HomeMy WebLinkAbout20191205_PC_MinutesI.
II.
Ill.
NEWPORT BEACH PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS -100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019
REGULAR MEETING -6:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER -The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -Commissioner Ellmore
ROLL CALL
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Chair Peter Koetting, Vice Chair Erik Weigand, Secretary Lee Lowrey, Commissioner Curtis
Ellmore, Commissioner Lauren Kleiman, Commissioner Mark Rosene
Commissioner Sarah Klaustermeier
Staff Present: Community Development Director Seimone Jurjis, Deputy Community Development Director Jim
Campbell, Assistant City Attorney Yolanda Summerhill, City Traffic Engineer Tony Brine, Police Civilian
Investigator Wendy Joe, Assistant Planner David Lee, Assistant Planner Liz Westmoreland, Administrative
Support Specialist Clarivel Rodriguez, Administrative Support Technician Amanda Lee
IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
V. REQUEST FOR CONTINUANCES
None
VI. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS
ITEM NO.1 LIDO ISLE HEDGE HEIGHTS CODE AND LCP AMENDMENTS (PA2019-132)
Site Location: Lido Isle
Summary:
Amendments to Newport Beach Municipal Code (NBMC) Title 20 (Planning and Zoning) and NBMC Title
21 (Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan) to raise maximum hedge height limitations in front
setbacks abutting stradas on Lido Isle from 42 inches to 60 inches.
Recommended Action:
1. Receive public comments;
2. Find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section
21065 of CEQA and State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15050(c)(3), and 1537. The
proposed action is also exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it
has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment;
3. Adopt Resolution No. PC2019-035 recommending the City Council approve Code Amendment No.
CA2019-005; and,
4. Adopt Resolution No. PC2019-036 recommending the City Council authorize staff to submit Local
Coastal Program Amendment No. LC2019-002 to the California Coastal Commission.
Commissioners Rosene, Kleiman, Ellmore, Lowrey and Weigand disclosed no ex parte communications. Chair
Koetting disclosed his receipt of correspondence from a neighbor.
Assistant Planner David Lee reported Lido Isle Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) allow hedges to
reach a maximum height of 5 feet, but City regulations allow a maximum height of 3.5 feet. The Lido Isle
Community Association (LICA) has requested a Code amendment to increase the maximum hedge height for Lido
Isle to 5 feet when the hedge is located in the front setback abutting a strada only. The City Council approved
initiation of the subject Code amendment on September 10, 2019.
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Planning Commission Minutes
December 5 , 2019
Assistant Planner Lee stated that Lido Isle consists of primarily single-family residences and a handful of multi-unit
lots . Stradas, defined as public pedestrian walkways with no vehicular access , are located throughout Lido Isle .
Residents of Lido Isle commonly utilize the yard area abutting a strada as a backyard and allow hedges to grow
taller to provide more privacy for the yard. Lido Isle properties are subject to front setbacks of 10 feet along stradas ,
4 feet along streets, and 1.5 feet along side streets but no rear setbacks . In a traditional configuration , the
maximum allowed height for hedges and walls is usually greater in the required rear yards than in the front yard in
order to create more privacy. Lido Isle properties typically have a front yard abutting a strada and a second front
yard abutting a street. The maximum allowed height for hedges and walls in front yards is 3.5 feet. Thus , Lido
Isle residents have little private outdoor space . The proposed Code amendment increases the allowed height of
hedges located in front setbacks abutting Lido Isle stradas to 5 feet consistent with the CC&Rs .
In reply to Chair Koetting's inquiries, Assistant Planner Lee advised that residents have to trim an overgrown hedge
to a height of 5 feet. In 2001 , the Lido Isle Community Association increased the maximum hedge height from 30
inches to 60 inches. The City's maximum allowed hedge height has always been 42 inches or 3.5 feet. Deputy
Community Development Director Jim Campbell noted an increase in the maximum hedge height will not impact
any public views from any of the stradas . The Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan has to be amended to
allow a less restrictive requirement for hedge heights on Lido Isle .
Chair Koetting opened the public hearing .
Eric Henn, Lido Isle Community Association President , explained that front doors face the street on Lido Isle rather
than the strada because garages are located along the street. In 2001 , residents voted to increase the hedge
height to 5 feet to provide some privacy for homes' backyards .
Scott Souders supported the proposed amendment. His Lido Isle home has 5-foot hedges along the strada.
Without the hedges, a pedestrian can look into his home.
Chair Koetting closed the public hearing .
Motion made by Vice Chair Weigand and seconded by Commissioner Kleiman to adopt Resolution No .
PC2019-035 recommending the City Council approve Code Amendment No . CA2019-005 and Resolution No .
PC2019-036 recommending the City Council authorize staff to submit Local Coastal Program Amendment No.
LC2019-002 to the California Coastal Commission .
AYES : Koetting , Weigand , Lowrey , Ellmore, Kleiman, Rosene
NOES :
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: Klaustermeier
ITEM NO. 2 FUNKE VARIANCE (PA2018-042)
Site Location: 536 Hazel Drive
Summary:
A request to construct a 777 -square-foot addition to an existing 2 ,011-square-foot , single-family residence
to accommodate a Code-compliant two-car garage and additional second-floor living area . Specifically ,
the variance is requested to allow a portion of the proposed garage and new second-floor bedroom to
encroach 2 feet into the required 5-foot front setback along Hazel Drive.
Recommended Action:
1. Conduct a public hearing ;
2. Find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section
15301 under Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines , because it has no potential to have
a significant effect on the environment ; and
3. Adopt Resolution No . PC2019-037 approving Variance No . VA2018-002 .
Assistant Planner Liz Westmoreland reported the property is located north of East Coast Highway at the edge of
Corona del Mar. A portion of the property is located in Buck Gully. The house was built in the 1950s and has a
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