy from
street traffic and to prevent headlights from shining into the front room.
He said the high wall also hides the patio equipment. He said due to the
high winds he was unable to permanently place any patio furniture on the
rear deck. He said a wind breaker could be built but would cause view
obstruction to his neighbors. He felt the rear deck was too small and
that the courtyard in the front was the only outdoor living space they had.
P. Dexter Allen, 31428 Marne Drive, had no objections to the wall. He said
there was a privacy problem without the high wall.
Daniel Torrance, 31423 Marne Drive, said the wall did not detract from the
neighborhood, and he had no objections to it.
On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded by Dr. Brown, and unanimously car-
ried, the public hearing was closed.
Mr. Hinchliffe felt there were extraordinary circumstances because of the
way the house was situated. He felt they had the right to privacy and
that this was a situation where the exception was warranted. He said the
area in the rear was not usable because of the wind conditions and not
buildable for suitable outdoor living area because of the steepness of
the lot.
Mr. McTaggart said the lot does not lend itself to any other location for
private recreation and it is located at the end of a cul-de-sac. He was
concerned, however, that the wall may not have been properly constructed.
He suggested a condition ensuring that the wall was built to Building
Code specifications.
Mr. Hinchliffe proposed a motion, seconded by Mr. McTaggart, to grant
Variance No. 38 based on the ability to make the required findings and
subject to the condition that the wall receives approval from Los Angeles
County Building and Safety.
Roll call vote was as follows:
AYES: Brown, Hinchliffe, McTaggart, Bacharach
NOES: None
ABSENT: Hughes
Mrs. Bacharach advised that this conditioned approval may be appealed to
the City Council within fifteen calendar days.
COMMISSION REPORTS On motion of Mrs. Bacharach, seconded
by Mr. Hinchliffe, and unanimously
carried, the Commission decided to
send an --i formal letter to homeowners associations asking that when they
approve plans, a statement be included in their letter of approval ad-
vising homeowners to also consult the City Code.
Jeannette Mucha, 5538 Littlebow, said she would also pass on this informa-
tion to members of the Council of Homeowners Association.
4/24/79 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -2-
OTHER MATTERS With regard to the University of
California Short Courses in Planning
and Community Development, 41rAs% M.
Ba -e ^-'^ felt someone should attend "How to be a More Effective Commis-
sioner" scheduled for July 21. The decision is to be made at a later
date as to who will attend.
There was a brief discussion on the upcoming changes of offic6rs. Direc-
tor Hightower said Council reorganization was expected to occur on May 1.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:10 p.m. it was moved, seconded,
and carried, to adjourn to Tuesday,
May 8, 1979, at 7:30 p.m.
4/24/79 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -3-