RPVCCA_SR_2010_07_20_11_Code_Amendment_Initiation_RequestCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
Project Manager:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
JOEL ROJAS,AICP,C~uNlTY DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR Ul/
JULY 20,2010
PLANNING CASE NO.ZON2010-00223 (CODE AMEND-
MENT INITIATION REQUESTt A REQUEST TO
CONSIDER INITIATING A CLEAN-UP CODE AMEND-
MENT TO CORRECT THE OMISSION OF SPECIFIC PLAN
DISTRICT VII FROM CHAPTER 17.38 (SPECIFIC PLAN
DISTRICTS)OF THE DEVELOPMENT CODE
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER oX-.
Kit Fox,AICP,Associate Planner (jJ)
RECOMMENDATION
Receive the request from Staff to initiate a Code Amendment to clean up an omission in
Chapter 17.38 (Specific Plan Districts)of the Rancho Palos Verdes Development Code
(RPVDC),and provide direction as deemed appropriate.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As a result of the recently-certified Marymount College initiative,it has come to Staff's
attention that the current language of RPVDC Chapter 17.38 (Specific Plan Districts)has
omitted a reference to the City-adopted specific plan for Eastview Park (Le.,Specific Plan
District VII).In order to correct this omission and avoid future confusion in the event that the
Marymount College initiative is passed by the City's voters,Staff is asking the City Council to
consider initiating a Code Amendment to correct this omission.
BACKGROUND
On March 2,2010,the City received the petition to place the Marymount College initiative
on the November 2,2010 ballot.Among other things,the petitioners propose that the
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MEMORANDUM:Code Amendment Initiation Request (Case No.ZON2010-00223)
July 20,2010
Page 2
passage of the initiative would add Section 17.38.100 to the City's Development Code for
"Specific Plan District V."However,based upon recent Staff research related to the
updating of the City's General Plan Land Use Element,it became apparent that the City
had previously received an application for (but had never enacted)a Specific Plan District
V in the early 1980s.1 Furthermore,the most recent specific plan district enacted by the
City was Specific Plan District VII for Eastview Park,adopted as Ordinance No.248 on
November 8,1989.For some unknown reason,RPVDC Chapter 17.38 was never updated
to include a reference to Specific Plan District VII (see current language of RPVDC Chapter
17.38 attached).As a result,Staff believes that when the petition was prepared for the
Marymount College initiative,the designation "Specific Plan District V"was selected by the
petitioners based upon the reasonable assumption that this would be the next sequential
designation for any new specific plan district in the City.Staff is concerned,however,that
this designation may lead to confusion in the future,whether or not the current initiative is
successful.Therefore,Staff has prepared a Code Amendment Initiation Request (Planning
Case No.ZON201 0-00223)to correct the omission ofa reference to Specific Plan District
VII from RPVDC Chapter 17.38.This request has been scheduled for the City Council's
consideration at tonight's meeting.
DISCUSSION
Staff envisions thatthe proposed Code Amendment would encompass two (2)changes to
RPVDC Chapter 17.38:
•Chapter 17.38 would be revised to dispense with numeric designations for existing
specific plan districts,replacing them with descriptive,named districts (Le.,"Coastal
Specific Plan District"versus "Specific Plan District I,"etc.)so as to avoid the
prospect of duplicated and/or non-sequential numeric district designations in the
future;and,
.•Section 17:38.100 would be added to describe the existing Eastview Park Specific
Plan District (Le.,"Specific Plan District VII"),to wit:
The Eastview Park specific plan district encompasses Eastview Park,
located at 1700 Westmont Drive.The property is owned by the Los
Angeles County Sanitation Districts and provides a secure access
point for the Districts'Joint Outfall System sewer lines.The city
leases the property from the Districts for park purposes.The plan
ensures that the park is maintained and developed for passive
recreational use that is compatible with the surrounding residential
1 Similarly,the City has previously received requests for (but not enacted)Specific Plan Districts VI,
VIII,IX and X.
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MEMORANDUM:Code Amendment Initiation Request (Case No.ZON2010-00223)
July 20,2010
Page 3
and commercial lands uses,and that preserves the Districts'rights
and ability to access and maintain the underground sewer lines.The
current specific plan which sets forth the requirements and standards
for this district is on file in the office of the director.
With these changes,RPVDC Chapter 17.38 would be brought up-to-date,and any future
specific plan districts enacted could be designated in a descriptive fashion so as not to
create confusion with existing and/or previously-proposed specific plan districts.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion,Staff believes the requested Code Amendment would correct the omission of
Specific Plan District VII from RPVDC Chapter 17.38,and avoid future confusion or
duplication when new specific plan districts are proposed and/or enacted.Therefore,Staff
seeks direction from the City Council regarding the initiation of a Code Amendment to clean
up an omission in Chapter 17.38 (Specific Plan Districts)of the Rancho Palos Verdes
Development Code.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Impact Upon the Marymount College Initiative
With the adoption of this Code Amendment,the language of the Marymount College
initiative (if approved by the voters)would need to be modified slightly.Specifically:
•The new section added to Chapter 17.38 would be numbered 17.38.110,not
17.38.100;and,
•The "Campus Specific Plan"would be designated in this new Code section as
"Campus Specific Plan District,"not "Specific Plan District V."
Aside from these minor changes,the proposed Code Amendment would have no impact
upon the substantive language of the Marymount College initiative.
Next Steps
If the City Council authorizes the initiation of this Code Amendment,Staff will present the
proposed Code Amendment to the Planning Commission for its consideration and
recommendation,and then to the City Council for adoption.Staff anticipates that this
process could be complete by the end of this summer.
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MEMORANDUM:Code Amendment Initiation Request (Case No.ZON2010-00223)
July 20,2010
Page 4
Public Notification
If initiated,the Code Amendment would be reviewed at duly-noticed public hearings before
the Planning Commission and City Council.
CEQA Compliance
If initiated,the environmental effects of the Code Amendment would be assessed in
compliance with CEQA.However,no CEQA review is required for this Code Amendment
Initiation Request since it is not a "project"as defined by CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Since this is a Staff-initiated Code Amendment,the costs associated with its processing
would be borne by the City's General Fund.Such effort is not expected to place a
substantial additional burden upon Staff resources since this is a very minor "clean-up"
amendment.
ALTERNATIVES
The following alternatives are available for the City Council's consideration:
1.Authorize the initiation of the requested Code Amendment to clean up an omission
in Chapter 17.38 (Specific Plan Districts)of the Rancho Palos Verdes Development
Code (RPVDC),via Minute Order.
2.Do not authorize the initiation of the requested Code Amendment,via Minute Order.
Attachments:
•Current RPVDC Chapter 17.38 (Specific Plan Districts)
•Ordinance No.248 (adopted November 8,1989)
M:\Projects\zON2010-00223 (Citywide,Specific Plan Code Amendment)\20100720_StaffRpt_CC.doc
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Chapter 17.38 -SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICTS
17.38.010 -Purpose.
17.38.020 -Establishment.
17.38.030 -Area delineation.
17.38.040 -Content.
17.38.050 -Conflict with other code provisions.
17.38.060 -Specific plan district I.
17.38.070 -Specific plan district II.
17.38.080 -Specific plan district III.
17.38.090 -Specific plan district IV.
17.38.010 -Purpose.
A specific plan district designates functionally interrelated geographic areas where
detailed studies are being conducted.These studies shall provide the means for
coordinating,balancing and regulating the development of property within a specific
plan district in order to provide consistency with the goals of the general plan.
17.38.020 -Establishment.
The planning commission may,or if so directed by the city council,shall,designate
districts for which specific plans shall be prepared based on the general plan and
recommend regulations,programs and legislation as may,in its judgment,be required
for the implementation of the general plan.A specific plan district may be designated
while a specific plan is in progress or following its completion.The planning commission
may recommend such plans and measures to the city council for adoption according to
the provisions of California Government Code Sections 65450 through 65457,which are
incorporated into this chapter by this reference,as if fully set forth.
17.38.030 -Area delineation.
Each specific plan district must encompass an identifiable,functionally interrelated,
geographic area.A definite boundary shall be shown or described,although the plan
documents may show or provide information concerning land outside the area for
reference purposes.
17.38.040 -Content.
A specific plan may include maps,plans,diagrams,models and text,which shall
include,at a minimum,the information required by California Government Code
Sections 65451 and 65452.
17.38.050 -Conflict with other code provisions.
In the event that the regulations or requirements of a specific plan district are in conflict
with other applicable provisions of this title,the specific plan shall govern.
17.38.060 -Specific plan district I.
Specific plan district I is the coastal specific plan district.This district comprises all land
seaward of Palos Verdes Drive South and Palos Verdes Drive West as indicated on the
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city official zoning map.The provisions and requirements for this district are set forth in
Chapter 17.72 (Coastal Permits).
17.38.070 •Specific plan district II.
Specific plan district II encompasses the southwest corner of Caddington Drive and
Western Avenue (28821-28947 Western Avenue.)The plan strives to provide a safe,
convenient and attractive commercial development related to the needs of the area.The
current specific plan which sets forth the requirements and standards for this district is
on file in the office of the director.
17.38.080 •Specific plan district III.
Specific plan district III encompasses the west side of Western Avenue,south of
Crestwood Street to the city boundary (29505-29701 Western Avenue.)The plan
establishes a guide for the comprehensive renovation of the existing commercial
development.The current specific plan which sets forth the requirements and standards
for this district is on file in the office of the director.
17.38.090 •Specific plan district IV.
Specific plan district IV encompasses all properties which front on the west side of
Western Avenue from,and including,29019-29421 Western Avenue.This area is
located between specific plan districts II and III.This plan encourages quality renovation
and development that builds on the opportunities available to this area and eliminates,
or reduces,the constraints this area faces.The plan proposes cohesiveness in design
to suggest an identity for the site as well as for the city.The current specific plan which
sets forth the requirements and standards for this district is on file in the office of the
director.
M:\Projects\ZON201O-00223 (Citywide,Specific Plan Code Amendment)\RPVDC Chapter 17.38 (existing).doc
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ORDINANCE NO.248
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
APPROVING SPECIFIC PLAN NO.7 AND ISSUING A FINAL
NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
NO.587
WHEREAS,General Plan Amendment No.14 in 1983 designated the
subject site at 1700 Westmont Ave.as a Specific Plan District;
and
WHEREAS,the Planning Commission has held a public hearing on
this matter on September 26,1989,and has recommended approval in
P.C.Resolution No.89-56;and
WHEREAS,the City Council has held a public hearing on this
matter on October 17,1989.
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1:The City Council has reviewed and considered the
contents of Environmental Assessment No.587 and the accompanying
Initial Study and Negative Declaration in reaching its decision on
Specific Plan No.7 and finds that this Specific Plan will not
result in any significant environmental effect.Further,the City
Council does hereby certify that all requirements pursuant to the
California Environmental Quality Act and the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes have been met,and a Final Negative Declaration will be
issued.
section 2:The City Council finds that Specific Plan No.7
is consistent with the General Plan.
Sectiort 3:The City Council finds that Specific Plan No.7
is necessary to establish permitted uses and standards for this
property at 1700 Westmont Avenue.
Section 4:For the foregoing reasons the City Council of the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby approves Specific Plan No.7,
pursuant to the conditions outlined in Exhibit "A",attached.
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PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED ON NOVEMBER 8,1989.
/5/JACKI BACHARACH
MAYOR
ATTEST:
/5/JO PURCELL
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I,JO PURCELL,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 four;that the foregoing ordinance,being
Ordinance No.248,was duly and regularly adopted by the City
Council of said City at a regular meeting hereof held on November
8,1989 and the same was passed and adopted by the following
ro 11 ca 11 vote:
AYES:McTAGGART,HUGHES,HINCHLIFFE AND MAYOR BACHARACH
NOES:NONE
ABSTAIN:NONE
CITY CLERK
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Ordinance No.248
Page 2
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EXHIBIT "A"
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
SPECIFIC PLAN NO.7
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NO.587
1.All proposed uses and development shall conform to the
standards for "OR"(Open Space Recreational)zoning in the
City's Development Code.
2.Construction of any structures on the site shall be
consistent with the recommendations of RSA Associates,Inc.
(July 5,1989),based on the Soil Engineering Report by
Pacific Soils Engineering (March 3,1989).
3.A landscape and lighting plan shall be submitted to the
Department of Environmental Services for approval prior to
iS$uance of a grading permit.The plan shall provide a
minimum of 60 feet of landscape buffering from adjacent
residences and shall direct lighting away from adjacent
properties.
4.Park use shall be limited to passive recreational activities,
e.g.picnicking,jogging,par course,and related facilities.
5.Park use shall be limited to daylight-hours and the park gate
shall be locked at dusk.
ordinance No.248
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