HomeMy WebLinkAboutBZA_Minutes_1982_01_04MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSIMENrS OF THE CI1Y OF HERMOSA BEACH, -HELD IN TI-lE COUNCIL CIW1BERS OF CI1Y HALL ON JANUARY 4, 1982, AT 7: 30 P .M. Meeting called to order at 7: 30 P .M. by Conm. Moore Pledge of Allegiance led by Conm. Moore ROLL CALL fRESENT: COirrns. Cutler, Ebey, Merrill , Moore , Toth, 1vi lliams ABSENT: Cbnn. DeBellis ALSO PRESENT: Laurie Duke, Staff Liaison Chrrn. DeBellis had an excused absence for this rreeting. Camn. Moore acted as Chairman for the meeting. Cornn. Williams was appointed Acting Secretary for the rreeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Cornn. Williams, seconded by Conm. :1errill, to approve the December 21, 1981, minutes with the following corrections: '-.Page 14, Miscellaneous, last para., should read, 11Corrm. Williams stated that, in her opinion, 11financial burden11 or "hardship" should not be used. . " Page 15, first para., should read, ". . . if it is proper for the Board to make aesthetic judgn:ent values as reasons for granting or denying the variance. 1' No objections, so ordered. APP.RO/AL OF RESOWTIONS None CONSENT CALENDAR None VARIANCE REQUEST BZA 154-443 -2428 Strand (Cont. from 12/21/81 meeting) Applicants: Janet Hart and Alex Lid.ow Mrs. Duke gave staff report. She stated that the applicants submitted a ·i::.evision of their plans, that is, the proposed lot coverage is now 5 7. 32%;
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUS1MENTS MINill'ES -January 4, 1982 Page 3 VARIANCE REQUEST BZA 154-443 -2428 Strand (Cont.) Janet Hart, 2428 Strand, Hermosa Beach, applicant, stated that they are rrerely proposing to gain access to something that is already existing. She stated that, to gain entrance to the basement through the back stairs, they would have to take out the only bathroom on the bottom two floors. However, the architect had informed her that this alternative would not be possible because of the retaining wall. She added that putting the spiral staircase within the existing structure would take up half of the present livingroom. Chnn. Moore asked the applicants if they considered any alternatives that would not require as gt:'eat a variance, such as a tower or a cone on one corner of the building. Comn. Cutler felt that, after looking at the property, there were no houses in sight that came within 11 inches of the property line. No one appe&ed to speak in favor of the variance. No one appeared to speak in opposition to the variance. Public Hearing closed at 7:58 P.M. Corrrn. Toth stated that although the City wants to preserve older structures, the City does not want to increase nonconformities by v&iances. He noted concern for the possibility of having to approve variances of a similar nature for other properties on the Strand if the Board approves this variance. He was oppose.cl to any kind of encroachrr:ent on the Strand in the front yard setback. He felt that there were no extraordinary circumstances to this property. Conm. Toth saw no problem with Findings 3 and 4. Coom. Cutler stated that although Mr. Gray no longer has any objection to the proposed revised addition, the Board cannot be certain that the other persons who signed the petition against the project no longer object. Ccmn. Toth asked for the setback requirerrent in that area. Mrs . Duke replied that the requirerrent is ten percent of the depth of the lot, with a maxim.ml of ten feet. In this case, the setback requirement is ten feet. Motion by Comn. Toth, seconded by Corrm. Ebey, to deny Variance Request BZA 154-443. Corrm. Merrill stated that the applicant has two variances, and the deck in the rear of the building had not been discussed by the Board.
BOARD OF ZONING ADJUS'IMENTS MINUTES -January 4, 1982 Page 4 VARIANCE REQUEST BZA 154-443 -2428 Strand (Cont.) Corrm. Toth stated that his rrotion was to deny the part of the variance with respect to the front yard setback. Motion by Conm. Toth, seconded by Cornn. Ebey, to deny the part of Variance Request BZA 154-443 with respect to the front yard setback because of lack of Findings . Mrs. Lidow stated that Mr. Guild no longer objects to the plans. She added that they are extending out to the solid portion of the building, and they are gaining access to an already existing living space. Mrs. Lidow stated that their architect was planning on attending the ~eting, but he did not appear, due to illness. AYES: NOES: Corrms. Cutler, Ebey, Toth, Chrrn. Moore Corrms. Merrill, Williams ABSENT: Crnm. DeBellis Clum. Moore stated that the application for the front yard variance was denied. He stated that the second variance is to add a deck at the rear of the building with 2.35' sideyards. Chnn. Moore asked if the proposed deck to the east of the house were ten feet. Mrs. Duke replied in the affirmative. Motion by Corrm. Merrill, seconded by Comn. Toth, to approve the addition of a deck at the rear of the building as proposed in Variance Request BZA 154-443. AYES: NOES: Corrms. Cutler, Ebey, Merrill, Toth, Williams Chm. Moore ABSENT: Cbrrn.. DeBe llis Chrm. Moore stated that the addition of a deck at the rear of the building was granted. Required Findings: (Front yard setback) 1. . . . because the circlU11Stance of a usable space on the grrnm.d level in the front exists in ntmy buildings in the northern part of the Strand; this usable space, not being connected to the house, is not an extraordinary circumstance; the additional encroacl-rrrent into the front setback would apply to any rrajor construction. 2. . .. because this variance would not be necessary to provide the applicants with the saire kind of rights enjoyed by others.
, . BOARD OF ZONm:; ADJUS'IMENTS MINUTES January 4, 1982 Page 5 VARIANCE REQUEST BZA 154-443 -2428 Strand (Cont.) 3. . . . because the people of the adjacent property do not necessarily support the application. Motion by Comn. Toth, seconded by Comn. Cutler, to approve the Findings. AYES: NOES: Conn,s. Cutler, Ebey, Toth, Cbrrn. Moore Conms. Merrill, Williams ABSENT: Chrm. DeBellis Cornn. Ebey was in support of Finding 2. Ccmn. Williams objected to Finding 1. Required Findings: (Deck) 1. ... because it is within Code lot coverage; the house predates existing Code; similar variances have been granted by the Board in the past. 2. . . . because it w:>uld give the applicant usable exterior open space; second-story decks are conm::mly found throughout the City. 3. . .. because the addition will not impinge on light, air, fire access; no one spoke in opposition at the public hearing; the existing building already exists. 4. . . . because there is no effect on the General Plan. Motion by Cornn. Ebey, seconded by Conm. Toth, to accept the Findings. So ordered. Chrrn. Moore noted objection to the Findings. REiJIEWS None MISCELLANEOUS Mrs. Duke stated that Mrs. Ruth Barron submitted a letter to the Board regarding the Japanese Bilingual School on Prospect and Hollowell. She stated that the neighborhood is asking for a continuation of the review period since the conditions of Alternative if3 have not been met. The School District has not yet put up the fence.
.. BOARD OF ZONOO ADJUS'IMENTS MINUTES -January 4, 1982 Page 6 1HSCELLANEODS (CONTD,) Ruth Barron, 1154 Sixth Street, Henmsa Beach, stated that the fence is not up because it has to be ordered. She stated that the first rreeting in April would be a good tine for the review. Cornn. Merrill suggested scheduling the review for the last rreeting in March. Conm. Ebey suggested leaving the review date to the discretion of staff. Coran. Moore stated that the review date will be scheduled after t,;,.o months of pperation experience. Motion to adjourn at 8:47 P.M. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes were approved at a regular rreeting of the Board of ZoningAdjustrrents of the City of Henoosa Beach, California. ~k~~~ CORALIE EBEY, ~~ DATE