HomeMy WebLinkAboutBZA_Minutes_1970_01_26MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS HELD IN THE COONCIC-CH1'RBER-s-; crrv ~LL, -AERMOSA BEACH,-·jANUARV 26, 1970 MEETING WAS CALLEO TO OROER AT 7:37 P.M. ROLL CALL: Present -COIMI. Ostermann, Williams, Reeves Absent -None A Motion was made by Chairman Reeves, seconded by C<>n¥11. Williams, to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 12, 1970 as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS: Secretary of the Board, Richard Williams, read the application for variance as fol I ows: 11Appl ication for a variance by Cisco•s Manhattan Beach, Inc., at 3324 Hermosa Avenue, in the City of Hermosa Beach, California,.lots I .and 2, Block 102, Shakespeare Tract." 11Applicant plans to erect a three-story, ten-unit apartment building on property having 552.5 square feet of land area per dwelling unit. The request is for a waiver on the zoning ordinance requiring 600 square feet of land area per dwe 11 i ng un i t • 11 Chairman Reeves, noting that there was a large delegation of property owners present, said he would ask the prospective owners and builders, Mr. Fred Held and Hr. Howard Heister, to present their reasons for requesting the variance before declaring a pub1 ic hearing. Hr. Held said they were requesting the variance so they would be able to build ten 2-bedroom apartments INSTEAD of nine units-two of which would be 3·bedroom, and seven of which would be 2-bedroom apartments. Hr, Held stated that If they are granted the variance, it would be to the City's advantage as well as their own for this reason: They would end up with 20 people in the ten 2-bedroom apartments, instead of 22 people in the combination plan which would be built if they are not granted the variance. He said the parking problem would be less to the City if they are granted the variance be• cause they would have 15 garages instead of 14, with only 5 having to park on the street instead of 8. Mr. Held said there was a better market for two-bedroom apartments and there was less danger of overcrowding in the two•bedroom apartments. He stated that they felt the fewer tenants they had, the more control they would have. At Chairman Reeves request, Building Director, Bud Trott explained the re-quest for variance in more detail. He verified Hr. Held1s statement that under existing ordinances, they could build 9 units of any combination they wished as long as they had at least 400 square feet of living area. He also clarified the fact that the present ordinance requiring 600 square feet was for land area per dwelling unit.
MINUTES FOR BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF JAN. 261 1970 PAGE 2 The public hearing opened at 7:45 p.m. The following property owners spoke against the variance: Hr. Joseph Hiles 5633 W. 6th St. Los Angeles, Calif. Hrs. Bessie Skelton 3317 Palm Drive Hermosa Beach Kr. Gordon B. Noland 121 Longfel lciw Hermosa Beach Hrs. Al ice B. Chi Id 3231 Strand Hermosa Beach Hr. and Hrs. Sherman Phinney 3411 Strand Hermosa Beach Hr. and Hrs. warren Hiller 3417 Strand Hermosa Beach EI i nor Raymond 3423 Strand Hermosa Beach Hrs. Jack K. Prince 28630 Roan Road Rolling Hills, Calif. 9027~ Mr. Richard Eastom 124 34th Street Hermosa Beach Mr. John HcFaden 3301 Strand Hermosa Beach Hr. Berger Fagenstrom 1300 Strand Hermosa Beach Hr. and Mrs. Roger Johnson 3405 Strand Hermosa Beach Hr. Carl Fi sher 144 34th Street Hermosa Beach Hr. Jack Farnum 3311 Palm Hermosa Beach Hr. Ozie Hahn 3512 Strand Hermosa Beach Building Director. Mr. Bud Trott, read conmunlcations from the following: Hr. Edmund w. Smith, 3220 Strand, Hermosa Beach, who said he was in favor of granting the variance. Also Hrs. Warren Miller, 3417 Strand Hrs. Sherman Phinny, 3411 Hr. Roger Johnson, 3405 Strand The aforementioned expressed themselves as being against the variance. After lengthy testimony, questions, and conments, Chairman Reeves invited Hr. Held and Mr. Meister to present and explain their blueprints and drawings. Prospective owners pointed out that there would be no exterior difference in the building if the variance were granted and the ten units built. They also pointed out that there would be no overhanging decks or balconies, but there would be a play deck on the roof which would comply with a recent ordinance
MINUTES FOR BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF JAN, 26, 1970 PAGE 3 requ1r1ng 200 square feet of outdoor area per dwelling unit. This roof area would be enclosed by an lron railing approximately 10 feet from the 1211 to 18" parapet around the edge of the roof. They said they had retained a local architect, Hr. Jack Remington, and a local contractor, Hr. Kenneth Palmer, and both had a thorough kno.i-iledge of this area. Prospective <Moers answered a number of questions regarding the buildi~g. Following their presentation. Chairman Reeves requested Mr. Trott to read Section 1402 of the Zoning Ordinance No. N.S. 154 which reads as follows: 11Requi red Showing for Variances: 1. That there are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or conditions applicable to the property involved. 2. That such variance is necessary Jor the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right possessed by other property in the same vicinity and zone, and denied to the property in question. 3. That the granting of such variance will not be mater1al1y detrimental to the public welfare or injurious-to the property or improvements in such vicinity and zone in which the property is located. 4. That the granting of such variance will not adversely affect the compre-hensive general plan. 11 Kr. Held and Hr. Keister made a final surm,ary. correlating their arguments with the points as read by Hr. Trott from City Zoning Ordinance. In answer to a question from the audience. Hr. Heister said the estimated cost of the building is $221,000. He said that Hr. Dick Rice would probably join them in buying the property, and they hope to get their investment back within five years. Public hearing was closed at 9:32 p.m. Chairman Reeves announced that although the public hearing was closed, the audience was welcome to remain If they so desired. He explained that the first motion regarding a variance must always be made in the affirmative. The Board members engaged in further discussion of the variance in relation to the four points listed in Section 1402 of the Zoning Ordinance as read by Mr. Trott. Commissioner Williams made a motion to grant a variance to Clsco1s of Manhattan Beach, Inc., which would waive the 600 square feet of land area per dwelling unit required under the present zoning ordinance. Motion seconded by Chairman Reeves.
MINUTES FOR BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF JAN. 26, 1970 PAGE 4 Motion failed to pass by the following vote: AYES: None NOES: Comm. Ostermann, Williams, and Reeves. A motion was made by Chairman Reeves. seconded by Coom. Williams to adopt Resolution B.Z.A. 154-14 denying the application for a variance by Cisco1s Manhattan Beach, Inc. for the following reasons: I. Applicant had not sufficiently evidenced to Board that there are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances applicable to the property involved. 2. Applicant had not proven that such a variance was necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right possessed by other property in the same vicinity and zone. 3. That the planned density for this area, which is 46 to 60 dwelling units per acre, will be exceeded in any case, but even more so, if the variance is granted and the ten units built instead of the nine. The Motion to adopt was passed by the following vote: AYES: Comm. Ostermann, Williams, and Reeves NOES: None Chairman Reeves informed the applicants that they were entitled to appeal the decision of the Board of Zoning Adjustments to the City Council. Hr. Trott amended this by informing them that the appeal must be made in writing to the City Council within ten days following the hearing. A motion was made by Chairman Reeves, seconded by Conn. Williams, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m. Richard Williams, Secretary