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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_1973_04_09. '/' I , MINUTES OF THE REGUIAR MEETING OF THE PIANNING COMMISSION HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, HERMOSA BEACH ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 1973, 7:30 P. M. The meeting was called to order at 7:34 p.m. by Chairman Noble. ROLL CALL: Present: Comm. Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble. Comm. Collis arrived at 7:40 p .m. Absent: Comm. Watters APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Comm. Toole, second by Comm. Mulfinger, that the minutes of the March 26, 1973 meeting be approved with the correction "The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m." Ayes: Comm. Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble Noes: None Absent: Comm. Collis, Watters RESOLUTION NO. P.C. 154-877 Motion by Comm. Mulfinger, second by Comm. Toole, to approve Resolution No. P.C. 154-877 as submitted. Ayes: Noes: Absent: Comm. Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble None Comm. Collis, Watters RESOLUTION NO. P.C. 154-878 Motion by Comm. Mulfinger, second by Comm. Toole, to approve Resolution No. P.C. 154-878 as submitted. Ayes: Noes: Absent: Comm. Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble. None Comm. Collis, Watters RESOLUTION NO. P. C. 154-879 Motion by Comm. Mulfinger, second by Comm. Lagan, to approve Resolution P .C. 154-879 as submitted. Ayes: Noes: Absent: Comm. Lagan, Mulfinger, and Chairman Noble Comm. Toole Comm. Collis, Watters CIRCULATION Environmenta l Impac t Re port and Plans for Rec n struction of Valley Drive Be- tween 11th Street and 8th Street Mr. Crawford said that for this project the city could, in that new resolution approve an Environmental Impact Report of 11 No Significant Impact11 • The pro- posed plan is to remove the existing pavement between 11th Street and 8th Street and re-pave. It is also intended to pave the railroad right-of-way up to 10 feet of the tracks, and put in a storm drain. The existing tre es will be retained and landscaping at both ends of the area would be retained.. He added that the Parks Commission has approved the proposed plans. In answer to a question from Comm. Collis, Mr. Crawford said parking would be straight-in with a 11V11 gutter instead of a curb. Comm. Collis said he does not feel that driving straight in off the street and backing onto the street would be safe. Mr. Crawford pointed out there would be a 16ft. area behind the spaces for turning and backing. Comm. Noble and Collis aske'd what the city would require of a private citi- zen proposing the same project. Mr. Crawford said in all probability the city would require a barrier between the parking lot and the street. Comm. Collis said the city should place some sort of railing along center line. Comm. Lagan asked about the cost of the project. Mr. Crawford said the City Engineer's estimate for the total project was about $20,000 and added it is on the Capital Improvement Program for this year. Motion by Comm. Toole, second by Comm. Mulfinger, to approve a negative declaration of environment impact and approve the plans for reconstruction of Valley Drive between 11th Street and 8th Street with an amendment or sug- gestion that a fence or railing be put along the center line. Ayes: Comm. Collis, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble Noes: Comm, Lagan Absent: Comm. Watters Environmental Impact Report and Plans for Medians and Tra ffication of Pier Avenue Between Pacific Coast Highway and Hermosa Avenue. Mr. Crawford explained there is no Environmental Impact Report on this project because the City Engineer has had some problem getting together with the Chamber. Comm. Lagan said he resented the implication that the Chamber was hard to get hold of. He added that it was the City Engineer who had been unable to get together with them. Mr. Crawford said that the report from the Chamber of Commerce that the Com- mission had before them had been given to him by the Chamber Manager just prior to the meeting and perhaps they would like to look it over before dis- cussion of this phase of the circulation element. -2-P .C. Minutes 4/9/73 '· Chairman Noble suggested going over each of the four sections of the City Engineer's proposal to determine the basis for the opposition from the mer- chants. Mr. Gil Warshaw of Gil De Montesquioux Coiffures, 418 PierAv~nue s_aid the Chamber had taken the City Engineer's proposal to every busmess m t~e area affected and the merchants were of the same opinion as they w~re durmg a concensus of opinion survey taken in 1968, i.e., no parallel p~rkmg. He said it had been proven that women will not parallel park. He sa1~ he was not against beautification of the street if the city would d~ som_ethmg on the 1 order of Hollywood Riviera's beautification project as outlmed. m ~he Chamber s alternate proposal. The business community would back the city if they wanted to beautify in this manner. (1) Pier Avenue between Ardmore and Pacific Coast Highway. Chairman Noble noted that of the merchants polled, 15 were for and 42 o_pposed, and asked what was the major reason for opposition. Mr. Warshaw replied that a median, in his opinion, would cause faster through traffic which would endanger the crosswalks and also a median strip would eliminate one lane of traffic. Mr. Crawford said it would not eliminat e a lane of traffic because the lanes were, at present, wider than necessary. Chairman Noble asked why the City Engineer wanted a median there. Mr. Crawford said it was to provide left-turn bays for traffic entering Pacific Coast Highway and Ardmore. Comm. Lagan said he did not feel anything would be gained at Ardmore with left-turn bays. (2) Pier Avenue between Bard Street and Ardmore . The merchants disapproved of this median by a vote of 53 against and 4 in favor. Mr. Warshaw said they felt a median at this point would hamper the Fire Depart- ment and would also create a traffic problem around the Post Office. (3) Pier Avenue between Hermosa Avenue and Bard Street. Chairman Noble noted that 40 people were against this part of the proposal and asked why when it seemed to deal with beautification along the curb line. Mr. Warshaw said that the merchants on Pier Avenue are afraid to agree to any por- tion of the plan for fear of ending up with parallel parking and medians in the center of the street. (4) Parallel parking on Pier Avenue between Hermosa Avenue and Bard Street. Merchants voted unanimously against this proposal. Mr. Warshaw said the business community depends on drive traffic. Women will not parallel park, with increased traffic flow people will pass by and there is no property available to put another parking district nearby. He asked -3-PC Minutes 4/9/73 that city do beautification work at comers, save the parking and keep the flow of traffic the way it is now. He added that if you are going to beautify a street, it should be uniform. There would be no continuity with a median in portions of street. Comm. Toole said perhaps city should just put in trees along the side and leave the re st alone . Comm. Collis thinks it is important to come to some agreement with mer- chants. He added that if it won't help the merchants, forget it. Commission requested Mr. Crawford to see that the City Engineer received the Chamber of Commerce report prior to the next meeting and further re- quested that the City Engineer be present at the next meeting. Proposed Revised Arterial and Collector Street Pattern for 1985 General Plan. Mr. Crawford pointed out that on the preliminary circulation plan, most of the arterial streets have been removed including 8th Street and Gould. He said recognizing that in the next fifteen years a lot of changes can take place, it may be wise to include the latter two streets. Then, if city can afford to build more arterials, the plan would indicate where they should be built. He asked whether the Commission agreed with the deletion of Prospect, 10th Street and 16th Street from the General Plan. He added that the city pro- bably could only afford to do one of those two by 1985. Chairman Noble commented that he felt Gould, Pier, 8th and Prospect should be kept as arterials. Comm. Toole felt that additional time was needed to consider the effect of the changes. Comm. Lagan agreed with Comm. Toole. Chairman Noble instructed the staff to place this matter on the next agenda, and suggested the Commission study the matter in the meantime. So ordered. (d) Proposed revised local street pattern for 1985 General Plan. Mr. Crawford said he has eliminated some local streets on the Circulation Plan. Purpose of the deletions is to try to create more of a residential neighborhood atmosphere in the residential area by closing them off from easy access from arterials. Comm. Collis said it is important to get the citizens involved in this type of thing, and added that doing it area by area instead of making one mass change would be better community relations. (e) Proposed safe-routes for bicycles. Mr. Crawford said he has a map on this from Councilman Doerfling who is in charge of a subcommittee trying to develop bicycle routes for city. Council- man Doerfling would like it to be part of circulation element of General Plan. -4-PC Minutes 4/9/73 Comm. Collis as,ked if this plan also takes into consideration Manhattan Beach I s proposed beach bike path. Comm. Lagan said not any more -it was taken out at the last Bicycle Route meeting. They will be meeting again on April 19th . Chairman Noble continued the discussion to the next regular meeting. PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS Mr. Cra~ford asked the Commission if they were ready to set a public hearing on the list of zoning ordinance amendments previously submitted. Comm. Lagan felt that the Commission should have legal advice due to the fact they have to pass on things that have legal aspects to them. Mr. Craw- ford said the City Attorney will not attend Planning Commission meetings un- less the City Council orders him to do so and pays him for appearing. Chairman Noble commented that parking requirements for 30 x 80 lots in the R-2 zone should be re-analyzed. The new 2 to 1 parking in R-2 has thrown most of these lots into single family usage. Mr. Crawford said he thought it was the intention of the Planning Commission and the City Council to allow tandem parking in the R-2 zone and he was so interpreting, however, in his opinion, it would be a lot more comfortable if the ordinance said II for four or more". The Commission agreed and directed staff to set public hearings on the ordinance amendments for next meeting. CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS The Planning Commission reviewed their letter to the City Council re condo- minium conversions and read Resolution N. S. 3192 from the City Council di- recting the Planning Commission to initiate an amendment to the City Code to establish special provisions relating to condominium developments. Mr. Crawford said their resolution requested the Commission to include certain items in the amendment and would seem to say that two-to-one parking be required. The Commission directed Mr. Crawford to set public hearings on an amendment to the City Code for next meeting. REQUEST FOR WET BAR -79 16th STREET Mr. Crawford showed the Commission the plans for this duplex as it was ~)uilt in 19 71 . He explained that the owner had installed a wet bar and stove in the recreation room without permits. He added that the fact that this recreation room had no direct access to the rest of the building, it could easily be turned into an additional unit. Mrs. Duke of the Building Department stated that, although the Building Department had been unable to establish proof of the separate rental of an illegal unit, a tenant of the building had come in to com- plain that she had not been provided a garage space for her unit in this "three unit" building. -5-PC Minutes 4/9/73 Chainnan Noble asked if a report had been sent to the Planning Commission from the Citizen's Committe on Illegal Housing. Mr. Crawford said the com- mittee had returned the matter to the Planning Commission feeling that they should not establish a policy that might alter established procedures. How- ever, he added, a member of the committee, Mrs . Coralie Ebey, had sent a letter to them as a private citizen asking for denial of Mr. Call's request. Comm. Collis said he felt Mr. Call did not need this wetbar and sink. Motion by Comm. Toole, second by Comm. Mulfinger, to approve Mr. Barry Call's request for a wetbar. Ayes: None Noes: Comm. Collis, Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole, Chainnan Noble Absent: Comm. Watters Motion failed, request denied. REQUEST FOR AMENDMENT OF R-1 PD BULK CONTROL STANDARDS Chairman Noble said that although the Planning Commission had indicated to City Council there would be some answer to Council's suggestion on the above, the resignation of Comm. Stabler had left the Commission short one Commissioner and when the Zoning Committee met April 2nd, he and Mr. Crawford were the only ones present. He said he has spoken with Mayor Valdes, asking that the City Council give consideration as soon as possible to the appointment of a replacement for Comm. Stabler. The Commission referred the R-1 PD Bulk Control Standards to the Zoning Com- mittee, setting a meeting date of Thursday, April 12, 1973 at 7:30 a.m. Comm. Toole, Collis and Chairman Noble said they would be there. Comm. Lagan asked that a letter be sent to City Council stating the Planning Commission had this matter under advisement and it may take a little longer than the 30 days promised to give them an answer. REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT PROCEDURES Mr. Crawford said the interim ordinance ended on April 4. The new resolution became effective at that time and the Board of Zoning Adjustments had been assigned to review the reports -no longer does the Planning Commission have jurisdiction. Environmental Impact Reports are not required on singles, duplexes and apartments up to four units where they are replacing a similar density. Division of property and increase in density requires an Environmental Impact Report. When asked if this city had ever applied for exclusion from coastal regulations, Mr. Crawford replied that the City Council does not want to ask for exclusion and could not comply with 80% developed to zoned density. Chairman Noble said the Coastal Commission hasn't yet decided what 80% developed is. Mr. Crawford said it is on basis of zoning capacity as of April, 1972. -6-PC Minutes 4/9/73 ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD ORDINAl"\TCE Comm. Toole commented that the recommendation did not include how the Review Board would be c.hosen. Mr. Crawford said the Improvement Commission finally decided, after making their recommendation, that it was up to the City Council. He said this requires no action on Commission's part unless they wish to com- ment. City Council in November made the request to the Planning Commission that it consider some design control standards. The Commission, at that time, was in the midst of ordinance changes. At the same time, the Improvement Com- mission expressed concern over lack of sensitivity in design and said most single family dwellings built today look alike. Therefore, they took up the pro- blem and have now recommended an ordinance to City Council for adoption. Motion by Comm. Collis, second by Comm. Mulfinger to receive and file the proposed ordinance. Ayes: Comm. Collis, Lagan; Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble Noes: None Absent: Comm. Watters POST AGENDA ITEM Mr. Crawford explained that Mr. Grant Reynolds had addressed a letter to City Council as a representative of a number of surfboard manufacturers.. He explained that they have been handling retail and manufacturing at two separate locations when they had to do both operations. They would like to be allowed to combine their operations into ·one building in the C-3 zone. Commission would have to determine if it is possible to so design the building and operation that it will be no more obnoxious than auto dealers, body shops, etc. that are presentiy allowed in the C-3 zone. Mr. Reynolds said their reasons for this request are primarily economic. They cannot compete with the people setting up an operation in their garage. He added that if their businesses fold, the city will lose sales tax revenues. Mr. Reynolds said he was talking about the type of operation where you have adequate venti- lation and dust control approved by the State, a 4-hour wall building, and any structure within 1500 sq. ft. be sprinklered. Mr. Reynolds would like to enlarge his building about another 20 feet, sprinkler the building and put in dust control facilities. He felt that if they were allowed to combine their operations, the surfboard manufacturers would be willing to buy their buildings. Comm. Toole said this would eliminate fly-by-night investors because of the capital investment you would have going into this type of operation. Chairman Noble said perhaps this could be made a permitted use in the C-3 zone if all requirements of the Fire Code were met. Mr. Reynolds said this would be fine, just so the city has some way of policing the operation, perhaps by conditional use permit. He added he would not like to see some fly-by-nighter getting in and ruining it for the rest of them. -7-PC Minutes 4/9/73 _I Chairman Noble asked if the problem in the surfboard business was an over- abundance of people in it. Mr. Reynolds said the surfboard boom is over; a few years ago they were doing $1,000,000. worth of business, now it is about $500,000. a year. Manufacturers started retailing foam to the public. Individuals set up a glass hop in their garage, some even put out a sign each day. Fire Department will not allow an open gas flame in a building handling resins, yet these garages have gas water heaters with open flames. Mr. Reynolds says he realizes the futility of enforcing this and is not asking for it. He said all they want is some way to cut overhead costs so they can compete. He added that if the city can help them out, they will have a good viable pro- duct, and the city will be money ahead. Comm. Lagan questioned whether Mr. Reynolds would have room on his property for his operation on Pacific Coast Highway if he added 20 feet to his building. He pointed out there was just the length of an automobile to park behind his building now. Mr. Reynolds replied that he would still have 2 0 feet of parking and could put four stalls in there. Also could park across the street where Sun- ray has their parking. Chairman Noble instructed staff to draw up an ordinance amendment setting up the rules and controls for such a use and bring back to the next meeting. POST AGENDA ITEM 2 Comm. Lagan said he wished to bring up a small point from the minutes of March 26, 1973 meeting. He questioned if it was the intention of the Commission to require a cash bond to guarantee completion of subdivision in Resolution 154-878. He added that normally it would be a completion bond. Motion by Comm. Toole, second by Comm. Mulfinger, to reconsider the minutes of meeting of March 2 6, 1973 and Resolution 154-878. Ayes: Comm. Collis, Lagan, Mulfinger, To1ole and Chairman Noble Noes: None Absent: Comm. Watters Motion by Comm. Collis, second by Comm. Toole, to amend minutes of March 26, 1973 meeting, page 4 and Resolution 154-878 by deleting the word "cash" from condition #4 in said resolution. Ayes: Comm. Collis, Lagan, Mulfinger, Toole and Chairman Noble Noes: None Absent: Comm. Watters ADJOURNMENT at 9:31 p.m. -8-PC Minutes 4/9/73 • CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes were approved by the Pl;fining Commission of the City of Hermosa Beach at;, _ lar rn ,e g hel,.d on :::E 1 ~ /f l ?v /,~ ..... -- JAMES C. COLLIS,