78, Variance for front & side yard, Correspondence•opeoffiny
GODFREY PERNELL, D.D.S.
Mayor
B. ALLEN LAY
Mayor Pro Tem
DR.. JAMES BLACK
Councilmember
THOMAS F. HEINSHEIMER
Councilmember
FRANK E. HILL
Councilmember
March 28, 2006
Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Malone
7 Chuckwagon Road
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Malone:
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INCORPORATED JANUARY 24, 1957
NO. 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD
ROLLING HILLS, CALIF. 90274
(310) 377-1521
FAX: (310) 377-7288
E-mail: cityofrh@aol.com
Thank you for meeting with us on Thursday, March 23, regarding the concerns
expressed in the enclosed letter that we sent to you on February 16, 2006.
As mentioned in the enclosed correspondence, we generally have good success working
with residents to achieve a desirable outcome of these types of situations. Your
proposed plan to construct a wall of 3 feet or less in height at the base of the hill
adjacent to your coral and backfilling behind the wall to conform to the existing
topography upslope represents a positive solution.
As we mentioned in the field, we urge you to contact a private engineering firm of your
choosing to determine whether the wall will be a retaining wall with a surcharge in
order to protect your property. If it is a retaining wall with a surcharge, we can assist
you in obtaining necessary building permits with the County of Los Angeles.
Please make certain that the wall does not exceed 3 feet in height and does not encroach
into the side yard setbacks on your property. Other than very specific circumstances,
any wall, regardless of height in the setback would require City of Rolling Hills
Planning Commission approval.
Please advise us as to the status of the wall construction within the next 60 days, by
May 29, 2006. This would place us into the best position possible to respond if we
receive any inquires regarding activities on your property.
Also, in our February 16, 2006, correspondence, we indicated that you have provided
complaints regarding a barn renovation at 31 Eastfield Drive (Haenel) and
unauthorized wall at 20 Chuckwagon Road (Lacey). The wall at 20 Chuckwagon Road,
due to its height and proximity to the driveway, does not constitute a structure that
would require City Planning Commission approval.
®Printed an Recycled Papcar.
Page 2
We will investigate the barn renovation at 31 Eastfield Drive and provide you with the
results of that investigation. Should you wish to discuss this further, please do not
hesitate to call. Thank you for your cooperation and support.
anta Schwartz
Pl nning Director
CRN:en
03-23-06Malone-1 tr.doc
cc: Craig Nealis, City Manager
Peggy Minor, RHCA
Rafael Bernal, L.A. County Building & Safety
C,4,
ai n ePnS JhNS • .
NO. 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD
ROLLING HILLS, CALIF. 90274
(310)377-1521
FAX: (310) 377.7288
E-mail: cilyotrh@aol.com
February 16,2006
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Malone
7 Chuckwagon Road
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Malone:
Thank you for calling City Hall last week regarding the correspondence Nve sent to you
regarding the concerns expressed to us in the letter from the Community Association. We
understand that you are upset by our involvement.
We will respond to the complaints you have submitted regarding the allegation of
noncompliance with undergrounding of utilities in conjunction with a barn renovation at
31 Eastfield Drive (Haenel) and unauthorized wall at 20 Chuckwagon Road (Lacy).
Please advise us whether you want us to provide you an update regarding your concerns
with these two properties in writing or by telephone.
Our investigation of your concerns does not negate our need to resolve the matter that has
been presented to us regarding your property. From our perspective, any corrective action
to your property that may or may not be necessary to correct grading that may or may not
have occurred beyond our original scope of approval that we provided on August 9, 2004
represents a simple process. Unfortunately, the copies of the photographs that were
provided to us that we shared with you offer only one perspective. The photographs are
two-dimensional and lack depth perception. Our purpose of conducting a visit to your
property with you present, of course, is to determine if any grading has occurred by
viewing the area.
If grading has occurred, as described in our previous correspondence, we will provide
you a selection of options to initiate. Under most circumstances, we have very good
success in working with residents to achieve very desirable outcomes to these types of
situations. If, for example, soil modification has exceeded the threshold of grading, minor
adjustment by the property owner could rectify the entire situation and end our
involvement. The goal of achieving a solution that is acceptable to you, and is in
compliance with the Municipal Code, remains our focus. Please contact us within the
next 10 days (bv February 27. 2006) so we may establish a meetin>7 time,.
Many residents of Rolling Hills find challenge in distinguishing the different functions of
the Community Association and the City. The City Manager and I have discussed how to
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best address your concerns and we are confident that if you allow us the opportunity to sit
down and discuss this with you, you will have a better understanding of the
responsibilities and role of each agency and how we can provide assistance to you. We
invite you and any members of your family to visit us at City Hall or allow us to come to
your home to address your concerns or suggestions you have on how we can better serve
the City. This, of course, remains an open ended offer.
Thank you again for your response and we look forward to resolving this matter to the
satisfaction of all concerned.
Sin �c,4rely,
r.
7
Yo lanta Schwartz
PVnning Director
cc: CraigNealis, City Manager
Peggy Minor, RHCA Manager
Rafael Bernal, Los Angeles County Department of Building and Safety