Planning commissioners acknowledge that staff may be overworked.
By Sylvie Belmond/Staff Writer
Planning commissioners have become increasingly frustrated with the planning staff’s lack of analysis on reports submitted to them, as evidenced at Monday night’s meeting.
Commissioners want staff to spend more time analyzing a project before they make recommendations, saying that reports are incomplete and then may recommend approval for projects that should not be approved.
Commissioners scolded staff members as they were confronted with a case that had to be denied because it violated city law.
“I have not seen a variance come to planning with as little justification as this one,” said Chair Ed Lipnick to the staff regarding the application that was in front of them.
The commissioners unanimously denied the request for a variance that would have allowed a homeowner to grade a hillside and make a temporary driveway permanent, even though the applicant already had an easement to his home from a different access way and the support of his neighbors.
The staff had recommended approval for the driveway, but the commissioners felt if they allowed this particular homeowner to build a new driveway, it would create a precedent and other homeowners in the neighborhood might ask for a private driveway later as well. This would generate a great deal of grading in the area.
“Do we rip a hillside for convenience?” asked Commissioner Andrew Stern, as he reviewed the case.
Commissioner Richard Carrigan concurred, saying he did not want to grant a special privilege to this homeowner. He pointed to the wisdom of the General Plan and Interim Zoning Ordinance, which prevented the commission from approving this request based on the law. Both the General Plan and IZO protect natural landforms from grading. Grading is allowed when there are not other options available.
This case should not have come to the commission, said Carrigan, as he also acknowledged that the planning staff is overworked.
“But results have been a bit disappointing,” he said.
In other matters, architect Michael Barsocchini introduced a model for a proposed 32-unit bed and breakfast lodge near Solstice Canyon and Pacific Coast Highway. The new Forge Lodge proposed by Luciana and Daniel Forge, the owners of the Beaurivage Restaurant, would be a much-needed visitor-serving amenity, said Barsocchini.
The lodge has been a long-sought project by the Forges, beginning in 1987. Then, it included shops as well as the bed and breakfast. It progressed through the planning process for two years before it was stalled by a recession and then the incorporation of Malibu. Now the bed and breakfast is back on the table awaiting review and approval.
Environmental impacts from the project are a concern to some environmental agencies, which want to be sure the project is compatible with planned reintroduction of steelhead trout to Solstice Creek.
To mitigate impacts, the project would dedicate a parcel for open space, create a trail to link Solstice Canyon Park to the ocean via passageway under Pacific Coast Highway and offer additional parking spaces to the canyon park as part of the deal.
A second workshop is scheduled for Nov. 19 when commissioners will review the Environmental Impact Report for the project.