RESOLUTION NO. 2025-38
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AS PROVIDED FOR IN
DIVISION 9, CHAPTER 4, ARTICLE 1 OF THE TORRANCE
MUNICIPAL CODE, FOR THE DENIAL OF A VARIANCE
TO EXEMPT A PROPOSED NEW TWO-STORY, SINGLE
FAMILY RESIDENCE FROM ENFORCEMENT OF ARTICLE
41, CHAPTER 1, DIVISION 9, OF THE TORRANCE
MUNICIPAL CODE, HILLSIDE AND LOCAL COASTAL
OVERLAY ZONE, ON PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE
HILLSIDE OVERLAY IN THE R-1 ZONE AT 417 VIA ANITA
VAR22-00001: JEHAN MIR (RUKHSANA MIR)
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City pf Torrance conducted a duly noticed public hearing on May 15, 2024, to consider an application filed by Jehan Mir (Rukhsana Mir) for a Variance to exempt a proposed new two-story, single-family residence from enforcement of Article 41, Chapter 1, Division 9, of the Torrance Municipal Code, Hillside and Local Coastal Overlay Zone, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the R-1 Zone at 417 Via Anita; and WHEREAS, at the Planning Commission meeting of May 15, 2024, a motion for a recommendation to the City Council for denial of the Variance request passed by a vote of 5 in favor, 1 abstained, and 1 recused; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance conducted a duly noticed public hearing on June 17, 2025, to consider the application filed by Jehan Mir (Rukhsana Mir) for approval of a Variance to exempt a proposed new two-story, single-family residence from enforcement of Article 41, Chapter 1, Division 9, of the Torrance Municipal Code, Hillside and Local Coastal Overlay Zone, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the R-1 Zone at 417 Via Anita; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance by roll call vote 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 4, Article 1 of the Torrance Municipal Code; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby find and determine as follows:
a) That the property is located at 417 Via Anita;
b) That the property is described as Lot 154 of Tract 19306, as per map recorded in the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder, State of California; c) That projects which a public agency rejects or disapproves are Statutorily Exempt by the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Article 18, Section 15270 (Projects Which Are Disapproved);
1 d) That there are no practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships resulting from the strict enforcement of this Division, as the applicant has failed to point to any special circumstances of the property (such as size, shape, topography, location, or surroundings) that would justify exempting it from the Hillside Overlay process. The property exceeds the minimum lot area and minimum dimensions required in the R-1 Zone, is bounded by parcels that share the same zoning designation and Hillside Overlay, and share similar physical characteristics to surrounding properties in terms of size, shape, and topography.
Furthermore, the Hillside Overlay and its review process does not preclude the development of a two-story single-family residence, and recent changes in State law allow the property to be developed and improved with additional structures in the form of Accessory Dwelling Units, Two Unit Projects, and Urban Lot Splits; e) That granting the Variance will be materially detrimental to the public welfare or to the property of other persons located in the vicinity thereof because, without additional design review criteria and limitations established by the Hillside Overlay, a project on the property can potentially have significant adverse impacts to surrounding view, light, air, and privacy interests, as the property is situated in an area and manner that may create the potential for substantial adverse impacts to neighboring properties, for which the Hillside Overlay review process was purposefully considered and devised to allow for greater discretionary control over developments in the subject area;
f) That granting the Variance will substantially interfere with the orderly development of the City as provided for in the Official Land Use Plan, as doing so would create a singular scenario for the property that deviates from the neighborhood and surrounding area, which would be dissimilar, inconsistent, and not only incompatible, but contrary to the intent of the Hillside Overlay. Furthermore, under State law, any granting of a Variance "shall be subject to such conditions as will assure that the adjustment thereby authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privileges inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which such property is situated." Granting the Variance would constitute a grant of special privileges that is inconsistent with the limitations on other properties in the vicinity;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that VAR22-00001 filed by Jehan Mir (Rukhsana Mir) to exempt a proposed new two-story, single-family residence from enforcement of Article 41, Chapter 1, Division 9, of the Torrance Municipal Code, Hillside and Local Coastal Overlay Zone, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the R-1 Zone at 417 Via Anita, on file in the Community Development Department of the City of Torrance, is hereby DENIED.
INTRODUCED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this 17th day of June 2025 .
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
::~~
aiaY.Strad er, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST: a & Rebecca P , ity Clerk
2 TORRANCE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 2025-38
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
CITY OF TORRANCE
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I, 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 17th day of June 2025 by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN :
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
COUNCILMEMBERS
Date : {fJ /23/25
I I
Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, and Mayor Chen .
None.
None.
Sheikh . &
~;.Rebecca
City Cle r of the City of Torrance
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