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PC MINS 19851112 MINUTES410 411 ti Planning Commission November 12 , 1985 The meeting was called to order at 7 : 35 PM by Chairman McNulty at Hesse Park Community Building, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PRESENT: MC NULTY, HODGE, ORTOLANO, VON HAGEN ABSENT: NONE LATE: W I K E Also present were Director of Environmental Services Sharon Hightower, Contract Supervisor Charles Abbott, Director of Public Works George Wentz , Associate Planner Alice Berquist Angus, Associate Planner Steve Rubin, sistant Planner Grea Fuz and Assistant Planner Jack Roberts . COMMUNICATIONS None CONSENT CALENDAR The Consent Calendar was amended as follows : Minutes of October 22 , 1985 A correction was made to Page 2 , Paragraph 1 , "The staff recommendation was to adopt Resolution PC No. 85-27 . . . " A correction was made to Page 3 , Paragraph 4 , "The staff recommendation was to adopt Resolution PC No. 85-28 . . . " A correction was made to Page 3 , Paragraph 10 , "There will be no logos , signage or wording. . . " Page 5 , Paragraph 1 , insertion after "pool/spa area" to read, "and approving the project in portions was discussed. " Minutes of September 10 , 1985 A correction was made to Page 3 , modifying Paragraph 5 to read, "The Commission dis- cussed the need for more community input, trails on private property and trail maintenance costs" deleting "that the language. . .trails . " 411 411 Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 2 Mr. Von Hagen moved to approve Consent Calendar as amended, seconded by Mr. McNulty and passed unanimously. CONTINUED BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARINGS Tentative Tract Map 44239, The staff report which was CUP 100 , GR 830 presented by Associate Rancho Palos Verdes Invest. Planner Steve Rubin Bredero Hawth. Gldn Cove recommended the public hearing for Tract Map 44239, CUP 100, and GR 830 be continued until December 10 , 1985, at which time additional public testimony be taken. Staff noted City' s review may y of applicant ' s geological report to be completed by December 10 , 1985 . Chairman McNulty opened the public hearing. With no addresses to the item , the public hearing was continued. Mr. Von Hagen moved the public hearing on Tract Map 44239, CUP 100, and GR 830 be continuedavailable until the next available date, seconded by Mrs. Wike and passed unanimously. 10 was discussed to be a convenient date for the continuation of the public hearing on Tract Map44239 , CUP 100 , and GR 830 . Tentative Parcel Map 17161 The staff report wasp resented Coastal Permit No. 17 , by Greg Fuz on this request st to E.A. No. 472 allow subdivision of an 87 acre area into 3 parcels of 46 , 22 and 19 acres . The staff recommendation was to adopt Resolu- tion PC No. 85-29 giving tentative approval to Parcel arcel Map No. 17161 subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A" attached thereto and to give final approval to Coastal Permit No. 17 and Environmental Assessment No. 472 . The City Council will review the map for final approval since the proposed conditions of approval require dedications of land. 410 111 • Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 3 Staff discussed the primary purpose of the map to be facilitation of the legalizatioin of the leased lots in the Portugese Bend Club by separating them from the remainder of the Portugese Bend Club land and another purpose of the request was to enable residents to purchase their leased lots . Staff voiced its support of the property division which would allow homeowners to resolve the status of the land and make improvements to the slide area. Also, it was pointed out the hearing was continued to allow applicant and staff to discuss the proposed conditions of approval . Staff stressed the leased lots are separate from and labeled "not a part" of this subdi- vision and approximately five acres were mentioned to be developable in the future. Commission concerns included maintenance of the Klondike Canyon Drain improvements and the release of the security bond before the subdivider completes the improvements . Discussion continued regarding the City' s responsibility for maintenance of the area between the fill slopes , the remaining area to be maintained by whoever does the work, the subdivider, the Abatement District or the home- owner ' s group. There was additioinal discussion in reference to the cost limits on the retention basin/small pipe system or the large pipe system. Chairman McNulty opened the public hearing. Applicant ' s consulting engineer, Michael Nichols of Lanco Engineering, 17430 So. Prairie Avenue, Torrance, stated the developer is ready to accept staff ' s recommended conditions . With no further addresses to the item, Chairman McNulty closed the public hearing. t 411 411 • Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 4 Mrs. Ortolano moved to =. p:.. staff's recommendation to adopt Resolution PC No. 85-29 giving tentative approval to Parcel Map No. 17161 subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A" attached thereto, and giving final approval to Coastal Permit No. 17 and Environmental Assessment No. 4'2 with the following change to be made to Condition 12, " . . .The cash, bond, or other improvement security may be released without prior construction of such improvements by _subdivider if arrangements satisfactory to the Planning Commission. . . " Seconded by Mr. Von Hagen and passed unanimously with no dissenting votes.. Chairman McNulty advised applicant of appeal rights. NEW BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARINGS Pre-Zoning for Annexation of The staff report was presented Property at Western Plaza, by Associate Planner Alice E.A. No. 481 Berquist Angus on this request to adopt Resolution PC No. 85- 30 recommending the area be prezoned Commercial General (CG) , Specific Plan District ( SPD) and that the Final Negative Declaration be adopted for Environmental Assessment No. 481 . Staff noted prezoning establishes the zoning in effect once the area becomes part of Rancho Palos Verdes . The property was noted to be in the City of Los Angeles and owned by San Pedro Beach Properties . The Commission requested clarification of the lots included in the annexation. Chairman McNulty opened the public hearing. With no addresses to the item, the public hearing was closed. Mrs. Wike moved to adopt Resolution PC No. 85-30, recommend- ing to City Council that the area be zoned Commercial General (CG) , Specific Plan District (SPD) to be consistent with the adjacent zoning within the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and that a Final Negative Declaration be issued for this project since it will not have a significant effect on the environment. Seconded by Mr. Von Hagen and passed unanimously. 411 410 ; . . J Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 5 Variance No. 129 The staff report was presented Fujinaga by Assistant Planner Jack 5047 Browndeer Roberts on this request to reduce the required twenty foot front setback to five feet eight inches for a proposed room addition on a flag lot. The staff recommendation was to adopt Resolution PC No. 85-31 approving Variance No. 129 subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A" attached thereto. Staff noted applicant ' s request to encroachi into the front set- back may be justified because of the irregular flag configur- ation of the lot and as other flag lots in the same zoning district have similar front setback encroachments . Chairman McNulty opened the public hearing. With no addresses to the item the public hearing was closed. Mr. Von Hagen moved to adopt staff 's recommendation approv- ing Variance No. 129 subject to the conditions contained in Exhibit "A" attached thereto, seconded by Mr. McNulty and passed unanimously. Chairman McNulty advised applicant of appeal rights . INFORMAL HEARINGS Encroachment Permit No. 3 Associate Planner Steve Rubin Kassarjian presented the staff report on 60318 Calle De Suenos this request to allow two existing fences to remain in a City held easement. The staff recommendation was approval of Encroachment Permit No. 3 subject to Condition Nos . 1-4 as set forth in staff ' s "Recommendations" . Staff discussed how the existing fences would not interfere with City use of the easement and that the enclosed slope portions of the easement are landscaped and well maintained as opposed to being unattended if the fences were located on the side property line of 30618 Calle de Suenos . No public objections were noted to be received on this item. r 111 Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 6 Mrs. Ortolano moved to approve Encroachment Permit No. 3 subject to Condition Nos. 1-4 as set forth in staff's "Recommendations" . Seconded by Mr McNulty and passed unanimously. Grading Application No. 832 Associate Planner Steve Rubin Appeal - Kusar presented the staff report on 1920 MacArthur Street this appeal of staff denial to construct a maximum five foot high, downslope sideyard retaining wall . The staff recommen- dation was denial of the appeal . Staff concerns included the five foot height of proposed . retaining wall , the ten foot height of proposed combination wall , applicant' s intent to park trailer in subject area and visual impact on adjacent property owners at 1912 MacArthur. Also of concern were the current lot coverage of 39% as opposed to the 44 . 8% after completion and the expanse of the wall and the +50% slope. Staff discussion included the authorization for applicant to apply for a Minor Exception Permit for a wall with a total height of ten feet as opposed to the permitted 9 . 5 feet, five feet of which would be a retaining wall . The requirement of a minimum 36" "hand rail" atop the proposed retaining wall where it equaled or exceeded a 30" height and the Development Code ' s intent to limit grading through a 3 . 5 foot retaining wall maximum were also discussed. Commission concerns included the visual impact on surround- ing properties , the ability of a 3 . 5 foot wall to support the slope, applicant ' s landscaping plans and the possibility of trailer rental . Mrs . Wike stated she formally knows the residents at 1912 MacArthur. Mr. Donald Kusar, 1920 MacArthur, applicant, stated he would lower his request of a total height of ten feet to eight feet if necessary for approval and he intends to enhance the wall ' s appearance by using either brown cinderblock or slumpstone. Applicant noted he feels the proposed ninteen foot sideyard to be necessary in order to negotiate his trailer from the driveway to the sideyard. The Commission discussed possible alternatives to applicant ' s request. • 411 111 • Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 7 Mrs. Ortolano moved to grant appeal to Grading Application No. 832 to permit applicant to build a retaining wall up to the height of five feet on the conditions that the wall be built of tan slumpstone and that the freestanding wall on top of the retaining wall not exceed a total height of eight feet. Seconded by Mr. Hodge and passed unanimously with no dissenting votes. Chairman McNulty advised applicant of appeal rights . Grading Application No. 844 Assistant Planner Greg Fuz Appeal - Jaynes presented the staff report 27 Santa Catalina Drive on this appeal of staff denial to place solar panels on a rear upslope of 50% . The staff recommendation was to approve applicant ' s request in concept, with modificatiou,s of reducing maximum encroachments into slope from twenty feet to twelve, reducing footings from sixteen to eight and pre- paring a landscape and drainage plan for staff review and approval . Staff noted Island View CC&Rs allow for solar panels to be flush mounted on the roof and the Architectural Review Committee approved applicant ' s placement of the solar panels on the slope. Commission concerns included the effectiveness of eight footings as opposed to applicant ' s original request of sixteen, visual impact of the panels and slope stability/ run off . Alternative locations for the placement of the panels were discussed. Richard Jaynes , 27 Santa Catalina Drive, applicant, address- ed Commission concerns stating there is not a sufficient alternate location for the placement of the panels and he intends to landscape around the panels to reduce their visual impact. Mr. Jaynes discussed the slope stability stating it consists of solid rock and voiced his concerns over the reduction in the scale of the project. Mr. David Saltzman, 3258 E. Willow Street, Long Beach, contracted to install applicant ' s solar pool heating, stated the size and number of arrays were designed to heat applicant ' s pool for six to eight months (with blanket) alternative heating needed during November, December, January and Febraury. He noted that, in order for the pool ' s solar heating to be of the same quality as originally designed, the collectors would be 4 ' X 12 ' instead of 4 ' X 10 ' . Mr. Saltzman also pointed out that the system could be engineered with eight AMMIMMI footings 30-31 ' wide instead of the original number of sixteen ggeMMOM footings 26 ' wide. jl 411 410 • Minutes November 12 , 1985 Page 8 The Commission advised Mr. Saltzman of the City' s solar panel and slope restrictions . Additional discussion included staff ' s reaction to appli- cant ' s proposed reductions and the possibility of attaching the panels to the retaining wall . Mr. McNulty moved to continue the hearing; seconded by Mr. Von Hagen and defeated 2-3 with Mr. Hodge, Mrs. Ortolano and Mrs. Wike dissenting. Mrs . Wike moved to approve applicant's appeal of staff denial of Grading Application No. 844 with reduction in the encroachment from twenty feet to twelve feet and to reduce the number of footings to eight with the possibility of attaching them to the retaining wall and to prepare landscaping and drainage plans for staff's approval. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Ortolano and passed by majority with Mr. McNulty and Mr. Von Hagen dissenting. QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Elaine Firman, 1933 Upland Street, voiced her objections to the Commission ' s approval of Grading Application No. 832 - Appeal and showed concern over possible precedent setting of grading approvals in her neighborhood. The Commission advised Ms . Firman of her appeal rights and stressed the importance of her testimony during the informal hearing. The Commission pointed out that, since each application is considered individually, a precedent is not being created with the approval of Grading Application No. 832 - Appeal . REPORTS STAFF None COMMISSION None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 35 PM to 7 : 30 PM, November 20 , 1985 , Dodson Junior High.