RPVCCA_CC_SR_2013_10_01_I_Code_Amendment_City_Tree_Review_PermitCrrYOF
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
HONORABLE MAYOR & MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JOEL ROJAS, COMMUNITY DEVE~IZNT DIRECTOR
OCTOBER 1, 2013 --~ -c;r--
CODE AMENDMENT TO RPVMC CHAPTER 17.76.100 (CITY TREE
REVIEW PERMIT) TO EXPAND THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
PROCEDURES FOR PERMIT DECISIONS (CASE NO.
ZON2013-00239). (SUPPORTS 2013 CITY COUNCIL GOALS:
TRANSPARENCY, EVALUATING CITY TREE REVIEW PROCESS)
CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER ~
Staff Coordinator: John Alvarez, Senior Planner~
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Ordinance No.547, thereby memorializing the City Council's decision to amend
Chapter 17.76.100 of the Municipal Code (City Tree Review Permit) to expand public
notification of City Tree Review Permit decisions.
DISCUSSION
On September 17, 2013, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 547, a proposed
code amendment to amend RPVMC Section 17.76.100(G) to increase public notification
of City Tree Review Permit decisions. At said meeting, no changes to the Planning
Commission recommended code language were made by the City Council. As such,
Staff is presenting Ordinance No. 547 for its second reading and adoption. The
Ordinance will go into effect on November 1, 2013.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Ordinance No. 547
• Public Correspondence
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ORDINANCE NO. 547
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE AMENDING RPVMC SECTION
17.76.100(G)(1) TO INCREASE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF A CITY
TREE REVIEW PERMIT DECISION TO THE 20 CLOSEST
PROPERTIES; AMENDING RPVMC SECTION 17.76.100(G)(1) TO
CLARIFY THAT THE NOTIFIED PROPERTIES ARE TO BE
PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES; AND AMENDING RPVMC SECTION 17.76.100(G)(3) TO
REQUIRE THE CITY TO POST A NOTICE OF DECISION ON EACH
TREE SUBJECT TO PERMIT APPROVAL, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
POSTING NOTICES ON TREES LOCATED IN AREAS THAT ARE TOO
DIFFICULT OR HAZARDOUS TO ACCESS (CASE NO. ZON2013-
00239)
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2013, Mayor Brooks presented a request for the City
Council to initiate a code amendment to improve and expand public notification for City
Tree Review Permit (CTRP) decisions; and,
WHEREAS, on May 21, 2013, the City Council initiated a code amendment to
increase public notification for CTRP application decisions to Rancho Palos Verdes
Municipal Code (RPVMC) Section 17. 76.100 (City Tree Review Permit); and,
WHEREAS, on June 20, 2013, notice of a public hearing on the proposed
amendments to Section 17.76.100 of the Municipat Code was published in the Palos
Verdes Peninsula News; and,
WHEREAS, after notice was issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Development Code, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public
hearing on July 9, 2013, at which time Staff presented proposed language to revise
Municipal Code Section 17.76.100 (City Tree Review Permit). After reviewing and
discussing the matter, the Planning Commission moved to continue the public hearing
to July 23, 2013, with direction to Staff to draft a resolution for adoption, which would
recommend that the City Council adopt specific code amendments to RPVMC Section
17.76.100; and,
WHEREAS, on July 23, 2013, the Planning Commission adopted P .C. Resolution
No. 2013-17, thereby recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance revising
Section 17.76.100 of the City's Municipal Code, as recommended by Staff; and,
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2013, notice of a City Council public hearing on the
proposed amendments to RPVMC Section 17.76.100 of the Municipal Code was
published in the Palos Verdes Peninsula News; and,
Ordinance No. 547
Page 1of6
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WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality
Act, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA
Guidelines, California Code Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et seq., and the City's
Local CEQA Guidelines, the City determined that there is no substantial evidence that
the code amendment would result in a significant adverse effect on the environment.
Accordingly, Addendum No. 7 to the Negative Declaration for Ordinance No. 510, has
been prepared; and,
WHEREAS, on September 17, 2013, the City Council held a public hearing, at
which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present
evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal Code are consistent
with California Government Code Section 65853, zoning amendment procedures.
Section 2: The City Council further finds, based upon its own independent
review, that there is no substantial evidence that the amendments to Title 17 would
result in new significant environmental effects, or a substantial increase in the severity
of the effects, as previously identified the Negative Declaration adopted in conjunction
with Ordinance No. 51 O for amendments to Title 17 of the Municipal Code, because the
new amendments merely expand or clarify certain notification requirements and/or
codify policies and procedures that are currently in place. Accordingly, the City Council
hereby finds that Addendum (No. 7) to the prior Negative Declaration, which is attached
hereto as Exhibit "A," complies with the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act.
Section 3: That the amendments to Title 17 are consistent with the Rancho
Palos Verdes General Plan and Coastal Specific Plan in that they uphold, and do not
hinder, the goals and policies of those plans. Specifically, the revisions to Section
17. 76.100 will expand public notification for permit decisions where City trees
significantly impair views from adjoining lots, which assists the Community Development
Department to implement and uphold the Goals and policies of the City's General Plan.
Section 4: That the amendments to Chapter 17. 76.100 are necessary to
preserve the public health, safety, and general welfare, as the proposed amendments
will increase noticing of City Tree Review Permit decisions, which increases
opportunities for property owners of Rancho Palos Verdes to adopt and trim City trees,
so as to preserve City trees that otherwise would be removed.
Section 5: Section 17.76.100 (City Tree Review Permit) of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended as follows (strike-out text is for removed
language, and bold and underlined text is for new language):
Ordinance No. 547
Page 2of6
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17. 76.100 -City Tree Review Permit.
A. Purpose. This chapter provides a procedure for the pruning r--i/or removal of trees
and/or foliage which are located on city property, a city easement or within the public right-of-
way in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare by preventing the needless
impairment of views from vista points and view lots.
B. Approval Required. A city tree review permit is required prior to the pruning and/or
removal of any tree and/or foliage, located on city property, a city easement or within the public
right-of-way, for the purposes of view restoration.
G. Exemption. Trees and/or foliage located within the boundaries of the Miraleste recreation
and park district shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.
D. City Tree Review Permit Application. Any person owning land in the city may file an
application for a city tree review permit. An application for a city tree review permit shall be
made to the director on forms provided by the city, and shall include the following items:
1. A completed application form signed by the property owner of the property where the
view is impaired; and
2. A plan or map, drawn to the satisfaction of the director, which clearly shows the location
of each tree and/or foliage located on city property, a city easement, or within the public
right-of-way that is impairing the view of the applicant; and
3. A current photograph of the alleged view impairment taken from the applicant's viewing
area; and
4. An application fee, as established by City Council resolution.
E. Review Criteria. The director or the director's designee shall either grant, or conditionally
grant the city tree review permit if, after conducting an investigation of the applicant's property, it
is determined that trees and/or foliage located on City property, a City easement or in the public
right-of-way are significantly impairing a view from a viewing area of the applicant's lot, as
defined in Section 17 .02.040 (Single-Family Residential Districts) of this title.
F. Conditions of Permit Issuance. In granting any approval under this section, the director
may impose such conditions thereon as may be reasonably necessary to prevent danger to
public or private property; to prevent the tree removal or pruning from being conducted in a
manner that is likely to create a nuisance; or to preserve the intent of any goal or policy of the
general plan. No person shall violate any conditions so imposed by the director. Such conditions
may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
1. For a city tree and/or foliage that is_located within the parkway and roadway median, or
within any other city property or city easement (except city parks):
a. A view-impairing tree and/or foliage shall be removed and replaced with a similar
24-inch box size tree by the City. The City shall pay for all costs of tree and/or
foliage removal and replacement. Trees and/or foliage that are removed shall
not be replaced if the following conditions exist:
Ordinance No. 547
Page 3 of 6
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i. The replacement tree or foliage will immediately cause a significant impairment
of the view from the applicant's vie't';~g area;
ii. The Director of Public Works determines a replacement tree would cause
damage to the improvements in the public right-of-way (street, curb, sidewalk,
etc.) or obscure traffic visibility or create an impediment to pedestrian access
within the public right-of-way;
b. The City shall make the final determination as to the type and number of
replacement trees and/or foliage, if any.
c. If a person who has received notification of the Director's decision files a written
request to not remove the tree or foliage (within 7 days of the notification), then
the tree and/or foliage may be pruned instead of removed, provided the
following conditions can be met:
-i. The Director determines that the pruning of the subject tree and/or foliage will
elimii>late the significant impairment of the applicant's view;
ii. The Director determines that the pruning of the subject tree andft:>r foliage will not
result in an unsightly tree and /or likely kill or weaken the tree;
iii. The Director of Public Works determines that the tree and/or foliage has not, and
will not, cause damage to improvements in the public right-of-way (street, curb,
sidewalk, etc.);
iv. Upon receipt of the written agreement of the owner(s) of the property directly
abutting or underlying the public right-of-way or parkway where the tree and/or
foliage is located, the City and any of the parties who were notified pursuant to
Subsection G1 enter into an agreement that is recorded on the title of the
agreeing party's property, binding that property owner and any future owners
of that property to maintain the trees and/or foliage so as .to prevent future
significant view impairment bY such tree and/or foliage. The agreement
between the City and the property owner shall specify the maximum time
interval, as determined to be appropriate by the Director, within which the
property owner shall undertake and pay for such maintenance;
v. Should the property owner, who has entered into an agreement with the City to
maintain a City tree or foliage, within 30 days of receiving a notice from the
City requesting maintenance, fail to adhere to the maintenance provisions of
the agreement, then the City shall terminate the agreement and shall remove
the subject tree(s)/foliage at the City's expense.
2. For trees and/or foliage located within a city park:
a. If the City determines that the tree and/or foliage needs to be removed in
order to restore the applicant's view, the City shall determine whether the
tree and/or foliage shall be replaced, and shall make the final
determination as to the type and number of replacement trees and/or
foliage.
Ordinance No. 547
Page 4of6
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b. If the City determines that the tree and/or foliage can be pruned to restore
the applicant's view without damaging or killing the tree or foliage, the City
shall maintain the tree and/or foliage so as to prevent future view
impairment by the tree and/or foliage.
c. The City shall pay for all costs of tree and/or foliage pruning, removal
and/or replacement. The City shall make the final determination as to the
type and number of replacerrrent trees and/or foliage. Whenever work is
to be performed, it shall be performed by the City.
G. Notification. When the director makes a determination regarding a City tree review
permit, written notice of the decision shall be given as follows:
1. When the foliage is located on a City street or easement, a notice of the determination to
grant the application shall be sent to the applicant(s), the appropriate Homeowners
Association, and the tefl twenty (W20) closest adjacent properties within the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes, including the owner(s) of the property directly abutting or
underlying the public right-of-way where the subject tree(s) and/or foliage are located.
Adjacent properties shall include the tefl twenty (W20) closest lots within the City of
Rancho Palos Verdes, which are on the same street, directly abutting and adjacent to
the property where the tree and/or foliage are located. Notice of denial shall be given
only to the applicant.
2. When the foliage is located in a City park, notice of the director's decision shall be given
only to the applicant.
3. Notice of the permit determination to grant the application shall be posted by City
Staff on a conspicuous location on each tree that is the subject of an application
decision. For trees located on City property, notice of the determination shall not
be posted on any tree where the Director determines that access to said tree is
too difficult or hazardous to post the notice.
H,, .Appeals. Any interested person receiving notice of the director's decision may appeal the
decision to the planning commission, in writing, within fifteen calendar days of the director's
decision. Pursuant to Section 17.02.040(C)(2)(g) of the Municipal Code, the decision of the
planning commission on such an appeal may be appealed to the City Council. Any appeal must
be accompanied by payment of the appropriate appeal fee, as established by City Council
resolution. No city tree review permit shall be effective until all applicable appeal periods have
been exhausted.
Section 6: Severability. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence,
clause, phrase, or portion of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or
place, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of
this ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this
ordinance, and each and every section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause,
phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections,
subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared
invalid or unconstitutional.
Ordinance No. 547
Page 5 of 6
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Section 7: The City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be posted in three (3)
public places in the City within fifteen (15) days after its passage, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 36933 of the Government Code. The City Clerk shall further
certify to the adoption and posting of this Ordinance, and shall cause this Ordinance
and its certification, together with proof of posting, to be entered in the Book of
Ordinances of the Council of this City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Section 8: This Ordinance shall go into effect and be in full force and effect at
12:01 AM on the 31st day after its passage.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 1st day of October 2013.
Mayor
Attest:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles ) ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, Carla Morreale, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby certify that
the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 547 passed first reading on September 17, 2013, was duly and regularly
adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on October 1,
2013, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
City Clerk
Ordinance No. 547
Page 6 of 6
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EXHIBIT "A"
(Addendum No. 7 to Negative Declaration)
Project Background: On June 1, 2010, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2010-43,
thereby adopting a Negative Declaration for miscellaneous amendments to Title 17 of the City's
Municipal Code to enact the Residential Development Standards Steering Committee Code
Amendment and Zone Change (Ordinance No. 510). Prior to its adoption, the Negative
Declaration was circulated for public comment from April 1, 2010, through May 1, 2010. In
adopting the Negative Declaration, the City Council found that: 1) the Negative Declaration was
prepared in the manner required by law and that there was no substantial evidence that, with
appropriate mitigation measures, the approval of the Residential Development Standards
Steering Committee Code Amendment and Zone Change (Case No. ZON2007-00377) would
result in a significant adverse effect upon the environment; and 2) that the Residential
Development Standards Steering Committee Code Amendment and Zone Change were
consistent with the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan and with the Coastal Specific Plan. On
September 21, 2010, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 513U, thereby approving
Addendum No. 1 to the certified ND, to make minor changes to Chapter 17.38 of the
Development Code to correct the omission of Specific Plan District VII, and to change the
designation of specific plan districts from numbered to descriptive titles. On November 15,
2011, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 529, thereby approving Addendum No. 2 to the
certified ND and approving miscellaneous "clean-up" code amendments to Title 17 (Zoning) of
the Gity's Development Code which clarified code language, removed code language
discrepancies, and codified existing policy procedures and/or application requirements. On
February 7, 2012, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 532, thereby approved Addendum
No. 3 to the certified ND and approving a change in the allowable movement of an open space
hazard boundary line from thirty feet to one hundred feet through an interpretation procedure.
On April 3, 2012, the City Council approved adopted Ordinance No. 535, thereby approving
Addendum No. 4 to the Certified ND for a code amendment to revise Chapters 17.02, 17.04,
and 17 .98 of the Municipal Code to regulate the number of residential garage sales. On July 16,
2013, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2013-48 that approved Addendum No. 5 to the
Certified ND for a proposed code amendment to revise Chapter 17.76.030 of the Development
Code pertaining to the Fences, Walls and Hedges permits. Finally, on August 6, 2013, in
consideration of a proposed code amendment to RPVMC Section 17.76.030(F) (Arterial Walls
and Fences), the City Council approved Addendum No. 6 to the certified ND for Ordinance No.
510.
Proposed ·Amendments: The proposed code amendment to revise Chapter 17.76.100 of the
Municipal Code (City Tree Review Permit) would revise code language to expand public
notification of City Tree Review Permit approvals, clarify that only City of Rancho Palos Verdes
property owners are notified of the permit decisions and require City Tree Review Permit
decisions to be posted pn City trees subject to a permit's approval.
Purpose: This Addendum to the previously-certified Negative Declaration is being prepared
pursuant to Section 15164 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines which
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allows for the lead agency to prepare an addendum to an adopted Negative Declaration if only
minor technical changes or additions are necessary or none of the conditions described in
Section 15162 calling for the preparation of a subsequent EIR or Negative Declaration have
occurred. Pursuant to CEQA Section 15162, no subsequent Negative Declaration shall be
prepared for the project unless the lead agency determines, on the basis of substantial evidence
in light of the whole record, one or more of the following:
1. Substantial changes are proposed in the project that will required major revisions of the
previous Negative Declaration due to the involvement of new, significant environmental
effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;
2. Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is
undertaken which will required major revisions of the previous Negative Declaration due
to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in
the severity or previously identified significant effects; or,
3. New information of substantial importance identifies one or more significant effects not
discussed in the previous Negative Declaration, significant effects previously examined
will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous Negative Declaration,
mitigation measures or alternative previously found not to be feasible or not analyzed in
the Negative Declaration would be feasible and would substantially reduce one or more
significant effects but the project proponents decline to adopt a measure or alternative.
Findings Regarding the Proposed Project Revisions:
Staff analyzed the proposed code amendment revisions to Section 17. 76.100 to determine if
any impacts would result. The Planning Commission has independently reviewed this item and
has determined that, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15162, a new Negative Declaration
is not required for this revision because the proposed amendments will not result in any new
significant environmental effects:
1. The proposed revisions do not result in any new significant environmental effects and,
like Ordinance No. 510, 513U, 529, 532, 535, and 546 no significant impacts have been
identified. The revisions to Title 17 (Zoning) do not present new significant environmental
impacts because they merely modify or clarify certain requirements and/or codify policy
procedures application requirements. Therefore, the proposed revisions do not represent
a substantial change in the code, and will not result in new significant environmental
impacts or a substantial increase in the severity of any impacts.
2. The proposed revisions will not result in any significant environmental impacts, and the
circumstances under which the project is being undertaken have not substantially
changed since the CEQA determination was made for Ordinance No. 510. The scope of
the proposed revisions relate to minor modifications that merely modify or clarify certain
requirements and/or codify policies and procedures that are currently in place. There are
no changes with respect to the circumstances under which the revisions are undertaken
that will require major revisions of the previous Negative Declaration.
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3. No new information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have
been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the prior Negative
Declaration was adopted, identifies a significant environmental effect. Because the
proposed revisions would not result in any new or more severe environmental impacts
than those associated with Ordinance No. 510, there is no need for new or substantially
modified mitigation measures.
Therefore, pursuant to CEQA, the City Council has independently reviewed this item and
determines that other than the City Council's adoption of this Addendum No. 7, a new Negative
Declaration is not required for this revision to the Municipal Code.
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Subject: FW: City Council Meeting Tonight
FYI late correspondence attachment to report.
John
From: Susan [mailto:subrooks08@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 2:26 PM
To: John Alvarez
Cc: drangiemorrow@cox.net; Amy Seeraty
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting Tonight
Thanks for following up, John and Amy.
Angie, I requested 9f the City Manager that you, Stephanie and the others be contacted about this, even though your
issue was solved. I hope you are ok with our decision.
P.S. Did you ever get on their always Parks and Rec bd?
Susan
Susan Brooks
Mayor, Rancho Palos Verdes
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 18, 2013, at 2:18 PM, John Alvarez <JohnA@rpv.com> wrote:
Dr. Morrow,
Last night the City Council opened a public hearing on the item, discussed the issue and
unanimously decided to amend the City Tree Review Permit code to expand the number of
properties that will be notified of permit decisions. The code amendment also requires the
posting of official notices on trees subject to these decisions.
I understand that a number of residents near Via Frascati are upset about the tree removal that
occurred on PV Drive East. Perhaps you share the sentiment, which had been expressed by
others, that mature trees should be exempt from the City Tree Review Permit policy. As briefly
discussed at last night's meeting, the existing policy does exempt trees but only those trees
located on properties owned by the Miraleste rec & park district. This exemption originates
from the language provided by Proposition M (View Restoration).
If any additional amendments to the City Tree Review Permit code are proposed in the future,
we will provide you notice of the public hearings so that you have the opportunity to express
your concerns and proposed changes at that time.
1
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If you have any questions relating to the newly adopted code changes, please don't hesitate to
email me or call me.
Sincerely,
John Alvarez
Senior Planner
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
(310) 544-5228
johna@rpv.com
From: Amy Seeraty
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 7:57 AM
To: John Alvarez
Subject: FW: City Council Meeting Tonight
Can you respond to Angie? Was the item continued? Thanks.
Amy Seeraty
Associate Planner
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Community Development Department
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
www.palosverdes.com/rpv
amys@rpv.com -(310) 544-5228
From: Dr. Angie Morrow [mailto:dranqiemorrow@cox.net]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 7:43 PM
To: Amy Seeraty
Cc: Susan Brooks; Lars Palsson; Sandra & Robert Lou
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting Tonight
Hi Amy,
Due to the late notice, I was not able to email comments regarding the Municipal Code dealing
with City Tree Review Permits. I want to collect my thoughts and have a voice in this as I was
quite upset by the removal of the trees on Palos Verdes Drive East. Please let me know if there
are any additional plans for this to be on the agenda so I can prepare in advance.
I work daily and do not pick up email until the evenings when I get home. It would be greatly
appreciated if I could get notification a few days in advance.
Please let me know if I can provide concerns/comments for any future meetings where this may
be an agenda item.
Thanks for your prompt response.
Angie Morrow
From: Amy Seeraty
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:50 AM
2
I-12
To: Amy Seeraty
Cc: Joel Rojas
Subject: City Council Meeting Tonight
Hello Everyone-
I realize that this is last minute, but just in case you were not aware, I wanted to let you know
about an item on the City Council agenda this evening. It is an amendment to the Municipal
Code dealing with noticing for City Tree Review Permits, which was prompted by the issues
raised by City Tree Review Permit (CTRP2012-00025), which dealt with several pepper trees
and pine trees on Palos Verdes Drive East. If you have any comments regarding this item,
please email them to cc@rpv.com today and they will be attached to the Staff Report this
evening. Please see links to the current City Council Agenda and Staff Report below for more
information. Thank you.
City Council Agenda:
http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/agendas/2013 Agendas/MeetingDate-2013-09-17 /
Staff Report:
http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/agendas/2013 Agendas/MeetingDate-2013-09-
17 /RPVCCA CC SR 2013 09 17 01 City Tree Review Permit.pdf
Sincerely,
Amy Seeraty
Associate Planner
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Community Development Department
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
www.palosverdes.com/rpv
amys@rpv.com -(310) 544-5228
3
I-13
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Doc4tooth@aol.com
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 10:26 AM
cc
Pine Trees and Pepper Trees on PV Dr. East Removed
Dear City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes,
The Tree Removal behind our residense on PV Dr. East recently accomplished has been nothing but a nightmare for me
and my wife. We have been residents on Via Frascati for over Forty Years. We have enjoyed the quiet and Green vistas
all that time. The removal of the trees has made our living like being next to a freeway. The traffic noise is VERY
Noticeful. I think the ruling to allow a new neighbor ( of just one year) to remove these landmarks for their own visual
pleasure overriding our ( long standing residents ) hearing serenity as well as our visual pleasure of the trees is very short
sighted by the Cities ruling. We knew this would be the concequence and we notified the city of our objection. Many
others also notified the city not to remove the trees but you went right ahead and removed them in spite of our
objections. These tr.ees may be on the Cities right of way but belong to all the citizens who are affected. The cities plan
for replacement is a joke. The tiny shrubs that have been placed will take years to reach full size and NEVER will be tall
enough to suppress the noise of the PV Dr. East traffic.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick and Julie Kelsey
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From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Amy Seeraty
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 11:25 AM
CC; John Alvarez
Joel Rojas
FW: City Council Meeting Tonight
Please see the correspondence below.
Amy Seeraty
~ssociate Planner
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Community Development Department
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
www.palosverdes.com/rpv
amys@rpv.com -(310) 544-5228
From: Stephanie Kennedy [mailto:stephanie@regencyoutdoor.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 11:23 AM
To: Amy Seeraty
Cc: Joel Rojas
Subject: RE: City Council Meeting Tonight
September 17, 2013
Susan Brooks, Mayor
30940 Hawthorne Blvd
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Dear Honorable Mayor;
I lend my support to the ordinance however, with two exceptions that are crucial and in follow up of my formal
complaint below which included my submission Pasadena's Tree Ordinance which models respect of the community and
allows for Preservation of Trees over 50 years old, Pasadena's Ordinance in general is a great alternative ordinance to
Rancho Palos Verdes and should be implemented in lieu of the present City Tree Review Policy CRTP and ordinance of
Rancho Palos Verde.
I am against the proposed CTRP, and stafFs recommendations; selection review of 20 homeowners, and request fifty
(SO) homeowners review and the range of 300-500 ft., radius rather than a consistent five hundred (500) feet radius, not
allowing the staff to make decisions at their discretion rather t~an the homeowners and due to Rancho Palos Verdes
unique varied terrain and geography five hundred feet would encompass and assure input from residents.
Our Trees do not just acted as beauty for the landscape, but salvage our terrain, have been barriers and have saved life
of many drivers historically.
March 3, 2013 Formal complaint
This letter is a formal complaint on the removal and cutting down of Eight (8) historical trees adjacent to the South Side
of Palos Verde Drive East, South of Corsini Place, Rancho Palos Verde as divesting impact on the community. I am against
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the removal the historical trees on one of our main arterial of Rancho Palos Verde, and setting a precedent for the entire
area.
I would hope this would never happen without the proper approvals and I would like you to assure me that all
requirement of the view ordinance were appropriately met. In general, in follow of your speech at a homeowners
meeting, and now as Mayor, you understand the trees and pathways should have been historically preserved, as you
know, Rancho Palos Verde East is a major roadway of Rancho Palos Verde and part of the ambiance of our area.
I write as a homeowner of almost forty (40) years, having three homes in Rancho Palos Verde and a patron of our
environment. Why was I not notified of the removal ofthese historical tree as per regulation? I ask why, were all the
historically trees removed and not trimmed?
Respectfully,
·Stephanie Kennedy
Stephanie@RegencyOutdoor.com
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From: Amy Seeraty [mailto:AmyS@rpv.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:51 AM
To: Amy Seeraty
Cc: Joel Rojas
Subject: City Council Meeting Tonight
Hello Everyone-
I realize that this is last minute, but just in case you were not aware, I wanted to let you know about an item on
the City Council agenda this evening. It is an amendment to the Municipal Code dealing with noticing for City
Tree Review Permits, which was prompted by the issues raised by City Tree Review Permit (CTRP2012-
00025), which dealt with several pepper trees and pine trees on Palos Verdes Drive East. If you have any
comments regarding this item, please email them to cc@rpv.com today and they will be attached to the Staff
Report this evening. Please see links to the current City Council Agenda and Staff Report below for more
information. Thank you.
City Council Agenda:
http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/agendas/2013 Agendas/MeetingDate-2013-09-17 /
Staff Report:
http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citycouncil/agendas/2013 Agendas/MeetingDate-2013-09-
17 /RPVCCA CC SR 2013 09 17 01 City Tree Review Permit.pdf
Sincerely,
Amy Seeraty
Associate Planner
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Community Development Department
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
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