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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Resolution 08-17 - (818 4th st)RESOLUTION NO. 08-17 2 3 4 5 6 7 a 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2a 29 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE AN AFTER -THE - FACT VARIANCE TO THE PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO EXPANSION OF NONCONFORMING USES TO ALLOW DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FLOOR SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN APPROXIMATE 307 SQUARE -FOOT EXPANSION TO AN EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOCATED ON COMERCIALLY ZONED PROPERTY AT 818 4TH STREET, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS SOUTHWEST 12 FEET ON NORTHWEST LINE OF LOT 12 AND NORTHEAST 30 FEET OF LOTS 14 AND 15, HURD'S OCEAN VIEW TRACT The Planning Commission does hereby resolve and order as follows: Section 1. An application was filed by Armando and Rosa Perez, owners of the property located at 818 0 Street, seeking an after -the -fact Variance to the provisions pertaining to expansion of nonconforming uses to allow demolition and reconstruction of the floor system in conjunction with an approximate 307 square -foot expansion to an existing single-family residence located on commercially zoned property. Section 2. The Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the application for the Variance on February 19, 2008, at which testimony and evidence, both written and oral, was presented to and considered by the Planning Commission. Section 3. Based on the evidence received at the public hearing, the Planning Commission makes the following factual findings: 1. The subject residence is a single -story structure located directly behind (east) of an existing multi -tenant commercial building and north of the required parking area for the commercial businesses. The residence encroaches within the required parking area for the commercial businesses; therefore the commercial structure is nonconforming to parking (number of spaces). 2. On December 6, 2007, the Planning Division approved a 307 square -foot second -story nonconforming addition permitted by Municipal Code (H.B.M.C.) Section 17.52.030 (Expansion, Remodeling and Alteration). H.B.M.C. allows for a 50% expansion of existing floor area for nonconforming uses "as long as the foundation and floor systems remain intact" (H.B.M.C. Section 17.52.030(A)(1)(a)). 3. On January 8, 2008, the Building Division issued a "Stop Work" notice since the builder had begun construction inconsistent with the plans by removing and discarding the floor joists. In effect, while the foundation remains, the main elements of the floor system have been removed. As a consequence of this action, the nonconforming rights were lost, and a new single-family home could not be built since the Specific Plan Area No. 7 Zone does not allow residential units. 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 4. The applicant indicates that they never intended to remove the floor system, stating that is was a misunderstanding by the builder. The construction plans had specified that the floor system would remain intact. In order to proceed in accordance with approved plans a Variance is needed to allow the complete reconstruction of the floor system of the structure, therefore allow the applicant to continue construction of the administratively approved second -story addition. Section 4. Based on the factual findings, the Planning Commission makes the following findings pertaining to the application for a Variance: 1. There are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances limited to the physical conditions applicable to the subject property as the residence was built in 1920 and constructed approximately 6 inches below grade and, over several decades, caused all the rim joints to rot beyond repair creating a very unstable and hazardous condition. 2. The owners wish to exercise a property right, possessed by others in the neighborhood, to construct a single-family home to meet the current standards of livability and to be a reasonable size. Originally constructed in 1920, the single -story structure contains only 615 square feet of floor area. The current development standards for the R-1 (One -Family Residential) Zone allow for 65% lot coverage and a maximum height of twenty-five feet. Hypothetically, on a 2,220 square -foot lot, an approximately 2,800 square -foot two-story home (1,400 square feet per floor) could be constructed. The applicant is only requesting to add an additional 307 square feet of floor area. Therefore, the granting of a Variance will allow the applicant to construct a larger, more livable residence thus putting the property in parity with other residential properties in the vicinity. 3. The project will not be materially detrimental to property improvements in the vicinity and Zone since the project complies with all other requirements of the Zoning Code, and is not inconsistent with the development standards of the R-1 Zone. 4. The project is not unusually large or out of scale with other projects in the neighborhood, and is otherwise in conformance with most of the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance and the General Plan. Section 5. Based on the foregoing, the PIanning Commission hereby approves the requested Variance subject to the following Conditions of Approval: 1. The project shall be consistent with the submitted plans reviewed by the PIanning Commission at their meeting of February 19, 2008. Any further minor modifications to the plan shall be reviewed and may be approved by the Community Development Director. 2. The applicant shall revise the plans to not exceed 307 square feet of new floor area as permitted by H.B.M.C. Section 17.52.030. 3. The applicant shall submit an application for Lot Merger of Lots 13, 14, and 15, Hurd's Ocean View Tract, prior to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. 4. All non -operating vehicles within the parking area designated exclusively for the commercial building shall be removed within 30 days of this Variance approval. 1 2 3 4 5 7 s 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 VOTE: AYES: L. Kersenboom, P. Hoffrnan, S. Perrotti, R. Pizer, NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: K. Allen CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution P.C. 08-17 is a true and complete record of the action taken by the Planning Commission of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, at their regular meeting of February 19, 200 . Langley K senboom, Chairman Rob son, Secretary 3