08 - Public Correspondence July 13, 2015 and afterPUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE
SUBMITTED ON JULY 13, 2015 AND AFTER
.E
So Kim
From:
Ray Madeline <raymadelin@gmail.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, July 14, 2015 11:52 AM
To:
So Kim; CC; Jim Knight; Susan Brooks
Subject:
10 Chaparral Rancho Palos Verdes
Attachments:
Nature Trail jpg; Nature Traill.jpg
Dear City Staff and City Council
I took these photos from the Nature Trail this morning to try to show you the impact this 6700 sq ft proposed
house will have on this tranquil and beautiful landscape accessed presently by the George F Canyon Preserve Nature
Reserve Nature
Trail. There are no other houses to be seen in this area. It is a tragedy to allow this house to be built and all of you will be responsible for
allowing this terrible impact on the environment to occur. It not only will change the landscape from natural and native shrubs to mega
mansion you will also permit building on an area that is at present zoned as Open Hazard. I am astonished that the city can even consider
such a proposal.
If this travesty is permitted to occur I can only hope that you will have the common sense to ensure that the first thing to be done is to ensure
that trail access remains before any of this monstrous construction begins. Because you are even considering this mega mansion to be built in
this environment I feel the need to spell out what you owe to the other residents of Ranch Palos Verdes. If you do not provide an alternative
path immediately you will CUT OFF ACCESS TO RANCHO PALOS VERDES RESIDENTS TO THIS PUBLIC TRAIL AND THIS
NATURAL BEAUTY.
PLEASE look at the photos attached and see what you are doing by allowing this monster to be built in this ecologically sensitive area.
Ray Van Dinther
(previous email)
It is with horror that I looked at and visited this proposed development on Chaparral.
What a huge monstrosity to cut RPV residents off from the natural beauty
of this area. Another RPV tragedy lost to residents again.
This monstrous house only makes sense if it is set way back from the cliff
edge and doesn't visually interfere with the ecological beauty of this
area.
Not only does it impair the view of never to be repeated natural beauty it
also severs access to the George F Canyon Preserve Nature Reserve Nature
Trail.
This is a travesty......
281
Rancho Palos Verdes residents will no longer be able to access this
beautiful Nature Trail.
This land should never have been sold to a private developer in the first
place. It should have been purchased by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
for all of RPV residents to enjoy. Now that you have allowed this travesty
to happen it is your responsibility to ensure that this trail access
remains open for all users.
Ray Van Dinther
RPV (seriously disenchanted resident)
282
So Kim
From: Damon Swank <damon.swank1685@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, July 13, 2015 2:26 PM
To: So Kim
Subject: Fwd: To Ms.So Kim, Senior Planner: 10 CHAPARRAL LANE: USE OF LANE BY LARGE AND
HEAVY VEHICLES
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Damon Swank <damon.swark1685&gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jul 13, 2015 at 1:26 PM s
Subject: To Ms.So Kim, Senior Planner: 10 CHAPARRAL LANE: USE OF LANE BY LARGE AND HEAVY
VEHICLES
To: Susan Swank <susanmswank a.P_mail.com3
Re: Hearing July 21, 2015
Issues
Chaparral Lane is privately owned in common by its residents. It is narrow, lightly paved, and
entirely unsuitable for large, long, and heavy vehicles such as trucks transporting earth -moving
equipment. The Applicant is requesting that the City, by issuing various permits, authorize use of
this private property for massive heavy -equipment purposes over an extended period of time.
The Issues:
1) Likely consequences of applicant's proposed activity
2) Suggested restrictions and remedies
Consequences
1) Damage to pavement: The Lane is very lightly paved. It is used almost exclusively by
automobiles and light trucks. Regular use by larger vehicles will assuredly destroy the pavement
entirely. Although an occasional larger vehicle (say, fire truck) has used the Lane without
significant damage, full-sized garbage trucks pose a threat. Small garbage pickup trucks ("Pup
Trucks") are used instead.
2) Damage to owners' property adjoining the Lane: Many of the properties have improvements
such as retaining walls, fences, and tiled or stuccoed mailbox structures at the curbside. It is almost
inevitable that these face damage by cement mixers, lumber trucks, and the like. The Lane is
narrow, so it will be difficult for these vehicles to pass each other, making curbside accidents
likely.
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3) Possible collapse of the roadway itself. This is, hopefully, unlikely. However, the Lane is
simply a dirt road cut into the hillside. Not only would expensive emergency repairs be required,
but a vehicle could leave the Lane and cause damage to a down slope property.
Suggested Remedies
1) Require that the Applicant agree to restore the Lane and its adjacent structures to their present
condition before a Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Applicant to repair or reconstruct any
collapse or damage to the structure of the Lane immediately.
2) Provide a funding source: require Applicant to purchase insurance to cover all these expenses
and to maintain uninterrupted coverage.
3) Designate an appropriate independent person or entity to receive any claims of damage,
to determine that all claims have been satisfied, and to certify that a Certificate of Occupancy can
properly be issued.
Conclusion
The problems here are readily apparent. They can easily be addressed now, at the outset.
By approving the project, and issuing construction permits authorizing the Applicant to use his
neighbors' property, the
City is mandating the acquiescence of the owners of the Lane.
The Calif. Vehicle Code (35720c) provides that no restrictions may be placed on the weight or size
of a vehicle that is proceeding to a job site pursuant to a valid construction permit.
Note
will provide photographs of Chaparral Lane, hopefully by Wednesday, July 15, 2015.
Thank you.
Damon Swaiik
7 Chaparral Lane. RPV 00275
•
So Kim
From:
Madeline Ryan <pvpasofino@yahoo.com>
Sent:
Sunday, July 12, 2015 6:54 PM
To:
So Kim
Cc:
Joel Rojas
Subject:
#10 chaparral
Follow Up Flag: Follow Up
Due By: Sunday, July 12, 2015 9:37 PM
Flag Status: Flagged
Hello So, please include my comments to the CC in time for their meeting on July
21. Thank you.
Mayor and City Council Members
The subject property must be the only property in Rancho Palos Verdes that has
changed ownership as many times as it has come before the Planning Commission and
City Council.
Over the last decade or so, with each new owner came a new application and a new
design proposal, but all applicant/owners had to request variances, zone changes,
General Plan Amendments, relocation of boundary lines, and retaining walls of varying
heights for stabilization which would require caisson foundations.
In order to achieve the end result for this particular applicant, a 6781sf structure,
including garage, there would be 7010yds of excavation and balancing on this lot, which
means spreading the 7010 yds of dirt across the flat area and filling the canyon and
natural areas of this parcel to accommodate same.
Not all vacant parcels can be developed nor should they be when there are so many
challenges attached to the bare land. And, what of the impact on the immediate
neighbors?
I believe #10 Chaparral Lane meets the criteria for an unfavorable building site with a
plethora of documentation that deems this parcel a high risk for landslide.
It's admirable that the owner is willing to donate the remainder of the land to the City
for future trail development, and, even if trails cannot be secured, there will, in
perpetuity, be this 'open space' that RPV is noted for and I am extremely grateful for
that. However, for me and others, more importantly is the offer of trail dedication of the
historically used trail already established and described in the Staff Report. To lose this
connection to the RHE Nature Trail, which links to Peninsula trails, for the immediate
residents and those of us living on the Eastside would be a travesty and would go
i
285
against the headway the City has made in preserving and restoring trails and
connections within the 'Q' Districts.
In closing, there are many documented negatives, all of which have been submitted to
City Staff, against this property for development. Only the CC can decide if the offers of
trails and open space outweigh the future risks of owning a slippery slope.
Thank you for your careful consideration.
Madeline Ryan
28328 Palos Verdes Drive East
RPV
"May the Trails be with you..." Madeline
i
286
So Kim
From: Ray Madeline <raymadelin@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 9:26 AM
To: So Kim; CC; Susan Brooks; Jim Knight
Subject: 10 Chaparral Lane
Follow Up Flag: Follow Up
Due By: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 9:55 AM
Flag Status: Flagged
It is with horror that I looked at and visited this proposed development on Chaparral.
What a huge monstrosity to cut RPV residents off from the natural beauty
of this area. Another RPV tragedy lost to residents again.
This monstrous house only makes sense if it is set way back from the cliff
edge and doesn't visually interfere with the ecological beauty of this
area.
Not only does it impair the view of never to be repeated natural beauty it
also severs access to the George F Canyon Preserve Nature Reserve Nature
Trail.
This is a travesty......
Rancho Palos Verdes residents will no longer be able to access this
beautiful Nature Trail.
This land should never have been sold to a private developer in the first
place. It should have been purchased by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
for all of RPV residents to enjoy. Now that you have allowed this travesty
to happen it is your responsibility to ensure that this trail access
remains open for all users.
Ray Van Dinther
RPV (seriously disenchanted resident)
287