HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_1967_08_14MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION held at the City of
Hermosa Beach, California, in the Council Chambers of City Hall at 7:30 p.m.,
on Monday, August 14, 1967.
ROLL CALL -Present: Comm. Armer, Stabler, Boice, Hamilton, Reeves, Chairman Viault;
Bud M. Trott, Building & Planning Director
Absent: Comm. Noble
Comm. Reeves was seated after approval of minutes.
A motion was made by Comm. Hamilton, seconded by Comm. Armer, to approve the
minutes of regular meeting of July 10, J967, and adjourned meetings of July
17th and July 24th, 1967. Motion carried by unanimous vote, with the exception
of newly appointed Commissioner; Lai~ Stabler.
ZONE VARIANCE -ROSENKRANTZ
Public hearing of zone variance application by Herbert Rosenkrantz to convert
two contiguous lots (with building presently covering a portion of both lots)
back into separate lots by removing five (5) inches from existing building which
now encroaches five (5) inches into the sideyard of the adjoining lot, leaving
a zero (0) sideyard setback in lieu of the required minimum 3 feet, on property
at 922 18th Street; lots 11 and 12, block 2, Johnson Newman Camino Real tract.
Property currently in escrow.
Mr. Rosenkraritz, the applicant, was present to explain to the Commission that
only a small po~tion of the building encroached, and that it would be too expensive
to tear this structure down. He felt that what he proposed would benefit the
neighborhood, and that he would beautify this older structure to do so.
Mr. Rosenkrantz was asked why he could not cut off the building, and do this in
such a manner that the setback of three feet which was required, could be maintained.
The applicant stated that to accomplish this, he would be forced to eliminate a
fireplace and would decrease room size as well.
Public speaking against the application were~Mr. and Mrs. Robert Drury of
840 18th Street, and Mr. Charles Abraham also of 18th Street. Their main concern
was the precedent which might be set, by allowing this encroachment,
There was discussion by the Commission r~arding the possibility of considering,
in the future, some zoning change which would permit owners of contiguous lots,
such as those twenty-five ft. lots in this particular area, with older structures
covering such lots, to build three units on same. This would encourage the older
homes being torn down, and would be economically more feasible it was believed.
Motion was made by Comm. Armer, seconded by Comm. Reeves, to grant the zone
variance, and motion failed to carry by following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
Comm. Hamilton
Comm. Armer, Reeves, Boice, Stabler, Chairman Viault
Comm. Noble
Planni ng Commis si on Pag e 2 August 14, 1967
ROS ENKRANTZ con t :
There was discussi o n conce rning t he possibility o f an al te rnate proposal by Mr.
Rosenkrantz, and motion wa s made by Comm. Reeves, s econded by Comm. Armer, to
r e -open and continue the public hearing to the ne xt regularly sch eduled meeting
of th e Planning Commission, on September 11, 1967, to allow the ap p li ca nt
sufficient time to present an alternate plan. Moti o n car ri ed by un an imous vote.
* * *
The t hird item on th e agenda, application for cond i tional use permit by R. Germac k, J.
Ligh tfoot and W. McQuill in, was delayed until lat e r in the meet ing, as app li cants
were not p rese nt at t his time.
*
ZONE VAR IANCE -ROBERT AND SALLY GILSON
Public hear ing of zone va r iance app lication by Robert and Sally Gilson to add
ove r 40% to an exist ing si ngle family residence (addit ion approximately 850 sq. ft.)
having nonconforming sid eyard of 2 ft . 6 inches in lieu of 3 ft. required, hav ing
14.S ft. t urning r adius in lieu of r equi red 20 ft . Property situated at 140 34th
St., lot 12, block 102, Shakespeare tract.
Pres ent to r ep resen t the applicants was Mr. Fabian Abram. Mr. Abra m explai ned
to the Commi ss ion t hat the applicants had several children, and the house a s it
now ex ists i s not la rge enough to accomodate the family. The varianc e was
nec essa ry, because the lack of space was creating a se vere ha rdship.
There were questions asked of Mr. Abram, and Mr. Bud Tr ott, Building & Planning
Direc to r, mentioned that there was some questi o n regardin g the lot line s in
relation to the house, but tha t a surv ey would be required if t he appli cant s were
granted perm is sio n to proceed with cons truction.
Motion to grant the ap pl ication was made by Comm. Armer, and seconded by Comm.
Boice. Motion failed to ca rry by the following vote:
AYES :
NOES:
PASS:
ABSENT:
Comm. Boice, Stabler
Comm. Armer, Hamilton, Cha irman Viault
Comm. Reeves
Comm . Noble
M0~~.6hEWai,fftoenf'rhaae by Comm. Armer, seconded by Comm. Hami lton, to ado pt P.C.
Resolution 154-620 , to deny the appli ca tion fo r zone va riance for the reason that
it is nonconforming to pres ent zoning re gu lations, and no att empt ha s been made
to correc t the turnin g radiu s prob lem , and t h e precedent tha t would be se t ~y '
continuing an older struc tur e would perpetuate a probl em that a l re ady ex ists for
another period of time.
PLANNING COMMISSION
GILSON cont:
Motion carried by the following vote:
Page 3
AYES:
NOES:
Comm. Armer, Stabler, Hamilton, Chair ma n Viault
Comm. Boice
PASS: Comm. Reeves
ABSENT: Comm. Hoble
Augus t 14, 1967
IMPROVEMENT OF PIER AVENUE -LETTER FROM JOHN STEVENS, OIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
A Jetter f rom Mr. Stevens, Director of Public Works, was read to th e Commission ,
advising that the County has prepared plans for the widening and improvement of
Pier Ave nue, east of Pacific Coast Highway within its existing 80 ft.
right of way from 5b f eet, cu rb to curb, to 64 feet. Section 65402 of the
Stat e Gov ernment Code requires that when a city has adopted a general plan,
any s tree t imp rovement proj ec t which requires .additional ·pr0perty acquisition
must be reviewed by the Pl anning Corrm i ss ion, to insure that the project
conforms to the general plan.
The Commission examined prints of the proposed improvement and motion was made
by Comm. Ar mer, seconded by Comm ·. Hamilton, to adopt Resolution No. P.C. 154-
621, a resolution of the Planning Commission determining that the proposed
improvement of Pier Av e nue f rom Pacific Coast Highway to the easterly city
limiti conforms to the City's adopted General Plan. 'Moti on carried by
unani mous vote.
LETTER FROM LOCAL RESIDENT RE SIGN OROINANCE
A lett e r from a local resident regarding the proposed sign ordinance was
forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce to include in th e ir study of this ord i nance.
Letter was received and filed by the Commission.
REPORT FROM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RE AUGUST 10TH MEETING TO STUDY SIGN ORDINANC E
Mr. Bud Trott reported that the Chamber did hold this meeting, and the attendance
was not too good, only two loc a l businessmen being in attendance. He further
stated that the Chamber had notified as many people as po ssible of this meeting.
Two members of local sign companies, and the California Sign group were present.
A dec ision was made to form a committ e e with local business me n to stu dy and review
the proposed ordinance and then to return to the Planning Comm ission with a r eport
of the ir conclusions .
* *
CONOITIONAL USE PERMIT -GERMACK, LIGHTFOOT, MCQUILLIN
Public hearing on appli cat ion for co ndi t ional use pe rmit by Richard Ge r mack,
James Lightfoot , Walter McQuillin, to serve beer and wine in conjunction wi th
a re sta uran t at 1248 Hermosa Avenue, lot 6 and 7, block 34, 1s t add. to Hermosa
Beach,
Planning Commission Page 4 August 14, 1967
CONDITIONAL USE cont:
The applicants had not appeared at this time. Mr. Bud Trott, Building & Planning
Director, told the Commission that he had been contacted earlier in the day by
o~e of the applicants. At that time, a necessary letter from the owner of the
property, granting permission to serve liquor on the premises, had not been
secured by the applicants. Mr. Trott was also advised that negotiations for
a longer lease on the property were under way.
Mb~ioo was made by Comm, Boice, seconded by Comm. Armer, to continue the public
hearing until the next regular meeting of the Planning Commission on September
11, 1967. Motion carried by unanimous vote.
POST AGENDA ITEMS
The subject of storage of lumber outside a local lumberyard, not in compliance
with the Zoning Ordinance, was discussed.
A communication from Councilman Valdes, regarding a possible abatement period of
one year for fraternities, and an enlarged definition of the word 1 ifraternity11 ,
was submitted to the Commission. After discussion, the decision of the Planning
Commission was to direct a letter to the City Attorney, requesting his legal
advice and possible broader definition of the word 11 fraternity 11 •
Comm. Armer suggested that the new Planning Commissioner, Mr. Laird Stabler,
might be interested in being a representative at meetings of the Southwest
Area Planning Committee and Technical Sub-Committee of same. Mr. Stabler
graciously accepted.
Comm. Armer mentioned the Hermosa Improvement Committee and a recent meeting
which had a very good attendance.
Comm. Armer advised the Commission that Time Magazine was preparing an article
on 11 Architecture (Planning and Oesign)11 for one of their fall editions. Frank
Gehry, who had been associated with the Goodkin Group, told Comm. Armer that
11Time11 was quite interested in the redevelopment plan for Hermosa Beach. Comm.
Armer requested he be permitted to forward a letter to this magazine, on city
stationery, with a copy of the redevelopment plan. Comm. Armer stated that
he would obtain permission from the Goodkin Group to use the material in question.
Comm. Reeves mentioned some of the police problems which occur with 11 party
houses11 and the discomfort to local residents from such places.
A0J0URNMrnT 10,30 p.m. ~ /. ~
nrrri'e r, secretary