RESOLUTION NO. 2022.27
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF TORRANCE,
CAL¡FORNIA, UPHOLD¡NG AN APPEAL AND DENY¡NG
A MINOR HILLSIDE EXEMPTION AS PROVIDED FOR IN
DIVISION 9, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 41 OF THE
TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW A NEW
SURFACE GRADE TENNIS COURT, VIA A SERIES OF
RETAINING WALLS, ON PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN
THE HILLSIDE OVERLAY DISTRICT IN THE R.1 ZONE AT
23719 SUSANA AVENUE
MHE2l -00043: OBELISK ARCHITECTS (IGOR NASTASKIN)
WHEREAS, the Community Development Director of the City of Torrance approved a Minor Hillside Exemption on July 29,2021 to allow a new surface grade tennis court, via a series of retaining walls, in conjunction with a Fence Height Exception to allow an 8-foot tall fence around the perimeter of said tennis court, on property located within the Hillside Overlay District in the R-1 Zone al.23719 Susana Avenue; and
WHEREAS, an appeal to the Planning Commission was filed on August 11,2Q21; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Torrance conducted a public hearing on November 3,2021, to consider an appeal of a Community Development Director approval of a Minor Hillside Exemption filed by Obelisk Architects (lgor Nastaskin) to allow a new surface grade tennis court, via a series of retaining walls, on property located within the Hillside Overlay District in the R-1 Zone aL23719 Susana Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Torrance at its meeting of November 3, 2021, made a motion to uphold the appeal and deny the project, but the motion failed by a tie vote of 2-2 (with two Commissioners recused and one Commissioner absent), resulting in a de facto denial of the appeal and upholding the Community Development Director's approval of the Minor Hillside Exemption, as conditioned; and
WHEREAS, an appeal to the City Council was filed on November 17,2021; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance conducted a public hearing on February 15, 2022, to consider an appeal of a Planning Commission action upholding the Community Development Director's approval of a Minor Hillside Exemption to allow a new surface grade tennis court, via a series of retaining walls, in conjunction with a Fence Height Exception to allow an 8ft tall fence around the perimeter of said tennis court, on property located within the Hillside Overlay District in the R-1 Zone a|23719 Susana Avenue; and WHEREAS, on February 15, 2022, the City Council of the City of Torrance by roll call vote upheld the appeal and denied the subject request; and
WHEREAS, due and legal publication of notice was given to owners of property in the vicinity thereof and due and legal hearings have been held, all in accordance with the provisions of Division 9, Chapter 1, Article 41 of the Torrance Municipal Code; and 1 WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby find and determine as follows:
a) That the property is located aL23719 Susana Avenue;
b) That the property is described as Lot 174 of Tract 1 8249 as per map recorded in the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder, State of California;
c) That accessory structures are Categorically Exempted by the Guidelines for lmplementation of the California Environmental Quality Act; Article 19, Section 15303; d) That the City Council has determined that the proposed project will have an adverse effect on other properties in the vicinity, necessitating Planning and Design findings, #e-#j, for the subject project;
e) That the proposed tennis court, retaining walls, and over-height fence may have an adverse impact upon the view, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity because the tennis couft level and placement can impact privacy;
f) That the project has not been located, planned and designed so as to cause the least intrusion on the views, light, air and privacy of other properties in the vicinity because the tennis court level and placement can impact privacy;
g) That the design does not provide an orderly and attractive development in harmony with other properties in the vicinity because there are no other full-sized tennis courts via series of retaining walls in the area;
h) That the design will have a harmful impact upon the land values and investment of other properties in the vicinity because the project is not in character with nearby residences; and i) That granting such application would be materially detrimental to the public welfare and to other properties in the vicinity because the project is not in character with nearby residences and has the potential to create nuisances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE ¡T RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE C¡TY OF TORRANCE HEREBY DENIED MHE21-00043, filed by Obelisk Architects (lgor Nastaskin) to allow a new surface grade tennis court, via a series of retaining walls, on property located within the Hillside Overlay District in the R-1 Zone a|23719 Susana Avenue.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 1Sth day of March 2022.
Ma yor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
atia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney Poirier, MMC, City Clerk 2 TORRANCE CITY COUNCI RESOLUTION NO. 2022.27
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF TORRANCE
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l, Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk of the City of Torrance, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly introduced, approved, and adopted by the City Council of the City of Torrance at a regular meeting of said Council held on the 15th day of March, 2022 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
Chen, Griffiths, Kalani, Mattucci, Walser, and Mayor Furey.
None.
Ashcraft.
None.
dTtlzr Re , MMC
Date City Clerk of the City of Torrance
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