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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Resolution 01-041 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2s 26 27 28 29 RESOLUTION 01-4 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, TO APPROVE THE REQUESTED VARIANCE TO ALLOW ROOF ELEMENTS THAT EXCEED THE HEIGHT LIMIT TO COVER MORE THAN FIVE (5) PERCENT OF THE ROOF AT 1303 HERMOSA AVENUE LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 29, BLOCK 14 HERMOSA BEACH TRACT The Planning Commission does hereby resolve and order as follows: Section 1. An application was filed by 1303 Hermosa Avenue L.L.0 the ground lessee and owner of the building at 1303 Hermosa seeking a Variances from Section 17.46.010 to allow roof elements that exceed the height limit to exceed five percent coverage of the roof. Section 2. The Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed de novo public hearing to consider the application for the Variance on January 16, and February 20, 2001, 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 applicant has installed roof elements, which include an elevator shaft and equipment room and 1 VAC unit on the roof top of the subject building. These elements in aggregate exceed 5% coverage of the roof. 2. The subject three story building contains approximately 7,000 square feet in three stories and is located on a building side with only a 27' depth, containing a roof area of 2600 square feet. Section 4. Based on the foregoing factual findings, the Planning Commission makes the following findings pertaining to the application for Variances from guest parking and from garage dimensions: 1. There are exceptional circumstances related to the physical conditions of the property. The building site and roof area is unusually small at 2,600 square feet, which causes the elevator shaft and equipment room to cover 5% of the roof area. Yet, the required size for an elevator and equipment room does not vary proportionally with the size of a typical building in the area. Further, the limited size of the building and site reduces the ability to locate all mechanical equipment within the structure or elsewhere on the site. Thus strict application of the roof top area restriction would preclude the placement of any additional structures on the roof including HVAC units which are required for the project. This would deny the project parity with development conditions of surrounding properties. 2. The Variance is needed to preserve and enjoy a substantial property right to operate the commercial building in a conventional manner consistent with other properties in the vicinity and zone. Many of the surrounding buildings have a similar or greater amount of 1 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 roof top equipment, because they contain a larger building footprint, or exceed the 5% limitation because they are legal non -conforming to the requirement. The project requires a modern heating and cooling system consistent with other buildings in the area. Unless a Variance is granted, the project cannot enjoy a substantial property right possessed by other adjacent properties because it cannot operate the commercial building in a conventional manner consistent with other properties in the same vicinity and zone. The additional roof coverage will not be materially detrimental to property improvements in the vicinity as the roof equipment will be screened from view, and have no greater visual impact than roof equipment typical of a more conventionally sized commercial building in the area. The building contains roof top equipment similar in size and proportion to other property in the area. The roof top contains only an elevator and elevator equipment room, condenser units related to the building's heating and cooling and screening (required under the approved Precise Development Plan) which can be found on any downtown roof top. The visual impact from the street is no different than 5% coverage would be on a building with the same scale and frontage that had a more typical commercial lot depth of 60 feet. 4. The proposed Variance is consistent with the General Plan as the roof equipment is not unusually large or out of scale with neighboring development. The building contains roof top equipment similar in size and proportion to other property in the area and this equipment is an essential feature for operation of a new retail building which is consistent with the revitalization goals for the downtown. Section 5. Based on the foregoing, the Planning Commission hereby approves the Variance from Section 17.46.010 relating the roof elements that exceed the height subject to the following conditions: The project shell be consistent with submitted plans reviewed by the Planning Commission at their meeting of January 16, and February 20, 2001. Any further minor modifications to the plans shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission. VOTE: AYES: Hoffman, Pizer, Tucker, Kersenboom, Chairman Perrotti NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution P.C. 01-4 is a true and complete record of the action taken by the Planning Commission of the City of Hermosa Beach, California at their Sam Perrotti, Chairman d V L9 / Date Varr1303rev regular meeting of February 20, 2001 Sol l lw me feld, Secretary