PC MINS 20181113 Approved 12/11/18
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 13, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. at the Fred Hesse Community Room, 29301
Hawthorne Boulevard.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mr. Jim York led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Nelson, Perestam, Saadatnejadi, Leon, Vice Chairman
Bradley and Chairman James.
Absent: None
Also present were Community Development Director Mihranian, Senior Planner Silva,
Associate Planner Anaya, Assistant Planner Arellano, and Assistant City Attorney Gerli.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously approved.
COMMUNICATIONS
City Council Items: Director Mihranian reported that at the November 7, 2018 meeting, the
City Council adopted, as a second reading, the ordinance approving a pre-zoning and land
use designation as part of the annexation of the three lots on Rue Le Charlene and initiated
the process to conduct a comprehensive update to Title 17, Zoning Code, of the Rancho
Palos Verdes Municipal Code. He added that Staff will bring an item later this year to form
a Planning Commission Sub-Committee to assist Staff with the update to the Zoning Code.
Staff: Director Mihranian reported that 1) Late correspondence was distributed for Agenda
Item Nos. 1 and 3; 2) Crown Castle filed an appeal of the Planning Commission's
decisions regarding the above-ground mechanical equipment considered at the October
23rd meeting; 3) as general practice, if a Commissioner misses a meeting and an item was
continued, in order to participate in the continued public hearing the video from the
previous meeting should be viewed; and 4) City Hall will be closed November 22nd and
23rd in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Commission: Commissioner Nelson wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda items):
Debbie Landis spoke on the inconsistent application and enforcement of the Green Hills
conditions of approval; Sharon Loveys indicated she was pleased that the Planning
Commission would be part of the comprehensive update to the Zoning Code; Nadia
Georgiena spoke on the enforcement of the maintenance conditions for Green Hills; and
Lori Brown commended the peninsula volunteers in helping the recent fire victims and their
animals.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 23, 2018 P.C. MINUTES
Approved the October 23, 2018 minutes, on a vote of 5-0-1 with Commissioner
Saadatnejadi abstaining because she was absent from the meeting.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. HEIGHT VARIATION, SITE PLAN REVIEW, GRADING PERMIT, AND
FENCE/WALL PERMIT- (CASE NO. ZON2017-00476): 27023 Shorewood Drive. (IA)
Associate Planner Anaya presented the staff report and PowerPoint presentation on the
Applicant's project, which was revised in response to the Commission's direction at the
September 11th meeting. He reported that the proposed request is to demolish an existing
2,098ft2 single-story residence to accommodate the construction of a new 3,872ft2, single-
story, single-family residence with a lower-level, direct access garage and ancillary site
improvements. The presentation provided a historical background on the previous design
proposals and the current changes and revised project plans.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the property setbacks,
the proposed grading to accommodate the garage, the slope along the driveway, and the
design on the single-story structure.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 13, 2018
Page 2
Chairman James opened the public hearing.
Luis De Morales, Architect, presented a PowerPoint illustrating the changes made to the
design of the proposed residence in response to the Commission's direction and Staff's
recommended design modifications. He reported that a neighborhood meeting was held
at City Hall and at the property owners' residence to present the revised plans and to solicit
input from the neighbors.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Mr. De Morales regarding the design of
the residence, the grading to access the garage, and the slope along the driveway.
Mick Shimada, property owner, thanked Staff and the Commission for their input on the
design changes. He stated that the revised design in response to the neighbors' comments
and the Commission's comments at the September 11th meeting.
Robert Cash expressed a concerns with the height of the proposed residence and the roof
ridgeline, and requested that the Commission confirm the height of the residence.
Maureen Sasson, James Dina, Yvonne Dina, Doreen Dina, and Susan Bauer expressed
their continued opposition with the project citing concerns with the size, compatibility with
the neighborhood, the long side-facing facade, the contemporary design, and the potential
impacts to the existing side yard fence abutting Mr. Dina's property.
Chairman James closed the public hearing.
The Commission discussed the proposed revisions and their general support of the
changes made by the Applicant to bring the residence more in line with the character of
the immediate neighborhood, particularly by eliminating the second story. The
Commission responded to Mr. Dina's concern regarding the existing side yard fence noting
that the Applicant has expressed a willingness to address his concerns.
COMMISSIONER LEON MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NELSON, TO
ADOPTED P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-27; CONDITIONALLY APPROVING A
HEIGHT VARIATION, SITE PLAN REVIEW, GRADING PERMIT, AND FENCE/WALL
PERMIT TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING SINGLE-STORY
RESIDENCE TO ACCOMMODATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 3,872FT2
(GARAGE INCLUDED) SINGLE-STORY RESIDENCE WITH A LOWER-LEVEL DIRECT
ACCESS GARAGE, ANCILLARY IMPROVEMENTS, AND 387.5 CUBIC YARDS OF
GRADING, ON A VOTE OF 5-1, WITH VICE-CHAIRMAN BRADLEY DISSENTING.
CONTINUED BUSINESS
None
Planning Commission Minutes
November 13, 2018
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NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
3. POINT VIEW ANNUAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT REVIEW: (CASE NO.
PLCU2018-0013): 6001 Palos Verdes Drive South. (OS)
Senior Planner Silva presented the staff report providing the background of the
Commission-required Annual Compliance Review of the Point View Master Use Plan. He
stated that this 6th Annual Compliance Review primarily focuses on the Event Center as it
relates to noise, hours of operation, and hosted events. He reported that Staff monitored
activities associated with the event center and concluded that the event center is operating
in compliance with the Commission-adopted Conditions of Approval. He reported that the
Applicant is requesting to modify Condition No. 13 to expand the allowable agricultural
crops.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the monitoring of the
event center and how Staff monitors other Conditional Use Permits.
Chairman James opened the public hearing.
Jim York, property owner, gave an overview on the property and the operations at the
Event Center. He also discussed the agricultural operations and its positive impacts to the
Peninsula particularly Terranea.
Vanessa Bowman presented statistics on the number of events that have occurred at the
Event Center and discussed their operating procedures and measures in place to minimize
impacts to neighboring properties.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the government
regulations needed to grow food and produce wine on the property, the City's Natural
Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP), and water provided for the agricultural crops.
Chairman James closed the public hearing.
VICE COMMISSIONER BRADLEY MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
SAADATNEJADI, TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-28 THEREBY ADOPTING
ADDENDUM NO. 5 TO A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED MITIGATED NEGATIVE
DECLARATION (MND) AND AMENDING CONDITION NO. 13 TO ALLOW THE
PLANTING OF A COMBINATION OF AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDING
ORCHARDS AND VEGETABLE GARDENS IN AN AREA DESIGNATED AS A
POTENTIAL VINEYARD AS PART OF THE 6TH COMPLIANCE REVIEW FOR THE
POINT VIEW MASTER PLAN, ON A VOTE OF 5-0-1 WITH COMMISSIONER LEON
RECUSED BECAUSE HE RESIDES WITHIN 500' OF THE PROJECT SITE.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 13, 2018
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NEW BUSINESS:
4. GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY FINDING: 1800 block of Summerland Street off
Western Avenue APN 7557-039-095. (MA)
Assistant Planner Arellano presented the staff report on the General Plan consistency
review for the City-acquisition of 0.49-acre tax-defaulted parcel in the 1800-block of
Summerland Street. He reported that acquiring this property will provide the City with the
ability to place an Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras near the
intersection of Western and Summerland.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the need to acquire the
property, potential traffic impacts, the condition of the roadway, and the City Council
authorization to acquire this tax defaulted property.
VICE COMMISSIONER BRADLEY MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER
NELSON, TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-29, FINDING THAT THE
ACQUISITION OF A TAX-DEFAULTED PARCEL IN THE 1800-BLOCK OF
SUMMERLAND STREET (APN: 7557-039-095) IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS
AND POLICIES OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN, ON A VOTE OF 5-1, WITH
COMMISSIONER LEON DISSENTING.
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS
5. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 27, 2018
The Commission unanimously canceled the November 27, 2018 meeting due to a lack of
agenda items.
6. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON DECEMBER 11, 2018
Approved as presented.
ADJOURNMENT
The Commission adjourned at 9:12 P.M.
For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to:
http://rpv.granicus.com/player/clip/3285?view id=5
Click on the agenda item below the video.
Planning Commission Minutes
November 13, 2018
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