Loading...
6/4/1979MINUTES OF A JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION CITY OF ROLLING HILLS June 4, 1979. 229. A joint.meeting of the Rolling Hills City Council and Planning Commission was called to order by Mayor pro tempore'Crocker at the Administration Building, 2 Portuguese Bend Road, California at 7:30 PM Monday, June 4, 1979. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Councilmen Crocker, Heinsheimer, Pernel1, Rose Commissioners Field, Hanscom, Roberts, Watts Chairman Murdock ABSENT: Mayor Swanson William Kinley City Attorney ALSO PRESENT: Teena Clifton City Manager. June Cunningham Deputy City Clerk CO PROPOSED ZONE CHANGE, RAS -1 TO RAS -2 10 O Q Mayor Crocker opened discussion of a proposal to change the RAS -1 Q zone in Rolling Hills to RAS -2, and he asked Planning Commission Chair- man Murdock to speak to the Council on the study of the matter conducted by the Planning Commission and the hearings in connection with the pro- posal. Chairman Murdock said the study by the Planning Commission was based on density, roads and lot design, but residents who attended the public hearings indicated by their comments that they felt there was an attempt by the legislative bodies to manipulate the zoning, and in effect confiscate the property of residents in the one acre zone who appeared to have sufficient property to qualify for subdivision under existing. regulations. She said the greatest opposition was expressed by residents from the Eastfield area, but the feeling was shared by residents who were not directly affected by the proposed zone change, and who were -present at the meetings.because of other business before the Planning Commission. It was Chairman Murdock's recommendation that the City Council hold additional hearings in the matter, and make every attempt to publicize the hearings by written explanations, and possibly in neighborhood meetings. Commissioner Watts reviewed his notes of the hearings and the com- ments of residents who attended, and he agreed with Chairman Murdock that most of the residents who attended expressed their feeling that property owners should be permitted to make the best use of their land within the existing zoning, and they didn't wish to have the zoning made more restrictive. Commissioner Field said there were very few lots which could be subdivided if the existing regulations were applied, and although most of the objections were expressed by residents of East- field, there appeared to be more possibility of subdividing properties in the Saddleback area. Commissioner Hanscom said that although the public hearings were published as required, and were well publicized, there was little re- sponse from the residents,.except for the representation from the Eastfield area of the City. Commissioner Roberts said he was surprised by the number of lots.in the Southfield area which were statistically eligible for subdivision, and he said the topography in that area would not result in good lots. Commissioner Roberts said study of the matter presented a difficult job, and the Planning Commission put a lot of effort into it. Councilman Crocker asked whether the Planning Commission considered the matter a political question to be settled by the Council. Chairman Murdock said the consideration of whether the zoning should be changed was initiated by a request to the Council by the Board of Directors of the Rolling Hills Community Association, and was referred by the Council 230 June 4, 1979 to the Planning Commission for study and a recommendation. Chairman Murdock said that if the zoning was changed as a result of amendment of the deed restrictions by the Community Association, it would be a more expensive process, but the residents would have more control over the matter. Councilman Crocker commended the Planning Commission for their efforts and the time expended on field trips and public hearings, and he suggested that the Council could consider accepting the Commission's recommendation made attheir meeting on 11arch 20, 1979 that the current zoning in the City not be changed. As an alternative, Councilman Crocker said the Council could suspend further consideration until after the next Council election in 1980, or could exclude the Eastfield area from consideration of a zone change because of objections expressed by residents in that area. Councilman Crocker said he had looked at the lots owned by the residents who opposed the proposal, and he said post- poning any action at this.time would give those residents an opportunity to initiate subdivision procedures. The Manager said three of the.own- ers submitted subdivisions to the Board of Directors, and each of the proposed subdivisions was disapproved by the Board. -Councilman Crocker said the change from RAS -1 to RAS -2 in the Flying Triangle and the Johns Canyon areas was accomplished with the support of the residents in those areas. Councilman Rose said he had looked at the lots which qualify for subdivision because of sufficient acreage, and it was his opinion that with the exception of the Ripley property on Crest Road East, all the others would fail to qualify if other regulations were applied. Coun- cilman Heinsheimer said he did not consider it advisable to change the zoning, and he recommended that the Council take the Planning Commis- sion's recommendation and regulate subdivisions -through existing regu- lations. Councilman Pernell said the change in zone was considered as a method to relieve the pressure for subdivision from owners of marginal lots, and he agreed that existing regulations, if applied,.could control undesireable subdivision; if a lot has sufficient acreage and could be subdivided according to the existing requirements, that owner should not be denied that right. It was his opinion that complying with establishe regulations would be more effective than new legislation. Commissioner Watts said the Board of Directors originally requested the study, but as the Planning Commission proceeded with their investi- gation it became.apparent to him that regulations concerning lot cover- age, more stringent setback requirements and other regulations could control development as well as a change of zoning could. Councilman Crocker said the Council has the benefit of the Planning Commission's study and their discussion, and should decide whether to proceed further. Councilman Pernell said the matter is before the City Council, and information about the Council's consideration of the matter should be given to the Community. Chairman :Murdock suggested that ad- ditional information on the proposed zone change be sent to residents. Further, she said that when the zoning was changed in the Johns Canyon area and the Flying Triangle, the change was initiated by residents in those areas and was supported by them because the majority of the lots in those areas consisted of two or more acres; lots in the Eastfield area are mostly one acre or less. The Manager said that in reviewing the properties, members of the Planning Commission and the Council had mentioned the feasibility of subdividing the Ripley property, and she said that subdivision of the property would result in one flag lot. Mrs. Clifton said that in some cases where property owners were frustrated in their efforts to divide their land, properties were combined and new lots were created from the combination of two properties. Mrs. Clifton sal.d the Board of Directors of the Community Association denied six recent subdivisions presented to them, and the owners of those properties are required to wait for one year before submitting new subdivisions to the Board. Councilman Crocker said the matter would be considered at a public hearing scheduled by Mayor Swanson for June 11 at the regular Council meeting. S+B 227 June 4, 1979 FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENT 210 Chairman Murdock advised the Council that the Planning Commission had observed that the front yard setback requirements seem very minimal and they result in large homes being placed too close to the roadway. In order to attain greated privacy and better placement of houses on properties,-the,Commission recommended that the Council consider amend- ing the front yard setback requirements in the Zoning Ordinance. A proposed amendment which would require a front yard of not less than fifty feet was presented to the Council. Commissioner Hanscom said she objected to the lot design of the properties at the cul de sac in the Chacksfie.ld-Merit subdivision, and the engineer realignedthe lots and assured the Commission that there would be ample front yard setback to result in satisfactory placement of homes on the newly created lots. Councilman Crocker said that everyone seemed to agree with the recommendation, and the matter would be considered by the Council at their next meeting. co co BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FOR STAFF SUPPORT. 245 0 Chairman Murdock said she met with the City Manager to discuss the budgetary allocation for services of the Planning Advisor. Chairman Murdock saidshewished to retain the services of the Planning Advisor < to review plans, attend meetings and field trips, and she said -she would attempt to use his services during the hours closest to the regular meeting times to take advantage of the night rate for charges, since it is substantially lower than the day time charge. In discussing the review of plans, Chairman Murdock said she and the Manager determined that if submittal of plans was required no later than the last Monday of the month prior to the meeting at which the matter would be considered, rather than the first Monday of the month in which it would be considered Mr. Anderson would have sufficient time to review the plans prior to publication of legal notices as required. Councilman Crocker said the decision regarding scheduling the the Planning Advisor's services should be left with the Planning Commission Chairman. With regard to the services of the City Attorney, Councilman Crocker suggested that the Planning Commission Chairman determine when Mr. Kinley's presence is required at a meeting, and he should be excused from matters which do not actually require his presence. Chairman Mur- dock said that since Mr. Kinley bills at a flat charge for meetings he attends, she would decide whether or not he would be required to attend specific meetings, and if he came, she would expect him tostay for the entire meeting. Councilman Heinsheimer said he agreed that it is more satisfactory to pay the City Attorney by the meeting, rather than by the hour. Chairman Murdock said she would discuss with Mr. Kinley the feasi- bility of discussing Planning Commission matters with him by telephone, rather than require that he attend the meetings. PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE N0. 33 347 Copies of three proposed ordinances prepared by the City Attorney for amending!,the Zoning Ordinance with regard to approvalofGuest Houses, Servants' Quarters and Cabanas were distributed to members of the City Council and Planning Commission. .In discussing the proposed amendments, Commissioner Watts said d he s concerned that approving guest houses could result in creation of a lotential R-2 situation in the City. Councilman Pernell said a system for a renewable Conditional Use Permit could be considered as a means of enforcing restrictions against such a situation. Commissioner Ilan- scom said she considered the proposal that such quarters be located not more than twenty feet from the main building, and be attached by a * breezeway, too restrictive, since twenty feet is too close to the main house. Councilman Rose said both guests or servants and the family need privacy, and he agreed that separation would be desireable. Com- missioner Watts said that separation would increase the possibility of -3- June 4, 1979 R-2 situations. Councilman Rose said that a recent field trip to a property on which servants' quarters are being considered demonstrated that the hest location in that situation was away from the main house, attached to the existing garage, not to the residence. Chairman Murdock said an effort should be made to avoid penalizing people who have enough property -to build such quarters away from the main house. Commissioner Field said he agreed. Councilman Pernell said enforcement of the regu- lations Rgainst establishing two separate residences on a parcel is a problem, and he suggested that the burden be placed on the applicant, with a requirement that the resident certify to the usage of the building on a regular basis. Commissioner Roberts said restrictions on the use could stop the blatant R-2 violations which exist in some instances in the city. . Following the discussion members of the Council and the Planning Commission agreed that the proposed ordinances #1 and #3 should be eliminated from consideration, and proposal #2 should be considered. Councilman Heinsheimer said the proposed amendment should be considered as written and changes made if appropriate. Section 2, Paragraph 4 was discussed, and members of the Planning Commission were asked to review proposed ordinance #2, and advise the Council of their comments with regard to paragraphs (c) and (e) of Section 2, Paragraph 4. matter was orderod placed on the City Council's agenda for the next meeting on June 11. APPOINTMENT AS COUNTY SUPERVISOR 553 Councilman Mason Rose advised the Commission and Council that he intended to communicate to Governor Brown his desire to be considered a candidate for appointment as County Supervisor to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of James Hayes, and he asked for the Council's support. Councilman Pernell moved that the Council support Councilman Rose in his effort. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crocker avid carried by the following roll call vote: AYES; Councilmen Crocker, Heinsheimer, Pernell, Rose NOES: None ABSENT: Mayor Swanson PERSONNEL SESSION The Meeting was adjourned to a personnel session at 9:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT The Meeting was reconvened and adjourned by Mayor pro tempore Crocker. Gi Clerk APPROVED: