483, Construct a tennis court, Resolutions & Approval ConditionsRESOLUTION NO. 92-29
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF ROLLING HILLS DENYING A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT A TENNIS COURT IN
ZONING CASE NO. 483.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES
HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. An application was duly filed by Dr. and Mrs.
Mohan W. Bhasker.with respect to real property located at 42
Portuguese Bend Road, Rolling Hills (Lot 120-RH), requesting a
Conditional. Use Permit to construct a tennis court.
Section 2. Prior to November, 1990, an illegal sports court
was constructed within the side yard setback near the southern
property line. In July, 1991, applications were made for a
Variance to encroach into the side yard setback to construct a
sports court and a Conditional Use Permit to reconstruct the
existing sports court. Then, on May 26, 1992, Resolution No. 679
was approved by .the City Council to permit the applicants to
construct a 2,550 square foot sports court that will encroach 10
feet into the side yard setback. Construction of the sports court
began on the southern property line. The applicants planned to
abandon the sports court and restore the south hillside to its
natural state if the request for the construction of a tennis court
were approved.
Section 3. The Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed
public hearing to consider the application for the Conditional Use
Permit on September 15, 1992 and October 20, 1992, and at a field
trip visit on September 26, 1992.
Section 4. The Planning Commission finds that although the
project could have a significant effect on the environment, there
will not be a significant effect in this case because mitigation
measures would have been added to the project and pursuant to a
mitigated Negative Declaration in accordance with the California
Environmental Quality Act.
Section 5. The applicant has submitted plans for the
construction of a 7,000 square foot tennis court .as shown in
Exhibit A. Section 17.16.012.E of the Municipal Code provides for
the discretion of the Planning Commission to grant a Conditional
Use Permit for a tennis court under certain conditions.
Section 6. With respect to the request for a ConditionalUse
Permit for a tennis court, the Planning Commission makes the
following findings:
A. The project conforms with the requirements of the
California Environmental Quality Act.
RESOLUTION NO. 92-29
PAGE 2
B. The project proposed is a 7,000 square foot tennis
court. The residence is 4,736 square feet, the attached garage is
437 square feet, the stable is 510 square feet, and the service
yard is 96 square feet. There is also a 2,500 square foot sports
court under construction at the site which the applicant proposed
to abandon and restore that hillside to its natural state with the
approval of the tennis court. The structural lot coverage proposed
is 12,779 square feet or 7.2% and the total lot coverage proposed
is 19,379 square feet or 10.9%. The building pad coverage proposed
is 26%.
C. The granting of the request for the Conditional Use
Permit would not be consistent with the purposes and objectives of
the Zoning Ordinance and General Plan. The tennis court would be
located at the north setback line, 12 feet from the residence and
12 feet from the stable, thereby creating a prominent large expanse
of concrete structural improvement on this hillside lot, which is
not compatible with the General Plan goals of maintaining low -
profile residential development patterns in the community.
D. The proposed project would not be desirable to the public
convenience and welfare because the project causes overdevelopment
of the building pad due to the fact that the pad is on a steep
canyon slope. Therefore, a building pad coverage of 26% is deemed
excessive.
E. The proposed project requires a cut of 950 cubic yards and
a fill of 950 cubic yards and would not be consistent with the
Zoning Ordinance requirement in Section 17.16.012.E.7 that "All
grading required for the construction of the court shall be
balanced, as regards cutting and filling and shall not exceed seven
hundred fifty (750) cubic yards."
F. The project would not be consistent with the General Plan
requirement to maintain strict grading practices to preserve the
community's natural terrain. A portion of the lot has already been
graded for a sports court and the additional grading proposed for
the development of a tennis court would create a further
detrimental visual impact in an area of high visibility that would
.be hard to screen. There is evidence that drainage problems could
occur if there is further disruption of large expanses of soil for
grading and more overcovering of property with non -porous surfaces.
G. The project would not be consistent with the purposes and
objectives of the General Plan which "ensures that (residential)
growth will take place in a way that promotes compatibility with
adjacent properties, preserves the existing rural residential
character, and is environmentally sensitive." (Land Use, p.13).
Degrading and restoring the landscape on one hillside in order to
grade and reconstruct another hillside is not environmentally
RESOLUTION. NO. 92-29
PAGE 3
sensitive. The proposed tennis court has adjacent trails in the
area and will effect the rural character of the neighborhood.
H. The proposed project does not minimize structural coverage
on the pad and leaves little open space between property lines.
This makes the court structure more visually prominent on the
building pad than appropriate for the existing development pattern
of the City.
I. The proposed development is not harmonious in scale and
mass with the site, the natural terrain and surrounding residences.
As previously indicated, the building pad coverage is excessive.
Section 7. Based upon the foregoing findings, the Planning
Commission hereby denies the request for a Conditional Use Permit
approval for the construction of a tennis court in Zoning Case No.
483.
1992.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 2.4 S'1 DAY OF rf° 4 61 Q 6
ALLAN ROBERTS, CHAIRMAN
ATTEST:
Imo. e) ,,.)
MARILYN KERN, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
The foregoing Resolution No. 92-29 entitled:
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF ROLLING HILLS DENYING A REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL
USE PERMIT APPROVAL TO CONSTRUCT A TENNIS COURT IN
ZONING CASE NO. 483..
RESOLUTION NO. 92-29
PAGE 4
was approved and adopted at .a regular adjourned meeting of the
Planning Commission on November 21 , 1992 by the following
roll call vote:
AYES:
Commissioners Frost, Lay, Raine and Chairman Roberts
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Hankins
ABSTAIN:
None
DEPUTY CrTY CLERK
� R
City 0/ l2 Ptiny
October 26, 1992
Dr. and Mrs. Mohan W. Bhasker
42 Portuguese Bend Road
Rolling Hills, CA 90274
INCORPORATED JANUARY 24, 1957
NO. 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD
ROLLING HILLS, CALIF. 90274
(310) 377-1521
FAX: (310) 377-7288
SUBJECT: ZONING CASE NO. 483
Dr. and Mrs. Mohan W. Bhasker, 42 Portuguese Bend Road
(Lot 120-RH)
Request for a Conditional Use Permit to permit the
construction of a tennis court.
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Bhasker:
This letter shall serve as official notification that Zoning Case
No. 483 was DENIED by the Plannning Commission at their regular
meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 1992.
The final Resolution and conditions of DENIAL will be forwarded to
you after they are signed by the Planning Commission Chairman and
City Clerk.
The Planning Commission's decision will be reported to the City
Council at their regular meeting on November 23, 1992. You should
also be aware that the decision of the Planning Commission may be
appealed within twenty days after you receive the final Resolution
(Sections 17.32.140.and 17.32.150 of the Rolling Hills Municipal
Code).
Feel free to call me at (213) 377-1521 if you have any questions
regarding this matter.
LOLA M. UNGAR
PRINCIPAL PLANNER
cc: Mr. Douglas McHattie
®Printed on Recycled Paper.