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pril 14, 2015
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 10, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Leon at 7:04 p.m.at the Fred Hesse
Community Room, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chris Gaily of Boy Scout Troop 128 led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Cruikshank, Emenhiser, Gerstner, James, Leon, Vice
Chairman Tomblin, and Chairman Nelson.
Absent: None
Also present were Community Development Director Rojas and Senior Planner Kim.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously approved as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS
Director Rojas stated there were no items to report from the last City Council meeting or
for the upcoming City Council meeting.
Director Rojas distributed one item of late correspondence related to agenda item No. 6.
Commissioners Cruikshank, Emenhiser, and Tomblin thanked the City for the
opportunity to attend the recent Planning Commission Academy.
Chairman Leon thanked the Commission for the last year that he has been Chairman of
the Planning Commission.
SELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Commissioner Emenhiser nominated Commissioner Tomblin as Vice Chairman of the
Planning Commission.
Commissioner Tomblin was unanimously selected as Vice Chairman.
At this time Vice Chairman Nelson took over as the new Chairman of the Planning
Commission, and Commissioner Tomblin became the Vice Chairman.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda items)
Chris Gaily of Boy Scout Troop 128 spoke about their troop's activities.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of February 10, 2015 Minutes
Commissioner Emenhiser moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded
by Commissioner James. Approved, (5-0-2) with Commissioner Gerstner and
Vice Chairman Tomblin abstaining since they were absent from that meeting.
2. Approval of February 24, 2015 Minutes
Chairman Nelson noted typos on pages 2 and 6 of the minutes.
Commissioner James noted a typo on page 3 of the minutes.
Commissioner Leon moved to approve the minutes as amended, seconded by
Commissioner Cruikshank. Approved, (6-0-1) with Commissioner Gerstner
abstaining since he was absent from that meeting.
CONTINUED BUSINESS
3. Appeal of Grading Permit— 29073 Palos Verdes Drive East
Director Rojas presented a brief staff report, noting the applicant has submitted a
revised project to staff, however there are additional plans that are needed. The
applicant has requested additional time to prepare these plans, and with that staff is
recommending the public hearing be continued to April 14, 2015.
Vice Chairman Tomblin moved to continue the public hearing to April 14, 2015,
seconded by Commissioner Cruikshank. Approved without objection.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
4. General Plan Update — "Draft text of the climate change discussion in the
Open Space Conservation Element.
Senior Planner Kim presented the staff report, noting the draft before the Commission is
a collaborative effort between staff and the Planning Commission sub-committee of
Commissioners James and Cruikshank. She noted the air quality discussion is only
Planning Commission Minutes
March 10, 2015
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required within the Open Space Conservation Element, therefore staff is proposing that
all text related to air quality and climate change within the Safety Element be omitted in
its entirety, as it is repetitive of the more detailed discussion in the Open Space
Conservation Element. In addition, she explained that staff is doing a final review of the
General Plan in regards to the 2013 updates and staff has found some changes that
have occurred within the past two years that need to be reflected in the text. She stated
those changes will be brought to the Commission at a future hearing when the entire
package is before the Commission for review. She also noted an additional land use
change that should be made in the Eastview area, and with that staff is proposing this
be done at the first meeting in April. In doing so, the date for the final review of the
General Plan will have to be pushed back to the first or second meeting in May.
Chairman Nelson noted a typo on page two and asked for clarification.
Director Rojas clarified that the text should read, "with the rare exception of off shore
wind conditions".
Chairman Nelson asked how many vacant lots are left in the City.
Director Rojas explained that staff does not keep any type of inventory of vacant lots in
the City, but estimated less than one hundred.
Commissioner Leon moved to approve the recommended Open
Space/Conservation Element and Safety Element pertaining to climate change,
seconded by Commissioner Gerstner.
Commissioner Cruikshank referred to page 2 of the staff report and the discussion
regarding air quality stations and the comparison of 2011, 2012, and 2013. He asked
staff if these standards change and get more stringent over the years.
Senior Planner Kim answered that the standards are relatively the same over the years.
Commissioner Cruikshank asked that staff confirm that the standard has stayed
relatively the same and at least mention this in the report.
Commissioner Cruikshank referred to page 3 of the staff report and the discussion on
fine particulate. He asked if the number of days exceeded could be rounded to a whole
number.
Senior Planner Kim stated that could be done.
Commissioner Cruikshank referred to the climate change policies on page 5 of the staff
report. He thought it might be interesting to break that into two sections, one section
discussing what the City is doing and one section discussing what might be
recommendations for the residents to do.
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March 10,2015
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Commissioner Cruikshank then noted items 11 and 12, and felt they were redundant
and that possibly No. 12 was not needed.
Commissioner Leon moved to include the revisions suggested by Commissioner
Cruikshank in his motion, and therefore approve the Open Space/Conservation
Element and Safety Element as revised, seconded by Commissioner Gerstner.
Approved, (7-0).
5. Outdoor lighting (Case No. ZON2014-00320):
Director Rojas explained that staff has been working on the draft language, and is now
ready to present the draft language to the sub-committee early next week. He felt that
staff and the sub-committee should be ready to present this item to the Commission by
the April 14th meeting. Therefore, staff was recommending continuing the item to the
April 14th meeting.
Commissioner Gerstner moved staff's recommendation to continue the item to
the April 14, 2015meeting, seconded by Commissioner Emenhiser. Approved
without objection.
NEW BUSINESS
6. General Plan Annual Update
Director Rojas presented the staff report, explaining this is a procedural item before the
Commission every year. He explained there is a State law that says that cities are to
report to the State on how they implement their General Plan. With that, staff prepares
this yearly report and staff is recommending the Commission approve this list and
forward the report on to the City Council for their approval.
Commissioner Emenhiser moved to approve staff's recommendation, seconded
by Commissioner Gerstner.
Commissioner James did not feel that in the mention of Trump National, the words
"formerly known as Ocean Trails" were necessary and that language should be
removed. He also felt that the driving range should be mentioned along with the 18-
hole golf course in the description of Trump National.
Director Rojas agreed.
Commissioner Emenhiser moved to amend his motion to approve staffs
recommendations, as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Gerstner.
Approved without objection.
7. Housing Annual Update
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March 10,2015
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Director Rojas presented the staff report, explaining this too is a procedural item, and is
an annual report on the implementation of the City's Housing Element. He stated that
staff is recommending the Planning Commission approve and accept this report and
forward it to the City Council.
Commissioner Tomblin stated that with the disbandment of the Redevelopment Agency,
he would like staff to give a brief comment on how staff is recommending the City meet
some of these low income housing requirements.
Director Rojas explained that the City's current Housing Element identifies the approval
of second units as a way to meet the requirements. In addition, the Housing Element
includes a proposal for mixed use on a parcel on Western Avenue to help meet the
numbers.
Commissioner Emenhiser moved to approve staff's recommendation, seconded
by Commissioner Cruikshank. The motion was approved without objection.
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS
8. Pre-Agenda for the meeting on March 24, 2015
Chairman Nelson noted that staff was recommending the March 24th meeting be
cancelled, and asked the Commission if they felt there was a reason to hold a meeting
on that date. The Commission agreed that the next meeting be held on April 14, 2015.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. to April 14, 2015.
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March 10, 2015
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