CC SR 20240319 H - 6001 PVDS Point View Special User Permit Fee Waiver Request
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/19/2024
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to approve a Fee Waiver request for a Special Use
Permit to the expand wedding ceremony operations of the Catalina View Event Garden
(Case No. PLSU2024-0001).
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Approve the Applicant’s request to waive fees for a Special Use Permit to
temporarily expand operations of the Catalina View Event Garden associated with
the Point View Master Use Plan Conditional Use Permit in order to conduct
additional wedding ceremonies for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years (Case No.
PLSU2024-0001).
FISCAL IMPACT: If the Fee Waiver application is approved, the City will not collect the
fee revenue of $2,610 for processing the requested Special Use
Permit (Case No. PLSU2024-0001). The Staff time involved in
processing the permit will be borne by the City’s FY 2023-24 General
Fund salary budget.
ORIGINATED BY: Octavio Silva, Deputy Direct of Community Development
REVIEWED BY: Brandy Forbes, AICP, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Applicant’s Fee Waiver Request (page A-1)
BACKGROUND:
On January 8, 2013, the Planning Commission adopted P.C. Resolution Nos. 2013 -02
and 2013-03 approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) and a Conditional Use
Permit (CUP) for the Point View Master Use Plan, respectively, for the property at 6001
Palos Vedres Drive South. The CUP allows for agricultural areas; an executive golf
course; a paved internal driveway; and site improvements to host public or private events
at the Catalina View Event Garden. The CUP includes a comprehensive set of regulations
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for the operation of the various Master Plan uses and the Catalina View Event Garden
including the number of annual events, hours of operation and noise restrictions.
Since the approval of the CUP, the Catalina View Event Garden has conducted private
events including, but not limited to, wedding ceremonies and special events of non -profit
groups such as Las Candalistas. The CUP authorizes up to 20 events for parties of 20 -
50 people and up to 30 events for parties of 50 people or more. An annual compliance
review by the City’s Community Development Department provides an opportunity to
ensure that the operation of the Master Plan uses, and event garden continue to comply
with CUP regulations.
On October 3, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2023 -47, declaring a local
state of emergency because of the accelerated and significant increase in land movement
in the Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, which includes the Point View
property and other landmark properties like the Wayfarers Chapel located at 5755 Palos
Verdes Drive South. As a result of the increased land movement in the area, on February
15, 2024, Wayfarers Chapel closed its doors and grounds to the public, leaving many
wedding parties without a wedding ceremony venue.
On February 28, 2024, the property owner, Jim York, of the Point View property submitted
a Special Use Permit application and fee waiver to allow for the operation of up to an
additional 50 wedding ceremonies annually for the 2024 and 2025 calendar years in the
event garden as well as to expand event garden operational hours from 6:00 p.m. up to
7:00 p.m., and the use of amplified noise in the ceremony lawn in coordination with the
additional requested ceremonies. The purpose of the Special Use Permit and the Fee
Waiver are to accommodate wedding ceremonies displaced from the closure of
Wayfarers Chapel due to landslide activities in the immediate area. City Staff are currently
processing the Special Use Permit application, which will require a review by the Director
of Community Development. The fee waiver is being presented to the City Council for
further consideration.
DISCUSSION:
Pursuant to Section 17.78.010(C) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC),
the City Council may grant a request to waive the fees associated with a n application if it
finds that:
1. The applicant or the beneficiary of the use or activity proposed by the applicant is
a nonprofit corporation registered with the State of California; or
2. The use or activity proposed or the activities of the beneficiary of the use or activity
proposed are charitable, educational or otherwise provide a substantial benefit to
the public; or
3. The applicant has demonstrated a financial hardship, as determined by the City
Council, on a case-by-case basis.
City Staff is of the opinion that the requested fee waiver may be granted based on Section
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17.78.010(C)(2) of the RPVMC because the proposed Special Use Permit activities will
provide a substantial benefit to the public. More specifically, the Greater Portuguese Bend
Landslide Complex is experiencing unprecedent land movement that has impacted area
residents, visitors and local businesses in the City. The unexpected closure of Wayfarers
Chapel because of the land movement has resulted in the cancellation of many wedding
events at the facility. The availability and accessibility of the Catalina View Event Garden
to accommodate wedding ceremonies canceled by Wayfarers Chapel, via a Special Use
Permit, would benefit wedding parties wishing to continue to conduct their services in the
City. The Applicant indicated that he would donate proceeds towards Wayfarers Chapel’s
Go Fund Me account to help raise funds to stabilize the grounds and rehabilitate damaged
structures.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Fee Waiver request for a Special Use
Permit in the amount of $2,610.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action s are available for
the City Council’s consideration:
1. Deny the Fee Waiver.
2. Grant some other reduction in the application fees due, in an amount determined
by the City Council.
3. Take other action, as deemed appropriate.
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