762, New Recreation room and retain, Resolutions & Approval ConditionsRESOLUTION NO. 2009-09
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
ROLLING HILLS GRANTING MODIFICATION TO PREVIOUSLY
APPROVED PROJECT, APPROVED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2009-02 FOR
GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION OF A RECREATION ROOM,
ROADWAY ACCESS AND CONSTRUCTION OF A RETAINING WALL.
THE MODIFICATION CONSISTS OF AMENDING THE HEIGHT,
MATERIAL AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALL
ALONG THE ROADWAY ACCESS ON A LOT DEVELOPED WITH A
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IN ZONING CASE NO. 772-
MODIFICATION, AT 3 POPPY TRAIL, (LOT 8-PT), (JONAS). PROJECT
HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS
DOES HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Application was duly filed by Mr. Robert Jonas with respect to real
property located at 3 Poppy Trail (Lot 8-PT), Rolling Hills, requesting a Site Plan
Review for modification of a previously approved retaining wall to allow up to three
foot interlocking block wall where a 6" curb and one foot wall were previously
approved, along the west side of the access road. The proposed mechanically stabilized
earth (MSE) wall has earth spaces between the blocks, which would be planted. The
construction of such walls includes a geo-grid fabric like material embedded into the
hill for stability.
Section 2. The Planning Commission conducted duly noticed public hearings
to consider the application for modification of the previously approved application, on
July 21, August 18 and October 20, 2009 meetings. During the proceedings, the
Commission requested additional information and clarification from the applicant as
well as from the County Soils and Geology Division regarding this proposal.
Section 3. Approval for the construction of the wall was granted on October
5, 2009 by the Los Angeles County Soils and Geology Division, and the County
grading engineer reviewed the grading plan and in her professional opinion the wall is
feasible in the proposed location, is an acceptable design based on County codes and
will not require additional grading from what was originally approved.
Section 4. The applicant was notified of the above -referenced hearings in
writing by first class mail. Evidence was heard and presented from all persons
interested in affecting said proposal, from all persons protesting the same, and from
members of the City staff at each of the hearings. The applicant and the applicant's
representatives were in attendance at the hearings.
Section 5. The Planning Commission finds that the project qualifies as a
Class 1 Exemption [State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301(e)] and is therefore
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categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental
Quality Act.
Section 6. The previous approval, granted by Resolution No. 2009-02
consisted of a Site Plan Review application for grading and construction of an 800
square foot recreation room with 320 square foot porch, access road to the recreation
room and grading quantities of 232 cubic yards of cut and 232 cubic yards of fill. Also
approved were retaining walls along the road to the recreation room. A not to exceed
3-foot high wall, 120 feet long, along the uphill side (east side) of the access road to the
construction site and 120 foot long, not to exceed one foot high wall along the down
slope (west side), and 6 inch curb with a three rail fence for safety and to obscure the
uphill wall were approved. The remainder of the road was to have a 6" curb, which
curved up and around the building pad area for the recreation room.
Section 7. With respect to the Site Plan Review application for modification of
the proposed wall, the Planning Commission finds that the findings for a Site Plan
Review for the original proposal specified in Resolution No. 2009-02 are applicable and
remain unchanged for the request for modification.
Section 8. Based upon the foregoing findings, approval by the Los Angeles
County Soils and Geology Division and the evidence in the record, the Planning
Commission hereby approves a Site Plan Review modification to construct a not to
exceed 3-foot high mechanically stabilized earth wall (MSE) along the lower (west) side
of the access road to the previously approved recreation room in accordance with the
development plan dated October 9, 2009 and in accordance with the County of Los
Angeles soils and geology approval, dated October 5, 2009.
Section 9. The following conditions of Resolution No. 2009-02 are herby
amended to read as follows:
1. Amend Condition A to read as follows:
A. The Site Plan approval adopted herein and the Conditional Use Permit
approved by Resolution No. 2009-02 shall expire within ten months from the effective
date of Resolution No. 2009-02.
2. Amend condition F to read as follows:
F. The working drawings submitted to the County Department of Building
and Safety for plan check review and issuance of permits must conform to the
development plan approved with this application. In addition, prior to submittal of
final plans to the Building Department for issuance of building permits, the plans for
the project shall be submitted to staff for verification that the final plans are in
compliance with the plans approved by the Planning Commission, on file in the
Planning Department dated March 16, 2009 and October 9, 2009.
3. Amend condition L to read as follows:
L. The block retaining wall along the access road on the eastern side shall not
exceed 3 feet in height from the finished grade. A maximum of 3-foot mechanically
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stabilized earth (MSE) wall, but not to exceed 2 feet on the average, may be constructed
along the downhill of the access road (west side). A three rail fence or railing of the type
approved by the RHCA Architectural Committee shall be constructed along the western
(downhill) side of the access road on top of the MSE wall.
The retaining wall in the rear of the recreation room shall not exceed 5-feet in
height from the finished grade.
4. Amend condition P to read as follows:
P. The recreation room shall be screened from the street and nearby
properties by trees and shrubs. Prior to obtaining a grading or a building permit, two
copies of a landscaping plan for screening of the structure and for the graded areas
surrounding the recreation room and the access road, shall be submitted to the
Planning Department for review and approval. In addition, two copies of landscaping
plan shall be submitted for the MSE wall. All landscaping shall be designed using
native trees and shrubs and of height so as not to obstruct views of neighboring
properties but to screen the project. The trees at maturity shall not exceed the height of
the roofline of the recreation room and shall be maintained at that height at all times.
Landscaping shall include water efficient irrigation that incorporates low gallonage
irrigation system, utilizes automatic controllers, incorporates an irrigation design using
"hydrozones," considers slope factors and climate conditions, and utilizes means to
reduce water waste resulting from runoff and overspray. All landscaping shall be
planted in a manner that it will not result in a hedge like configuration upon maturity of
the plants.
Within three months of completion of the construction, the slopes shall be
planted and maintained with a suitable deep-rooted ground cover. During construction
protection of slopes shall be provided in a form of a jute mesh or suitable geofabrics.
5. Add condition AJ to Resolution No. 2009-02 to read as follows:
AJ. All other conditions of Resolution No. 2009-02 shall be in full force and effect.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 20th DAY OF OCTOBER 2009.
LOREN DEROY, CHAIRPERSON
ATTEST:
HEIDI LUCE, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
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