Green Hills Memorial Park Master Plan

City Council Appeal Hearing

On June 26, 2018, the Planning Commission adopted P.C. Resolution Number 2018-21, denying the appeal and upholding the Director's decision approving a Grading Permit to allow 424yd³ of balanced grading to accommodate the installation of vaults associated with earth interments, 3 feet tall walls, and benches in the unimproved portions of Alta Vista Gardens (Area 2). A timely appeal has been filed, requesting that the City Council overturn the Planning Commission's decision.

Resolution Number 2018-55 

View the C.C. Staff Report (scroll down to Public Hearing Item Number 1)

View the Public Notices for the August 8th City Council meeting

Appeal Letter to the City Council (PDF) 

Notice of Decision and P.C. Resolution Number 2018-21 (PDF)

P.C. Staff Report (scroll down to Item Number 2)

Public Notice for the June 26th Planning Commission meeting (PDF) 

Appeal Letter to the Planning Commission (PDF) 

Notice of Decision and Staff Report (PDF) 

Approved Plans (PDF)

City Council Approves the 2017 Annual Compliance Review

On February 6, 2018, the City Council approved the 2017 annual review of the Applicant's compliance with all of the Conditions of Approval associated with the Master Plan.

Resolution Number 2018-07 (PDF) 

View the Staff Report (scroll down to Public Hearing Item Number 2)

City Council denies an appeal and upholds the Planning Commission's decision to allow improvements at Arroyo Vista (vacant area behind the Administration Building)

On January 16, 2018, the City Council adopted Resolution Number 2018-03, denying an appeal and upholding the Planning Commission's approval of a Major Grading Permit, allowing Green Hills to conduct 41,200yd³ of balanced grading to accommodate the installation of vaults associated with earth interments, 3 feet tall walls, and water features in the unimproved portions of Arroyo Vista (Area 5 of the City Council-Approved Master Plan) at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Resolution Number 2018-03 (coming soon)

View the City Council Staff Report (Public Hearing Item Number 1)

Appeal Letter to the City Council (PDF) 

View the Notice of Decision and P.C. Resolution Number 2017-44 (PDF) 

View the Planning Commission Staff Report (scroll down to item Number 12)

View the Public Notice for the Appeal Hearing with the Planning Commission (PDF) 

View the Appeal Letter to the Planning Commission (PDF)

View the Director's Notice of Decision and Approved Staff Report (PDF)

View the Director-Approved Plans (PDF)

The Director approved the following:

1) Construction of a 12 feet tall, 119.5 feet ² addition at the center of the existing Administration Building to accommodate a new bathroom.

• View the Notice of Decision and Staff Report (PDF) 
• View the Approved Plans (PDF)

2) Expansion of the existing information booth at the entrance from 72.5 feet² to 123.25 feet² in size (50.75 feet² increase) and increase the structure height from 9.5 feet to 11 feet (1.5 feet increase).

• View the Notice of Decision and Staff Report (PDF)
• View the Approved Plans (PDF)

Director Approves 6 FeetTall Gravestone Monuments

On April 11, 2017, the Director of Community Development approved a request to allow the installation of up to 1,571 upright custom gravestones throughout internal boundary limits of the cemetery, except St. Peter's Church yard and portions of Arroyo Vista, at a maximum height of the existing adjacent walls/hedges or 6 feet, whichever is lower, within existing private garden or family estates areas, and up to 6 feet in height within the St. Peter's Church yard.

Notice of Decision (PDF) 

Staff Report (PDF) 

Public Notice (PDF) 

Director-Approved Plans (PDF) 

Planning Commission Denies the Appeal and Upholds the Director's Decision

The Planning Commission considered an appeal to overturn the Director's decision to conditionally approve a Site Plan Review application to allow the construction of a combination wall up to 14.9 feet in height to accommodate additional niche and earth interments in the eastern edge of Vista Del Ponte; a water feature, additional earth interments supported by a 14.9 feet tall combination wall and a stairway that will provide access to the upper existing burial area of Vista Del Ponte and Inspiration Slope; and 793 cubic yards of grading to support the proposed improvements. The Commission denied the appeal and upheld the Director's Decision. 

• Commission-Approved Plans (PDF) 
• Notice of Decision (PDF) 
• View the March 28, 2017 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 3) 
• View the January 24, 2017 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 5) 
• View the November 29, 2016 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 6) 
• Public Notice (PDF)
• Appeal (PDF) 
• Notice of Decision (PDF)
• Staff Report (PDF)
• Director-Approved Plans (PDF)

Annual Review - January 31, 2017

On January 31, 2017, the City Council adopted Resolution 2017-03, thereby approving revisions to the conditions of approval as part of the Annual Review for the Green Hills Memorial Park Master Plan Conditional Use Permit.

View the Council-Approved Conditions of Approval (PDF) (Resolution Number 2017-03) 

Staff Report 

Public Correspondence (Attachment D) (PDF)

View the City Attorney's Response Letter to Noel's Weiss' email (PDF) dated December 16, 2016

September 20, 2016 City Council Meeting
On September 20, 2016, the City Council received and filed a report on the City Attorney's determination regarding a requested Administrative Interpretation Procedure relating to vault storage and rooftop burials at the Inspiration Slope Mausoleum.

View the Staff Report (Scroll Down to Consent Calendar Item E)

August 2, 2016 City Council Meeting

On August 2nd, the City Council received and filed a report addressing the following concerns raised by the public at the previous meeting on July 19th: on-site security; adverse impacts resulting from a recent burial service; and mold and odor observed at the back of the Pacific Terrace Memorial Mausoleum (facing the Vista Verde Condominiums) at Green Hills Memorial Park.

Staff Report (scroll down to Consent Calendar Item R)

Green Hills may Bury Vaults on the Rooftop of the Inspiration Slope Mausoleum Building

On July 19, 2016, the City Council received and filed a report related to Waiver of Claims executed by the City and Green Hills Cemetery. With this waiver, Green Hills may now bury the concrete vaults on the rooftop of Inspiration Slope Mausoleum. However, Green Hills may not perform rooftop burials without first obtaining approval from the City through a public hearing process.

• City Council Staff Report (PDF)
• Executed Waiver of Claims (PDF)

City Council Receives and Files a Report

On May 17, 2016, the City Council received and filed a report on setbacks for niches and vaults inside the Pacific Terrace/Memorial Terrace Mausoleum.

• Staff Report (scroll down to item J)

City Council Receives and Files a Report

On April 5, 2016, the City Council received and filed a report on the City's process for future new mausoleum and rooftop burial requests.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (scroll down to item M)

City Council Receives and Files a Report

On March 15, 2016, the City Council received and filed an update on the following matters: setbacks of ground burial plots from the north property line, Inspiration Slope Mausoleum building height, and grades in Areas 5 and 6.

• Minutes
• Staff Report (scroll down to item P)

Earth Interments Approved Around Inspiration Slope Mausoleum Building

Green Hills submitted plans requesting ground burials around the Inspiration Slope Mausoleum building. No rooftop burial plots are proposed on the Inspiration Slope Mausoleum building at this time. Planning Division found these plans to be in substantial compliance with the Master Plan and consistent with the grades shown in the 2013 approved plans, and therefore, administratively approved the ground burials in this area.

• Approved Plan (stamped hard copy available at City Hall) (PDF)

Retaining Wall Approved at Inspiration Slope

On March 1, 2016, the Planning Division granted approval for a retaining wall that contains niches for cremated remains around the northwest corner of the Inspiration Slope Mausoleum building that's currently under construction. The retaining wall will average 8 feet in height with guardrails and pilasters on top, shaped as an upside-down "L" that wraps around the northwest corner of the building. The retaining wall will be below existing grade with the guardrails/pilasters visible above grade. As part of this approval, the grades will be re-contoured around the retaining wall, then continue to blend in with the existing grades beyond. The existing stockpile spread across further west of the building will be used as fill and any remaining material will be moved to Areas 5 and 6 (southwesterly area) of the property.

• Approved Plans (stamped hard copy available at City Hall) (PDF)

City Council Approves Compliance Review for Green Hills Memorial Park with Modifications, allowing Pacific Memorial Terrace Mausoleum to Remain and Amending the Master Plan
On November 17, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2015-102, upholding in part and modifying in part the Planning Commission's decision approving the compliance review for the Green Hills Cemetery and allowing Pacific Memorial Terrace Mausoleum (Area 11 of the Master Plan) to continue in accordance with its 2007 approvals and amending the Master Plan.

• Minutes
• City Council Resolution Number 2015-102 (PDF)
• Staff Report & Attachments (scroll down to Public Hearing Item Number 1)

Appeal Hearing of the Planning Commission's November 11, 2014 Decision as a Result of an Operational Review

On September 1, 2015, the City Council took the following actions: 1) Uphold the Planning Commission's decision requiring the submission of a variance application by Green Hills to seek approval of the existing Pacific Terrace Mausoleum.

2) Uphold the Planning Commission's decision to require the submission of a variance application by Green Hills to allow 13 existing below ground interments and 6 additional below ground companion interments in the northwest corner of the Green Hills Cemetery.

3) Partially grant the Green Hills appeal by revising certain conditions of approval, as amended and presented by the City Attorney, and amending the Green Hills Master Plan; with a clarification that the last row of plots on the rooftop of the mausoleum not be utilized or sold.

4) Implement a moratorium on burials in plots that have been sold but are currently unoccupied, and allow burials in companion plots that already have one individual interred.

The resolutions as approved by Council will be brought back for adoption at the next meeting.

• Minutes

Lawn Crypts over a Portion of Arroyo Vista (Area 5)

Plans were submitted to improve the southwest portion of Arroyo Vista (formally known as Lake View Garden - Area 5) with below ground lawn crypts. These plans were found to be consistent with the Planning Commission approved 2007 Master Plan Amendment. As no building permits are required, work is anticipated to begin shortly.

Planning Commission Approves Driveway Expansions for Emergency Vehicle and ADA Access

On May 12, 2015, the Planning Commission adopted P.C. Resolution Number 2015-09, allowing the widening of the driveway (portion of Arroyo Drive) south of the Administration Building for emergency vehicle access; expanding the recessed parking area to the north of the building for adequate ADA access; relocating one parking space and removing one parking space; 325 cubic yards of additional grading; and allowing the temporary modular buildings to remain on site an additional 9 months, until April 22, 2017.

• P.C. Resolution 2015-09 (PDF)
• P.C. Minutes from the Meeting
• PowerPoint Presented at the Meeting (PPTX)

Planning Commission Approves Expansions to the Administration Building
On July 22, 2014, the Planning Commission granted an approval for following: 1) construction of 3,323ft² of single-story office additions and a 693.5ft² covered walkway extension to the administrative building; 2) allowing the temporary modular buildings to remain on site until January 22, 2016 or until prior to obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy for the office additions, whichever comes first; and 3) reconfiguration of the parking area to add 23 new parking spaces. The plans are currently in the plan check process and construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2015.

• PC Adopted Resolution Number 2014-21 (PDF)
• PC Minutes from Meeting (PDF)
• PowerPoint Presented at the Meeting (PPTX)