9A
Date: March 24, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director
By: Leo Oorts, Senior Planner | [email protected]
Subject:
DISCUSSION
Please find attached correspondence related to Item 9A that was received after preparation of the staff report and posting of the meeting agenda.
1. Correspondence
ATTACHMENT
Community Development – Supplemental Material #1 for Item 9A 1 Shuji & Lori Yamada, 5608 White Ct,
City of Torrance Recommendation Minor
Hillside Exemption, MHE24-00037
Attachemnt
1 :
City of T
o
rra
nce
Community Development Department
email to uph
old appeal
and to
approve
the Minor Hillside Exemption for the as
-
built
deck
.
Attachemnt
2 :
Photo
documentation
of
as built
deck
construction
.
2 ATTACHMENT 1
5608 White Ct, City of T
orrance Recommendation Minor Hillside Exemption, MHE24-00037 From: Oorts, Leo <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Subject: RE: 5608 White Ct, City of Torrance Recommendation Minor Hillside Exemption, MHE24-00037 To: Shuji Mitchell Yamada
Cc: MG Construction , Shuji & Lori Yamada , Lori Yamada Hi Shuji and Lori,
As discussed, during a site visit performed on August 7, 2025, I observed the as-built deck does not have the potential to cause a significant adverse impact to privacy for the residential properties located below along Wayne Avenue due to the existing hillside topography as well as the design of the as-built deck that matches the floor level of the residence and does not extend significantly above nor beyond the top edge of the hillside. Unfortunately, former staff did not complete a site visit at your residence, which would have made this observation. Therefore, I will be preparing a recommendation to City Council to uphold the appeal and to the approve the Minor Hillside Exemption for the as-built deck.
The appeal hearing is tentatively scheduled for City Council on Tuesday, March 24. City Council meetings are held at 6:30pm in the Council Chambers located at 3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503. It is the same location where the Planning Commission meeting was held. For reference, provided is a hyperlink to the Civic Center Map.
Please expect to receive a follow up email in late February to confirm the hearing date and to answer any questions that you may have. As always, I can be reached by email or telephone directly at (310) 618-5925.
LEO OORTS
Senior Planner - Community Development Department
310-618-5925 | [email protected]
TorranceCA.Gov |
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This email, and any attachments to it, may contain confidential information and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient, or believe that you may have received this email in error, please notify the sender and delete this email and any attachments.
Any review, reliance, disclosure, copying, storing, distribution, forwarding without express permission, or use of the contents of the information received in error is strictly prohibited. 3 Photo 1A: 5608 White Ct before remodel.
4 Photo 1B: 5608 White Ct after remodel before deck construction.
5 Photo 1C: 5608 White Ct during deck construction.
6 Photo 1D: 5608 White Ct after deck construction. Note: appealing 10’ setback from blue line toward the rear property line.
7 Photo 2A: 5608 White Ct before remodel.
8 Photo 2B: 5608 White Ct during deck construction. Note: ground is level beyond cinder block wall to property line.
9 Photo 2C: 5608 White Ct after deck construction. Note: appealing 10’ setback from blue line toward the property line.
10 Photo 3A: 5608 White Ct before deck construction. Note: area greater than 10’ and not part of 10’ setback.
11 Photo 3B: 5608 White Ct during deck construction. Note: area greater than 10’ and not part of 10’ setback.
12 Photo 3C: 5608 White Ct before deck construction. Note: area greater than 10’ and not part of 10’ setback.
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