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PC MINS 20200825 Approved 9/8/2020 CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 25, 2020 CALL TO ORDER Chair Leon called the virtual meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPTIONS Interim Deputy Director Silva provided information related to participation options available to the public. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Commissioner Chura led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance. ATTENDANCE Present: Commissioners Chura, Hamill, James, Saadatnejadi, Santarosa, Vice Chair Perestam and Chair Leon. Absent: None Also present were Director of Community Development Rukavina, Interim Deputy Director Silva, Senior Planner Alvarez, and City Attorney Gerli. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Approved as presented COMMUNICATIONS City Council Items None Staff Planning Commission Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 2 Interim Deputy Director Silva informed the Planning Commission that late correspondence was received and distributed for Agenda Item No. 2. Commission None Comments from the audience (regarding non-agenda items) None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 11, 2020 P.C. MINUTES APPROVED AS PRESENTED, WITH COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI ABSTAINING AS SHE WAS ABSENT AT THIS MEETING. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS: 2. NONCOMMERCIAL AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA - CODE AMENDMENT TO SECTIONS 17.76.020(C) & (D) OF CHAPTER 17.76 OF THE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE (CASE NO. PLCA2020-0003): Citywide (JY) A request to amend Sections 17.76.020(C) (Noncommercial amateur radio antennas) and (D) (Noncommercial amateur radio antenna permit) of Chapter 17.76 (Miscellaneous Permits and Standards) of Title 17 (Zoning) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to update the regulations and review procedures for noncommercial amateur radio antennas. Interim Deputy Director requested this item be continued to allow staff time to receive comments and input on the updated draft ordinance. COMMISSIONER JAMES MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMILL TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO SEPTEMBER 22, 2020, TO ALLOW STAFF AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE COMMENTS AND INPUT ON THE UPDATED DRAFT ORDINANCE. MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 7-0. 3. SITE PLAN REVIEW, MAJOR GRADING PERMIT, AND VARIANCE (CASE NO. PLSR2019-0065): 48 Rockinghorse Road (JY) A request to allow the construction of a new 4,594 ft² (garage included) two-story residence and ancillary site improvements with 1,037 yd³ of associated grading on a vacant lot. Interim Deputy Director requested this item be continued to allow the applicant time to revise the proposed project. Planning Commission Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 3 COMMISSIONER SANTAROSA MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HAMILL TO CONTINUE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO SEPTEMBER 8, 2020, TO ALLOW THE APPLICANT ADDITIONAL TIME TO REVISE THE PROPOSED PROJECT AS IT RELATES TO THE DESIGN OF THE EXTERIOR STAIRWAY AND ASSOCIATED GRADING. MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 7-0. CONTINUED BUSINESS: None NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS: 4. VIEW RESTORATION PERMIT APPLICATION (CASE NO. PLVR2020-0007): Applicants- Dale and Elaine Goodman, property owners at 3255 Parkhurst Drive. Foliage Owner - Thomas Gibbs, property owner at 3242 Parkhurst Drive (JA) Senior Planner Alvarez presented the staff report with a request to restore the view from the viewing area located at 3255 Parkhurst Drive. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and staff regarding the City-owned Pine, nearby the Liquid Amber tree, that is also impairing the view. Commissioner James stated that he had reservations to do anything to the Liquid Amber tree until the City r emoves or trims the Pine tree. Commissioner Santarosa questioned the amount of view impairment the Liquid Amber tree was causing compared to the larger City Pine tree. Senior Planner Alvarez responded that the View Restoration Guidelines allows the City to take into account all of the foliage whether on the subject property or off, when determining significant view impairments. Thus, the cumulative effect of all the trees, the City Pine tree, the Liquid Amber tree, and the other trees on the subject property, cause a significant view impairment in staff’s opinion. Chair Leon asked staff whether the City had developed a plan to handle the City tree prior to having the Gibb foliage be reviewed by the Planning Commission. Senior Planner Alvarez stated that staff planned to address the City Pine tree after the Gibbs trees were reviewed by the Planning Commission. He clarified that it was advantageous for the application to have the large Pine tree impairing the view to enhance the cumulative view impairment effect of the Liquid Amber tree. If the City had removed the City Pine tree, the Liquid Amber tree would appear small, raising doubt about whether the Liquid Amber tree causes a significant view impairment, thus lessening the chance of having a ruling in favor of tree trimming to the roofline. Vice Chair Perestam inquired about trimming the Liquid Amber tree as it relates to the possible removal of the City Pine tree. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and staff re garding trimming trees to 16 feet in height compared trimming trees to the roofline height level. Chair Leon opened the public hearing Planning Commission Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 4 Commissioner James asked the Applicants their opinion as to what they prefer to happen to the Liquid Amber tree if the City owned Pine tree stays. The Applicants stated they wis h to see all of the trees, no matter ownership, brought down to the View Restoration Ordinance height levels. Chair Leon closed the public hearing. Commissioner Hamill stated that she disagrees with Finding No. 2 in that she does not believe the subject trees cause a significant view impairment. Commissioner James shared doubts about the Chinese Pistache tree impairment and whether the Liquid Amber tree causes a significant view impairment because of the large Pine tree. Vice Chair Perestam stated that he could make the permit findings for the subject trees and the City tree. He stated that trimming the trees completely over two winter seasons to the roofline height level was troubling as he favored trimming in a single event. He also favors to see the City Pine tree removed and not trimmed. Chair Leon suggested that the Commission vote on the extreme opinion on the matter and then work towards a consensus. He asked Commissioner Hamill to offer a motion. Commissioner Hamill motioned to deny the permit on the grounds that the foliage does not significantly impair the view. The motion failed for lack of a second. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and staff about the timing of the tree trimming and especially about how to handle the Liquid Amber tree given the interference of the large City Pine tree. The Planning Commission focused their discussion on how to approve the permit to have the Birch trees and the Chinese Pistache tree fully trimmed by January 31, 2020, and to separately decide on trimming the Liquid Amber tree after a City decision is made on the City Pine tree. Commissioner James suggested making a motion that would allow the Planning Commission to approve the permit, but bring back the matter in six months, as a revision, to address the Liquid Amber tree. He also suggested to the Chair that he re-open the public hearing to receive feedback from the Applicants. Discussion ensued between the Planning Commission and staff about when to review the Liquid Amber tree. Chair Leon re-opened the public hearing. The Applicants agreed with the Planning Commission’s intent to have the Planning Commission decide on the trees, with exception of the Liquid Amber, which would be decided in the upcoming months. Chair Leon closed the public hearing. Planning Commission Minutes August 25, 2020 Page 5 COMMISSIONER SANTAROSA MOVED, SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR PERESTAM TO ADOPT P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-12, CONDITIONALLY APPROVING A VIEW RESTORATION PERMIT (CASE NO. PLVR NO. 2020-0007), REQUIRING THE FOLIAGE OWNER AT 3242 PARKHURST DRIVE TO CROWN REDUCE TWO BIRCH TREES AND ONE CHINESE PISTACHE TREE TO THE FOLIAGE OWNER’S ROOFLINE HEIGHT LEVEL BY JANUARY 31, 2021, AND FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO THE ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL ON OCTOBER 27, 2020, OR AS SOON THEREAFTER AS PRACTICABLE, TO CONSIDER WHETHER ONE LIQUID AMBER TREE MEETS THE CRITERIA OF THE PERMIT FINDINGS AFTER THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAKES A DECISION TO TRIM OR REMOVE A CITY PINE TREE ADJACENT TO THE LIQUID AMBER TREE. MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 6-1 WITH COMMISSIONER HAMILL DISSENTING. NEW BUSINESS: None ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS: 5. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 APPROVED AS PRESENTED 6. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 APPROVED AS PRESENTED ADJOURNMENT: 8:39 P.M. For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to https://rpv.granicus.com/player/clip/3717?view_id=5&redirect=true