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PC MINS 19830726(13) M I N U T E S City of Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission Regular Adjourned Meeting July 26, 1983 The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 30942 Hawthorne Boulevard, by Chairman Hinchliffe. PRESENT: Hinchliffe, Brown, McNulty, McTaggart LATE ARRIVAL: Hughes ABSENT: None Also present were Director of Environmental Services Sharon W. Hightower, Associate Planner Sandra Massa Lavitt and Assistant Planner Dino Putrino. COMMUNINATIONS The following letters were received: (1) A letter from Rancho Palos Verdes resident Carl Havorsen regarding Golden Cove. (2) A letter from Don Wallace, Jr. regarding Grading No. 665; and, (3) A letter from the League of Women Voters regarding moderate income housing. July 12, 1983 Minutes OLD BUSINESS Golden Cove Project General Plan Amendment No. 12 Zone Change No. 12 Environmental Impact Report No. 22 Mr. McTaggart made the motion to pull the minutes and have them placed later on the agenda. Motion passed. Ms. Lavitt recapped the decisions re- quired by Planning Commission as stated in the staff report, concluding with the staff recommendations stated in said report. Mr. McTaggart asked staff if anything had been received from the City Engineer on drainage. Director Hightower replied that would be addressed later. Mr. Howard Adler, 505 No. Tustin, Santa Ana, landowner, spoke to the Commission stating that everything had already been said but that he just wanted to add that they had been working in a spirit on cooperation with the City, that assuming the process continues, that the Planning Commission will take a position, and that the pro3ect made sense from their point of view and he hoped from the City's point of view. Mr. Hinchliffe asked Mr. Adler if he felt they had come as far as they could come regarding land value versus density. Mr. Adler replied that it did not make any sense to continue if they had to reach lower densities and that they were committed to trying to make it work at the density stated. Mr. Robert Smith, 2004 Yacht Vigilant, Newport Beach, applicant, addressed the Commission saying that he felt the project would be of benefit to the City and anticipated the Planning Commission selecting one of the'four options stated by them at a previous meeting and if the density increases they will be able to offer more of the moderate income housing that the City wanted. Chairman Hinchliffe asked Mr. Smith if the moderate income housing the maximum Mr. Smith for information regarding the tically instead of stacked and how wide placed. he felt that at the 12 du/ac. was they could offer and he asked stacked units being placed ver - would they be if vertically Mr. Smith replied that their bottom line was providing 12-1/2% of the project for moderate income housing and that in regard to the stacked units being vertical he replied that if done vertically the cost would be higher and in doing so the width comes down to only 15 feet which had a tendency to be unattractive and that they still preferred stacked units. Mr. Bill Gemmell, 31031 Via Rivera, resident, recounted his and his wife's involvement in obtaining signatures for the petition against the project previously given to the Commission and that one of the reactions of many of the people who signed the petition was that of surprise that a high density project such as this was even being considered. He also stated that he preferred that the zoning remain as is. Mr. McNulty moved to close the public hearing, motion was seconded and passed. Dr. Brown moved to approve Environmental Impact Report No. 22 in concept. Mr McNulty seconded, motion was unanimously passed. Dr. Brown asked staff about Code Amendment No. 19 and with a density credit would this project be approved. Director Hightower answered that it depended on the base zone and upon the requirements. She further suggested that the Commission not be specific and just determine what the total density might be including bonus. Mr. McTaggart made the motion to recommend to the City Council that they deny General Plan Amendment No. 12, Mr. Hughes seconded. Mr. Hughes stated that he could not approve the zone change, that Golden Cove Center was the only commercial center the City had, and that it was clear that the residents did not want the project. He was not opposed to development of the site but that the density was not acceptable and that in the future it could be developed into a larger commercial site that would be compatible with the adjacent park and center. Mr. McTaggart stated that the commercial center was the major avenue for raising funds and that the developer had been very straight forward in his presentation. He added that he felt that the Planning Commission had listened to every aspect of this project with an open mind adding that he considered a change in the General Plan not acceptable. If we were to convert this it would be extremely difficult to ever take residential property and convert it to commerical. To go the other way would be extremely difficult. Mr. McNulty stated that it was unfortunate that it appeared to him that the developer had been mislead regarding units per acre and that this was a severe departure from the original intent of the City, and coupled with all the signatures and my own discussions with other people that I then found that this particular concept would be unexceptable. Dr. Brown commented that the land use decision should be made regardless of the density and that the question was should the land be changed from commercial to residential. He could support that change since he person- ally felt that the parcel continuing as commercial was not feasible, and that he could support the change in land use designation but that he had a problem with the zone density. Mr. Hinchliffe stated that he could go along with Dr. Brown's comments and further stated that he could support the General Plan Amendment but that the density question needed to be discussed. PLANNING COMMISSION -2- July 26, 1983 2 Based on the motion before the Commission to recommend to the City Council denial of General Plan Amendment No. 12 the following roll call vote was taken: McNulty Yes Hughes Yes Hinchliffe No McTaggart Yes Brown No. Motion passed, three yes, two no. NEW BUSINESS Minor Exception Permit No. 143 Appeal Kenneth & Cheryl Caughlin 6412 Via Canada Mr. Putrino stated the main portions of the staff report outlining the project and upon what the appeal of said project was based. Helen Gray, South Bay Engineering, 304 Tejon Place, Palos Verdes Estates, representing the appellant, requested a continuance in order to complete her findings and also due to the request of the appellant to have her do a view analysis later in the week. She added that the issue was not only pad elevation but also what is downhill from site. Dr. Brown moved that the Planning Commission proceed on this item and not postpone. Motion died. Mr. Hinchliffe stated that the Commission would proceed with the item and determine if it should be continued later. Michael E. Deitch, 18411 S. Crenshaw, Torrance, representing the appellant and the neighbors on both sides, requested a continuance based on the fact that they had not received the staff report until last Friday. He said that the photographs taken by staff were from the Punj's terrace and that the lower floor was the real living area, adding that a view from the livingroom would affect the quality of natural view. Dr. Brown stated that the Development Code states that if an addition to the main structure is under 16 feet it would be allowed even if it was a view obstruction. Kenneth and Cheryl Caughlin, 6412 Via Canada, landowners, jointly addressed the Commission stating that the issue was not for view but for land cover- age and that they were not destroying the view and did not feel this should be postponed since the elevations were already available of both houses. Dr. Brown moved to deny the appeal for Minor Exception Permit No. 143, Mr. Hughes seconded,, motion was unanimously passed with Mr. McNulty abstaining as Mr. Deitch was a referral attorney colleague. Grading No. 665 Ms. Lavitt presented the staff Don C. Wallace report and recommendations. 28503 Highridge Grading of Site Mr. Hughes asked staff if the soil was uncompacted and if the fill estimate was roughly ten feet. Ms. Lavitt replied yes to both questions. Dick Leonard, 3003 Windmill Road, Torrance, developer of the adjacent tract, stated that the original stockpile permit was to stockpile on Mr. Wallace's property and that the bulk of the stockpile was used in his tract and 10,000 yards was taken from the property and out of the City. The agreement with Mr. Wallace was that any area used would be smoothed out and top soil added and that when they had removed the bulk of the PLANNING COMMISSION -3- July 26, 1983 5 stockpile Mr. Wallace asked for contouring and something he could mow. He said that Mr. Wallace was aware that the soil was not compacted and that in his opinion they had taken most of the stockpile away and had tried to comply with Mr. Wallace's request to normalize the area. Mr. Hinchliffe said that he was told that Mr. Leonard could not get any new building permits until the stockpile was gone and was there an oppor- tunity to seek advise from staff as opposed to just spreading the earth. Director Hightower stated that Mr. Leonard had requested spreading and that she had denied that request. Also that the building permits had come up more recently and that she had told Mr. Leonard that he must apply for a grading permit before the permits for the models would be approved, and he had done so. Mr. Brian Tilley, 29026 Indian Valley Road, spoke saying that over the years the site had been used as a dumping place and because there used to be ponding of water it became a breeding ground for rodents and insects. He also stated that in the past the winter water runoff had caused cracked sidewalks and that the filling of the land had eliminated these problems and also had relieved the area of weed problems and gave a nicer appearance to the neighborhood. Mr. Hughes made the motion that they approve thd:recoirfmendations.stated in the �;taff reportbr that the fill be compacted,, -'on -an either./or basis. -Mr. .'MC'N�u-l't_y�sec6naed' motion passed with three yes, two no. Mr. Hinchliffe announced that no building permits should be issued until this approval was complete. Director Hightower replied that the permits for the models for Phase I have already cleared. Mr. Hinchliffe made the motion not to approve any further building permits until grading was completed. Mr. Hughes seconded, motion passed unanimously. Grading No. 670 Ms. Lavitt presented staff report. Tumanjan and Tumanjan Coastsite/Seacove Mr. Peter Delgado, 22939 Hawthorne Stockpile -8,000 cubic yards Boulevard, Torrance, representing Tumanjan and Tumanjan addressed the Commission commenting that the main cause for the large amount of dirt was uncompacted earth around sewer at upper site placed approximately twenty years ago which included a great amount of rock and that they had to recompact with gravel which had generated a massive amount of excessive dirt. Mr. Hughes asked if there were any plans for the park. Ms. Lavitt replied that the developer had done a preliminary plan of the landscaping for the park. Mr. Hughes asked Mr. Delgado why they did not cart it away. Mr. Delgado explained that it was too expensive and that they wanted to use it in the park. Dr. Brown recommended that a condition could be placed on the plans for the park. Mr. Hinchliffe pointed out that it was not a very big park and his concern over view problems if the dirt was left there. He stated that the landowner should remove the dirt as agreed. Mr. Hughes moved to deny Grading No. 670, motion was seconded and unani- mously passed. NOT ON AGENDA SCHEDULE Ms. Sunshine, 6 Limetree, Rancho Palos Verdes, delegate from the Palos Verdes Horseman's Association, spoke to the Commission saying that she wanted to bring the Association's existence to the attention of the Commission and it has approximately 300 members who would like to extend their assistance regarding trails and horses. PLANNING COMMISSION -4- July 26, 1983 Recess called at 9:40 p.m. Meeting reconvened at 9:50 p.m. STUDY SESSION Second Units • Discussion was held regarding approaches that could be used in the decision making process of an ordinance denying second units. A Committee consisting of two members, John McTaggart and Melvin Hughes, was formed to draft the ordinance. KlaWSI&O Additions in Moratorium CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes of July 12, 1983 Director Hightower reported that the Planning Commission recommen- dation had been received and filed by the City Council. Mr. McTaggart pointed out that an error was made on Page 2, para- graph 9 under the subject of Golden Cove. Paragraph should read 72 units not 72/acre. Minutes of July 12, 1983 were then approved as amended. Meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. .0 PLANNING COMMISSION -5- July 26, 1983 6�