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PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 8, 1990
The meeting was called to order at 6:30pm by Chairman McNulty
at Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
PRESENT McNulty, Von Hagen, Hotchkiss, Brooks,
Katherman
ABSENT None
Also present were Director of Environmental Services Robert
Benard, Planning Administrator Curtis Williams, and Assistant
Planners Mike Patterson and Bonnie Olson
( Note: The following public hearing item was taken out of
order from the agenda in order to accommodate the noticed
meeting time.)
PUBLIC HEARINGS -- HOUSING ELEMENT
A. DRAFT HOUSING ELEMENT Planning Administrator Curtis
Williams presented the staff
report regarding the Draft Housing Element reflecting changes
made in response to comments at the Planning Commission and
City Council workshop on March 26, 1990. Staff's
recommendation is to consider the consultant's presentation,
accept public testimony, and to continue the public hearing
to June 12, 1990.
Ralph Castaneda, 14841 Yorba Street, Tustin, the City's
housing consultant, presented an overview of the document,
and noted that the Summary section had been deleted, and a
new Chapter VII added, outlining the City's five-year housing
program. Changes were also made to include additional
discussion of the City's RDA activities, and to clarify the
goals, policies and objectives of the plan. Mr. Castaneda
then reviewed nine quantified objectives proposed to satisfy
State housing requirements, and 13 proposed actions to
implement the overall program.
In response to a query by Commissioner Brooks, Planning
Administrator Williams noted that the proposed ratio of
employee housing to hotel rooms had been deleted in the
revision, and instead would be discussed as part of the
employee housing program implementation.
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PLANNING COMMISSION 40ETING
May 8, 1990
Chairman McNulty expressed concern that the estimates of the
Southern California Association of Governments don't reflect
the realities of Peninsula housing and economic situations.
Mr. McNulty also commended the consultant on the quality of
the revised draft.
The public hearing was opened, but there were no members of
the public wishing to speak. At this point, Commissioner Von
Hagen expressed his disappointment at the lack of turnout,
and Mr. Williams stated that notice had been sent to all of
the HOA's and the newspaper, as well as to a list of about 25
interested parties. Chairman McNulty then asked Staff to
provide the Commission with the list of persons to whom the
notice was sent. Commissioners Brooks and Katherman
suggested that more descriptive notices might be appropriate
to generate additional public interest.
It was moved, seconded and carried unanimously to continue
the public hearing on the housing element to June 12, 1990.
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Minutes of April 24, 1990.
B. Variance No. 255, Coastal Permit No. 85 -- 131 Yacht
Harbor drive.
Commissioner Katherman moved approval of the consent
calendar. Commissioner Von Hagen seconded the motion, which
passed without objection.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
B. EXTREME SLOPE PERMIT The staff report was presented
NO. 20 by Assistant Planner Bonnie
4228 PVDE Olson, regarding the applicant's
request to allow the
construction of a retaining' -wall, stairs and a deck within a
slope with a ratio greater than 3:1. Staff's recommendation
is that the application be approved with conditions.
Len Wood, 4228 PVDE, applicant, stated that he was agreeable
to all the conditions of approval.
Chairman McNulty expressed concern regarding the broken patio
supported by the failed garden wall. Mr. Benard noted that
the geology and engineering on the foundation would be
reviewed through the building permit process.
The public hearing was closed, and Commissioner Von Hagen
moved to adopt the staff recommendation with a note that
Commissioners be able to review a later set of plans. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Katherman and passed
unanimously.
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PLANNING COMMISSION IPETING
May 8, 1990
Commissioner Von Hagen also requested that the old staff
report map system be used instead of the Thomas Guide maps.
C. VARIANCE NO. 257,
GRADING NO. 1427,
COASTAL PERMIT NO. 88,
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
NO. 68 "A"
73 Laurel Drive
an extreme slope. Staff's
application.
Assistant Planner Bonnie Olson
presented the staff report
regarding the applicant's
request to allow grading and the
resultant 5' high retaining wall
in the side yard and to allow a
portion of the residence within
recommendation is to deny the
The public hearing was opened.
Marshall Lewis, 721 Latimer Road, Santa Monica, architect for
the applicants, gave a brief history of the project, citing
contractor problems as the cause of the unauthorized grading.
Mr. Lewis also noted that erosion control had been
implemented, and pointed out that the portion of the
residence within the toe of the slope had been approved in
the original plans.
Mr. Benard noted that the building pad on this lot had been
drawn into the toe of the slope, and that extremely large
building pads had been approved for the entire tract.
The public hearing was closed.
Chairman McNulty stated that this was an example of "carried
over" approvals prior to the City's incorporation, and that
the tract design also preceded the Coastal Specific Plan.
Planner Olson noted that the requested walkway was not needed
for any health or safety r6asons. Chairman McNulty asked if
a restored slope would be less stable than the original,
which Mr. Benard then stated had also been fill resulting
from a complicated grading project with transition slopes not
meant to be altered.
Commissioner Von Hagen commented that the situation was a
clear cut code violation, and that he could not make the
findings to allow it. Mr. Von Hagen moved to adopt the staff
recommendation to deny the application. Commissioner Brooks
seconded the motion, with Commissioner Katherman noting that
it was a "self-imposed" hardship for the applicant. The
motion passed 4-1 with Chairman McNulty dissenting.
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PLANNING COMMISSION 4JETING
May 8, 1990
NEW BUSINESS
A. GRADING NO. 1416 The staff report was presented
30524 Ganado by Assistant Planner Mike
Patterson regarding the
applicant's request for approval of an existing addition to a
single-family residence, an existing spa, and an existing and
proposed rear yard retaining wall. Staff's recommendation is
to approve the request with conditions.
Vladimir Reil, 30524 Ganado, applicant, stated he had no
objections to the conditions of approval.
Commissioner Katherman moved approval of the staff
recommendation, Commissioner Hotchkiss seconded, and the
motion passed unanimously.
B. GRADING NO. 1421 The staff report was presented
3274 Crownview by Planner Patterson, regarding
the applicant's request to
approve an 8' retaining wall with an existing cut. Staff's
recommendation is to approve the request with conditions.
Chairman McNulty noted that he had visited the site and
expressed concern that a possible second unit is being built,
with extensive plumbing and stairs. Mr. McNulty suggested
that the City inspect the cut as well as the plans to verify
compliance with the Code. Chairman McNulty also objected to
the applicant's unapproved grading and questioned the
integrity of the contractor doing the work, and suggested
that all notes on plans be initialled by the contractor to
indicate agreement and compliance, and that all notes be
transferred when plans are altered.
Commissioner Von Hagen suggested that this item be continued
to allow for further investigation of the apparent code
violations and second unit questions.
Steve Nemeth, 3162 Crownview Drive, neighbor and
representative of the MHHOA, stated his objections to the
work being done, and noted that many of the neighbors were
upset at the unapproved work being done as well.
Commissioner Von Hagen moved staff alternative #1 to deny the
application. Commissioner Hotchkiss seconded the motion, but
no vote was taken.
Chairman McNulty noted that a restored perpendicular slope
would be difficult and potentially dangerous. Planner
Patterson noted that the applicant had removed an already
existing retaining wall in order to cut back the slope.
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PLANNING COMMISSION OETING .
May 8, 1990
Commissioner Von Hagen withdrew his earlier motion, and moved
to continue the item to allow the staff to come back with
alternative solutions to the problems. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Brooks, and carried unanimously.
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
There were no questions from the audience.
COMMISSION REPORTS
Chairman McNulty noted that a team is in place to interview
prospective City Managers which includes Acting City Manager
Cornett, CATV advisory committee member Mimi Horowitz, and
two former City Managers.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:32pm
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