PC MINS 20210622
Approved 7/13/2021
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 22, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Leon called the virtual meeting to order at 7:01 P.M.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPTIONS
Deputy Director Silva provided information related to participation options available to the
public.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Santarosa.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Chura, Hamill, James, Saadatnejadi, Santarosa, Vice Chair Perestam, and
Chair Leon.
Absent: None
Also, present were Director of Community Development Rukavina, P.E, Deputy Director Silva,
Senior Planner Yoon, Assistant Planner Guillean, Public Works Principal Engineer Dragoo, and
City Attorney Lopez.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Approved as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS
City Council Items: None
Staff: Deputy Director Silva wished the Commissioners a happy fourth of July holiday and
reminded the commission that City Hall would be closed on Monday, July 5, 2021, in observance
of the holiday.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 22, 2021
Page 2
Commission: None
Comments from the audience (regarding non-agenda items): None
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 22, 2021, P.C. MINUTES
Approved as presented.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS:
2. SITE PLAN REVIEW AND MAJOR GRADING PERMIT- (CASE NO. PLGR2019-0025): 30504
Palos Verdes Drive West (JY)
Chair Leon and Commissioner Hamill recused.
Senior Planner Yoon presented the staff report revisiting a proposal to construct a new 4,350
ft2 (garage included), split-story, single-family residence, and ancillary site improvements with
1,049 yd3 of associated grading on a vacant lot.
Vice Chair Perestam opened the public hearing.
Luis de Moraes - The Applicant provided project updates since the last meeting to address
concerns.
George Markov - Project engineer explained how the existing swale is proposed to be re-
routed in the drainage plan.
David Haas- The property owner presented slides on the easement between the neighboring
property, property lines, construction staging plan, and photo simulations of the proposed
landscaping privacy screening.
Jeff Porter- Spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides on concerns related to the
existing slope conditions, proposed balcony and roof deck, and drainage plan .
Fay Davoodian – Spoke in opposition of the project and presented slides on privacy concerns,
driveway access during construction, and lack of communication with the property owner of
the project site.
Vita Davoodian – Spoke in opposition of the project, on behalf of Mike Davoodian, and
presented slides on adverse impacts of construction activities, excerpts from the easement
agreement, project incompatibility, and slope stability.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 22, 2021
Page 3
Cindy Hall- Spoke in opposition of the project and presented information on concerns related
to extreme slope, slope stability, and wildlife habitat.
Louay Shawesh - Spoke in opposition of the project related to privacy, qualify of life, drainage,
Neighborhood Compatibility, and difficultly selling his property given the proposed project.
Bo Gould- The project Biologist was available for questions.
Ann Marie Won- The property owner provided background information on how they
purchased the lot and developed plans.
Luis de Moraes - The Applicant provided rebuttals on slope stability, implementation of BMP
during construction, and drainage plans.
Vice Chair Perestam closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued amongst the Planning Commission and staff regarding the geology report,
drainage plans, easement area, construction over swales, privacy screening with landscaping
strips, clarification of railing materials, and grading on extreme slope.
Vice Chair Perestam opened the public hearing.
Luis de Moraes - The Applicant provided a rebuttal on how construction of a new residence is
allowed on extreme slope per the code and noted several cases that were approved in the
past.
Vice Chair Perestam closed the public hearing.
Commissioner James opined that while he agrees that the code should be applied as written,
the intent of the code was probably not to allow residences to entirely built on extreme slopes
as the proposed project.
COMMISSIONER JAMES MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CHURA TO DENY A SITE PLAN
REVIEW, MAJOR GRADING PERMIT, AND MINOR EXCEPTION PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW
4,350 FT2 (GARAGE INCLUDED) SPLIT-STORY RESIDENCE AND ANCILLARY SITE IMPROVEMENTS
WITH 1,049 YD3 OF ASSOCIATED GRADING ON A VACANT LOT. THE MOTION PASSED ON A
VOTE OF 3-2 WITH COMMISSIONERS SAADATNEJADI AND SANTAROSA DISSENTING AND
CHAIR LEON AND COMMISSIONER HAMILL RECUSING.
CONTINUED BUSINESS: None
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS:
3. SITE PLAN REVIEW, HEIGHT VARIATION AND MINOR EXCEPTION PERMIT- (CASE NO.
ZON2017-00011): 3408 Gulfcrest Drive (JY)
Commissioner James recused.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 22, 2021
Page 4
Senior Planner Yoon presented the staff report proposing to construct an 844 ft² addition to
an existing two-story residence measuring 26 feet in height and ancillary site improvements.
Discussion ensued amongst the Planning Commission and staff regarding the legal
nonconforming front yard setback, residential development potential and removal of existing
improvements on the adjacent vacant lot, and location of the stairway within the front yard
setback area.
Chair Leon opened the public hearing.
Sajid Veera- The property owner gave a brief overview of the project including when the
home was remodeled by the previous owner, at which time when certain improvements
encroached into the adjacent vacant lot.
Discussion ensued amongst the Planning Commission and the property owner regarding the
stairway enclosure, communication with the Seacliff Hills HOA who owns the adjacent vacant
lot, and consideration of a JADU.
Sorin Done- The applicant provided additional information on the proposed project and
design.
Chair Leon closed the public hearing.
COMMISSIONER HAMILL MOVED, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SANTAROSA TO ADOPT
P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2021-10: APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, A HEIGHT VARIATION
PERMIT, MINOR EXCEPTION PERMIT, SITE PLAN REVIEW, AND MINOR GRADING PERMIT
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN 844 FT² ADDITION TO AN EXISTING TWO-STORY RESIDENCE
MEASURING 26 FEET IN HEIGHT AND ANCILLARY SITE IMPROVEMENTS. THE MOTION
PASSED ON A VOTE OF 6 TO 0 WITH COMMISSIONER JAMES RECUSING.
4. SITE PLAN REVIEW AND HEIGHT VARIATION- (CASE NO. PLSR2020-0150): 30439 Calle De
Suenos (MG)
Assistant Planner Guillean presented the staff report with a proposal to construct an 811 ft2
addition to an existing two-story residence measuring 24.41 feet in height and ancillary site
improvements.
Commissioner Hamill asked a question regarding site photos in the staff report and the year
they were taken. Staff clarified the site photo in question was taken in 2011 and did not reflect
the currently proposed design.
Chair Leon opened the public hearing.
Planning Commission Minutes
June 22, 2021
Page 5
Nazir Khaja- Introduced himself and spoke in support of the project.
Chair Leon closed the public hearing.
COMMISSIONER SAADATNEJADI MOVED, SECONDED BY VICE CHAIR PERESTAM TO ADOPT
P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2021-11, APPROVING, WITH CONDITIONS, A HEIGHT VARIATION AND
SITE PLAN REVIEW TO CONSTRUCT AN 811 FT2 ADDITION TO AN EXISTING TWO-STORY
RESIDENCE MEASURING 24.41 FEET IN HEIGHT AND ANCILLARY SITE IMPROVEMENTS. THE
MOTION PASSED ON A VOTE OF 7 TO 0.
NEW BUSINESS:
5. PLANNING COMMISSION ACCOMPLISHMENTS & WORKPLAN:
Citywide (OS)
Deputy Director Silva presented the staff report providing background on the City Council
Policy No. 54 adopted August 20, 2019, requiring board/ committees/commissions to present
biannual status reports to the City Council.
Deputy Director Silva also gave an overview of the planning commission accomplishments for
the past year and discussed future tasks the planning commission wil l work on.
CONCLUSION: REVIEWED AND DISCUSSED ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING
COMMISSION’S FIRST BIANNUAL REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS:
6. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON JULY 13, 2021
Approved as presented.
7. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON JULY 27, 2021
Approved as presented.
ADJOURNMENT: 9:43 P.M.
For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to
https://rpv.granicus.com/player/clip/3956?view_id=5&redirect=true
Planning Commission Minutes
June 22, 2021
Page 6