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PC MINS 19810728AlaeC - M I N U T E S City of Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission Regular Adjourned Meeting July 28, 1981 The meeting was called to order at 7:37 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by Chairman Hughes. PRESENT: Brown, Hinchliffe, McTaggart, Hughes LATE ARRIVAL: BAER ABSENT: None Also present was Associate Planner Richard Thompson. CONSENT CALENDAR on motion of Mr. Hinchliffe, seconded by Dr. Brown, the Consent Calendar was unanimously passed, thereby approving A) minutes of meeting of July 13, 1981 and B) minutes of meeting of July 14, 1981. 1 TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 13887 Mr. Thompson said the applicant was 7335 Via Lorado requesting approval for the division Applicant/Landowner: R. Murrin of an existing 23,411 square foot par- cel into two parcels. He said the lot split was well within the required Codes and guidelines and was categorically exempt from the California En- vironmental Quality Act. Staff recommended approval subject to the condi- tions contained in Exhibit "A" of the draft resolution. Mr. Hughes asked about the easement which currently serves this home and another home to the rear. Mr. Thompson said it was a pole, not a common driveway or easement. Robert Murrin, 7335 Via Lorado, said the driveway was owned by his neighbor. He said there was no easement over it, that his neighbor has let him use it. Dr. Baer arrived at 7:43 p.m. Mr. Hinchliffe proposed a motion, seconded by Dr. Brown, to adopt Resolution No. 81-51, thereby approving Tentative Parcel Map No. 13887 subject to the conditions of Exhibit "A". Roll call vote was as follows: AYES: Baer, Brown, Hinchliffe, McTaggart, Hughes NOES: None ABSENT: None Mr. Hughes advised of the right to appeal this decision to the City Council within fifteen calendar days. TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 31953 Mr. Thompson said the request was for CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 65 a 71 -lot subdivision on a 95 -acre site Paseo Del Mar and La Rotonda within the Coastal Zone. He said the Applicant/Landowner: Palos development would be spread over several Verdes Properties acres, rather than clustered, surround- ing an existing 100 -unit condominium complex. He said the proposal called for four lots adjacent to Palos Verdes Drive South, 18 lots on top of the knoll, 24 lots between La Rotonda and Paseo Del Mar, and 25 lots seaward of the Ocean Terraces condominiums, 13 of which were bluff -top lots. Staff was concerned with the proposed grading; 2:1 slopes were being created to provide for pad areas. Staff was also concerned with the access, the size of some of the lots, and the general configuration of each lot. He said staff would be preparing a view analysis at a later date. He said a letter was received from the Ocean Terraces Homeowners Association and had been included in the Commission's agenda packets. Staff recommended that the Commission open the public hearing and discuss major issues noted in the staff report. Staff further recommended that the Commission require re- design of the project pursuant to staff and Commission concerns. In response to Commission questions, Mr. Thompson said the project was sub- mitted prior to the completion of the Sedway-Cooke Subregion Study, but that the applicant was aware of the study and staff had discussed the matter with the applicant. In terms of lot configuration, staff felt the Open Space Hazard (OH) zones and bluff areas should be left out of the individual lots. He said staff received and granted a request by the applicant for a time ex- tension, which gave the City until December to complete project review. He referred to the areas of 2:1 slopes as shown on the exhibit on displav and said the most critical areas were along the bluff tops. He explained the process required to vacate a portion of Paseo Del Mar and said it would not interfere with access to this project. He discussed the identified land- slide in the area. He said if La Rotonda were extended, it would disturb the existing watercourse. He discussed the bluff road location suggested in the Coastal Subregion Study. He showed where the common open areas would be and said the lots on Palos Verdes Drive South should be moved into the development because of access onto a major arterial and because of public view. He said he discussed with the applicant the concept of focusing the development within areas rather than spreading it out. He said the applicant should receive direction tonight from the Commission. RECESS At 8:05 p.m. a brief recess was called. The meeting reconvened at 8:10 p.m. with the same members present. Mr. Hughes explained public hearing procedures and opened the public hearing. Clark Leonard, Lanco Engineering, 17430 Prairie Avenue, Torrance, said the map was filed two and one-half years ago and was designed before the Coastal Specific Plan and the Sedway-Cooke Study were completed. He said the highest and best use of the property was single family housing. He said they would agree to adjusting the lot lines per staff's recommendation. In response to Commission questions, Mr. Leonard said they did not plan for on-site group recreation because the site was so large; they felt it would be better to have passive recreation. He said with a clustered development there would be a larger amount of grading over a smaller area, but that overall the grading would be less. He said on the high side of the street structures were proposed to be two story at the street with one story in the rear, and that on the low side of the street structures were proposed to be one story at the street and two story in the rear. He suggested that bike paths and trails be incorporated into the project. He said they would shorten all lot lines and not go down to the bluff, and that they would probably offer the City a use easement over that area. He said they could reduce the grading by about 30 percent by reducing the lot sizes and re - contouring the slopes. He said they planned to sell the lots rather than develop them and suggested that each lot be approved with a specific pad elevation. He said by identifying the height on the pads and with the re- quired setbacks, they would create an envelope in which people could build. To prevent runoff problems from undeveloped padded lots sitting there, he said one solution would be to landscape the lots. He said there were only five lots in the center section that would be affected by future noise from the park. He discussed methods of mitigating noise impacts and said putting the access road on that side would be one way. He discussed alternatives 7/28/81 PLANNING COMMISSION 14INUTES -2- to the extension of Paseo Del Mar. Re the gun implacement sites, he said if they were not considered to be historical they would remove what was above the ground and fill what was below the ground. Monte Brower, Palos Verdes Properties, said he had no comments at this time but was available to answer any questions which may arise. Mark Bryant, Converse Ward Davis Dixon, said all of the geologic reports have been combined as requested by staff. He said they have correlated all of the data. He agreed with landscaping the pads to prevent runoff and said they could look at a temporary drainage solution. Elaine Fitz, 3200 La Rotonda, speaking on behalf of the 100 homeowners of the Ocean Terraces Homeowners Association, discussed their concerns re land stability, grading, footprints, the extension of Paseo Del liar, a buffer zone, open space, design guidelines ---development relocation, the median strip and traffic problems. She submitted written copies of her presenta- tion to the Commission and staff. In response to Commission questions, Ms. Fitz said they would like to be able to put up flags to determine what the height of the proposed homes would be. She said she would still be opposed to the extension of Paseo Del Mar even if the road is narrowed. She said policy 17 of the Coastal Plan addressed buffering and that they would want to be buffered from the road as well as the actual development. She said they would like more open space and more distance from this development. She said they have discussed their position with the applicant and that it was her understanding that the applicant was willing to move the road but that the City wanted it in its present location. Robert Else, 3200 La Rotonda, noted that there were about 20 homeowners present tonight. He said since the road can be built somewhere else they could not understand why it was proposed just 50 feet from their complex. He presented an August 1978 plan for the site showing the road just east of the watercourse. Harry Lee, 3200 La Rotonda, said he had nothing to add to the previous com- ments of his neighbors. John Arand, 5731 Mistridge Drive, representing the Rancho Palos Verdes Council of Homeowners Associations, said they had previously requested a full environmental impact report (EIR) on the project because they were concerned about the stability of the soil. He said there was no EIR and he wanted to be on record as still concerned about the land stability. He said he would like to receive a copy of the consolidated geology report as soon as it is available. On motion of Mr. P4cTaggart, seconded by Dr. Brown, and unanimously carried, the public hearing was continued. Mr. Hughes noted that there would be no further formal noticing by the City and advised the audience to stay in touch with staff to find out the future meeting dates for this item. Commission discussion ensued, and the Commission reached a consensus on the following: a clustered concept was favored with smaller lots and recrea- tional facilities, and direct access off the Drive was not desirable. The applicant was further directed to revise the grading plan, reducing the amount of grading. Re the extension of Paseo Del Mar, the Commission felt an alternative may be acceptable if it did not create a steep slope or otherwise unsafe condi- tion; however, they were also concerned about is alignment with the future bluff road. Mr. Hughes suggested extending La Rotonda to connect with the bluff road and designing a cul-de-sac street for access to the bluff lots, and further suggested that the issue be presented to the Traffic Committee for review. He also wanted information on what the impact would be to the watercourse. 7/28/81 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -3- Mr. Hinchliffe pointed out that the applicant was not the owner of all of the property which would be involved in providing the proposed bluff road; he thought a portion of it was owned by the City or the School District. It was the consensus of the Commission that Mr. Hughes' suggestion be ex- plored. Mr. Hughes also directed that the applicant deal with -.the rufi(5ff_­prob1-em if pads are proposed, and that the heights be established. In response to Commission questions, Mr. Thompson said the geology informa- tion reviewed thus far did not indicate any concerns that would require re- view by the City's consultant, Dr. Ehlig. He said the geology report had been submitted to the County Engineer for review. The Commission felt that since the question was raised about the possible relationship of this site to the Klondike Canyon/Flying Triangle slide, the issue should be addressed by both the City's consultant and the County Engineer. Staff was directed to contact Dr. Ehlig concerning his time constraints on reviewing this matter. The Commission felt Dr. Ehlig should review the geology at the same time the County review takes place rather than after- wards because of the December deadline. RECESS At 10:08 p.m. a brief recess was called. The meeting reconvened at 10:16 p.m. with the same members present. STAFF REPORTS Mr. Thompson said he called the Board of Equalization in Sacramento and spoke with an attorney about the sales tax question from the last meeting. He was told that the sales tax returned to the source in which it originated. Mr. Thompson said the meeting of August 5 to discuss the Levitt project has been cancelled because the County wants more information before they make a recommendation. ADJOURNMENT At 10:26 p.m. it was moved, seconded, and carried, to adjourn to Wednesday, July 29, 1981, at 7:30 p.m. 7/28/81 PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES -4-