HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_1962_12_10MINUTES OF A REGUIAR MEETING OF THE PI.ANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
HERMOSA BEACH, held at the City Hall in Hermosa Beach, California, on Monday,
December 10, 1962.
ROLL CALL: Present -Comm. Black, Hamilton, Johnson, Noble, Viault and
Chairman HaJ. es .
Bud M. Trott, Cluef Building Inspector.
John Stevens, City Engineer.
Absent -None.
Minutes o! the November 13, 196 2, meeting were unanimously approved.
ENGLISH REALTY -Parking
Reconsideration of parking determination for English Realty & Insurance Agency
at 2142 Hermosa Avenue on request of City Council to take into consideration not
only present development but future construction on the basis of total construction.
The Connnission was advised that Mr. Robert English had asked that this item be
heard later in the evening, as he would be delayed. It was unanimously agreed to
hold the matter over until his arrival.
TOMMY ROBBINS -Turning Radius
Reconsideration of required turning radius for ·Tommy Robbins., 905-Sth Street.,
on request of City Council t·or further study and representation by applicant.
Applicant was present. Mr. Eugene Laughlin of the Malaga Construction Company
spoke on his behalf, submitting plot plans showing turning radii less than the
29' required by the Connnission at its November 13 meeting which, in his opinion,
had proven adequate.
Mr. Trott, Building Inspector, advised that he and the City Engineer had spent
considerable time in the field testing the turning radii, and a 28' turning radius
in this instance would be minimwn; however, he said this could be decreased if
the garage openings were larger. After further discussion, Comm. Viault moved
that the turning radius formerly proposed by the Commission of 29' be reduced to
28', after intensive investigation by m~mbers of the staff, to conform to the
turning radius standards which are being proposed in the new parking ordinance to
be accepted by the city. Comm. Hamilton seconded the motion. Before a vote,
Mr. Trott suggested that the garages be widened so that the turning radius could
be reduced, the first garage being 9', and the double garage 18'. It was agreed
to vote on the motion on the floor, which carried as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Comm. Black, Hamilton, Johnson and Viault.
Comm. Noble and Chairman Hales.
None.
Connn. Noble and Chairman Hales expressed their feeling that it had been their
intent to vote the foregoing motion down and have another motion providing the
wider doors with less turning radius.
Comm. Viault moved adoption of Resolution P. C. 154-407, recommending the turning
radius be set at 281, for the reasons that the present turning radius standards,
which are proposed for adoption by the Planning Commission, show that 28' is the
minimum dimension necessary for the proper ingress and egress from garage stalls
as shown on the drawing, and it has been shown there is no undue hardship due to
this reduction, and it is the intention of the Commission to improve and upgrade
the apartment developments that are proposed in our city. Comm. Hamilton seconded
Planning Commission
Robbins Contd
the motion, which carr ied as follows:
2
AYES:
NOES :
Collllil. Black, Hamilton, Johnson and Viault.
Conun. Noble and Chairman Hales.
ABSENT : None .
JOHN E. MAJEK
12/10/62
Public hearing on application of John E. Majek for zone variance, providing a 2lt
t urning radius in lieu of 23' for proposed duplex at 122-34th Street, Lot 6, Block 102,
Shakespeare Tract . Applicant was present and stated that Palm Drive is 15' wide
and that he could not have a 201 deep garage and provide a 23 ' turning radius. He
preferr ed having three garages off of Palm Drive rather than cut the curb on 34th
Street for garages. Garages will be g t and 16' wide, so that some of the turning
movement can be made inside the garage. He stated that he could i ncrease the double
garage to 17'.
Comm. Noble moved that the application be granted based on the proviso f or a~,
opening for the single garage and 17' opening for the double. Comm. Hamilton
seconded the motion, which carried as follows:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Connn.Black, Hatltilton, Johnson, Noble and Chairman Hales.
Comm. Viault.
None.
Comm. Noble then moved adoption of Resolution P. C. 154-408 granting t he application
with the proviso as in the above motion, as it is felt by the Commission that this
request should be granted, which would provide three offstreet parking spaces in •
lieu of the required two; that it would eliminate a curb cut on the 34th Street side
which would reduce onstreet city parking by two spaces; and it is fel t that his
request i s feasible because of his presentation as to the i nterior garage area
which can partially be used for the 90° required turn. Connn. Hamilton seconded the
motion, which carried as follows :
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Comm. Black, Hamilton, Johnson, Noble and Chairman Hales.
Comm. Viaul t.
None.
BOY'S MARKET,.INC.
Public hearing on application ot' Boy's Market, Inc., to amend precise plans-adopt.ed
by Ordinances 164 and 184 by substituting a preci§e plan for a shopping center, in
conjunction with a Boy's Market· on adjacent Redondo Beach property , at 1101 Pier
Avenue, part of Lot 7, Block 88, Second Addition to Hermosa Beach. Representing
the applicant were Mr . Howard Gregg, Secretary-Treasurer, and Mro Robert Peterson,
archi. tect. Mrs. Dixie Moreland, 1222-lSth Street, spoke favorably for the petition.
Mrs. Naomi Thompson, 1402 Prospect, asked t o see the plaris, inquiring as to drive-
ways and retaining walls. Mr. Atteberry, 1234-14th Street, asked if property _owner s
would be required to pay for the wall construction, and the Chairman advised tha·t
this would be up to the devel oper. No opposition was expressed from the-audience.
Planning Corronission
Boy's Market Contd
3 12/10/62
Comm. Viault moved that the request be granted, the motion being seconded by
Connn. Johnson. Prior to a vote, Corron. Noble questioned petitioner and established
that the parking would be jointly used by the market and the shopping center, but
trash and loading facilities would be separate. The motion carried unanimously.
Comm. Viault then moved adoption of Resolution P. C. 154-409, granting the petition
and adopting the precise plan for a shopping center as submitted, for the reasons
that the precise plan shows the parking standard of greater capacity than that
which has been proposed and recommended in Hermosa Beach, and the accesses to the
parking are adequate with necessary safeguards for the neighboring residential
property. Connn. Johnson seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
HAROLD W. AND JETTA. CRIEVE & R. A. WATT CONSTRUCTION CO.
Public hearing on application of Harold W. and Jetta Grieve and R. A. Watt
Construction Company to rezone from R-1 to R-3 property located at 2901 Amby Place,
part of Lot A, Tract 1594, comprising approximately three acres at the southeast
corner of 30th Street and Ardmore Avenue. Mr. Richard Foxx, attorney, asked
permission to have a court reporter record the proceedings.
Comm. Black read a letter from John J. Eardley, Jr., of the firm of Eardley,
Burchfield & Associates, Architects and Engineers, representing the petitioner,
R. A. Watt Cot?-struction Co. Also read were letters from the following
individu~ls, protesting the petition: Marjorie M. and Harold D. More, 646 Brteholm
Place, Russell F. Tracy, 2906 Tennyson Place; Frank A. and Loys C. Richardson,
625 Gould Terrace; Richard A. Foxx, 621 Gould Terrace; Wallace M. and Kathryn S.
Everett, 611 Gould Terrace; Doris and Willard Herman; Roland L. and Mary E. Stehman;
Jolm H. and Elizabeth A. Grimes; and Ralph L. McCormick. A petition with approximate-
ly 136 signatures opposing the ~:one:~ was also submitted.
On opening the public hearing, Chairman Hales asked first to hear from r epresenta-
tives of the applicant. Harold VonRolfl., 605 S. Sen:mo Avenue, Los Angeles, stated
that he represented both the grantors and the Watt Construction Company, and had
been instrumental in putting this property together for a development that would
be an asset to the city and would in no way injure the rights or topography of the
property surrounding it. Also speaking on behalf of the R. A. Watt Construction
Company were Dan Ostro, 1000 Glen Haven Drive, Pacific Palisades, builder;
Mr. Eardley, engineer, and Mr. Burchfield, architect.
Speaking in opposition were John Grimes , 2 900 Amby Court ; Ray Ziegler, W 20 Amby
Place; Richard A. Foxx; Frank A. Richardson; Harold D. More; Tom StevensJ 1918 Strand;
Joan H. Foxx; Robert H. Patton, 2802 Tennyson; John Banner, 215~ LaCarlita;
Elizabeth Grimes; Francis X. Schoefer, 629 Gould Terrace; Wallace M. Everett; and
Barbara Dennis, 2810 Tennyson Place.
The publ~c hearing was closed, and Chairman ~ales ask~d for an expresston from
the Comm.1ssioners. Comm. Black felt professional advice from an experienced
planning c~sultant would be in order before making a decision on a development
of this nature. Cormn. Johnson stated that he had not been convinced there is a
need for more R-3 property in the city. Comm. Hamilton expressed his feeling that
the proposed development would be beautiful, but could not ignore the protests of
the people in the immediate surroundings. Comm. Viault agreed with the forwer
statements, opposing a major zone change in the area until such time as there is
a proper, general, comprehensive plan giving a concrete direction toward future
growth, so that these people present tonight and any other people can continue to
Planning Commission
Grieve-Watt Contd
4 12/10/62
plan their programs and know they ar e safe. He ag:reed that it is a fine development,
showing extreme care to develop i t, but felt they had chosen the wrong spot.
Conm. Noble said he was quite impre ssed with the renderings and with the opposition.
He felt it would be better if a general planning of t his area, maintaining the
existing resident ial nature, were submitted, adding that it had not been shown
additional ~-3 zoning is necessary or that a hardship would be inflicted if the
petition were not granted. He approved the .suggestion that funds be requested
for a plan f or the over all contiguous areas. Chairman Hales cit ed the recent R-4
proposal and the efforts to~ overcome problems of narrow s treets and traffic
circulatiorfci,nd other problems that might be typical f or zone reclassificati on i n
the city, stating t hat he f elt the proposed development could have benefitted from
some of t he features i ncorporated in the high-density proposal. He felt the
developer has given a very comprehensive and thoughtfully worked out proposal, as
f ar as is reasonable until the zoning can be determined. He complimented the
residents on their R-1 development, adding that he could not see how the proposed
development could contribut e to i mproving the particular neighborhood that has
already had its pat t ern established. He referred to the suggestion that a pl anning
consul tant be employed t o render a professional opinion, and Comm. Viault suggested
that the Cormnission f irst determine whether or not t he application should be
granted.
Comm. J ohnson moved that the petition be granted. The moti on, seconded by
Conun. Viault , tailed t o carry by a unanimous "no" vote. Comm . Johnson then moved
adoption of Re solut ion P. C. 154-410 denying the request, for the r easons that it
has not been demonstrated that there is a necessity for mor e R-3 property wit hin
t his area; i t has not been shown t hat t here is any hardship or t hat the public
welfare requires this; in addition t o whi ch, the present zone of R-1 is well
established in this area, and i t does not seem right to make this change; and there
has been no substantial evidence presented that the property i nvolved i s more
sui t able for the purpose proposed t han for the purpose i t i s alr eady zoned f or.
Connn. Viault seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
ENGLISH REALTY - Continued f rom Page 1
Mr. English was present and st ated t hat he did not wish to jeopardize f uture
constructi on on his pr opert y by being required to provide more parking spaces
than necessary for the proposed r eal est ate off ice, even though he had voluntarily
shown six s talls on his plot plan. I t was pointed out that three stalls would
sati sfy the r equirements of the proposed parking ordinance, and on mot ion by
Chairman Hales, seconded by Comm. Noble, it was agreed that a letter be directed
t o the Counci l recommending t hat the former parking requirement for five spaces
be r educed to one parking space per each 300 square feet of office area and a
minimum of three spaces as presented on the plot plan, with the turning radius
to be established by t he Building Department, the vote being as follows :
AYES :
NOES :
PASS :
ABSENT:
Comm. Black, Hamilton, Johnson, Noble and Chairman Hales.
None.
Comm. Viault.
None.
Planning Commission 5 12/10/62
EARL SEAIS -Parking Determination
Letter from Building Inspector requesting parking determination for
720 square foot real estate office to be erected at 1602 Pacific Coast
Highway, Lots 1 and z, Block 1, Wm. J. Smith Tract, for Mr. Earl Seals.
Applicant was present, as was his contractor, H.J. Lininger.
Comm. Noble moved that a letter be ·written to the Building Department showing acceptance
for the requested parking determination to be applied according to the plan submitted
to the Commission, providing a minimum of three parking spaces. Comm. Hamilton
seconded the motion, which carried uaimously.
Received and filed were letters from Mrs. M. B. Adams, 163 Palm Drive, addressed
to the City Manager; Watren Miller advising of resignation from Planning Commission;
and the City Clerk relative t o Council's action to fill vacancy.
R-3 LAND AREA REQUIREMENT
Referred back to the Commission by the City Counci l for further study on the basis
of the November 26 discussion between the City Council and the Commission.
Chairman Hales suggested that this meeting be adjourned to December 17 to consider
the R-3 land-area requirement and work on the parking ordi nance. Comm.. Noble so
moved, the motion being seconded by Connn. Black, and carrying unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT AT 11:15 ~p.m. to Monday, December 17, 1962
Paul L. Black, Secretary
r