RPVCCA_SR_2011_04_19_13_Adj_Lot_LineCfTYOF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY~~MEMBERS
JOEL ROJAS,COMMUNITY DEV~~MENT DIRECTOR
APRIL 19,2011
CITY INITIATED AMENDMENT TO THE RECENTLY
ADOPTED ORDINANCE REGARDING ADJUSTMENT OF
THE LANDSLIDE.MORATORIUM BC:U~DARY LINE
REVIEWED:CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER ~.
Project Manager:Eduardo Schonbom,AICP,Senior Plan~
RECOMMENDATION
Read the Ordinance by title only and introduce the Ordinance.
BACKGROUND
On December 21,2010,the City Council introduced Ordinance No.517,amending
Municipal Code Chapter 15.20 by adding new Section 15.20.120.The new section created
a ministerial process to adjustthe Landslide Moratorium Boundary Line,where adjustment
ofthe Line is based upon site-specific geology demonstrating to the satisfaction of the City
Geologist that the Moratorium Line is not located in the correct location.The City Council
approved the language,and after the second reading of Ordinance No.517 on January 18,
2011,the Ordinance went into effect on February 17,2011.
When the Ordinance was taken to the Council for second reading on January 18th ,a
suggestion was made for a minor revision to the application requirements.So as not to
delay the adoption of the Ordinance so that a pending applicant could move forward with
his adjustment request,it was agreed to adopt the Ordinance as originally drafted and then
return with an amended ordinance that includes the suggested change.The updated
Ordinance is now before the City Council for consideration.
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Amendment to Recently adopted Ordinance,Landslide Moratorium Boundary
Line Adjustment
April 19,2011
DISCUSSION
During the Ordinance's second reading,there was discussion pertaining to the language
that requires the property owner's signature on an application for a Moratorium Boundary
Line Adjustment.As a result,the City Attorney indicated that the new Section 15.20.120.A
could be clarified to state that if an application is filed by an entity or private party other
than the City,then the application must be signed by all owners of the property (emphasis
added).To not further delay implementation of this new procedure and since this issue
was not materially detrimental to hindering private property owners'ability to apply,the City
Council agreed to adopt the Ordinance as presented.Since Staff indicated that the new
procedure could be better clarified regarding submittal of an application by an entity or
private property owner other than the City,Staff is now returning to the City Council to
amend the Ordinance.As such,the Ordinance has been further refined to include
language requiring that all owners of property sign the application when it is submitted by
an entity or private party other than the City for a Landslide Moratorium Boundary Line
Adjustment.
The attached Ordinance illustrates the change in the language.Strikethrough is language
to be deleted,while bold underline is language to be added.
ALTERNATIVES
In addition to Staff's recommendation,the following alternatives are available for
consideration by the City Council:
1)Take no further action in amending the recently adopted Ordinance No.517,thereby
making no changes to the text.
Attachment:
•Ordinance No.
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ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCO PALOS VERDES
AMENDING THE PROCEDURE TO ADJUST THE BOUNDARY OF THE
LANDSLIDE MORATORIUM AREA
WHEREAS,Section 15.20.100 of the Municipal Code contains a discretionary
procedure to allow property to be removed from the Landslide Moratorium Area so it
can be developed;
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.Section 15.20.120 of Chapter 15.20 of Title 15 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended by amending paragraph A thereof to read
as follows:
15.20.120 Procedure to adjust the boundary of the landslide moratorium area.
Either the City or an owner of property that is located entirely or partially within
the "Iandside moratorium area,"as outlined in red or green on the landslide moratorium
map on file in the director's office,may file an application with the City to adjust the
boundary of the landslide moratorium area to accurately reflect geologic conditions that
are present on the property that is the subject of the application,as determined by site-
specific geologic investigation.
A.Application.To obtain approval of an application to adjust the boundary of
the landslide moratorium area,an applicant shall file an application with
the Community Development Department.If the application is filed by a
person or entity other than the City,the application must be signed by all
owners of the affected property.An application shall not be deemed
complete until all required geology studies have been completed to the
satisfaction of the City's Geologist.An application shall include the
following:
1.A legal description of the property that is the subject of the application
and a map of the property demonstrating the area to be included within
and/or excluded from the landslide moratorium area.
2.Any existing geological or geotechnical reports or necessary geology
studies as determined by the City's Geologist.
3.A fee,as established by resolution of the City Council and a trust
deposit in an amount that is estimated by staff to be sufficient to pay
for the City's cost of having the City's Geologist review the application
and the geologic reports and studies.The applicant shall replenish the
trust deposit upon a request from the City that additional funds are
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needed.Any unused funds remaining in the trust account at the
conclusion of the review process shall be returned to the applicant.
B.Approval.If the geology studies demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
City's Geologist that the boundary of the landside moratorium area is not
in the correct location on the subject property,then the City Geologist shall
approve the application to adjust the landslide moratorium boundary,and
the map on file in the Community Development Department shall be
adjusted accordingly.
C.Denial.If the geology studies do not demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
City's Geologist that the boundary of the landside moratorium area is not
in the correct location on the subject property,then the City Geologist shall
deny the application to adjust the landslide moratorium boundary.
D.Withdrawal of application.The applicant may withdraw the application at
any time during the process;however,the applicant still is responsible to
reimburse the City for any costs that the City has incurred to have the
City's Geologist staff review the application and geologic reports and
studies.If the applicant does not respond to a request from the City's
Geologist for additional studies or information within 6 months of the date
of the request,the City shall notify the applicant in writing that the City is
withdrawing the request administratively,and no further action shall be
taken.The applicant may reinstate the application within 6 months of the
withdrawal by submitting a written application therefor accompanied by all
required fees and amounts to be held in trust to continue the processing of
the application.
PASSED,APPROVED and ADOPTED,this day of _
2011.
MAYOR
CITY CLERK
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