8K
Date: September 9, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director
By: Robert Garcia, Planning Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Development – Adopt a RESOLUTION for the Approval of a Modification (MOD23-00010) of a Previously Approved Division of Lot (DIV14-00006) to Amend an Open Space Easement (Note A) for Purposes Related to Solar Panels and Associated Equipment and Perimeter Fencing, on Property Located within the Hillside Overlay in the Open Area – Planting – Parking District (P-1) Zone at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway and Determine a Categorical Exemption in accordance with the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the City Council’s direction at their meeting date of August 19, 2025, it is the recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council:
1. Adopt a RESOLUTION for the approval of MOD23-00010 of previously approved DIV14-00006 to amend an open space easement (Note A) for purposes related to solar panels and associated equipment and perimeter fencing, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the P-1 Zone at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway; and
2. Determine a Categorical Exemption for approval of MOD23-00010 in accordance with the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Article 19, Section 15317 (Open Space Contracts and Easements).
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
On August 19, 2025, the City Council held a public hearing to consider the subject request. At that meeting, a presentation was made by staff, and oral comments were received from the project applicant and from members of the audience. After some deliberation by the City Council, a motion to uphold the appeal and for approval of MOD23-00010 with a condition for indemnification passed by a vote of 5 ayes and 2 noes.
Please find attached a resolution that reflects the action taken by City Council and that includes conditions of approval related to indemnification for the City and a covenant requirement to memorialize the amended open space easement.
1 City Council
September 9, 2025
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The project is Categorically Exempt by the 2025 Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Article 19, Section 15317 (Open Space Contracts and Easements).
ATTACHMENT
1. Resolution
2 RESOLUTION NO. 25-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AS PROVIDED FOR IN DIVISION 9,
CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE 28 AND DIVISION 9, CHAPTER 2,
ARTICLE 29 OF THE TORRANCE MUNICIPAL CODE, FOR THE
APPROVAL OF MODIFICATION (MOD23-00010) OF A
PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DIVISION OF LOT (DIV14-00006), ON
PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE HILLSIDE OVERLAY IN THE
OPEN AREA – PLANTING – PARKING DISTRICT (P-1) ZONE AT
2550 PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.
MOD23-00010: JWG CONSULTING (SAUNDERS PROPERTY COMPANY) WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of Torrance conducted a duly noticed public hearing on May 21, 2025 to consider an application filed by JWG Consulting (Saunders Property Company) for the consideration of MOD23-00010 for previously approved DIV14-00006 to amend an open space easement (Note A) for purposes related to ground-mounted solar panels and associated equipment and perimeter fencing, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the P-1 Zone at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway; and
WHEREAS, at the Planning Commission meeting of May 21, 2025, a motion for denial of MOD23-00010 passed by a vote of 5 ayes and 2 noes; and
WHEREAS, an appeal to the City Council was filed on June 4, 2025; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Torrance conducted a duly noticed public hearing on August 19, 2025 to consider an application filed by JWG Consulting (Saunders Property Company) for the consideration of MOD23-00010 for previously approved DIV14-00006 to amend an open space easement (Note A) for purposes related to ground-mounted solar panels and associated equipment and perimeter fencing, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the P-1 Zone at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway; and
WHEREAS, at the City Council meeting of August 19, 2025, a motion to uphold the appeal and for approval of MOD23-00010 passed by a vote of 5 ayes and 2 noes; 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 2, Article 28 and Division 9, Chapter 2, Article 29 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 project site is located on undeveloped land atop a slope and north of Alta Loma Park (public park) at the southern portion of Skyline Mobile Home Park at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway;
b) That the project site is described as “BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PORTION OF LOTS 2 AND 4 OF TRACT NO. 9765, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 170, PAGES 10 THROUGH 12, INCLUSIVE OF MAPS AND PORTION OF LOTS 140, 141, 142, 153, AND 154 OF TRACT NO. 15, AS PER RECORDED IN BOOK 12, PAGE 189 OF MAPS” in the Office of the Los Angeles County Recorder, State of California;
3 ATTACHMENT 1
c) That the project is consistent with the Public/Quasi-Public/Open Space (PUB) land use designation of the General Plan and the Open Area – Planting – Parking District (P-1) zoning designation;
d) That the site is physically suitable for the project and will not interfere with the orderly development of the City as provided for in the Official Land Use Plan; and e) That the project will not produce any or all of the following results:
Damage or nuisance from noise, smoke, odor, dust or vibration, Hazard from explosion, contamination or fire,
Hazard occasioned by unusual volume or character of traffic or the congregating of large numbers of people or vehicles;
f) That the project is Categorically Exempt by the 2025 Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Article 19, Section 15317 (Open Space Contracts and Easements);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that MOD23-00010 filed by JWG Consulting (Saunders Property Company) for the consideration of Modification of a previously approved DIV14-00006 to amend an open space easement (Note A) for purposes related to ground-mounted solar panels and associated equipment and perimeter fencing, on property located within the Hillside Overlay in the P-1 Zone at 2550 Pacific Coast Highway, on file in the Community Development Department of the City of Torrance, is hereby APPROVED subject to the following conditions:
1. That use of the subject property shall be subject to all conditions imposed in Modification 23- 00010; and any amendments thereto or modifications thereof as may be approved from time to time pursuant to Section 92.28.1 et seq. of the Torrance Municipal Code on file in the office of the Community Development Director of the City of Torrance; and further, that the said use shall be established or constructed and shall be maintained in conformance with such maps, plans, specifications, drawings, applications or other documents presented by the applicant to the Community Development Department and upon which the City Council relied in granting approval;
2. That the applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Torrance and its agents, officers, and employees from and against any claim, action, or proceeding against the City agency or its agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void, or annul an approval by the City, including, without limitation, an action by an advisory commission, appeal board, or legislative body concerning this discretionary approval. This defense and indemnification shall include the payment of all legal costs incurred on behalf of the City in connection with the application, and the defense of any claim, action or proceeding challenging the approval of the application or the project. The City will promptly notify the applicant of any claim, action, or proceeding and agrees to cooperate to the extent required for an effective defense. In the event a legal challenge to the discretionary approval is successful, and an award of attorney fees is made to the challenger, the applicant shall be responsible to pay the full amount of such an award; and
3. That the applicant shall record, to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director, a covenant memorializing the amended open space easement. Said covenant shall confirm the continuation of the open space easement and expressly allow the installation, operation, and maintenance of solar panels and related equipment and the installation of protective fencing within the easement area, provided such improvements remain consistent with the intent of the easement and applicable City standards. Proof of recordation shall be submitted to the Community Development Department.
4 INTRODUCED and ADOPTED at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Torrance held on the 9th day of September 2025.
_______________________________
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Patrick Q. Sullivan, City Attorney ATTEST:
________________________________ _______________________________ Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk 5