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PC MINS 19860812• M I N U T E S PLANNING COMMISSION August 12, 1986 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Vice Chairman Ortolano at 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PRESENT: HODGE, MC NULTY, ORTOLANO, WIKE ABSENT: VON HAGEN Also present were Director of Environmental Services Bob Benard, Asso- ciate Planner Greg Fuz, Associate Planner Steve Rubin and Assistant Planner Jack Roberts. COMMUNICATIONS Vice Chairman Ortolano related the following communications: (1) A letter from Mr. and Mrs. George Crawford regarding their concern over possible view impairment with regard to Specific Plan III; (2) A copy of a communication from Mr. and Mrs. Otho Catlett to the Alcoholic Beverage Control protesting the sale of alcohol by the Southland Cor- poration at 29505 South Western avenue; (3) A notice from Director of Environmental Services Bob Benard regarding the City's approval of a Special Use Permit at 5300 Crest Road (Daughters of Mary and Joseph); and (4) A note from the City Attorney stating that the Jazzercise Con- ditional Use Permit application is not sub3ect to the existing mora- torium on Western Avenue and that the application is scheduled for Planning Commission hearing on September 23, 1986. CONSENT CALENDAR Minutes of July 8, 1986 Minutes of July 22, 1986 moved to accept the July 1986 minutes as amended. passed unanimously. CONTINUED BUSINESS PUBLIC HEARINGS The July 22, 1986 minutes were amended to read, "PRESENT: HODGE, MC NULTY..." Mr. McNulty 8, 1986 minutes as presented and the July 22, The motion was seconded by Mr. Hodge and Specific Plan III Associate Planner Greg Fuz re- viewed that Specific Plan III is the City's means of encouraging a cooperative effort between the City and property owners on Western Avenue. 601CP/MIN4.1-7 Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Two Staff noted the following modifications to the Specific Plan III Cor- rections/Clarifications/Additions or- rections/Clarifications/Additions to Draft Plan: Page 3.18 - "...may be allowed in place of individual wall signs..." and Page 3.28 - "_..sympathetic to the existing site topography. Standard of prefab- ricated materials shall not be used." Vice Chairman Ortolano opened the public hearing. Interested parties included: Mr. & Mrs. Otho Catlett 29602 Bernice Drive Mr. George Crawford 29546 Bernice Drive Ms. Jeannine Etchevery 29641 South Western Ave., #313 (Eastview Townhomes) Ms. Barbara Kennard 3402 Deluna Drive Dr. Michael McGowan 28902 South Western Avenue Mr. Claude Montgomery 29540 Bernice Drive Mr. Don Pierson Colt Road Mr. Tim Stanton 28798 South Western Avenue Mr. Leslie Vien 29532 Bernice Drive Interested parties discussed: The Western/Summerland intersection, the City's treatment of commercial establishments as opposed to resi- dential properties, concern over the Western Avenue gateway to the City, view impairment, concern over the emphasis on visitor servicing uses/increased Western Avenue traffic, bicycle/pedestrian traffic along Western, the Tasman Sea's excavation on the downslope of the Catlett property, the Tasman Sea's roofline, wheel stops, buildings on small lots should be placed so that the private residences at the rear of the property would be affected as little as possible, the hillside plantings should augment that which already exists, hours of operation should coincide with the City of Los Angeles, wooden/tile roofs, City of Los Angeles merchant complaints regarding the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Code enforcement procedures, Code sign parameters/sign permits, concern over the City's requirement of a 3001 radius map for sidewalk sales, tree view blockage, setbacks and parking. Staff discussed: The Tasman Sea has been notified to stop work on the downslope side of the Catlett's property, Bernice Drive residents will be notified of any proposed changes to the Tasman Sea, Specific Plan III would not change the current front setbacks or the rear residen- tial setbacks but the sideyard setbacks between commercial property would be reduced, parking is allowed in front setback areas, landscape buffers would be reduced from 101 to 51 on all streets, the parking space dimensions would be reduced and angled parking would be permit- ted, the Planning Department's sign permit requirement to change a sign face/building permits are required for sign repairs if electrical 601CP/MIN4.1-7 L' Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Three • work is involved, City Council's decision to study the 3001 notice re- quirement for sidewalk sales, the City reviews commercial property tree selections during the Conditional Use Permit process and Specific Plan III would affect the current regulations and not those in exis- tence before the area's annexation into the City. The Commission discussed: The City will continue to pursue Code vio- lations related to the Tasman Sea's excavation on the downslope side of the Catlett property, commercial tree selections are reviewed dur- ing the Conditional Use Permit process, resident misconceptions relat- ed to Specific Plan III, and stressed the importance of residents be- ing informed through Planning Commission meeting attendance. Mr. McNulty moved to continue the public hearing to August 26, 1986. The motion was seconded Mr. Hodge and passed unanimously. Staff mentioned packets containing information on other cities speci- fic plans/ordinances would be available for Commission review. Variance 136 - Jayatilaka Assistant Planner Jack Roberts 3462 Via Campesina presented the staff report on applicant's request to allow for a reduction of the required 201 setback to 121 for the installa- tion of a solarium with the recommendation that the Variance be denied and applicant be directed to apply for a Minor Exception Permit for a lesser encroachment into the front setback. Vice Chairman Ortolano opened the public hearing. Ms. Rosetta Wilson, 3456 Via Campensina, property owner to the rear of the Jayatilaka residence, urged the Commission to grant the Variance. Mr. Wally Ford, 330 The Village, Redondo Beach, 90277, applicant, dis- cussed the need for the solarium to heat the dining area of the Jaya- tilaka home, that the Jayatilaka family should be allowed to utilize the front of their property and the solarium would be in line with the roof overhang. Vice Chairman Ortolano closed the public hearing. Mr. McNulty moved to approve Variance No. 136 and overrule the staff findings. Mr. Hodge seconded and the motion was passed unanimously. Appeal rights were noted. The Commission stated its willingness to assist staff in determining the findings for the Variance. 601CP/MIN4.1-7 Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Four INFORMAL HEARINGS 1 1,�-,,WSign Permit No. 304 - Pierson Assistant Planner Jack Roberts 29621 South Western - presented the staff report on Casual Cuts applicant's request for an identification sign exceeding that allowed by Code with the recommendation that if applicant elects to maintain a wall sign on the building face it must conform to Code and applicant would then be required to remove the pole panel sign. The Commission reviewed the importance of the sign size conforming to those adjacent to it and voiced concern over applicant being directed to reduce the top and the bottom of the sign in addition to the sides of the sign. Mr. Chris Moranto, 1723 Taper Avenue, San Pedro, 90731, Casual Cuts, owner, stated that the underlining of Casual Cuts is an integral part of the logo and that reducing the top and bottom of the sign would destroy that logo. He emphasized the original Commission direction was to reduce the sides of the sign and not the top and bottom and that the sign would not conform to those adjacent to it if the top and bottom were cut. The Commissin noted that the sign should be brought into Code confor- mance at the end of the current amortization period. Mrs. Wike voiced her agreement with staff's recommendation and voiced concern over the cumulative effect should the sign be approved. The Commission stressed property owners in the area have a clear un- derstanding of the City's sign Code and cumulative effect should not be a consideration. Mr. McNulty moved to allow applicant to reduce the sign to the propos- ed 30 square feet maintaining the three foot height of the sign with- out cutting the Casual Cuts logo and that the approval be conditioned upon the fact that at the termination of the now established amortiza- tion period the sign will fall into conformity with any existing sign ordinance in the City on this particular piece of property. The mo- tion was seconded by Mr. Hodge. Mrs. Wike restated her concern over the applicant being allowed to keep the reduced cannister sign and the existing -sign. F614� The Commission emphasized applicant's signs will be brought into com- plete Code compliance at the end of the amortization period. 601CP/MIN4.1-7 Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Five The motion was passed by majority with Mrs. Wike dissenting. Appeal rights were noted. NEW BUSINESS Height Variation 446 - Appeal Eaton (Appellant) - Pitz (Applicant) Pitz residence with the recommendation Assistant Planner Jack Roberts presented the staff report on the Eaton appeal of staff ap- proval of a 22' addition to the that the appeal be dismissed. Mr. Russell E. Barto, 3 Malaga Cove Plaza, Suite 202, Palos Verdes Estates, California 90274, applicant's architect, discussed: The background of the project, the proposed addition would include a sec- ond two car garage, one bedroom and bath, office space, an extension of the living room/family room, and a minor extension of an existing bedroom, his efforts to comply with the Code, architectural committee approval of the plans, the project would respect the required side - yard setbacks, the additional garage would create more off-street parking spaces, the proposed structure would clearly be a single fami- ly residence compatible with the surroundings, and his efforts to sa- tisfy appeallant's concerns. Mrs. Wike voiced concern over the proposed addition of a laundry room door opening to the outside and the possibility of a rental unit re- lated thereto. The Commission discussed that the laundry room door would be within Code and should not relate to the Height Variation re- quest. Interested parties were as follows: Mr. George Clarke Mr. Robert Eaton Mr. John Kolich Mr. William McNeely Mr. Mickey Masden Ms. Beverly Worth 26157 Barkstone 26132 Barkstone 5709 Wildbriar 5747 Wildbriar 5739 Wildbriar 1801 South Catalina, #103, Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (Appellant's Attorney) Interested parties discussed: The architectural committee's approval consisted of only one member (Mr. Zuckerman), concern over rental unit possibilities with the addition of the proposed laundry room door, view impairment, cumulative effect/adverse environmental impact, the proposed second garage is unnecessary, the proposed structure would be too massive for the lot, concern over loss of sun, seabreezes and pri- 601CP/MIN4 Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Six vacy on the east side of 26132 Barkstone, the Rolling Hills Estates compatibility ordinance, the commercial appearance of the proposed addition, and possible Code violations related to the front roof over- hang, the front porch and the side roof overhang. Staff stressed any possible Code violations would be resolved. The Commission discussed: Its decision would be independent of the architectural committee's, staff would resolve any possible Code violations, understanding of appellant's concerns, an its support of staff's decision that there would be no significant view impairment. The Commission emphasized applicant's Height Variation request should be the issue under consideration, voiced concern over Code loopholes which permit overbuilding on a small lot, and reviewed the possibility of continuing the hearing so that all commission members would be pre- sent and so that staff could ask the City Attorney's opinion as to the Commission's power to deny the application on any basis other than height. Mr. McNulty moved to deny the appeal. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hodge. The Commission stressed that its decision would be based strictly on the basis of the Height Variation request. The motion was passed by majority with Mrs. Wike dissenting. Appeal rights were noted. Staff mentioned that City Council could dismiss the appeal on the basis of its merits (with no discussion other than its merits) or Council could choose to hold a hearing on the appeal. QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE Mr. Robert Eaton questioned how interested parties could have been more effective in their appeal of the Pitz Height variation request. The Commission said interested parties should recommend to Council that a neighborhood compatibility ordinance be established, advised concerned parties to transfer the architectural review abilities from the architectural review committee (Mr. Zuckerman) to the homeowners, association, and emphasized that the view impairment as a result of the addition would not be significant. 601CP/MIN4.1-7 Minutes August 12, 1986 Page Seven REPORTS STAFF COMMISSION ADJOURNMENT 601CP/MIN4.1-7 None Mrs. Wike related the issues discussed at the recent Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula Center remodeling meeting. Upon motion of Mr. McNulty and seconded by Mr. Hodge the meet- ing was adjourned at 10:50 P.M.