PC MINS 19891024/0 g
MINUTES
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 1989
The meeting was called to order at 7:33pm by Chairperson Wike
at Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
PRESENT Wike, Hotchkiss, Von Hagen, McNulty, Brooks
ABSENT None
Also present were Director of Environmental Services Robert
Benard, Associate Planner Laurie Brigham and Assistant
Planner Lisa Marie Breisacher.
COMMUNICATIONS
Chairperson Wike acknowledged a letter received regarding
Height Variation 573.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Minutes of September 26, 1989
B. TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP NO. 20475, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
NO. 567, COASTAL PERMIT NO. 67, VARIANCE NO. 240;
6560 PVDS -- Chairperson Wike cited a concern regarding
the walls between the parcels in this project, citing the
fact that there are no walls between properties in the
neighboring development. Mr. Benard noted that the
walls provide privacy, and that the neighboring
development consists of attached units where a wall would
not be appropriate. Mrs. Wike asked for a general
consensus to remove the condition permitting walls, but
none of the other Commissioners felt the wall issue was a
problem.
Commissioner Von Hagen moved to adopt the consent calendar as
it stands, Commissioner McNulty seconded, and the motion
passed unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Associate Planner Laurie
NO. 150, SIGN PERMIT Brigham presented the staff
NO. 458 report regarding the
29019 S. Western Ave. applicant's request to allow
refacing of several existing
non -conforming signs on the Sizzler building and the existing
pole sign. Staff's recommends approval of a sign program
with conditions and modifications to allow the refacing of
existing signs and a new monument sign, and to deny the
PLANNING COMMISSIafV MINUTES
October 24, 1989
Conditional Use Permit and require the pole sign to be
removed. Ms. Brigham also noted that since Sizzler has
already refaced the sign colors with a blue face without
prior Planning Commission approval, penalty fees will be
assessed.
Chairperson Wi.ke opened the public hearing.
Rafael Fernandez, 6009 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles,
representing the applicant's architect, stated that they
would be willing to remove the pole sign, but are not
interested In erecting the monument sign if they would have
to remove two of the three parapet signs because of square
footage requirements in the development code.
Ms. Brigham noted that without the pole or monument signs,
the applicant will come In under code on the square footage.
Richard Hermani., 6009 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, also
representing the applicant's architect, asked for more time
to remove the pole sign.
Robert Theroux, 29002 Highmore Ave., neighboring resident,
stated he had no objections to the application as it stands.
The public hearing was closed.
Commissioner Von Hagen moved to adopt staff recommendation
#3, to approve a sign program to allow the refacing of the 3
parapet signs, the 1 collage sign and the 2 directional
signs, and requiring that the pole sign be removed within 60
days. Commissioner Brooks seconded the motion.
Commissioner McNulty moved to amend the recommendation to
allow the applicant to retain the pole sign through the
amortization date of May 1990. The amendment was not
accepted.
A vote was taken on the original motion put forth by
Commissioner Von Hagen, and the motion passed 4-1, with
Commissioner McNulty dissenting.
CONTINUED BUSINESS
A. HEIGHT VARIATION NO. Associate Planner Laurie
573 -- APPEAL Brigham presented the staff
27412 Elmbridge report regarding the
appellant's appeal to overturn
the staff's denial of Height Variation No. 573, thereby
approving the addition. Staff's recommendation is to deny
the appeal, thereby upholding the Director's denial of the
height variation.
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PLANNING COMMISS9 MINUTES •
October 24, 1989
Chairperson Wike opened the public hearing.
Mike Neuman, 27412 Elmbridge, appellant, spoke in favor of
the appeal, stating that his addition would only affect 20%
of the 180 degree view available, and that it is usually not
clear enough to see the views anyway.
Joseph Diamond, 27425 Elmbridge, spoke against the appeal,
citing view impairment.
Fann Swift, 27418 Elmbridge, also spoke against the appeal,
stating that she felt there would be a problem with hillside
stability, view impairment and loss of privacy.
Joanne H. Schoetzow, 27419 Elmbridge, also spoke against the
appeal.
Carolyn White, 27413 Elmbridge, spoke against the appeal,
presenting photographs showing that her view had already been
severely impaired by trees on the adjacent property, and that
the addition would block the remainder of that view.
The public hearing was closed.
Commissioner McNulty noted that this was a unique situation
since the second story views from the split-level homes
across the street are protected under the code's 16'/30'
standard, and that the view impairment would be significant
in this case.
Commissioner Brooks asked why staff felt that recommendation
#2, to direct the appellant to redesign the project to
minimize view impairment, was not appropriate. Mr. Benard
noted that recommendation #2 would give the appellant a
chance to come in with new plans under an active application
to avoid new fees, but that staff has recommended denial of
the appeal since the appellant has shown no interest in
redesigning.
Commissioner Von Hagen stated that he did not see significant
view impairment by the proposed second story, but conceded
that privacy could be an issue. Commissioner Hotchkiss
pointed out that the views from across the street would be
cut in half by the new addition.
Commissioner McNulty moved to approve staff recommendation #3
to deny the appeal, Commissioner Brooks seconded, and the
motion passed 4-1, with Commissioner Von Hagen dissenting.
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PLANNING COMMISSO MINUTES
October 24, 1989
NEW BUSINESS
A. HEIGHT VARIATION Commissioner McNulty moved
NO. 583 -- APPEAL to continue this item to
26833 Hyte the November 14 meeting
as requested by the appellant,
Commissioner Hotchkiss seconded the motion, and it passed
unanimously.
B. GRADING NO. 1311 Citing conflict of interest,
5641 Seaside Heights Chairperson Wike stated that
since she was a close neighbor
of the applicant, she would temporarily remove herself as the
Chairperson, and turn the chair over to Commissioner McNulty.
Assistant Planner Lisa Marie Breisacher presented the staff
report regarding the applicant's request to approve an
existing 5' high retaining wall located in an extreme slope
in the side yard. Staff's recommendation is to approve the
request. Staff also recommended that an unapproved
greenhouse in the backyard be removed contingent upon this
approval.
The public hearing was opened.
Matt Matsushita, 5641 Seaside Heights, applicant, explained
why the wall had been constructed, and said he did not object
to removing the greenhouse, since his wife did not like it
anyway.
Luella Wike, 29172 Oceanridge, neighbor, spoke in favor of
the application, stating that she did not object to the
greenhouse at all, and suggesting that the applicant obtain a
extreme slope permit to allow it to remain.
Mr. Benard stated that the greenhouse could be approved under
the current grading application.
Commissioner Brooks moved to adopt the staff recommendation,
amending it to include approval of the greenhouse.
Commissioner Von Hagen seconded the motion, and it passed
unanimously.
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE --There were no questions from
the audience.
REPORTS
Staff: Mr. Benard noted that a Special Use Permit approved
administratively for a rock crusher at the A&H project on
PVDS has been appealed, and that the Commission will hear it
in two meetings. He also noted that the appeal period for
the Wallace Ranch Special Use Permit for a sales office has
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PLANNING COMMISS MINUTES
October 24, 1989
expired, so the application is now valid.
Mr. Benard stated that the League of California Cities
conference in San Francisco has been cancelled, and will be
rescheduled, with time and place to be announced.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:59pm.
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