City Planning Commission

Información en Español acerca de esta junta puede ser obtenida Ilamando al (213) 978-1300 LOS ANGELES CITY PLANNING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2015, after 8:30 a.m. VAN NUYS CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER, 2ND FLOOR 14410 SYLVAN STREET, VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA 91401 David H. Ambroz, President Michael J. LoGrande, Director Renee Dake Wilson, AIA, Vice President Lisa M. Webber, AICP, Deputy Director Robert L. Ahn, Commissioner Jan Zatorski, Deputy Director Caroline Choe, Commissioner Richard Katz, Commissioner John W. Mack, Commissioner Samantha Millman, Commissioner Dana Perlman, Commissioner Marta Segura, MPH, Commissioner James K. Williams, Commission Executive Assistant II POLICY FOR DESIGNATED PUBLIC HEARING ITEM Nos. 4. Pursuant to the Commission=s general operating procedures, the Commission at times must necessarily limit the speaking times of those presenting testimony on either side of an issue that is designated as a public hearing item. In all instances, however, equal time is allowed for presentation of pros and cons of matters to be acted upon. All requests to address the Commission on public hearing items must be submitted prior to the Commission=s consideration of the item. EVERY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER=S REQUEST FORM AND SUBMIT IT TO THE COMMISSION STAFF. Written submissions are governed by Rule 10 of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission Rules and Operating Procedures, a copy of which is posted online at http://cityplanning.lacity.org/Forms Procedures/CpcPolicy.pdf. Day of hearing submissions (20 copies must be provided) are limited to 2 pages plus accompanying photographs. Submissions that do not comply with these rules will be stamped “File Copy. Non-Complying Submission.” Non- complying submissions will be placed into the official case file, but they will not be delivered to or considered by the CPC, and will not be included in the official administrative record for the item at issue. The Commission may ADJOURN FOR LUNCH at approximately 12:00 Noon. Any cases not acted upon during the morning session will be considered after lunch. TIME SEGMENTS noted * herein are approximate. Some items may be delayed due to length of discussion of previous items. The Commission may RECONSIDER and alter its action taken on items listed herein at any time during this meeting or during the next regular meeting, in accordance with the Commission Policies and Procedures and provided that the Commission retains jurisdiction over the case. In the case of a Commission meeting cancellation, all items shall be continued to the next regular meeting date or beyond, as long as the continuance is within the legal time limits of the case or cases. Sign language, interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request no later than three working days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by calling the Commission Executive Assistant at (213) 978-1300 or by e-mail at CPC@lacity.org. If you challenge these agenda items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing agenized here, or in written correspondence on these matters delivered to this agency at or prior to the public hearing. If you seek judicial review of any decision of the City pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5, the petition for writ of mandate pursuant to that section must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which the City's decision became final pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6. There may be other time limits which also affect your ability to seek judicial review. AGENDAS are posted for public review in the Main Street lobby of City Hall East, 200 No. Main Street, Los Angeles, California, and are accessible through the Internet at www.planning.lacity.org. Click the Meetings and Hearings@ link. Commission meetings may be heard on Council Phone by dialing (213) 621-2489 or (818) 904-9450. GLOSSARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERMS: CEQA - Calif. Environmental Quality Act ND - Negative Declaration EIR - Environmental Impact Report MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration CE - Categorical Exemption 1. DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. Update on City Planning Commission Status Reports and Active Assignments 1. Ongoing Status Reports: Going Paperless update 2. City Council/PLUM Calendar and Actions 3. List of Pending Legislation (Ordinance Update) B. Legal actions and rulings update C. Other items of interest: 2. COMMISSION BUSINESS A. Advance Calendar B. Commission Requests C. Minutes of Meeting – August 13, 2015 3. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD The Commission shall provide an opportunity in open meetings for the public to address it, for a cumulative total of up to thirty (30) minutes, on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission. (This requirement is in addition to any other hearing required or imposed by law.) PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK MUST SUBMIT A SPEAKER=S REQUEST FORM. ALL REQUESTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON NON-PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC THAT ARE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMISSION MUST BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. Individual testimony within the public comment period shall be limited as follows: (a) For non-agendized matters, up to five (5) minutes per person and up to ten (10) minutes per subject. (b) For agendized matters, up to three (3) minutes per person and up to ten (10) minutes per subject. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THESE ITEMS WILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL SUCH TIME AS EACH ITEM IS CALLED FOR CONSIDERATION. The Chair of the Commission may allocate the number of speakers per subject, the time allotted each subject, and the time allotted each speaker. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 2 AUGUST 27, 2015 4. DIR-2014-2585-DB-1A Council District: 5 – Koretz CEQA: ENV-2014-2586-CE Expiration Date: 8-27-15 extended Plan Area: Wilshire Appeal Status: Not further appealable PUBLIC HEARING – Continued from May 28, 2015 Location: 1505 – 1513 S. HOLT AVENUE Proposed Project: Density Bonus Compliance for a project reserving at least 10 percent, that is, two dwelling units, of the 16 total “base” dwelling units permitted on the site for Very Low Income tenants/owners for a period of 55 years, for a project that proposes the construction of 21 total dwelling units, subject to the Conditions of Approval: a. Floor Area Ratio Increase. A 27.7 percent increase in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) from 3:1, or 27,000 square feet, to 3.83:1, or 34,459 square feet. b. Height. An increase in allowable maximum height from 45 feet to 56 feet. Applicant: Dan Daneshrad, Holt Place, LLC/Sam Ghanouni, SG Design Appellant: Anthony Paul Thien, et. al., abutting property owners Requested Actions: Appeal of the Director of Planning’s Approval of two on-menu Density Bonus Affordable Housing Incentives pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 12.22 A.25. Recommended Actions: 1. Deny the appeal of the approval of two on-menu Density Bonus Affordable Housing Incentives. 2. Sustain the Determination of the Director of Planning approving two on-menu Density Bonus Affordable Housing Incentives to allow the construction of 21 residential dwelling units. 3. Find that the project is categorically exempt. A Categorical Exemption, ENV-2014-2586-CE was filed with this case, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Section 15332 of the California Public Resources Code. Staff: Gabriela Juarez, (213) 978-1199 5. CPC-2015-393-GPA-ZC Council District: 2 – Krekorian CEQA: ENV-2015-394-MND Expiration Date: 8-27-15 extended Plan Area: Van Nuys-N. Sherman Oaks Appeal Status: ZC appealable by applicant only, if disapproved in whole or in part PUBLIC HEARING - Completed on April 24, 2015, continued from May 28, 2015 Location: 14305 SHERMAN WAY; 7223 TYRONE AVENUE Proposed Project: The construction of a new 38-unit apartment building, comprised of three levels of residential uses over one level of at-grade parking, with a maximum height of 45-feet, located on two lots totaling 35,129 square feet in area. The project will include 77 vehicle parking spaces and 42 bicycle parking spaces. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 3 AUGUST 27, 2015  Requested Actions: 1. Pursuant to Section 21082.1 of the California Public Resources Code, Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2015-394-MND for the above referenced project. 2. Pursuant to Section 11.5.6 of the Municipal Code, a General Plan Amendment from Low Residential to Medium Residential. 3. Pursuant to Section 12.32 of the Municipal Code, a Zone Change from R1-1 and R3-1 (One-Family Zone / Multiple-Dwelling Zone) to [T][Q]R3-1 (Multiple-Dwelling Zone). Applicant: Danny Kurian, Tyrone Villas at Van Nuys, LLC Representative: Eric Lieberman, QES, Inc. Recommended Actions: 1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration No.ENV-2015-394-MND. 2. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring Program for Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2015-394- MND. 3. Approve and recommend that the City Council approve a General Plan Amendment to the Van Nuys – North Sherman Oaks Community Plan from Low Residential to Medium Residential for the subject property. 4. Deny the request as filed for a Zone Change from R1-1 and R3-1 to [T][Q]R3-1. 5. Approve and recommend that the City Council approve a Zone Change from R1-1 and R3-1 to (T)(Q)R3-1 for the subject property, with the Conditions of Approval. 6. Adopt the Findings. 7. Advise the applicant that, pursuant to California State Public Resources Code Section 21081.6, the City shall monitor or require evidence that mitigation conditions are implemented and maintained throughout the life of the project and the City may require any necessary fees to cover the cost of such monitoring. Staff: Milena Zasadzien, (818) 374-5054 6. CPC-2014-4198-GPA-ZC-ZAA-SPR Council District: 12 – Englander CEQA: ENV-2014-4199-MND Expiration Date: 9-7-15 Plan Area: Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Appeal Status: Appealable to City Council, ZC appealable by applicant only, if disapproved in whole or in part PUBLIC HEARING – Completed on June 8, 2015 Location: 22001 W. NORDHOFF STREET Proposed Project: The proposed Project will consist of demolition of an existing church, nursery school and accessory buildings on a 198,633 square-foot lot and the construction of 58 single-family detached townhome condominiums that will be three-stories in height and include private patios and individual garages with two covered parking spaces for each unit. Unit sizes will vary from approximately 1,900 square feet to 2,200 square feet and will have three to four bedrooms. The maximum height of the townhome condominiums will be 37 feet and the maximum total floor area in the project will be 126,000 square feet. On-site guest parking will be provided in grouped locations through-out the project site at a minimum rate of 0.25 parking spaces per dwelling unit. The Project’s primary access will be provided from a vehicular entrance located toward the southeast comer of the Project site on Nordhoff Street. Secondary emergency gated access will be provided by an additional driveway located west of the main entrance on Nordhoff Street. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 4 AUGUST 27, 2015  Common open space areas will include an approximately 4,000 square feet located in the northern half of the Project that will include a “tot lot” and a centrally located approximately 4,230 square-foot open space area with various amenities, including active recreation areas, benches, barbeques and outdoor eating areas, and shade structures. Approximately 14,000 square feet of open space will also be maintained in the southwest comer of the site to provide a buffer to the LADWP-owned Chatsworth Reservoir/Nature Preserve property. A walkway of approximately 1/2 mile will line the perimeter of the Project site to provide pedestrian access to the units and open space and will also act as a recreational walking path. The Project will comply with the L.A. Green Building Code, including native and drought-tolerant trees and planting to reduce water usage for irrigation. The landscaping will include trees along the internal streets that will provide shade as well as a minimum of one landscaped "finger" for every four to five outdoor guest parking spaces to reduce the heat island effect. One existing protected Oak tree will remain on the Project site and is incorporated into one of the common open space areas. The Project’s applicant will offer a choice of three architectural styles comprised of Cape Cod, Craftsman, and Contemporary that will complement the variety of architectural styles in the surrounding community. Requested Actions: 1. Pursuant to Section 21082.1(c)(3) of the California Public Resources Code, adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2014-4199-MND for the above referenced project. 2. Pursuant to Section 11.5.6 of the Municipal Code, a General Plan Amendment to the Chatsworth- Porter Ranch Community Plan to change the land use designation of the lot from Very Low I Residential to Low Medium II Residential. 3. Pursuant to Section 12.32 of the Municipal Code, a Zone Change from A1-1 (Agricultural Zone) to RD2-1 (Restricted Density Multiple Dwelling Zone). 4. Pursuant to Section 12.28-A of the Municipal Code, an Adjustment to permit up to a twenty percent reduction in a yard and passageway requirements established in the Municipal Code for the RD2 zone. 5. Pursuant to Section16.05-C.1(b) of the Municipal Code, a Site Plan Review for a 58-unit residential development project. Applicant: Seth Boots, KB Home Recommended Actions: 1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2014-4199-MND for the above referenced project. 2. Adopt the Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2014- 4199-MND included in Exhibit C. 3. Disapprove a General Plan Amendment to the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan, as requested by the applicant, to change the land use designation of the lot from Very Low I Residential to Low Medium II Residential. 4. Approve and Recommend that the City Council adopt a General Plan Amendment to the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch Community Plan to change the land use designation of the lot from Very Low I Residential to Low Medium I Residential; 5. Disapprove a Zone Change, as requested by the applicant, from A1-1 (Agricultural Zone) to RD2-1 (Restricted Density Multiple Dwelling Zone) for the subject property. 6. Approve and recommend that the City Council Adopt a Zone Change from A1-1(Agricultural Zone) to (T)(Q)RD3-1 (Restricted Density Multiple Dwelling Zone) for the subject property, with the Conditions of Approval. 7. Approve the requested Site Plan Review for a residential development project of 50 units or more, subject to the Conditions of Approval. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 5 AUGUST 27, 2015  8. Receive and File the Adjustments to permit reductions in the rear yard requirements and the distance between the passage ways between detached condominiums pursuant to the applicant’s withdrawal request dated July 7, 2015. 9. Adopt the Findings, including the Environmental Findings. 10. Advise the applicant that, pursuant to California State Public Resources Code Section 21081.6, the City shall monitor or require evidence that mitigation conditions are implemented and maintained throughout the life of the Project and the City may require any necessary fees to cover the cost of such monitoring. 11. Advise the Applicant that pursuant to the State Fish and Wildlife Code Section 711.4, a Fish and Wildlife and/or Certificate of Game Exemption is now required to be submitted to the County Clerk prior to or concurrent with the Environmental Notice and Determination (NOD) filing. Staff: Thomas Glick, (818) 374-5062 The next scheduled regular meeting of the City Planning Commission will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2015 at: City Hall 200 N. SPRING STREET ROOM 350 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD ROOM, 3RD FLOOR LOS ANGELES, CA 90012 An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate. The meeting facility and its parking are wheelchair accessible. Translation services, sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services must be requested 72 hours prior to the meeting by calling the Planning Commission Secretariat at (213) 978-1300 or by email at CPC@lacity.org. CITY PLANNING COMMISSION 6 AUGUST 27, 2015