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PC MINS 19901113MINUTES PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 13, 1990 The meeting was called to order at 7.31pm by Chairman McNulty at Hesse Community Park, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PRESENT McNulty, Von Hagen, Hotchkiss, Katherman ABSENT Brooks Also present were Director of Environmental Services Robert Benard, Associate Planners Joel Rojas and John Leung, and Assistant Planners Mike Patterson, Terry Silverman and Donna Jerex. COMMUNICATIONS Chairman McNulty acknowledged a note from the Shipmans regarding Height Variation No. 652. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Minutes of October 23, 1990 B. P. C. Resolution No. 90- , HV No. 684 -- Appeal, 3300 PVDE -- The appellant requested that this item be pulled from the Consent Calendar for further discussion. Chairman McNulty decided it would be heard under Continued Business. Commissioner Hotchkiss moved approval of the revised Consent Calendar, Commissioner Von Hagen seconded, and the motion carried without objection. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. HEIGHT VARIATION NO. Director Benard stated that the 652 -- APPEAL applicant was not yet present, 4048 Admirable and asked that the item be heard later. B. CONDITIONAL USE Associate Planner Leung PERMIT NO. 160 -- presented the staff report 28902 Western Ave. regarding the applicant's request to allow construction of a cupola and mast approximately 25 ft. and 29 ft. in height, and installation of 25 sq.ft. wall signs on the north and south sides of the building. Staff's recommendation is to approve the CUP for the cupola and one sign on the south side with conditions, and to deny the mast and the north side sign. PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING November 13, 10 0 Commissioner Hotchkiss inquired as to the potential use of the mast, and Mr. Leung stated the applicant would probably use it as a flag pole, and although it would fit in with the bank's nautically -themed building, staff felt the pole added too much clutter to the area near the cupola. The public hearing was opened. Jim Davis, 1333 S. PCH, Redondo Beach, president, Bay Cities National Bank, applicant, asked the Commission to grant both the north and south side signs since he did not feel that the front sign was adequate, but stated he did not object to their denial of the mast, where they would have flown an American flag. Eric Worsted, 1230 W. Anaheim, Long Beach, sign designer, stated he had designed all the signage to fit in with the City guidelines of one sq. ft. each foot of lineal frontage. The public hearing was closed. Chairman McNulty inquired of staff as to whether the proposed signage did indeed fall within the actual guidelines. Director Benard stated that the applicant had interpreted differently the total square footage of the sign by not including the frames, but that staff did include the frames in figuring the total square footage, which then added up to be the higher number but was allowed. Commissioner Katherman agreed with the applicant that the building needed better signage due to the curve of Western Avenue, and moved to approve staff alternative #2 with an amendment to include both the north and south side signs. The motion failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Von Hagen stated he felt the staff recommendation was appropriate to limit sign proliferation, and that the applicant could come back later if they felt they needed further signage. Mr. Von Hagen then moved staff recommendation as written, and this motion also failed for lack of a second. Commissioner Hotchkiss moved to adopt staff alternative #1 to approve the application as submitted, allowing the cupola and the mast and two wall signs, but adding two conditions -- that the existing non -conforming pole sign be removed, and that no commercial banners be flown from the mast. Chairman McNulty seconded the motion, which then passed 3-1 with Commissioner Von Hagen dissenting. Page 2 PLANNING COMMISS ON MEETING November 13, 1 0 (The following item was heard out of order) A. HEIGHT VARIATION NO. Director Benard presented a 652 -- APPEAL brief history of the project, 4048 Admirable including the appellant's re- design that the staff currently felt it could support. Assistant Planner Bonnie Olson then presented the staff report regarding the appellant's request to overturn staff denial of a second story addition, thereby approving the redesigned project. Staff's recommendation is to uphold the appeal, thereby approving the project with conditions. Commissioner Hotchkiss asked staff what criteria they had used to determine neighborhood compatibility, and Mr. Benard stated that the staff had made non-specific recommendations to the appellant using very general criteria based on the eclectic character of the neighborhood. The public hearing was opened. Dick Hampikian, 4048 Admirable Drive, appellant, outlined his 16 -month effort to get his project approved, and stated he felt there was no way to be compatible with the many odd styles of the neighborhood. Mr. Hampikian also expressed frustration with the amount of compromises he has had to make, and read a letter of support from his next door neighbor. Dr. Anthony George, 4104 Exultant Drive, objected to the proposed project, citing potential cumulative view impact. Dr. George also claimed that the appellant had not made any effort to discuss the project with his neighbors. Chairman McNulty pointed out that the applicant had indeed held a meeting to discuss the project. The public hearing was then closed. Commissioner Hotchkiss agreed with the appellant that the neighborhood was full of non -compatible houses, and stated he preferred the original design to the current re -design that the applicant had arrived at over the past 16 months. Commissioner Von Hagen stated he felt the appellant had attempted to improve the view impairment problem with some degree of success, and that the issues were whether the view was preserved, and if there was any cumulative impact. Director Benard suggested that language be added to the conditions of approval to require that existing vegetation be lowered to ridge height. Chairman McNulty noted that he had supported a revision in procedures recently before City Council in order to avoid these long delays on applications. Mr. McNulty also observed Page 3 PLANNING COMMIS ON MEETING November 13, 1* C that the appellant's neighborhood was so diverse that there was no way to determine compatibility to apply to this case, and that although he felt the design was not architecturally outstanding, it had alleviated potential cumulative view impact. Chairman McNulty then stated his support for the staff recommendation. Commissioner Katherman moved to adopt staff recommendation to include Mr. Benard's suggestion on the vegetation requirements, and to revise Condition #b to require the appellant to work with staff to minimize the width of the second story addition and eliminate any redundant stairway. Chairman McNulty seconded the motion. Commissioners Von Hagen and Hotchkiss objected to requiring the applicant to make further changes. The motion passed on a 3-0 vote, with Commissioner Hotchkiss abstaining. C. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT Associate Planner Joel Rojas NO. 92 -- REVISION "C" presented the staff report 30840 Hawthorne Blvd. regarding the applicant's request to allow a 950 sq.ft. expansion of the existing dining room and a 925 sq.ft. expansion of the chapel. Staff recommendation is to approve the request with conditions. The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers to the issue, it was closed. Chairman McNulty requested that staff obtain a legal opinion as to the applicability of Proposition "M" in non-residential. situations. Commissioner Katherman moved to adopt the staff recommendation, Commissioner Hotchkiss seconded, and the motion passed 4-0. D. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT The staff report was waived NO. 101 - REVISION "F" regarding the applicant's 28901 S. Western Ave. request to allow for conversion of the existing retail market to a non -retail restaurant use, to relocate the bar, and to increase the allowable amount of non -retail use in the Terraces. Staff's recommendation is to approve the request subject to conditions. The public hearing was opened, but as there were no speakers to the issue, it was closed. Commissioner Von Hagen moved, seconded by Commissioner Katherman and carried 4-0, to adopt the staff recommendation. RECESS AND RECONVENE A ten-minute break was called at 9:15pm. Page 4 PLANNING COMMIWN MEETING November 13, 1 0 CONTINUED BUSINESS (The following item was formerly under the Consent Calendar) A. HEIGHT VARIATION Assistant Planner Terry NO. 684 -- APPEAL Silverman presented the staff 3300 PVDE report containing specific recommendations for vegetation removal and reduction. Commissioner Von Hagen noted that it was not the Commission's intent to annihilate vegetation, but to see if a new view corridor could be created to make up for the one allegedly being hidden by the proposed addition. Jerry Farrell, 3300 PVDE, appellant, stated that the amount of trees staff suggested be removed was far greater than he had imagined when he made has original offer to create a new view corridor. Mr. Farrell objected to the landscape and irrigation requirements, and also asked that the City confirm indemnification for any worker removing trees on City property. Chairman McNulty stated that it would probably be the applicant's responsibility to indemnify the City for the workers, not vice versa. Mr. McNulty also asked staff of trimming rather than removal was an option, and Ms. Silverman replied that such severe tramming could cause potential death to the tree, and that is why removal had been suggested. Director Benard stated that of the applicant felt the trees would lave if trimmed to 161, staff had no objection to that alternative. Commissioner Von Hagen suggested lacing rather than abrupt tramming to keep the tree and enhance the view. At this point, Chairman McNulty stated that he would limit the speakers to the appellant only, since this was not a noticed public hearing on the issue, and no new testimony could be accepted. Mr. Farrell presented a modified version of the conditions of approval, as well as a map specifying which trees he would be willing to remove or not. Commissioner Hotchkiss moved to accept the appellant's recommendations for specific tree removal or tramming, with the exception that the Eucalyptus and Chinese elms be laced or trimmed, but not removed, and it be noted that the appellant carries the obligation to maintain the trees in the public right-of-way. Commissioner Von Hagen seconded the motion, which passed without objection. Page 5 PLANNING COMMIS��ON MEETING November 13, 1 i NEW BUSINESS A. MINOR EXCEPTION Assistant Planner Mike Patterson PERMIT NO. 380 -- presented the staff report APPEAL regarding the appellant's 91 Marguerite request to overturn staff's denial of a 6' high wall and fence combination in the 20 ft. front yard setback. Staff's recommendation is to deny the request. Marshall Lewis, 721 Latimer Road, Santa Monica, project designer, stated that the fence had been designed to match those of the neighbors, who are currently constructing similar walls. Director Benard noted that staff had discovered that the appellant currently has two separate applications under consideration including this one --the other application is to intrude 2' into the setback with the pool. Mr. Benard suggested that both applications be combined and heard at a later date so the Commission could made a singular decision. Chairman McNulty moved to continue the issue as per Mr. Benard's suggestion, Commissioner Von Hagen seconded, and the motion passed without objection. QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE There were no questions from the audience. STAFF REPORTS 1. Scheduling for Major Projects -- Mr. Benard asked for input regarding meeting dates on the Long Point EIR. 2. Resignation of Assistant Planner Olson -- Mr. Benard also announced the resignation of Assistant Planner Bonnie Olson, and stated that she would be joining the City of Rolling Hills Estates as Associate Planner. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:20pm. Page 6