Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC_Minutes_74.09.05MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, HERMOSA BEACH, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1974, AT 7:30 P.M. Meeting called to order by Chairman Rosenberger at 7:37 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Comm. Burt, Chiu, Collis, Haller, and Chmn. Rosenberger. Comm. Hough and Peirce arrived late. Absent: None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Comm. Burt, Seconded by Comm. Collis, to approve the minutes of the meeting of August 26, 1974, as submitted. Ayes: Comm. Burt, Collets, Haller, and Chmn. Rosenberger Noes.; None' Abstain: Comm: Chiu Absent: None APPROVAL OF RESOLUTIONS Motion by Comm. Burt, seconded by Comm. Haller, to approve Resolution P.C. 154-984 as submitted. ,Ayes: Comm. Burt, Haller, Hough, Collis, and Chmn. Rosenberger Noes: None, AbstAin: Old. Absent: None ADDITIONS TO AGENDA Comm. Burt added a discussion of R-P zoning as Item 0. Mr. Merl added a memorandum from the CA on legal determination as Item #10, and request from BZA for joint workshop as Item #11. C-74-18-PD Request of J. Cariker for a re -hearing to construct a 5-unit condominium planned unit development at 962 First Street. Mr. Merl reviewed the project and required considerations. He said the largest problem is with density, since the General Plan designates low density, and the zoning is high density. The applicant has all necessary approvals to build 7 units on the site. Public hearing opened 7:49 p.m. Jim Cariker, 1035 Manhattan Avenue, said the basic problem is whether the city wants seven rental units or five permanent residents, his preference being to build the five condominiums. He said there will be no change in the existing curb cut. He said the area is of mixed usage with large multiple dwellings, commercial, and three single-family dwellings on the block. The utility of roof decks vs. balconies was discussed at length. Mr. Cariker preferred roof decks, and said they provide larger area, privacy, and access from a stairway adjacent to the kitchen. The Commissioners favored enlarged balcony or patio area with direct access from the living rooms. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - September 5, 1974 Page 2 Chmn. Collis asked what storage area will be provided. Mr. Cariker said he is providing a full room, 10' x 18' approx., adequate for washer, dryer and workshop, sealed from the garage and with direct stairway to the unit. Comm. Peirce noted that the front unit differs from the others, and has two bathrooms on the second floor with none on the third. Mr. Cariker said the front unit is of a different design; will have a sunken fire pit area around the fireplace and additional patio area. Comm. Collis said it is vary similar to that presented several weeks ago for Fourth Street. Comm. Haller asked if Mr. Cariker intends to repeat this design in the city. Mr. Cariker said the design is similar but the exterior would be completely different. Comm. Collis said 70'/ of all the residential building permits in L.A. County are for condominiums or townhouses and individuality should be stressed rather than mass production of design. Comm. Collis asked what percentage of the cost will be attributed to landscaping. Cariker said about $200 per unit in his 4-unit buildings. He said there will be a sauna in back, in a group area with trees and landscaping. Comm. Haller and Hough pointed out the difficulty of satisfying Required Finding #1. Chmn. Rosenberger asked whether the Commission is legally within its rights to approve. Comm, Coilis.said some reconsideration of the General Plan is indicated, taking into account the physical limitations of the area such as typical lot sizes and depths. He said the Planning Commission should be thinking in terms of the most desirable and most stabilizing influences, and this type of development would meet that criteria. Comm. Chiu requested that CC&R's be added to the recommendation of information to be submitted. Comm. Collis said the Planning Commission should consider revising the ordinance to reduce the open space requirement by getting adequate size of balconies directly off the living areas. Mr. Cariker said he would eliminate the roof decks and deck -access stairways; span between the buildings to have patios off the living rooms 12 k feet wide by 25— 30 feet long, the area for each unit to be separated by a wall from the other. He said he would accept this as a condition and incorporate it into the design. Chmn. Collis said he could work out the details with staff. Motion by Comm. Burt, seconded by Comm. Peirce, to approve subject to the following conditions: 1. That, since the preliminary plan does not conform to the General Plan, the City Attorney indicate whether this is necessary and if the Planning Commission is within its rights to approve. 2. That it is approved for six months during which the tentative subdivision map must be submitted, the CC&R's and final development plans showing corrected elevations, plot plans and landscaping plans must be submitted. 3. That elevations, building colors, design and landscaping details be subject to approval of the Design Review Board. 4. That a schedule of construction be submitted prior to any further action by the Planning Commission. 5. That the permit be issued to the applicants and not be transferable without the Planning Commission`s review and approval. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - September 5, 1974 Page 3 6. That the changes agreed upon above in reference to open space, eliminating roof deck and roof -access stairway, and required balcony adjacent to living area be provided. 7. Any other staff engineering improvements to be reviewed by the City Engineer - and Fire Department. Byes: Comm. Burt.(reluctantly), Chiu, Collis, Haller, Hough, Peirce, and Chmn.R seaberge Noes: None. Absent:None Motion by Comm. Burt, seconded by Comm. Chiu, to approve Resolution P.C. 154-985 for the construction of a five -unit condominium on an R-P lot at 962 First Street; with the required findings': 1. The preliminary plan does not conform to the General Plan but this has been submitted to the City Attorney for his opinion, 2: The character of the proposed development is desirable and will promote stability. 3. Sufficient driveway widths are provided. 4. The development will not impose a burden on access traffic facilities, and increased densities will not generate traffic in such amounts as to overload the street network outside the proposed development. 5. Adequate provision has been made for the maintenance of areas of parking, open space and recreational facilities consistent with the anticipated population of the development. 6. The proposed development is not out of harmony with its surrounding neighborhood, 7. The time table of construction has not been submitted but will be submitted along with the preliminary plan, 8. Provision has been made to provide adequate ingress for fire fighting equipment. 9. Roof deck no longer included; see motion above. 10. The Environmental Impact Report is adequate; the environmental impact will not be significantly negative. Ayes: Comms. Burt, Chium Collis, Haller, Hough, Peirce, and Chmn. Rosenberger Noes: None Absent: None DETERMINATION OF LEGAL USE Request of Jack Ritter for determination of legal use at 500 Manhattan Avenue/501 Bayview Drive, Mr. Merl reviewed the history, and letter dated August 16, 1974, from the Senior Appraiser for the Inglewood Office describing the property as a duplex at 501 Bayview Drive and a single residence at 500 Manhattan Avenue. Chmn. Rosenberger asked whether the County Tax Office is informed when the Planning Commission makes a declaration of legal nonconforming use. Mr. Merl said it:4s. Comm. Chiu asked if th4s appeal came from the Building Department as recommended in the past. Mr. Merl said it was not a complaint, but came up at the time of sale. Public hearing opened 8:39 p.m. Jack L. Ritter, 500 Manhattan Avenue, said the property itt question has consisted of three units for at least 21 years; was advertised as a triplex by a local realtor; attested to by the neighbors; all records available, including County Tax Assessor's, indicate that three units have always existed on the property; and bills and city forms have all been based on three units. He said he has owned the property 26 months. He said a bachelor's apartment was converted to a one -bedroom by the original owner and builder; and that there are three electric meters. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - September 5, 1974 Page 4 Stan Picowitz, owner 445 Monterey, living in Van Nuys, protested the lack of offstreet parking. He said he could not change his own property a year ago because of the parking requirements. Mr. Merl explained that there were no parking require- ments at the time of probable conversion. Public hearing closed 8:51 p.m. Motion by Comm. Collis, seconded by Comm. it legal nonconforming usage. Ayes: Comm. Burt, Chiu, Collis, Haller, Noes,: None - Absent: None 237-29th Street Hough, that the Planning Commission find Hough, Peirce, and Chmn. Rosenberger Mr. Merl referred to a copy of a letter sent to Mr. Wesley Older concerning illegal conversion. He said two letters had been sent previously but no response was received. He said he intends to establish an action list and tickler file to facilitate prompt action by the Building Department. The list will be distributed to other departments. Comm. Collis requested that a letter be sent to the other property owners involved, informing them of the action taken by the city. Chmn. Rosenberger said he would encourage forwarding this matter to the City Prosecutor, as Mr. Merl suggested, if no response to the third letter is received this week. Comm..Peirce said he would like to see one letter go out immediately on such matters, and then refer 'to City Prosecutor if a reply is not received within two weeks. GENERAL PLAN ELEMENTS Mr. Merl has compiled, in response to a request by the Parks and Recreation Commission, a status report on the nine state -required General Plan elements. He said he will have a presentation on noise contour maps. Areas that remain in conflict between the General Planning and zoning will be shown on a display map. Comm. Burt suggested recalling the Land Use portion to rework it. Comm. Chiu said the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, a revenue sharing plan, requires application to HUD, and requires a Community Development program with three years summary document in conformance with area planning. He said there should be a Housing Maintenance Plan concerning low and moderate income housing; and a housing element;.which is required to apply for a Federal grant. He asked what progress has been made on the Area Housing Council. Chmn. Rosenberger directed staff to address a letter to City Council requesting a meeting with them in late September to work on the Housing Council, Circulation Element, changes in staff, and other matters. BUILDING RECORDS Discussion of Preliminary Procedural Policy updating- Building Records/Determining Legal Use of Properties. Mr. Merl read a -:copy -'of ..a'. letter ,written . Sept: 3; 1974, from City Attorney Mirassou to the Board of Zoning Adjustments concerning the legality of the proposed ordinance. Mr. Merl also said the City Cogneil has requested that the Board of Zoning Adjustments, Planning Commission, and Improvement Commission hold public hearings on this item for a maximization of input. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - September 5, 1974 Page 5 The Commission discussed whether to retain the current policy of one public meeting and one workshop meeting per -.month, or return to the previous policy of two public hearings. They agreed to return to two public hearings per month. So ordered. Motion by Comm. Hough, seconded by Comm. Burt, to set the proposed Legal Determination Ordinance rough draft for the next public hearing on September 23, 1974. So ordered. R-P ZONE Comm. Burt reported that the proposed zoning ordinanFe amendment for R-P zones, which was returned to subcommittee, was reviewed and the property looked at. He said some will require a zone change and some will be left in R-P. The subcommittee members suggest to the Planning Commission that the amendments be recommended to City Council for their enactment of the Change in R-P zone, to make any use permitted in the R-3 zone.. subject to the same regulations as provided in said R-3 zone, and all -other uses subject to Conditional Use Permit. Motion by Comm. Burt, seconded by Comm. Peirce, to set for public hearing at the next regular meeting on Sept. 23, 1974. dyes; Comm. Burt, Chiu, Collis, Haller, Peirce, and Chi. Rosenberger Noes:, None: .: .. Abstain: Comm. trough; due to Conflict of interest Absent: None LEGAL DETERMINATION The memorandum sent by the Planning Commission to City Attorney Mirassou concerning determination of legal use, 48-58 Ninth Street, was returned approved. Motion by Comm. Hough, seconded by Comm. Burt, to reaffirm the action of the Planning Commission. So ordered. JOINT WORKSHOP WITH BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS The Board of Zoning has directed a memo to the Planning Commission requesting a joint meeting to discuss R-1, R-2 :_,nci !'.--3. Comms. Collis, Peirce, and Chmn. Rosenberger felt that the Planning Commission should meet with the City Council prior to a meeting with the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Chmn�.Rosenberger.suggested as a tentative schedule that the Planning Commission meet with the Board of Zoning Adjustment: early in October, provided that the Planning Commission could meet with the City Council late in September or early in October. Chmn. Rosenberger requested a letter be sent to the Uptown, Downtown -Committees, and the Chamber of Commerce asking them to meet with the Planning Commission. After discussion, it was agreed to invite each of the three to send a representative _to.'give a status report as to their problems in the last year and the actions they would like to have the Planning Commission consider during the coming year; this meeting to be held from 7.00-7:30 p.m. prior to the regular Planning Commission meeting on September 23, 1974, and each representative to have approximately ten minutes for his presentation. Comm. Peirce reported that the Open Space Zone was reviewed in subcommittee. He said they have left in the technical portions and recommend Planned Development with Planning Commission ability to override any of the conditions due to topo- graphical or other special conditions of the area. The previous setbacks were left in a guidelines. Chmn. Rosenberger scheduled for public hearing on Sept. 23rd. So ordered. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES - September 5, 1974 Page 6 Comm. Chiu scheduled a meeting of the Development Committee on Monday, September 16, at 8: 00 a.m. Comm. Peirce said there is a meeting of the Southwest Planning Council scheduled for Sept. 13, at 12 noon, Holiday Inn, Torrance. The speaker will be Ellen Stearn Harris. UC Riverside Conference on Conformance of Zoning and General Plan, Sept. 24, International Hotel, Century Blvd., Los Angeles. Meeting adjourned 10:06 p.m. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes were approved by the Planning Commission of the City of Hermosa Beach at a public hearing held on the 5€h-day.;'of August, 1974. DATED / d JIM ROSENBERGER, CHAIR