PC RES 2025-007 P.C. RESOLUTION 2025-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES RECOMMENDING THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL AMEND RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MUNICIPAL CODE (RPVMC) CHAPTER 16.40 (URBAN LOT
SPLITS) OF TITLE 16 (SUBDIVISIONS) AND CHAPTER 17.09
(SECOND UNITS AND TWO-UNIT DEVELOPMENTS IN
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES) OF TITLE 17 (ZONING) TO EXEMPT
THE EQUESTRIAN OVERLAY DISTRICT (Q) FROM THE
APPLICABILITY OF THESE REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO
SENATE BILL 684 (SB 684), AND DETERMINE THE CODE
AMENDMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT REQUIREMENTS (CASE
NO. PLCA2025-0002).
WHEREAS, on December 9, 1975, The City of Rancho Palos Verdes established
an Equestrian Overlay (Q) District to permit horsekeeping with the adoption of Ordinance
No. 78; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 9 into
law and these new regulations went into effect on January 1, 2022. SB 9 allows a
proposed two-unit housing development within single-family residential zones to be
considered ministerially, without discretionary review or hearing, if the proposed housing
meets certain basic requirements established by the State, and limits the requirements a
local agency could impose in approving such development if the municipality adopted
local regulations pertaining to SB 9. The law also requires a local agency to ministerially
approve the subdivision of a parcel in single-family zones into two parcels, referred to as
an urban lot split. Ultimately, an SB 9 eligible parcel could result in up to four units being
developed on a single-family zoned lot.; and
WHEREAS, on December 21, 2021, in preparation for the enaction of the State's
SB9 regulations, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 656U, by urgency ordinance,
thereby enacting SB9 related regulations to include the allowed local standards as
Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) and Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit
Developments in Single-Family Zones); and
WHEREAS, on October 4, 2022 the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 663, by
regular ordinance, which amended Chapter 16. 40 (Urban Lot Splits), Chapter 17. 09
(Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single- Family Zones) and Chapter 17. 96
(Definitions) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, thereby establishing
regulations and definitions for Urban Lot Splits and for Second Units and Two-Unit
Developments in Single- Family Residential Zones ; and
WHEREAS, on October 11, 2023, Senate Bill (SB) 684 was signed into law which
amended the provisions related to SB9 regulations (Government Code §§ 65852.21 and
P.C. Resolution No. 2025-07
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66411.7 pertaining to the development of urban dwelling units and urban lot splits,
respectively). Specifically, SB684 created an exemption to the provisions of SB9, for a
site located within a single-family residential horsekeeping zone adopted prior to January
1, 1994, and the elimination of an urban dwelling unit development standard; and
WHEREAS, on September 2, 2025, the City Council initiated code amendment
proceedings to update the Zoning Code as it pertains to Senate Bill (SB) 9 regulations for
consistency with SB684 provisions; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2025, a public notice was published in the Palos
Verdes Peninsula News informing the public of a public hearing by the Planning
Commission to consider proposed updates to RPVMC §16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) and
RPVMC §17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single-Family Zones) ;
and
WHEREAS, on October 14, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed
public hearing, considered the information provided by City staff, public testimony and
other evidence regarding the Project. This Resolution, and its findings, are based upon
the evidence presented to the Planning Commission at its hearing.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES AND RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The facts set forth in the recitals of this Resolution are true and
correct and incorporated herein by reference as though set forth in full.
Section 2: CEQA Compliance. The Planning Commission finds that the code
amendments described below are not a "project" as that term is defined by California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Guidelines as this ordinance constitutes general
policy and procedure making (14 CCR §§ 15060 (c)(3), 15378); alternatively, the code
amendments are exempt from CEQA'S requirements because there is no possibility that
this Ordinance or its implementation would have a significant negative effect on the
environment (14 CCR § 15061 (b)(3)).
Section 3: The Planning Commission recommends to the City Council that an
ordinance be adopted to amend RPVMC Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) of Title 16
(Subdivisions) and Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single-
Family Zones) of Title 17 (Zoning) will exempt the Equestrian Overlay District (Q) from
the Government Code §§ 65852.21 and 66411.7 (SB 9) to SB684 and
determine the amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as
follows
Chapter 16.40 (Urban Lot Splits) of Title 16 (Subdivisions)
The proposed Code Amendment would add section 16.40.065 — Limitation
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applicable to Equestrian Overlay (Q) District as follows:
Urban Lot Splits shall be prohibited in the Equestrian Overlay (Q) District pursuant
to California Government Code Section 66499.41(h)(2) as may be amended.
Chapter 17.09 (Second Units and Two-Unit Developments in Single-Family Zones)
of Title 17 (Zoning)
The proposed Code Amendment would add section 17.09.095. - Limitation
applicable to Equestrian Overlay (Q) District as follows:
Second Single-Family Dwellings shall be prohibited in the Equestrian Overlay (Q)
District pursuant to California Government Code Section 66499.41(h)(2) as may
be amended.
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission forward a copy of this
resolution to the City Council so the Council will be informed of the action and
recommendations of the Planning Commission
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED on this 14th day of October 2025, by the
following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS CHRISTEN, GEORGE, SANTAROSA & VICE-CHAIR
BRACH
NOES: NONE
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS CHURA, O'CONNOR & CHAIR NULMAN
Matthew Brach
Vice Chair
01.2
Brandy Forbes, AICP
Director of Community Development; and,
Secretary of the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 2025-07
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