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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBZA_Minutes_1970_08_24MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS HELD IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AUGUST 10, 1970 Meeting called to order at 7:33 p.m. Chairman led in salute to the Flag. Roll call: Present -Commissioner David Lagan, Jr., Commissioner L.E.Ostermann, Chairman Richard Williams, and Building Director, Bud M. Trott. Absent -None AGENDA ITEM I: A motion was made by Chairman Williams, seconded by ColMl. Lagan to approve the minutes of the meeting of August 10, 1970, as submitted. Motion carried. AGENDA ITEM 2: Secretary of the Board, Gene Ostermann, read Agenda Item 2 as follows: 11Further review requested by the City Council of variance granted by the Board of Zoning Adjustments to Harold Hargrave on Property at 144 and 148 Lyndon. Appl i-cant would erect two 4-unit apartment houses, one on each lot, in lieu of maximum allowable of two units per lot.11 Building Director, Bud M. Trott, read a memo to the Board of Zoning Adjustments from the City Clerk giving the reasons why B.Z.A. Resolution 154-20 was being re-ferred back to the Board for further review. Memo read as follows: 11The City Council, at a continued public hearing held on August 4, 1970, con-sidered the appeal of Harvey A. Denison, 234 First Court, of the approval of variances for properties located at 144-148 Lyndon Street, being lots 9 and 10, Block 42, 1st Addition to Hermosa Beach. After due consideration, the City Council determined that the variances granted should be further reviewed by the Board of Zoning Adjustment in light of the following: l. The Planning Commission has suggested that its studies of this area, and the General Plan, indicate the request as approved might be detrimental to the future gro.,.,th of the area. 2. Said Planning Corrmission has scheduled a city-property owner meeting in the Council Chamber on August II, 1970, at 7:30 p.m. at which the property in question, among others, will be discussed along with the present and long-range planning of the area. 3. There appears to be a difference of opinion between the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the Planning Conmission on the question of whether or not the R-P Zone1s restriction against multi-unit apartments on small lots is an oversight. 4. It appears that the two parcels can be combined, and the need for the subject variances and previously granted parking variances eliminated. PAGE 2 -MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF AUGUST 24, 1970 The City Council requests that the Board of Zoning Adjustment meet with the Planning Commission to resolve the above questions and return its final reconvnendation to the Council within the prescribed forty-day period.11 At Mr. Trott1s suggestion, Chairman Williams tabled Agenda Item 2 until more members of the Planning Commission arrived. AGENDA ITEM 3: Secretary read Agenda Item 3 as follows: "Further review requested by City Council of variance denied Roger L. McGee on property located at 1821 Pacific Coast and 1820 Ardmore Street. Applicant would erect 100 unit apartments with a portion of the garages located on side yard property lines; said garages located more than 35 feet from rear property line.11 Building Director, Bud Trott, read a memo to the Board from the City Clerk ex-plaining why the B.Z.A. Resolution was being referred back to the Board for further review: Memo read as follows: 11At their regular meeting held on August 18, 1970, the City Council acted as follows: 1to refer back to the Board of Zoning Adjustment the application of Mr.Roger L. McGee for a zone variance to permit location of a portion of the garages for 100 unit apartments on the side yard property I ine. with a recommendation for further study, and reconsideration of their decision as set forth in Resolution B.Z .A. I 54-241 adopted July 27, 1970. 1 As you are aware, your final recormiendation to the Council must be acted upon within forty days after the meeting at which this notice is placed on your agenda. During the discussion held by the Councilmen prior to the above action, they suggested that the developers of this property consider preparing an alternate' proposed plan with additional guest parking space, due to the lack of parking space on Ardmore Avenue, and Mr. D.W. Byron, representing Mr. McGee, stated that he would give attention to this request.11 Mr. Trott displayed a drawing of the development so the various aspects under discussion could be studied more closely. Mr. D,W. Byron, 916 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills, appeared as Mr. McGee's representative. It was pointed out to the Board that two changes had been made which should meet with their approval:. I. The 8 parking spaces for guests had been increased to 20. 2. The grade of the lot had been lowered so that the top of the garages would not be over the height of a 61 block wall which is allowable under code. PAGE 3 -MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS AUGUST 24th, 1970 MEETING. The following points were brought to the attention of the Board by the Building Director: 1. Although 180 units are allowable under code on this particular property, the developers have planned only JOO. 2. If the variance is granted, the turning radius into the garages will be 281 which is 51 more than the minimum of 231• 3. The minimum inside measurements required by code is 8½' x 201 on garages; the measurements for the garages in this development is 91 x 201• 4. If the variance is not granted and a 51 vacant space results between the side wall and the back of the garages, that space will be wasted and debris will tend to collect there. Chairman invited anyone who wished to speak for or against the variance to come forward. No one appeared for or against the variance. A motion was made by Conrn. Lagan, seconded by Chairman Williams, to refer the request for variance back to the City Council with a recommendation to grant the variance. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Comm. Ostermann, Comi. Lagan, Chairman Williams. NOES: None Building Director read a suggested Resolution. A motion was made by Chairman Williams, seconded by Conrn. Lagan, to adopt B.Z.A. Resolution 154-26, reconvnending to the City Council that the variance be granted to Roger L. McGee as requested on property located at 1821 Pacific Coast Highway and 1820 Ardmore, for the following reasons: 1. The property will be graded so the garage walls on the property I ine will not extend over six feet (6) above the adjoining property grade. 2. Allowing the garage walls to extend to the sideyard property 1 ines will allow additional turning radius, thus providing better accessibility to the garages. Granting the variance should be subject to the following conditions: 1. The developer shall provide a minimum of twenty {20) guest parking spaces, said spaces to be clearly identified and marked 119uest parking". 2. Garage walls shall not exceed six (6) feet above the adjoining property grade. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Conm. Ostermann, Comm. Lagan, Chairman Williams. NOES: None Chairman Williams. noting that a majority of the Planning Commission members were na.v present, suggested that the Board could now return to its consideration of Agenda Item 2. He asked Planning Director, Robert Crawford. if he would 1 ike to present the Planning Conmission1s views against the varlance on property at 144 and 148 Lyndon, Harold Hargrave, owner PAGE 4 -MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF AUGUST 24, 1970 Mr. Crawford said he would and displayed a zoning map for reference. He said he would like to clear up a misconception that the Residential• Professional Zone was overlooked when the R-3 Zone was changed as this was not the case. Mr. Crawford said that when the R-3 Zone was changed a year ago, the Planning Commission discussed the R-P Zona;, but decided that because the R-P Zones were located in transttional areas, it would be better to leave the R-P Zones as is, until it is decided whether those zones should be changed to coomercial or back to residential. Leaving the R-P Zones as is, he said, was not an oversight, but deliberate. Mr. Crawford stated that in the eyes of the Planning C011Y11ission, any substantial development at this time, especially in the realm of small apartment buildings, would probably be a mistake. Chairman Williams asked if the developer could. according to code, build a duplex or a single apartment house containing 9 units If the variance is finally denied by the City Council. Mr. Crawford stated that he could. He said the major difference would be in the parking which would have to be entirely underground with 9 units. In that case there would be one entrance on one street, and one exit on the other street. Chairman asked if anyone in the audience would I ike to speak for or against the variance. Mr. Roy Lyons, 160 First Street, stated that he had decided to attend the meeting to speak in favor of the variance, but after listening to the discussion, was now torn between two views. On the one hand, he said, it's too bad to have two perfectly good lots just setting vacant; on the other hand, if the Planning Collltlission really believes the area is going to develop as fast as they think, then it would probably be a mistake to go ahead with an apartment building of any kind. He said that whatever the decision is, however, the developers should not be left hanging. A decision should be made without undue delay in all fairness to the owners. Mr. s. Gorsline. 43 Monterey, also appeared against the variance. He said that what is good for one, is good for all, and if the variance is granted. then the whole street should be opened up to anyone who wants to build. A member of the Planning Commission said the thing they are most concerned with now is that a development such as this. would slow down top commercial develop-ment in the next year or two. He said that Herondo stands to become one of the prime commercial developments in the South Bay area, and will, in all probability, become not only an economic asset to the City, but an area that Hermosa Beach can point to with pride. After further discussion, a motion was made by Corrm. Ostermann, seconded by Chairman Williams, to recommend to the City Council that the variance be ~ denied. PAGE 5 -MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS MEETING OF AUGUST 24, 1970. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Coovn. Ostermann, ColllYl. Lagan, Chairman Williams. NOES: None Building Director, Bud Trott, read a portion of a suggested resolution. A motion was made by Comm. Ostermann, seconded by Comm. Lagan, to adopt B.Z.A. Resolution 154-27 which would recommend to the City Council that the variance request by Harold Hargrave on property at 144 and 148 Lyndon be denied for the following reasons: I. The Planning Conmission has determined that a general study of the area is needed and the proposed development might not be compatible with the future growth of the area. 2. The Board of Zoning Adjustments, in granting this variance originally, acted in haste without the full knowledge of the pending improvements planned for the area and the intent of the zoning ordinance. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Colll11. Ostermann, Comm. Lagan, Chairman Williams. NOES: None POST AGENDA ITEM: It was agreed, as long as the hour was early, and a majority of members of both the B.Z.A. and the Planning Convnission were present, that some discussion would be in order. Mr. Crawford, City Planning Director, stated that he would 1 ike to bring the B.Z.A. up to date on what his Corrrnission is trying to do on the various zoning ordinances: Points discussed were: I. Assemblage of lots into larger plots. 2. Open spaces required of builders and where located. 3. Efforts to lower the population density of the City. 4. Spacing between buildings; back as well as side and front. 5. Feasibility of making the conditional use permits hearings assignable, that is, assign some of the hearings to the B.Z.A. when the P.C. is overloaded. 6. Improve convnunication between the two Boards, particularly in regard to Planning Commission's plans. ]. Notification of the Planning Commission of cases due to be heard. 8. Planned development zone. 9. Invitation from the Planning Convnission to the B.Z.A. members to attend not only their general meetings, but the subcorrmittee meetings as well. A motion to adjourn was made by Chairman Williams, seconded by Comm, Lagan. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m. L!E. Ostermann, Secretary