CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 1
JANUARY 23, 2024
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 23, 2024
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
MAYOR SCHMITZ called the meeting to order at 5:41 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
City Council Members Present: Brown Schachter, Huff, Schmitz, Stegura, Zerunyan City Council Members Absent: None
City Staff Present: City Manager Greg Grammer
City Attorney Donald Davis
Assistant City Manager Alexa Davis
Public Works Director David Wahba
Community Development Director Jeannie Naughton
City Clerk Lauren Pettit
Senior Planner Whitney Berry
Management Analyst Jessica Slawson
3. NEW BUSINESS
A. “FIRST LOOK” MEETING TO CONSIDER DEVELOPMENT AT 655-815 DEEP VALLEY DRIVE AND 924-950 INDIAN PEAK ROAD
Senior Planner Whitney Berry provided a staff report (per the agenda materials), outlining the purpose of the “first look” meeting and explaining that no formal application for the proposed development had been submitted to the City. She provided an overview of the project site and the proposal and then introduced the project applicant.
Project applicant, Attorney Dave Rand on behalf of Rolling Hills Capital, LLC introduced the project, and welcomed Daniel Taban with Rolling Hills Capital, LLC, who shared the preliminary design for the Brickwalk site. He then introduced Architect Matthew Cobo with AC Martin, an architectural design firm, who outlined the site location, site history, master planning approach, project summary and design concept.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCHACHTER expressed concern about traffic on Deep Valley Drive.
The consultants confirmed a traffic consultant would be part of the CEQA analysis.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN expressed concern that the design does not look like Rolling Hills Estates, and emphasized the importance of considering infrastructure concerns such as electricity, water, broadband, and ingress/egress. He noted that the community is extremely concerned regarding landslide potential following Peartree Lane land movement, and that safety of the community is of the upmost concern to this Council. The applicant noted that it will be the responsibility of the developer to make the improvements needed to accommodate the proposed development.
COUNCIL MEMBER HUFF inquired about the possibility of an additional road to help with ingress and egress. The applicant noted that a civil engineer would look into all possible options, including a pedestrian connection between the upper and lower portions of the site.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA concurred with many of COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN’s concerns, specifically ingress/egress since the area is considered a “very high fire risk area.” She also expressed concern about what the environmental reports will say about the geology of the build site.
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA asked the developers if they have contacted the business owners that currently exist on the proposed sites. Mr. Taban stated that they intend to honor short-term leases, plan to have conversations with existing tenants, and will look into relocating interested business owners into new spaces.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 2
JANUARY 23, 2024
MAYOR PRO TEM STEGURA inquired if the developer would consider expanding the retail space. Mr. Taban stated they are open to altering that provision of the project to add more retail or live-work units along the street frontage, but expressed concern about the ability to fill the retail space.
MAYOR SCHMITZ echoed the concerns of her fellow Council Members, with her biggest concerns being safety, fire safety, water, ingress/egress. She noted she appreciates this first look opportunity to receive comments and feedback before an application is submitted.
COUNCIL MEMBER ZERUNYAN emphasized the importance of engaging the community, especially related to the retail space. He acknowledged that the meeting was the beginning of the conversation and expressed his appreciation to the applicant for being present at the meeting.
Public comment was received by the following members of the community who expressed concern about the project: Joan Davidson, Janina Stiebel, Kaya Shimizu, Lacy Geisel, Atis Karai, Steve Zuckerman, Ellen Orenstein, unnamed Palos Verdes Estates resident, Lily Chen, unnamed retail owner, and Angela Teymouri.
Attorney Dave Rand responded to the community’s questions and concerns, noting that this project meets the requirements of the City’s Housing Element, and that the 407 proposed units is less than what the State law would allow for this site. He emphasized that they will study everything discussed tonight, and will have many more community meetings in an attempt to balance all aspects and needs of the project and community.
MAYOR SCHMITZ reiterated that this was the very first meeting/discussion for this project and that an application for the project has not yet been received by the City.
4. CLOSED SESSION
A. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION Government Section 54956.9(d)(2)
Significant exposure to litigation: one case
NO REPORTABLE ACTION.
5. ADJOURNMENT
At 6:55 p.m. MAYOR SCHMITZ adjourned the City Council meeting to the regular City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Submitted by, Approved by,
Lauren Pettit Velveth Schmitz
City Clerk Mayor