PC MINS 20180626 ktiApproved 8/74/18
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 26, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. at the Fred Hesse Community Room,
29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Assistant City Attorney Gerli led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Nelson, Perestam, Leon, Saadatnejadi, Vice Chairman
Bradley (arrived at 7:15 p.m.), and Chairman James.
Absent: None
Also present were Community Development Director Mihranian, Deputy
Director/Planning Manager Kim, Senior Planner Silva, and Assistant City Attorney Gerli.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
City Council Items: Director Mihranian reported that at its June 19th meeting, the City
Council: 1)Adopted the Fiscal Year 18/19 Budget; 2) Established flat fees for the wireless
telecommunication applications consistent with the ordinance; 3) Approved, as
recommended by the Planning Commission, Wireless Telecommunication Facility ASG
No. 33 located on Hawthorne Blvd.; 4) Amended the Conditions of Approval and Public
Amenities Plan for the Trump National Golf Course Project; 4) Authorized resuming the
City's Peafowl Trapping Program for 2018-19; and 5) Deferred the Charter City Ballot
Measure to next year.
Staff: Director Mihranian reported that late correspondence was distributed for Agenda
item No. 2; and Staff emailed the Planning Commission the final adopted resolution for
the General Plan Consistency Finding for the LA-RICS Project that was approved at the
June 12th meeting.
Commission: None
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda items): None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of the June 12, 2018 P.C. Minutes
Commissioner Nelson moved, seconded by Commissioner Saadatnejadi, to
approve the June 12, 2018 Planning Commission Minutes, as presented, on a vote
of 4-1-1 with Commissioner Leon abstaining since he was not at the June 12th
meeting and Vice-Chairman Bradley was absent for the vote.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
CONTINUED BUSINESS: None
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. Appeal of the Director-Approved Major Grading Permit: 27501 Western Ave. / Green
Hills Memorial Park (SK)
Deputy Director/Planning Manager Kim presented the Staff Report summarizing the
Appellant's request to overturn the Director's approval of a Major Grading Permit allowing
424yd3 of balanced grading to accommodate the installation of vaults for the family estate
area, 3' tall walls, and benches in the unimproved portion of Alta Vista Gardens (Area 2).
Her presentation covered the various appeal points and Staff's responses.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the current condition of
the property, compliance with the Conditions of Approval, retrofitting, open space
Planning Commission Minutes
June 26,2018
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restrictions, grading quantities, and whether the Master Plan and the City's Conditional
Use Permit establishes a cap on the allowable density of interments.
Chairman James opened the public hearing.
Sharon Loveys (Appellant) expressed that any development of open space at the
cemetery requires a revision to its Master Plan and/or the Conditional Use Permit. She
mentioned that the proposed project increases the density, which will lead to an increase
in traffic. She also noted that Green Hills is in violation of their mediation requirement with
the Vista Verde community regarding the Pacific Terrace Mausoleum.
Ellen Berkowitz (Applicant) reviewed the Applicant's project and its merits as it relates to
the findings and the Council-approved Conditions of Approval. She expressed her
opposition to the points of the Appellant's appeal.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Ms. Berkowitz regarding the scope of
the proposed project, the Applicant's participation in future mediation with the Appellant,
and the use of vaults for earth interments.
Glenn Cornell introduced himself as a representative of the Rolling Hills Riviera
Homeowners' Association. He expressed that density adversely impacts neighbors and
questioned why Green Hills gets to determine the density of their site. He requested that
the appeal be denied so that this matter, as well as all other matters are heard by the City
Council particularly density.
Discussion ensued between Commissioner Saadatnejadi and Staff on the Master Plan
as it relates to the density of interments, and whether this matter was addressed and
resolved by the City Council at past annual compliance review public hearings. Staff
affirmed that the Council found that the Master Plan is for reference purposes, and that
there is no cap on interment density, which has been memorialized in the Council-adopted
Resolutions. Commissioner Saadatnejadi requested that City Staff address the density
matter in greater depth in future staff reports.
Debbie Landes stated her support of the appeal.
Sharon Loveys (Appellant) stated that she is giving her time for rebuttal to Glenn Cornell.
Glenn Cornell stated that he believes the Master Plan is not for reference purposes only.
Ellen Berkowitz (Applicant), on rebuttal, stated that the Master Plan allows for additional
density and the Conditional Use Permit allows cemetery use and associated interments.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Ms. Berkowitz regarding whether
interment density applies in the Master Plan, future revisions to the Conditional Use
Permit, the 50 year time frame contemplated for the Master Plan, and clarification
regarding vaults and niches.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 26,2018
Page 3
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding mitigation measures
applicable to the property as part of the approved Mitigated Negative Declaration
associated with the Conditional Use Permit, and what type of project would require a
revision to the Conditional Use Permit and/or the Master Plan.
Chairman James closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Leon moved, seconded by Vice Chairman Bradley, to adopted P.C.
Resolution No. 2018-21, denying the appeal and upholding the Director's decision
to approve a Major Grading Permit for 424yd3 of balanced grading to accommodate
the installation of vaults associated with earth interments, 3'tall walls, and benches
in the unimproved portion of Alta Vista Gardens (Area 2) at Green Hills Memorial
Park, on a vote of 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
3. Report on the State's 2017 and 2018 Housing Packages: Citywide (OS)
Senior Planner Silva presented a Staff Report on the State of California's 2017-2018
Housing Package and a summary of Housing Bills currently being considered, including
SB827, SB828, SB831, and SB1469. He stated the City and League of California Cities
have submitted letters of opposition related to some of the Housing Bills because they
erode local control. He also indicated that Staff will continue to monitor this legislation. He
stated Staff is recommending the Commission receive and file the report.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the various Housing
Bills and their potential to impact to the City. Chairman James requested that copies of
the opposition letters be provided to the Planning Commission.
Vice Chairman Bradley moved, seconded by Commissioner Nelson, to receive and
file a report on the State's 2017- 2018 Housing Packages and its implications to the
City of Rancho Palos Verdes, on a vote of 6-0.
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS:
4. Pre-Agenda for the Meeting on July 10, 2018
The Commission unanimously agreed to cancel the meeting due to lack of agenda items.
5. Pre-Agenda for the Meeting on July 24, 2018
Approved as presented.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 26, 2018
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ADJOURNMENT: 8:55 P.M.
For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to:
http://rpv.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view id=5&clip id=3180
Click on the agenda item number on the video.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 26, 2018
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