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2015-02 OcchipintiRESOLUTION NO. 2015-02 CTV A RESOLUTION OF THE ROLLING HILLS COMMITTEE ON TREES AND VIEWS DECLARING A SIGNIFICANT VIEW IMPAIRMENT TO 34 CREST ROAD EAST CAUSED BY SPECIFIC TREES LOCATED AT 33 CREST ROAD EAST AND SETTING FORTH RESTORATIVE ACTION TO ABATE THE IMPAIRMENT. THE ROLLING HILLS COMMITTEE ON TREES AND VIEWS OF THE CITY OF ROLLING HILLS DOES HEREBY FIND, RESOLVE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. On February 28, 2013 a view impairment complaint ("Complaint") was jointly filed by Mr. and Mrs. Occhipinti, property owners of 34 Crest Road East, and Mr. and Mrs. Fournier, property owners of 30 Crest Road East, claiming that view impairment was caused by trees located at 33 Crest Road East, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sherman. The owners and all future owners of 33 Crest Road East are collectively referred to in this Resolution as "Owners of 33 Crest Road East." Section 2. The Complaint was referred to a mediator to conduct mediation services pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code 17.26.040, Paragraph B. Section 3. After that mediation failed to achieve agreement, Mr. and Mrs. Occhipinti, ("Complainants") on March 10, 2014 separately from Mr. and Mrs. Fournier, applied to the City of Rolling Hills Committee on Trees and Views (CTV) for resolution of the complaint and requested a public hearing before the CTV. Section 4. In the application, the Complainants request that their view of the ocean, Catalina Island, Queen's Necklace and Channel Islands be restored to 1970, when they acquired the property. The Grant Deed dated 1970 names the Occhipintis as the purchasers of the property. The applicants state that when they acquired their property the view was unobstructed and there was no home at 33 Crest Rd. E. and no trees in their view. Section 5. A public hearing was properly noticed and advertised pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Sections 17.26.040, Paragraph C and 17.26.050, Paragraphs A and B. The subject public hearing, after several postponements of the hearing, was conducted on June 17, 2014, October 2, 2014 and on November 5, 2014 and included a field trip on August 21, 2014 to 34 Crest Road East and 33 Crest Road East. Evidence was heard and presented from all persons interested in the matter and from members of the City staff. The Committee reviewed, analyzed and studied the evidence submitted. Section 6. In June 1988, the City adopted a View Preservation Ordinance. The ordinance established preservation of views as a primary value of the community and created a process by which a property owner could seek to abate an obstructed view. In November 2003, the ordinance was modified relative to the composition of the Committee on Views and Trees, the body designated to consider view applications. In March 2013, the residents of Rolling Hills passed Measure B amending the View Preservation Ordinance. The principal effect of Measure B was that it shifted the protection of the ordinance from views that are capable of being enjoyed from a property to views that were actually enjoyed from a property when the property owner acquired the property. In particular, the initiative amended the view ordinance as follows: The ordinance protects only a view that existed when the current property owner acquired ownership of the property; The ordinance limits the protection of the ordinance to views obstructed by "maturing" vegetation, thereby excluding views obstructed by trees that were "mature" at the time of the property acquisition; and The intent of the ordinance is to cause restoration of views to "view corridors," and "views through trees". Section 7. The Rolling Hills Committee on Trees and Views finds as follows regarding the Complaint: A. Pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.050 D (3), a view existed from 34 Crest Road East in 1970, when the Complainants acquired the property as defined in Section 17.12.220 "View" of the Municipal Code and depicted in the photograph attached hereto as Exhibit A. CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 -1- The Committee finds that the viewing area for 34 Crest Road East is a living room to the east of the main entrance, a bedroom to the west of the main entrance, and areas immediately adjacent thereto along the southern side of the residence on 34 Crest Road East, each from the standing perspective of an average height person ("Designated Viewing Areas"). B. Pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.050 D (3) and Section 17.26.090 (3), the Committee finds that the Complainants have shown by clear and convincing evidence that the view from the Complainants' property is significantly impaired because 77 trees plus a hedge located at 33 Crest Road East significantly impair the view from the Designated Viewing Areas, as defined in Section 17.12.220 "View Impairment" of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code and as specified in Section 7A above. C. Pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.050 E, the Committee finds the restorative action set forth below in this Resolution is necessary to abate the view impairment by creating view corridors and views through trees, that the restorative action will not adversely affect the environment, and that the action will not unreasonably detract from the enjoyment or privacy of the property at 33 Crest Road East. D. The City reviewed the proposed restorative action's environmental impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., "CEQA") and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines") and determined the proposed project to be exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15304 (Minor Alterations of Land) and Section 15061(b)(3) ("Common Sense Exemption") of the CEQA Guidelines. The project is exempt because only two trees will be removed; one is a dead eucalyptus (Tree 39) and the other is a live black pine (Tree 71). Neither tree is known to be located in an environmentally sensitive area. Section 15304 exempts minor alterations of land, but does not include removal of "healthy, mature, scenic trees" except for limited purposes not applicable here. This project does not involve removal of multiple "healthy, mature, scenic trees" because one of the two trees to be removed is dead; thus, the project falls within the categorical exemption. Additionally, no evidence was presented to the City during the site visits or through written or verbal testimony that Tree 71 serves as a habitat for wildlife species that cannot occupy the remaining approximately 120 trees on the property, which include several other pine trees. The remainder of the trees impacted by the project will experience crown reduction or lacing, but a substantial amount of their foliage will remain and no evidence was introduced to suggest that the crown reduction or lacing will cause an adverse environmental impact. Thus, it can be said with certainty that there will be no environmental impact from the proposed removal of one live tree and one dead tree. E. With the exception of Tree 39 and 71, this order provides for cleaning out, shaping up and trimming, lacing and reducing the height of the crowns of the trees rather than removing the trees. F. The Initial Restorative Action and Maintenance set forth in this resolution provides for the work to be done in winter months, per the recommendation of the selected Arborist and per International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards. G. As stated in Section 1 above, originally a joint complaint was filed against trees located on the property at 33 Crest Road East by Complainants from two separate properties. The City has adopted City Council Resolution No. 1167 on January 26, 2015, in which the City has ordered the Fournier's view restored by restorative action with respect to sixty-three (63) trees and the hedge located on the 33 Crest Road East property (the "common trees"). The common trees obstruct the Complaniants' view (as well as the Fournier's view). In addition to the common trees, the CTV has determined that an additional 14 trees affect the Complainants' view only (and such 14 trees are numbered 29, 32, 34-35, 90-91, and 93-100 on the Tree Survey.) The Complainants provided a Tree Survey of trees located at 33 Crest Road East, conducted by a Certified Surveyor, and the trees were identified by a Certified Arborist. The trees have been identified by numbers as Tree Number One through Tree Number 121, which includes the hedge, looking in a southwesterly and southeasterly direction from the perspective of the Fournier and Occhipinti properties. The tree survey plan is hereby attached as Exhibit B. Section 8. The Committee therefore orders the following restorative action pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.050 E. A. Pursuant to Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.060 A, within thirty (30) calendar days of adoption of this resolution, the Complainants are hereby required to obtain and present to the Owners of 33 Crest Road East, a minimum of three (3) bids from licensed qualified contractors for the performance of the initial restorative action set forth in this Resolution as well as a cash deposit CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 -2- in the amount of the lowest bid, sufficient to cover 50 percent of the Initial Restorative Action on the "common trees" (as contribution toward the deposit that the owners of 30 Crest Road East are required to provide pursuant to Section 10(E) of City Council Resolution No. 1167, adopted January 26, 2015) and to cover 100 percent of the Initial Restorative Action for the remaining 14 trees. In order to qualify, the contractors must provide insurance, which protects and indemnifies the City and the Complainants from damages attributable from negligence or wrongful performance of the work. Any such insurance shall be subject to the approval of the City. B. Pursuant to Section 17.26.060 B, the Owners of 33 Crest Road East may select any licensed and qualified contractor to perform the Initial Restorative Action (defined below) (as long as the insurance requirement of the above paragraph is satisfied), but shall pay for any cost above the amount of the cash deposit. The work for the Initial Restorative Action shall be completed no later than March 9, 2015 provided that a cash deposit in the full amount of the lowest bid for the initial restorative action has been received. C. Subsequent maintenance of the subject vegetation shall be performed at the cost and expense of the owners of 33 Crest Road East. All vegetation subject to the restorative action described in this Resolution and any future planting, including replacement trees, shall be maintained so that the view shown in the photograph to be taken by City staff or designee following the Initial Restorative Action, as detailed below, is preserved. The trees shall be maintained so as to not allow for future view impairments from the Designated Viewing Areas of 34 Crest Road East. Tree maintenance shall be done in the winter months (December — March) and shall be completed by March 9 of each year in which the work is to be done, as specified in paragraph F of this section of this Resolution. D. An informational covenant shall be recorded against the title of 33 Crest Road East and shall run with the land, thereby giving notice of this resolution to all future owners. E. Initial restorative action shall be limited to the 77 trees and a hedge as identified on the Tree Survey plan and the Initial Restorative Action described below. F. The initial restorative action ("Initial Restorative Action") shall consist of the following: Tree # Tree Type Action Maintenance 1 Eucalyptus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 2-3 Olive Tree Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 6 Eucalyptus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 7 Canary Island Pine Lace Every two years 8 Brazilian Pepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 9-16 Photinia Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 17 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 18 BrazilianPepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 19 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 20-23 Eucalyptus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 24-27 Eucalyptus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 30 Canary Island Pine Lace Every two years 31 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 33 Canary Island Pine Lace Every two years 39 Eucalyptus Remove 44 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years *51 Redwood Height reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 60-63 Canary Island Pine Lace Every two years 66-70 Melaleuca Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 -3- 71 Black Pine Remove, including stump & roots 72 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 73-78 Melaleuca Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 82-85 Melaleuca Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 86 Podocarpus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 101 Brazilian Pepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Annually 102 Olive Tree Maintain height to ridgeline of house Annually 103-110 Brazilian Pepper Maintain height at ridgeline of house Annually 111 Photinia (Hedge) Maintain height at ridgeline of house Annually 29 Eucalyptus Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 32 Brazilian Pepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 34-35 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 90 Pittosporum Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 91 Monterey Pine Cut the tree to 8' height from the base of the tree Every two years 93-94 Brazilian Pepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years 95-97 Eucalyptus Lace Every two years 98-100 Brazilian Pepper Crown reduction to ridgeline of house Every two years *Tree #51. The applicant shall provide a certificate from the surveyor stating that the entire tree trunk is located within the boundary of the Sherman Property. Otherwise no action shall be taken. G. The actions described above shall be accomplished per ISA industry standards and best arborist practices, and the following definitions shall apply: Crown Reduction: Height reduction to specified height by removing selective branches, deadwood, stems and foliage to reduce the height and spread of a tree. Lace: Thin out thick areas of the canopy to expose the structure of dominant branches, clean out the crown, shaping and balancing the tree. Ridaeline of house: The higher of the two ridgelines at 33 Crest Road East existing on the date of this Resolution, as perceived from the Designated Viewing Areas at 34 Crest Road East. Section 9. Upon conclusion of the Initial Restorative Action, the Complainant shall contact the City to schedule a site visit during which City staff shall visit 34 Crest Road East and take photograph(s) from the Designated Viewing Areas to be attached as Exhibit for the purposes of establishing the level of restorative action for future maintenance. Section 10. There shall be no restorative action required for the remainder of the trees on the property at 33 Crest Road East not listed in the Initial Restorative Action in this Resolution. However, trees on the property not included in this Resolution shall be maintained at current configuration and any new growth that extends into the views established by this Resolution shall be removed at the same time as the maintenance is conducted for the other trees, at the sole expense of the Owners of 33 Crest Road East. Section 11. The parties by mutual agreement, if they so desire, may modify the implementation action in this Resolution, as set forth in Rolling Hills Municipal Code Section 17.26.060 D. Any such mutual agreement shall be recorded. Section 14. In the event that any party requests inspection of implementation of CTV Resolution 2014-02 on grounds that the restorative action or maintenance is not compliant with this Resolution, the CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 -4- City may be required to incur substantial costs in investigating the complaint. Therefore, the City shall be entitled to recover its costs from a non-compliant party, for activities including, but not limited to, hiring independent consultants. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by Members of the Committee on Trees and Views this 28th day of January 2015. J V. Smith Chairperson ATTEST: Heidi Luce City Clerk CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 -5- STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS CITY OF ROLLING HILLS ) The foregoing CTV Resolution No. 2015-02 entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE ROLLING HILLS COMMITTEE ON TREES AND VIEWS DECLARING A SIGNIFICANT VIEW IMPAIRMENT TO 34 CREST ROAD EAST CAUSED BY SPECIFIC TREES LOCATED AT 33 CREST ROAD EAST AND SETTING FORTH RESTORATIVE ACTION TO ABATE THE IMPAIRMENT. was approved and adopted at a meeting of the Committee on Trees and Views on January 28, 2015, by the following roll call vote: AYES: Committee Member Mirsch and Chairperson Smith. NOES: Committee Member Gray. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. *Vd,w) Heidi Luce City Clerk This decision is final 20 days from its adoption unless appealed to the City Council pursuant to Chapter 17.54 of the Rolling Hills Municipal Code. 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