P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2007-

A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DENYING, WITHOUT PREJUDICE, A HEIGHT VARIATION, (CASE NO. ZON2007-00085) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 536 SQUARE FOOT SECOND-STORY ADDITION ABOVE THE EXISTING GARAGE, TO AN EXISTING 2,866 SQUARE FOOT, TWO-STORY RESIDENCE IN THE RS-4 ZONING DISTRICT, LOCATED AT 28445 LOMO DRIVE.

WHEREAS, on February 20, 2007, the property owner, Li-Te Chen, submitted an application for Planning Case No. ZON2007-00085 for a Height Variation to allow a second-story addition to the front of the existing two-story residence, above the existing single-story garage, on Lomo Drive. On March 5, 2007, Staff completed the initial review of the application, at which time the application was deemed incomplete due to missing information on the project plans; and,

WHEREAS, on May 12, 2007, the application for Planning Case No. ZON2007-00085 was deemed complete by Staff; and,

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code Sections 21000 et. seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et. seq., the City's Local CEQA Guidelines, and Government Code Section 65962.5(f) (Hazardous Waste and Substances Statement), Staff found no evidence that the approval of the requested Height Variation would have a significant effect on the environment and, therefore, the proposed project has been found to be categorically exempt (Section 15301(e)(2)); and,

WHEREAS, after notice issued pursuant to the requirements of the Rancho Palos Verdes Development Code, the Planning Commission held a duly-noticed public hearing on June 12, 2007, at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present evidence.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1: The proposed project will not be compatible with the character of the immediate neighborhood due to the resulting bulk and mass of the structure. No other two-story homes in the surrounding neighborhood have second-story addition above the garage. Further, by concentrating the a second-story addition over the entirety of the garage, the resulting product would appear to be too massive and bulky as seen from the public right-of-way.

Section 2: Any interested person aggrieved by this decision or by any portion of this decision may appeal to the City Council. Pursuant to Sections 17.02.040(C)(1)(g) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, any such appeal must be filed with the City, in writing, setting forth the grounds of the appeal and any specific actions requested by the appellant, and accompanied by the appropriate appeal fee, no later than fifteen (15) days following June 26, 2007, the date of the Planning Commission’s final action.

Section 5: For the foregoing reason and based on the information and findings included in the Staff Report, Minutes and other records of proceedings, the Planning Commission of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby denies without prejudice Case No. ZON2007-00085 for a Height Variation.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 12th day of June 2007, by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSTENTIONS:

ABSENT:

_______________________
Bill Gerstner
Chairman

_____________________________
Joel Rojas, AICP
Director of Planning, Building
and Code Enforcement; and,
Secretary to the Planning Commission