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386_HeightLimit_Ordinance_D ORDINANCE NO. 386 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS AMENDING CHAPTER 17.16 OF TITLE 17 OF THE ROLLING HILLS MUNICIPAL CODE TO AMEND THE RESIDENTIAL HEIGHT LIMIT, AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE TO BE CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM CEQA. WHEREAS, the City of Rolling Hills, California (“City”) is a municipal corporation, duly organized under the California Constitution and laws of the State of California; and WHEREAS, the City is a semi-rural hillside community, characterized by predominantly single- story California ranch-style homes, large parcels with open space, and an abundance of equestrian facilities; and WHEREAS, one of the unique features of the City is the uniformity of homes throughout the years, which are typically limited to one story in height; and WHEREAS, in recent years, many homes have been constructed to maximize the building area on the lot, including increased height and a greater amount of grading to prepare many of the steeper properties for a structure; and WHEREAS, these trends have significantly altered the community’s character and affect surrounding properties, creating a high level of concern among residents related to development and design compatibility issues; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to preserve and enhance the community’s character, particularly as it relates to residential building height; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority granted to the City by Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, the City has the police power to regulate the use of land and property within the City in a manner designed to promote public convenience and general prosperity, as well as public health, safety, and welfare; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Rolling Hills Municipal Code to impose height limits on residential developments in the City; and WHEREAS, on April 15, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report, supporting documents, public testimony, and all appropriate information submitted with the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, on _____, 2025, the City Council conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Ordinance, wherein it considered the staff report and supporting documents, Planning Commission’s recommendation, public testimony, and all appropriate information submitted with the Ordinance; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of the Ordinance have occurred. 2 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The recitals above are incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the City Council. Section 2. CEQA. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is determined to be categorically exempt from CEQA under Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which applies to projects where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment. The proposed Ordinance does not involve physical changes to the environment but rather regulates the height of residential developments. Since it does not result in any direct or indirect physical changes to the environment, there is no possibility that it could have a significant environmental impact. Section 3. General Plan. The City Council finds that this Ordinance is consistent with the goals and policies of the Rolling Hills General Plan. The proposed Ordinance is consistent with Housing Element Goal 2 “Maintain and enhance the quality of residential neighborhoods in Rolling Hills,” in support of the following policies: Policy 2.1: Encourage and assist in the maintenance and improvement of existing homes to maintain optimum standards of housing quality and design. Policy 2.3: Require compatible design to minimize the impact of residential redevelopment on existing residences. By imposing a height limit on residential development in the City, this Ordinance will ensure future development is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood and environment. Section 4. The Development Standard table in Section 17.16.060 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: Development Standard Zone District RA-S-1 RA-S-2 4. Height Limitation One story, no greater than 18’ (mezzanines and lofts are not permitted) except for stables and barns which shall be no greater than 20’ Section 5. Section 17.16.080 of Title 17 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code is hereby amended, with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough, as follows: 17.16.080 - Height limitation. A. General Limitation. A building or structure shall have no more than one story, meaning that there shall be no story on top of another, except as specified in subsection (B) below. 3 The maximum height permitted from floor to the highest peak of the structure shall be no greater than eighteen (18) feet except that the maximum height permitted for stables and barns shall be no greater than twenty (20) feet measured from the floor to the highest peak of the structure, exclusive of accessory architectural features as determined by the City. The maximum height permitted from finished floor of any structure to finished grade is five feet. The difference between the finished grade and the finished floor level across any elevation shall average no more than two and one-half feet, with maximum difference of five feet. B. Exceptions: 1. A one-story primary residence is permitted over a basement. For the purpose of this section primary residence includes a garage attached to the main residence by a solid wall. 2. Stables may have a loft, subject to the requirements of Chapter 17.18 of this title. 3. A storage area, as defined in Section 17.12.190 "S" may be located above or below a story. Section 6. The City Council’s actions are made upon review of the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the Staff Report, all oral and written comments, and the documentary evidence presented on the Ordinance.. Section 7. Effective Date. This Ordinance takes effect 30 days following its adoption. Section 8. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or its application to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, such invalidity has no effect on the other provisions or application of the Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this extent, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable. The City Council declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance irrespective of the invalidity of any portion thereof. Section 10. Custodian of Records: The documents and materials associated with this Resolution that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at Rolling Hills City Hall, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills, California 90274. The Director of Planning and Community Services is the custodian of records for the record of proceedings. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS __th DAY OF ________ 2025. JEFF PIEPER, MAYOR 4 ATTEST: ____________________________________ CHRISTIAN HORVATH, CITY CLERK Any action challenging the final decision of the City made as a result of the public hearing on this application must be filed within the time limits set forth in Section 17.54.070 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code and Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.