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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_70.05.04MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, HERMOSA BEACH, ON MONDAY, MAY 4, 1970, AT 7:30 P. M. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:38 P. M. BY CHAIRMAN NOBLE ROLL CALL - Present: Comm. Collis, Himmel, Mulfinger, Stabler, Toole, Watters, and Chairman Noble. Absent: None Others Present: Improvement Commission members: Bergstrom, Foreman, Hankins, Purpus , and Tanner; City Clerk Edgerton. Motion by Comm. Toole, seconded by Comm. Mulfinger to approve the minutes of the April 20, 1970 meeting. Resolution P. C. 154-771 Comm. Collis moved, seconded by Comm. Watters to amend Resolution P. C. 154-771 to delete the words in #2 "due to inadequate street width and off-street parking standards". AYES: Comm. Collis, Watters, Noble NOES: Comm. Mulfinger ABSTAIN: Comm. Himmel, Stabler, Toole Request of City Council and City Attorney to initiate amendments to Zoninc Ordinance. City Planner Crawford explained the reasons behind the proposed amendments: the City Attorney felt that it should not be necessary to adopt a formal resolution to express Council decisions on Planning Commission actions, but that a minute motion should be sufficient; the voting procedure would be changed whereby a simple majority of members present may override the Planning Commission or the Board of Zoning Adjustments, and then refer back to the appropriate Board. Instead of 4-1 vote of the entire Council, if only three members are present they could override either Board by a 2-1 vote. This would mean that only two mem- bers of the Council could overthrow all of either Board's work. It was his opin- ion that a 3-2 vote might be alright on variances and Conditional Use Permits, but zone changes are critical enough so that the City Council should be bound by a 4-1 vote, since they involve a great deal more planning study and analysis than the Council is ordinarily able to give. The modification procedure grew out of a citizen request for waiver of a variance fee. The Council asked the Commis- sion to explore the possibility of a lesser fee for lesser variances, which could include side yards , height requirements, parking standards, fences, front yards. -2- Discussion by the Commission involved comments by Comm. Stabler that the Commission should consult with informed people before making a decision, by Comm. Noble that a cheaper procedure could be devised for minor variances, and that the 300' radius for citizen protests might be reduced; and the Commission agreed generally that study of the proposals should be made on the committee level and discussed with the Board of Zoning Adjustments before the ordinances are introduced for public hearing. City Planner Crawford suggested that since the Planning Commission was under an obligation to start a public hearing, it might also be well to request that the City Council meet with the Planning Commission to discuss the resolution before the Planning Commission initiates the public hearing. Chairman Noble referred the proposed ordinances to the Zoning Committee. Recess to a meeting with the Improvement Commission, 8:25 p. m. Chairman Noble introduced the members of the Improvement Commission present. City Planner Crawford said that the meeting was initiated by the Improvement Commission as part of an effort on their part to determine what each Commission is involved in, what the long-range goals are, how they can best interact with other Commissions. Chairman Noble explained that the function of the Planning Commission partly is to serve as a sounding board for the City Council on planning matters, in which they conduct public hearings accordingly, listen to testimony from citizens, attempt to upgrade the existing zoning ordinance. It was indicated that the Improvement Commission is operating without clear guide- lines to effect changes in the city which will lead to a continuing betterment of the environment. Discussion followed covering minimum dwelling unit size, difficulty in reflecting the desires of the community, town houses, planned unit development ordinance, building standards and landscaping standards, the General Plan and the fact that it was not expedited and therefore does not adapt to the present situation, and an extensive discussion of Pacific Coast Highway, and a concentrated effort to improve its appearance. City Planner Crawford commented that the Improvement Commission was oriented to the present, the Planning Commission to the future. The joint meeting was adjourned at 9:36 p. m. with the note that the discussion had been helpful to both commissions in better delineation of their separate func- tions. It was agreed that they would attempt to work together more effectively in the future. -3- Beach Element Committee City Planner Crawford explained that at its first meeting, the Beach Element Committee, organized themselves, and received background information about the beach from various city staff members. The impetus for the new committee arises primarily because the State plans actions and standards relative to "shore- line management" which may not be acceptable to Hermosa Beach. The State has proposed legislation to control zoning and all land use as far inland as a mile, or all of Hermosa Beach. They are counting on the success of the Bay Area Con- servation and Development Commission to impose this plan on the Southland. Therefore Hermosa has to develop a plan for use of the beach. Comm. Watters suggested inviting representatives from Planning Commissions of neighboring cities to attend the next meeting of the group. Mr. Crawford said that Council- man Wise felt that if a plan were developed, the city could forestall action by the County and State. Downtown Development Progress City Planner Crawford briefed the Commission on a breakfast meeting which was held with some downtown property owners and members of Coldwell-Banker Com- pany to explore the possibility of an outside company leasing the stores in order to develop a package to revitalize the downtown. At that meeting it was agreed to let them develop the proposal, which Mr. Crawford presented to the Commission for discussion. The Commission asked the City Planner to keep them abreast of developments. Committee ReRorts a) Zoning Committee: Comm. Stabler reviewed the Zoning Committee meet- ing indicating that our hang-ups on P. D. have been that the City Attorney is reluctant to approve anything that is innovative. Three Planning Commis- sion meetings ago we decided that we might as well go all out and make an ordinance that was worthwhile. We have been studying a P. D. ordinance with the land use intensity concept as the basis for development standards. Mr. Crawford is comparing past developments with land use intensity scales of F. H. A. Amendments to the ordinance, work schedule for the Committee is being prepared by the City Planner. Comm. Collis commented that there will be a lot of problems trying to convince the public that this is the best way to go. He mentioned Westlake Village, and the fact that the developers haven't made any money on the townhouse part of the development. He asked about Con - Rock and was informed that plans have been submitted to the Building Department. b) Land Development Committee: Comm. Watters reviewed the committee meeting which centered primarily around public relations, how to develop interest in the city and related problems. The committee had developed a list of most likely investigations: 1. Meeting with businessmen and the city. Give and take discussion and gripe period with them. 2. Dick Fitzgerald; tri-city planning group. Utilize this group to help air mutual problems. 3. Citizen committee to study Hermosa street improvement programs. 4. Appoint a Chamber of Commerce liaison representative. 5. School Board liaison representatives. 6. Invite Chief Berlin, Fire Chief Fowler and Abram "Krushkov to meet and discuss problems with the Commission. The Committee also discussed bringing people to beach rather than automobiles, and inviting a member of the Airport Commission to one of their meetings. At the next meeting they will go back to studying our street width, developing figures on what our current widths are. Chairman Noble appointed Comm. Himmel to meet with the Zoning Committee in the temporary absence of Comm. Mulfinger. Miscellaneous Re orts Comm. Watters requested that a pamphlet explaining the powers and restrictions on the Commission be prepared, explaining responsibilities and procedures. The City Planner mentioned that Comm. Stabler had made a similar request earlier and that it was being worked on. Adjourned: 10:45 p. m. The next meeting will be May 18, 1970. Certification I hereby certify teat the foregoing Minutes have een,6ppro R445y he Planning Co ion o .the City of Hermosa Beach at re tiraMiii in g h ld on the 4th of Y ► 1 ., % ATE JOE B. NOBLE, CHAIRMAN :' COLLIS ; Secretary