CC SR 20171205 F - Border Issues Status ReportRANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA REPORT
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
MEETING DATE: 12/05/2017
AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
Consideration and possible action to review the current status of Border Issues
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file the second biannual report on the status of Border Issues for
2017.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Kit Fox, AICP, Senior Administrative Analyst(12)
REVIEWED BY: Gabriella Yap, Deputy City Manager*
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager;:`,,�,11-11'
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This month's report includes:
• An update on the CalWater pipeline project in Rolling Hills Estates, the
unincorporated Westfield community and Rancho Palos Verdes;
• A final report on the Friendship Park observation stations in Rancho Palos
Verdes and Los Angeles (San Pedro);
• A report on the City of Los Angeles' proposed regulation of commercial
marijuana businesses along the Western Avenue corridor; and,
• A report on the proposed 248 -unit Butcher Solana apartment project at
Hawthorne Boulevard and Via Valmonte in Torrance.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
The following is the second biannual report to the City Council on various "Border
Issues" potentially affecting the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes for 2017. The
complete text of the current status report is available for review on the City's website at:
http://www.rpvca.gov/781 /Border -Issues -Status -Report
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Please note that, with the approval of changes to City Council Policy No. 34, the next
Border Issues Status Report is expected to appear on the City Council agenda of June
5, 2018.
Current Border Issues
Palos Verdes Peninsula Water Reliability Project, Rolling Hills Estates/Los Angeles
County/Rancho Palos Verdes
On September 19, 2017, CalWater made a presentation of the re -named "Palos Verdes
Peninsula Water Reliability Project" to the City Council. The City still awaits the release
of the CEQA document for this project for public review and comment.
Friendship Park Observation Stations, Rancho Palos Verdes/Los Angeles (San Pedro)
On September 25, 2017, the County confirmed that the barrier (i.e., fence) along the
southerly park boundary had been completed at the park's property line. Unfortunately,
since the property between the park and 25th Street is privately owned, the County was
unable to provide access barriers along 25th Street. Staff will remove this item from
future Border Issue Status Reports.
New Border Issues
City of Los Angeles' Commercial Marijuana Regulations (Los Angeles (San Pedro)
On June 8, 2017, the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council passed along
information about the City of Los Angeles' proposed marijuana regulations. Our City
Council adopted Ordinance No. 590U on November 1, 2016, to proactively ban
commercial marijuana sales and personal outdoor marijuana cultivation, and to
establish a permit process for personal indoor marijuana cultivation in Rancho Palos
Verdes. These actions were prompted by the expected passage of Proposition 64 (The
Adult Use of Marijuana Act) on the November 8, 2016, statewide ballot.
The City of Los Angeles' proposed regulations propose a regulatory and revenue -
generation framework for commercial marijuana sales, cultivation and distribution.
Given the commercial district that our cities share along Western Avenue, Staff carefully
reviewed the proposed regulations to determine their potential effect upon the Eastview
neighborhoods and businesses along Western Avenue. Public comments on these
regulations were sought until August 7, 2017. There was also a public hearing to
receive testimony regarding the regulations on June 29, 2017.
On June 26, 2017, Staff sent comments on the proposed Commercial Cannabis
Location Restriction (CCLR) Ordinance to the City of Los Angeles. In reviewing the
CCLR Ordinance, Staff identified several issues of concern regarding so-called "eligible
locations" on Western Ave. A hearing to receive public testimony was conducted in
downtown Los Angeles this June 29, 2017, but review of the proposed CCLR Ordinance
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before the Los Angeles City Planning Commission (CPC) was not expected until later in
2017.
On October 14, 2017, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission (CPC) was scheduled
to consider the proposed Commercial Cannabis Location Restriction (CCLR) ordinance.
In a letter on September 11, 2017, Staff expressed the City's concerns that 1) maps
accompanying the CCLR ordinance incorrectly depict parcels near the new public park
in the Highpark (formerly Ponte Vista) project as "eligible" for retail cannabis sales; and
2) fragments of several parcels near Western Ave. and Trudie Dr. that are identified as
"eligible" for retail cannabis sales might be used for such purposes from temporary or
mobile facilities.
On November 20, 2017, the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations
Committee of the Los Angeles City Council was scheduled to consider the CCLR
ordinance approved by the CPC in October. Also, the Los Angeles CPC is expected to
review the proposed Commercial Cannabis Signage Ordinance at an upcoming meeting
on December 14, 2017. According to the fact sheet for the signage ordinance, it is
intended "to limit children's exposure to advertising of cannabis and cannabis products,
to reduce the illegal purchase and consumption of cannabis by children, and to reduce
the likelihood of children suffering potential negative impacts as a result of consuming
cannabis at an early age." Staff will continue to monitor this issue in future Border
Issues Status Reports.
Butcher Solana Residential Development Project (Torrance)
On July 27, 2017, the City of Torrance released the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Butcher -Solana Residential Development
Project. The project proposes a 248 -unit apartment complex on a 5.71 -acre portion of a
24.68 -acre former quarry site located at the southwesterly corner of Hawthorne Blvd.
and Via Valmonte in the City of Torrance. The project site abuts city -owned parkland in
Palos Verdes Estates and Ernie Howlett Park in Rolling Hills Estates. The 30 -day
public comment period was set to end on August 28, 2017, and a public scoping
meeting was scheduled at Torrance City Hall on August 10, 2017. Click here for
additional information on the City of Torrance's website.
On August 10, 2017, the City of Torrance held a scoping meeting for the proposed 248 -
unit Butcher -Solana Residential Development Project. The meeting was well -attended
by residents from Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates and other nearby neighborhoods and
cities. Speakers were universally opposed to the proposed project, citing issues related
to traffic and parking, neighborhood compatibility, general plan consistency, geology
and landslides, noise, air quality, cultural resources and other issues. During the latter
half of August 2017, City Staff planned to meet with our colleagues at Palos Verdes
Estates and Rolling Hills Estates to coordinate our written comments on the scope of
the project's EIR. Comments on the scope of the EIR were due to the City of Torrance
by 5:00 PM on August 28, 2017.
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On August 23, 2017, Staff members from all four (4) Peninsula cities met to discuss our
responses to the request for comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) for the proposed 248 -unit Butcher -Solana apartment project in the Walteria
neighborhood of the City of Torrance. Issues of concern to the Peninsula cities included
construction impacts, traffic/parking impacts, noise and open space. Each of the cities
submitted comments to Torrance by the August 28, 2017, comment deadline. However,
Torrance indicated that it would continue to "informally" accept comments on the scope
and content of the EIR until September 18, 2017.
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