CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1
MARCH 15, 2022
MINUTES
ADJOURNED CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 15, 2022
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
An adjourned meeting of the City Council of the City of Rolling Hills Estates was called to order at 12:18 p.m. on the Council Chambers Patio, 4045 Palos Verdes Drive North, by MAYOR ZERUNYAN.
2. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
Pledge of Allegiance led by MAYOR ZERUNYAN.
3. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan and Zuckerman City Council Members Absent: None
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Don Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Administrative Services Director Mike Whitehead
Community Development & PW Director David Wahba
Planning Manager Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Management Analyst Jessica Slawson
Associate Planner Dean Flores
4. PUBLIC COMMENT / PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
NONE.
5. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. DRAFT GENERAL PLAN 2040 WORKSHOP: DISCUSSION OF LAND USE
ELEMENT, MOBILITY ELEMENT AND HOUSING ELEMENT
MAYOR ZERUNYAN provided a brief introduction regarding the topics to be discussed during the workshop.
City Manager Grammer introduced consultants John Bellas and Surabhi Barbhaya of Michael Baker International, and traffic consultant John Muggeridge of Fehr and Peers.
Consultant Bellas explained that the purpose of the workshop was to discuss and seek consensus from the City Council on the following portions of the General Plan Update: Land Use Element, Mobility Element and Housing Element. He began by revisiting the Vision Statement at the beginning of the document, and presented the updated “Guiding Principles.”
Consultant Bellas noted that the focus of the meeting would be the changes made to the various Elements. He explained that the City has a good General Plan in place, and the goal is to update the Plan and adjust it to what is envisioned for the next 20 years.
Community Development and Public Works Director Wahba introduced and summarized the Land Use Element, including the purpose, goals, policies and implementation measures.
He introduced a discussion about the Academy Center Office Complex, noting that adding a “Mixed-Use Overlay” designation to “Commercial Office” was being considered, in an attempt to add more residential building opportunities.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN expressed his concern about current traffic at Academy Hill, stating that a queuing analysis was needed.
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Director Wahba noted that approximately 90% of the land area of the City in this General Plan Update remains unchanged.
Discussion ensued regarding the Academy Center Office Complex and the significant traffic concerns if the area were allowed to be built for residential, discretionary approval and future General Plan amendments.
It was the consensus of the Council to not change the designation of the Academy Center Office Complex.
Director Wahba then outlined the proposed designation of “Neighborhood Commercial” for the Sea Horse Riding Club property that would allow for “Mixed Use Overlay” at 22 units/acre. Discussion ensued about the definition of the “Neighborhood Commercial” designation, concerns about the perception of changing an equestrian facility in an equestrian community, and the existing nuisances of smell and dust from the stables that could negatively affect any future residential development.
It was the consensus of the Council to not change the designation of the Sea Horse Riding Club.
Director Wahba next outlined the proposed designation of “Neighborhood Commercial” for the Rolling Hills Business Park property that would allow for “Mixed Use Overlay” at 22 units/acre. Discussion ensued about the many positive aspects about this location for potential residential units.
It was the consensus of the Council to change the designation of Rolling Hills Business Park to “Neighborhood Commercial.”
Director Wahba next outlined the proposed designation of “Neighborhood Commercial” for Kelly’s Corner/General Store that would allow for “Mixed Use Overlay” at 22 units/acre.
Discussion ensued about the “Landmark Overlay Zone” designation and the protection of the General Store as a historical building if residential units were built adjacent to it on the property.
Consultant Bellas suggested adding into the Plan that any new buildings at this location would need to be designed and developed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic preservation.
It was the consensus of the Council to change the designation of the Kelly’s Corner/General Store property to “Neighborhood Commercial.”
Director Wahba next outlined opportunities for Workforce Housing on the following institutional properties: Dapplegray Elementary, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and Rolling Hills Covenant Church.
Discussion ensued about the process of establishing Workforce Housing on a property, affordability planning for first year teachers, and access to both school properties.
Discussion continued regarding the potential for the Rolling Hills Covenant Church property, and it’s parking challenges.
It was the consensus of the Council to limit Dapplegray Elementary and Palos Verdes Peninsula High School to Workforce Housing, and Rolling Hills Covenant Church to Workforce Housing and other types of affordable housing.
Planning Manager Naughton discussed the following for the Commercial District Mixed Use Overlay District in the Land Use / Mobility Element: Vision and guiding principles, market study – proforma analysis, parking study, RHNA requirements, General Plan Advisory Committee workshop and survey, recent developments, age of structures and use of vision plan as a guide.
Discussion ensued about the Vision Study map and the acres designated for the Peninsula Center, and the opportunities outlined envisioning what a build-out scenario might look like CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 3
MARCH 15, 2022
for the Commercial District. Planning Manager Naughton noted that incentives can be tailored specifically to the various community benefits from specific properties.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN noted an error on page 114 of Appendix A, which should be 30 units/acre, not 22 units/acre as listed.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN also noted on page 146 of Appendix A, the grand total does not include the commercial section value, which should be corrected.
Planning Manager Naughton summarized the proposed changes to the Commercial District Mixed Use Overlay District in the Land Use / Mobility Element.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN expressed concern about the green space designated in the Peninsula Center that would potentially replace vital parking spaces. Discussion ensued about the need for parking in the Peninsula Center versus the need for a safe gathering space. Consultant Bellas proposed the option of making a space in the Peninsula Center with permeable pavers that would be capable of having vehicles drive over or park on them during portions of the day, and can roped off for a farmers market or recreational activity.
It was the consensus of the Council to design and footnote this space as a flex space as discussed.
Discussion ensued about proposed changes to Bart Earle Way.
MAYOR ZERUNYAN called for a recess at 2:09 pm.
MAYOR ZERUNYAN reconvened the meeting at 2:25 pm.
Planning Manager Naughton summarized the Commercial District Vision Plan, and the proposed changes to Bart Earle Way that include incentivizing business owners by offering to give them more land in the hopes of bringing in more meaningful development.
Discussion ensued about the desire and various ways to make Bart Earle Way more pedestrian friendly, and the creation of a two-sided more walkable commercial area.
MAYOR ZERUNYAN suggested leaving the buildings on Bart Earle Way in their current locations, while creating a pedestrian walkway from Drybank Drive to Beechgate Drive.
Discussion ensued about reducing the width of Silver Spur Road and/or Bart Earle Way, and creating a promenade of outdoor dining.
It was the consensus of the Council to remove the current language in the proposed plan about vacating Bart Earle Way, and include language to make it a more pedestrian-friendly promenade area as an implementation measure as discussed.
Consultant Muggeridge discussed the capacity at the Silver Spur Road and Hawthorne Boulevard intersection.
Planning Manager Naughton introduced and summarized the Mobility Element, including the purpose, goals, policies and implementation measures.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZUCKERMAN expressed concern regarding the parking study and the suggestion of one parking space per unit rather than two.
Planning Manager Naughton introduced and summarized the Housing Element, including the purpose, goals, policies and implementation measures.
It was the consensus of the Council to change the overall increase from 22 dwelling units/acre to 30 dwelling units/acre in the Commercial District.
City Manager Grammer summarized the final steps for the General Plan Update, which include bringing the General Plan Update and Final EIR back to the City Council on April 26, 2022 for a noticed public hearing, for final adoption.
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6. ADJOURNMENT
At 3:24 pm MAYOR ZERUNYAN adjourned the meeting.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Frank V. Zerunyan
City Clerk Mayor