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PC MINS 20191008 Approved 10/22/19 .& CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 8, 2019 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bradley 7:05 p.m.at the Fred Hesse Community Room, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Perestam led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. ATTENDANCE Present: Commissioners James, Leon, Nelson, Saadatnejadi, Perestam, Vice Chairman Leon, and Chairman Bradley. Absent: None Also present were Community Development Director Mihranian, Senior Planner Seeraty, Associate Planner Anaya, Senior Engineer Eder, City Consulting Engineer Allen Riggs and Assistant City Attorney Gerli. APPROVAL OF AGENDA VICE CHAIRMAN LEON MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI, MOVED TO TAKE ITEM NO. 4 BEFORE ITEM NO. 3. THE MOTION PASSED 7-0. COMMUNICATIONS City Council Items: Director Mihranian reported that at the September 17th meeting, the City Council 1) received the second quarterly report on the implementation of the Wireless Ordinance; 2) received public comments on the Zone 2 Draft Environmental Impact Report; and 3) adopted Ordinance No. 627 amending the term expiration date for the Planning Commission. He added that the City Council at its October 1st meeting 1) adopted Ordinance No. 628 amending the City's second dwelling unit ordinance; 2) upheld the Planning Commission's approval of a Height Variation on Bayridge Road with an adjustment to the structure's overall height; and 3) conducted the compliance review of the Sol Y Mar project formerly known as the Crestridge Project. The Director also reported that the City Council resumed the Community Leader's Breakfast which was held on Saturday, September 21st Staff: Director Mihranian reported that he attended the Wireless Summit held by the City of Palos Verdes Estates on September 11th and provided the Commission with an update on the latest methodology related to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA). He also reported that Staff has created a homepage on the City's website with information on RHNA for the public's benefit. Lastly, Director Mihranian announced that the City Manager is retiring on November 22nd and that he will be serving as Interim City Manager while the City Council goes through the recruitment process to permanently fill the position. Commission: Commissioner Nelson reported that he attended the Portuguese Bend Landslide Remediation Workshop and the Long Point HOA Debate. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda item): NONE CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 27, 2019 P.C. MINUTES VICE CHAIRMAN MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NELSON, TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 27, 2019 P.C. MINUTES, ON A VOTE OF 6-0 WITH COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI ABSTAINING SINCE SHE WAS ABSENT FROM THE MEETING. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. APPEAL OF THE DIRECTOR-APPROVED SITE PLAN REVIEW TO TRIM AND MAINTAIN EXISTING HEDGES/FOLIAGE WITHIN THE INTERSECTION VISIBILITY TRIANGLE AND FRONT AND STREET SIDE SETBACK AREAS (CASE NO. PLSR2019-0115): 29624 Grandpoint Lane / Masood Youssofi (IA) Associate Planner Anaya presented the staff report requesting to overturn the Director's approval of a Site Plan Review in order to allow the hedges/foliage to remain at a height of 6' within the front and street side setback areas and within the Intersection Visibility Triangle (IVT). He presented the analysis and provided updates to questions asked by the Commission at the August 27th meeting regarding the stop bar line, line-of-sight, and vehicle accident data. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff, including the City's Engineering Consultant, regarding the stop bar distance and location, installation of a three-way stop sign, line-of-sight particularly from vehicles travelling along Highpoint Road, driveway access for the neighboring property, whether trimming the hedge would result in moving the stop bar closer to the typical location of approximately 20 feet, and Planning Commission Minutes October 8, 2019 Page 2 privacy concerns raised by the property owner/appellant. Staff indicated that a condition has been added that allows the hedge to grow back to a higher height after an update line-of-sight analysis is conducted when the trimming occurs. Chairman Bradley opened the public hearing. Masood Youssofi - the property owner, spoke in regards to the stop sign location and visibility around the curve. He stated there is no safety issue based on his perspective. He reiterated his privacy concerns related to the trimming requirement. Patricia Mahaffey - spoke in favor of Staff's trimming recommendation indicating that the visibility from her driveway on Grandpoint Lane is impaired. Chairman Bradley closed the public hearing. Director Mihranian mentioned that Staff will reassess the trimmed vegetation to determine if the hedges/foliage may be able to exceed 30" and approve a new height, if warranted, through a Minor Modification approved by the Director of Community Development and the Public Works Department. He also added that the City will explore warrants for installing three stop signs at this intersection. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding waiving the appeal fee. Director Mihranian stated that if the Planning Commission adopted Staff's recommendation, pursuant to the Municipal Code, only half the appeal fee will be refunded. A full refund can only occur if the Planning Commission overturns the Director's decision by denying the trimming or a fee waiver is approved by the City Council at a duly noticed public hearing. COMMISSIONER JAMES MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SANTAROSA TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-23, DENYING THE APPEAL AND UPHOLDING THE DIRECTOR'S APPROVAL, WITH A CONDITION MODIFICATION, OF A SITE PLAN REVIEW REQUIRING THE PROPERTY OWNER (APPELLANT) TO TRIM AND MAINTAIN, IN PERPETUITY, HEDGES/FOLIAGE AT A HEIGHT OF 6' WITHIN THE FRONT- AND STREET-SIDE SETBACKS AND 30" IN HEIGHT WITHIN THE INTERSECTION VISIBILITY TRIANGLE (IVT). THE MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 6-1 WITH COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI DISSENTING. CONTINUED BUSINESS: NONE NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE Planning Commission Minutes October 8, 2019 Page 3 NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS: 4. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT - HYDROGEN FUELING STATION: (CASE NO. PLCU2018-0004): 28103 Hawthorne Blvd. (AS) Senior Planner Seeraty presented the staff report with a request to operate a retail hydrogen fueling station with the installation of a hydrogen fuel pump, tank, and associated mechanical equipment contained within a 13-foot tall block wall enclosure with a 25-foot tall vent pipe, at an existing Shell gas/service station and convenience store. She stated Staff has proposed several conditions to ensure safety and compliance with the Municipal Code, as well as State regulations. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding the H30 versus H70 distinction that is shown on the two sides of the hydrogen tank and also the pressure of the storage tank, the demographics and demand for such a fueling station, and the industry standards. Staff deferred all technical questions to the Applicant. Chairman Bradley opened the public hearing. Renay Jacob - representing Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., provided information regarding hydrogen fueling products. He also answered safety questions and stated there are 25 other stations with the same design in other cities. He also stated all cities follow the local fire code and that this industry is heavily regulated by the State. Phil Cazel - representing California Energy Commission answered questions from the Commission regarding the State's mission to reduce vehicle emissions and to implement alternative fueling stations throughout California. He also explained the model for coverage area and how the locations are selected by the State. He also satisfactorily answered a number of safety and hazard questions posed by the Commission and stated that there have been no accidents at other such facilities anywhere in the state of California. Vio Bucur - spoke in opposition to the project expressing safety, traffic and noise concerns. Chairman Bradley closed the public hearing. COMMISSIONER NELSON MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER PERESTAM TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-24, THEREBY CERTIFYING A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION MAKING CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT; AND 2) ADOPTED P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-25; THEREBY CONDITIONALLY APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 182 REVISION "F" AND GRADING PERMIT TO ALLOW THE OPERATION OF A HYDROGEN FUELING STATION WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A HYDROGEN FUEL PUMP, TANK, AND ASSOCIATED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT CONTAINED WITHIN A 13-FOOT TALL BLOCK WALL ENCLOSURE WITH A 25-FOOT TALL Planning Commission Minutes October 8, 2019 Page 4 VENT PIPE AND TO CONDUCT 100 CUBIC YARD OF GRADING TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS. THE MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 7-0. 3. REVISION TO PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED GRADING PERMIT: (CASE NO. PLRV2018-0015): 3027 Crest Road (IA) Commissioner Perestam recused himself because he lives directly adjacent to the project site and left the meeting. Associate Planner Anaya presented the staff report with a request to revise Condition No. 18 of P.C. Resolution No. 89-57 to allow an additional 195CY of grading to the maximum 200CY limit and to approve reconfiguration and construction of a new driveway. He stated the grading is similar to driveways in the area and that there would be no view impact. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and Staff regarding the historic approval of the lot split and the associated conditions of approval, as well as grading quantities and retaining wall heights. VICECHAIR LEON MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NELSON TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2019-26; THEREBY AMENDING CONDITION NO. 18 OF P.C. RESOLUTION 89-57 TO ALLOW 395CY OF DRIVEWAY GRADING AND APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, THE RECONFIGURATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW DRIVEWAY AT 3027 CREST ROAD. THE MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 6-0 WITH COMMISSIONER PERESTAM RECUSED. NEW BUSINESS NONE ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS 5. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON OCTOBER 22, 2019 UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS PRESENTED. 6. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2019 UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS PRESENTED. Planning Commission Minutes October 8, 2019 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 P.M. For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to: https://rpv.granicus com/player/clip/3513?view id=5 Planning Commission Minutes October 8,2019 Page 6