HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_1961_07_17REPORT OF WORKSHOP MEETING-OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, held at the City Ha,l.l at 7:30 p.m., Monday, July 17, 1961. AlJ. members present except Comm. Johnson. . tMs Cliairman Fredricks announced to the packed council chambers that/was a workshop meeting and not a puoli.c hearing and explained that the purpose of this meeting was to give the Conmdssioners an opportunity to go more into detail than was • possible at· the regular meeting of July 10 of the proposition presented by Mamie, Inc., including a request for high-rise, highadensity units on their property at Second Street and Valley·Drive and a new zone to be created·for this use. He asked Mr. Ronald Moran, secretary of the corporation, to present the proposal in more detail, and Mr. Moran thereupon· read a prepared 3-page proposal outlining the area and what was considered its best use; the structures, including the number and size of the apartments, a motel, shopping center, and three levels of parking; ingress and egress to bounding streets; sewage facilities and utility lines; and fire.,,.protection facilities. Also broken down into various city, county, school, etc.,'taxes was the sum of $687,277.50. Mr. Moran added· that the city would benefit greatly from these taxes, and it was not believed -that there would be additional cost to the city. The Chief of Police, he said, had stated that he did not believe there would be any great additional cost in policing the new deve~opment. Qestioned by the Commissioners, Mr·. Moran said the apartments would all be above the Monterey Boulevard level. There would be access not only to Valley and Second Street, but also Monterey. The possibility of widening Herondo received considerable attention, Mr. Moran stating that Redondo Beach and Hem,sa Beach would probably make the necessary development and bis company would assist in the final completion of the project and would no doubt contribute sane of their property~ He said he had indicated bis w.i.llingness as far as the land is concerned but nothing toira.rd the development of the street since it is not known what is to be done. Mr. Jolm. Stevens was asked concerning the ·proposed Herondo Street widening and answered Edison has been contacted, both Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach engineering staffs have been worldng on a tentative· design for appr~tely 72' right of way, 25' an Redondo's side and 15' in Hermosa, but timew:i.se he could not say, Redondo Beach -wanting the road as soon as the harbor is opened. • Mr. Moran said he had not. given thought to any added traffic burden due to the proposed motel and shopping center if the Herondo Street project was not com:pieted and said Mr. Hopkins in Redondo Beach had thought the two projects ·might be completed within a reasondle length of time of each other~ The connnercial would not affect the traffic, he said, since these are shops to serve primarily the tenants, but it might create some problems as far as the motel is concerned,and it might be that they would delay this to wori,in with thcn:,rogram as :far as the street is concerned. . Available parking received considerable attention during the discussion, and Mr. Moran stated that 2000 garage spaces were being provided for the 890 units. It was the opinion of some of the Conmisrloners that if a new zone is to be created, requirements for parking would be spelled out, it being further pointed out that the proposal ~ould come close to meeting the requirements mentioned in a special study for high-rise units in Hermosa. Whether or not higb,-.rise, high-density structures in He~mosa Beach/is the question to decide, it was said. Fe wanted
Planning Conmission 2 July 17, 1961 The Conmi.ssion•s concern is unlimited-height and maximum density. If the density within the area is controlled, the height would nct make any particular difference, since once past the 3-6 stories, the view would be affected. It IIDl.St be decided whether this subject property should remain manufacturing or be developed for residential. It may not fit what is thought of as a residential. zone; however, thinking mu.st be broadened to understand this cooperative "1artment development. It is assumed that Redondo Beach will soon be thinking along these lines. Another point dilcus sed was whether the Mor~ property should be the only area considered for the proposed new zone, Mr. Moran emphasized that his plans had been developed for the 7½ acres owned by Mamie, Inc., and he believed the very nature of the project wcruld eliminate fears of the people, since granting this petition would be for a substantial amount of land which can stand on its own two feet, and other areas would have to come up to the same amount of" land to meet the requirements. He-would not like this to become a controversial thing in the city, he said:, and would not be attempting to i_nfluence the city's thinking for any other area. This would not be a senior-citizens' program, he said, believing there would be SOJIE! sort of subdivision, private funds being used for the developmento He was asked if people in the cooperative apartments would have title1 and he answered that this w.s their thinking at the moment -nothing definite. Additional burden on local schools was considered, Mr~ Moran stating that the most they would have wuld be 200 school children1 and· he did not think there would be that many. Doctor Glick had been contacted, one o{ the Commissioners saiqand had expressed his feeling that the school expansion could_keep ahead of this proposed developmento Apparently, there are no figures available for a ratio of school children to high.,.rise apartments; but, according to Doctor 'Glick, use is now1a study on this particular phase. d'oing · It was said that the school board people of our city are not alarmed1 which could be an indication that they have the proper planning background to anticipate these problems. Other Conmd.ssioners believed there should be some formal statement from the schools indicating their attitude. Mr·. Moran pointed out that his proposed density was not substantiaJly greater than what is already permitted in the R-3 zone and that the increase in taxes to be paid to the schools would more than off set any small increase that might be created in the number of children attending school. He was asked if-finances were available and if it was· his intention to pursue the project should he be given permission by the city. His answer was in the affirmative. Mr.Moran said that specific plans for the structures wuld not be drawn up prior to receiving a decision on his request because of the e:xpenS'e involm. The type of precise plan necessary to eliminate any deviation from the use permitted received attention, and Mra Moran asked that he b~ allowed to diminish the size if the subsurface proved inadequate, although he did not foresee any difficulties. Chairman Fredricks thanked Mr. Moran, and addressing the Comnission, he said one alternative to consider was Mr. Moran.ts request to restrict the proposed new zone to the property in question -another alternative would be to make t). it more general creating these zones any time people come up with lqnd mass for the partic;;i_ar use in certain locations in the city, meeting•otmr factors that mig~t be det!rmined.as bein~ proper for that type of development and not necessarily restricting it to this particular area. -
Planning Commission 3 July 17, 1961 If the Com:nission should decide to develop a new zone, there would be public hearings to discuss what should be required and n:iight be simultaneously run with.the adoption of a p~ecise plan for the new zQne at the subject property, but at any future time there would always be public hearings ta change other a.re-as to the new zone; the people could be protected by the fact that any time someone else wanted to do this, they would have to come before the Comnission and Council to have zoning changed -and a pre~• plazi adopted. It was suggested that various departments, street, building, engineering~ the city schools, city clerk and city attorney, police and fire chiefs, should be asked to submit in writing their opinions concerning the proposed zone and the area in question. Formal action would require a resolution of intention to-hold public hearing·s, spelling out what is proposed to go into the new zone, including whatever properties are desired. A new article to be added to the zoning ordinance would be written, giving permitted uses, density, lot area, lot coverage, building height, yard~1 front, side and rear, usable-outdoor yard· space, distance between .main buudings, parking, guest parking, conmercial development in relation to residential development -possibly some type of ratio~ It was suggested that some draft could be made from the high-rise study that had been made fc,r the city. The Chairman adjourned the mee~ing w.lth the statement that a special meeting would be called for Monday night, July 24, if there were anythlng concrete to go on "'." otherwise he would not call a special meeting. r