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VRC MINS 19980108 • APPROVED FEBRUARY 19 , 1998 CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES VIEW RESTORATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 8, 1998 The meeting was called to order by Chair R. Green at 7:03 P.M. at Hesse Park Community Building, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, led by Project Coordinator Nelson. PRESENT: Commissioner Black, Boudreau, Goern, A. Green, Long, Marshall, Vice Chair Sweetnam, Chair R. Green ABSENT: None Also present were Project Coordinator Nelson; Acting Director of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Rojas; and Recording Secretary Peterson. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice Chair Sweetnam moved to approve the Agenda as presented, seconded by Commissioner Black. Approved, (8-0). COMMUNICATIONS Acting Director Rojas announced that as part of the restructuring of the work load in the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department, it was decided that Project Coordinator Nelson would be assuming many of the administrative duties for the View Restoration process currently held by himself. He explained that he would be attending the View Restoration Commission meetings for the next several months, but would begin to phase out and allow Ms. Nelson to assume the duties. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 4, 1997 Commissioner A. Green noted that he had not received the agenda packet or the minutes for the meeting of December 4. Commissioner Black moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Commissioner Boudreau. Approved, (7-0-1) with Chair R. Green abstaining since he was absent from the meeting. 2. MINUTES OF DECEMBER 18, 1997 Commissioner Long pointed out a grammatical error on page 3 of the minutes. Vice Chair Sweetnam moved to approve the minutes, as amended, seconded by Commissioner Goern. Approved, (7-0-1) with Commissioner A. Green abstaining since he was absent from the meeting. CONTINUED BUSINESS 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE VRC GUIDELINES (JR) Acting Director Rojas explained that the Commission now had the latest version of the Guidelines reflecting the changes the View Restoration Commission had suggested, as well as changes added by the City Attorney. Chair R. Green suggested reviewing the Guidelines page by page. Vice Chair Sweetnam suggested that the title of the Guidelines be changed to reflect that both view restoration and preservation are covered in the guidelines, as well as view restoration permits and code enforcement procedures. The Table of Contents would also need to reflect the preservation and code enforcement sections. Acting Director Rojas pointed out that on page 5 the word "only" had previously been stricken by the View Restoration Commission from paragraph 5. The City Attorney wanted to remind the Commission that the issue had been dealt with by the City Council during the Development Code review and the City Council asked that this word be inserted so as to maintain consistency in wording with the Height Variation Permit Guidelines. The Commission agreed that the word "only" should remain stricken from the paragraph. Vice Chair Sweetnam had a comment on page 7 regarding measuring the 16 foot height of a tree from its base. He felt that the 16 foot height should be measured from a pad level. Acting Director Rojas responded that at one time the measurement was taken from the pad, however during subsequent workshops the City Council felt that for clarity the measurement should be taken from the base of the tree. He reminded the Commission that it was their decision as to the wording they wanted to present to the City Council. VIEW RESTORATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 8, 1998 PAGE 2 • The Commission agreed not to change the height measurement wording. On page 9 of the proposed guidelines, Commissioner Long suggested adding under prominent landmarks, the phrase "city skyline". Vice Chair Sweetnam suggested that anywhere in the guidelines where there was a reference to trees and shrubs, the phrase should be replaced by the word plant. Vice Chair Sweetnam pointed out grammatical and punctuation errors on several pages. On page 21, Acting Director Rojas had a comment from the City Attorney stating that the wording regarding foliage and the establishment of a benchmark for future foliage needed to be changed to reflect that a benchmark could be changed if there were subsequent amendments to the Code. The wording, as written, would require a Code amendment. Ken Dyda 5715 Capeswood Drive, discussed his case in regards to the discussion of determining a significant view. He felt that once a permit is issued, the view established by the permit should be relied on to be the standard for future code enforcement actions. The Commission agreed that the view established by a permit could be used, not as a standard, but as a benchmark by Staff since future conditions on the site could differ. A lengthy discussion followed regarding the permit process and significant views, and how they relate to the code enforcement process. Vice Chair Sweetnam pointed out two inconsistencies on page 22. RECESS AND RECONVENE At 9:15 P.M. the Commission took a short recess until 9:25 P.M. at which time they reconvened. A lengthy discussion followed regarding how the Commission would handle, in the future, any appeals brought to them regarding code enforcement decisions on significant views and viewing areas. Vice Chair Sweetnam moved to approve the Guidelines, as amended, and further VIEW RESTORATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 8, 1998 PAGE 3 recommended that the Chair attend the January 20 City Council meeting and recommend there be no retroactivity on the suspended View Restoration Permits, seconded by Commissioner Black. Approved, (8-0). ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS Commissioner Black felt it was a high priority for the staff to prepare an informational brochure for the public which informs them of what happens during the view restoration process. Acting Director Rojas responded that once the new Guidelines are adopted, staff will be preparing a package for the public for informational purposes. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE Ken Dyda 5715 Capeswood Drive, discussed his unhappiness with the way the view restoration process was being implemented. He also gave his opinion that even one tree in a view could be considered significant. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Boudreau moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Black. The meeting was duly adjourned at 9:50 P.M. to Thursday, February 4, 1998 at 7:00 P.M. VIEW RESTORATION COMMISSION MINUTES JANUARY 8, 1998 PAGE 4