ZONE 2: NON-MONKS LOTS

Project Planner: Octavio Silva, Senior Planner
Contact Information: Email Octavio Silva / (310) 544-5234

Current Status 

On November 19, 2019, the City Council conducted a public hearing and adopted Resolution No. 2019-62, certifying an updated Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), including the adoption of a Statement of Overriding Considerations, a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and adoption of an ordinance amending Section 15.20.040 (Exceptions) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to amend Exception Category 'P' to allow for the future submittal of Landslide Moratorium Exception (LME) applications for the residential development of 31 undeveloped lots in Zone 2 of the City's Landslide Moratorium Area (LMA). As part of this action, the City Council also introduced Ordinance No. 631 amending Chapter 15.20 (Moratorium on Land Use Permits) of Title 15 (Buildings and Construction) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to amend Exception Category 'P' to allow for the future development of 31 undeveloped lots in Zone 2 of the City's Landslide Moratorium Area.

 A copy of the City Council staff report is available for review below:

November 19, 2019, City Council Staff Report 

A copy of the meeting notice is available for review below:

October 31, 2019, Notice  

A copy of the FEIR is now available for review below:

Final Environmental Impact Report

Volume I: FEIR Text

Volume I Cover Sheet

Table of Contents

00 Executive Summary

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Project Description

3.0 Environmental Setting

4.0 Environmental Impact Analysis

5.0 Other

6.0 Alternatives

7.0 References

8.0 Responses to Comments

A copy of the Statement of Facts and Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations regarding the Environmental Effects for the Zone 2 Landslide Moratorium Ordinance Revisions is available for review below:

Facts, Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations

Volume II: FEIR Appendices

Volume II Cover Sheet

Volume II Table of Contents

Appendix A1- 2011 Initial Study and Notice of Preparation Comments

Appendix A2- 2018 Notice of Preparation and Comments

Appendix B- Air Quality Data and Worksheets

Appendix C- Habitat Assessment

Appendix D- Geotechnical Study

Appendix E- Drainage and Water Quality Report

Appendix F- Noise Data and Worksheets

Appendix G- Traffic Impact Study

Appendix H- Abalone Cove Sewer Capacity Report

Appendix I- Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan


Supporting Documents

Draft Environmental Impact Report

On September 17, 2019, the City Council conducted a public hearing to collect public comments regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). A copy of the staff report is available below:

September 17, 2019 Staff Report (PDF)

On August 22, 2019, the Community Development Department issued a Notice of Availability (NOA) of DEIR pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for proposed code amendments to Exception "P" of Title 15.20.040 (Landslide Moratorium Ordinance) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code pertaining to Zone 2. A copy of the NOA is available below:

NOA- Zone 2 DEIR

The City accepted public comments regarding the recirculated DEIR from August 22, 2019 to October 7, 2019.  A copy of the DEIR is available below:

Table of Contents

00 Executive Summary

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Project Description

3.0 Environmental Setting

4.0 Environmental Impact Analysis

     4.1 Aesthetics

     4.2 Air Quality

     4.3 Biological Resources

     4.4 Cultural Resources

     4.5 Geology

     4.6 Greenhouse Gas Emissions

     4.7 Fire Protection

     4.8 Hydrology and Water Quality

     4.9 Noise

     4.10 Traffic and Circulation

     4.11 Utilities and Service Systems

     4.12 Tribal Cultural Resources

5.0 Other

6.0 Alternatives

7.0 References

Notice of Preparation

On November 8, 2018, the Community Development Department issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). A copy of the NOP is available below:

NOP- Zone 2 EIR (PDF)

Professional Services Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. 

On September 18, 2018, the City Council entered into a professional services agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. to complete a recirculated Environmental Impact Report to revise the Landslide Moratorium Ordinance pertaining to Zone 2. A copy of the report is available below: 

September 18, 2018 Staff Report (PDF)

On November 6, 2019, the City Council, as part of its regularly scheduled meeting, will consider a contract amendment to the approved professional services agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc. as part of their continued preparation of the FEIR. A copy of the report is available below:

November 6, 2019 Staff Report (PDF)


Current Proposal

The proposed revisions to the Landslide Moratorium Ordinance would include the revision of subsection P to Section 15.20.040 (Exceptions) to apply to all 47 undeveloped lots in Zone 2. With respect to the EIR assumptions for assessing the potential future impacts of the development of the remaining undeveloped lots, they include:

  • 47 single-story, ranch-style residences with attached or detached 3-car garages, with minimum living area of 1,500 square feet and maximum living area of 4,000 square feet or 15% of gross lot area, whichever is less;
  • Less than 1,000 cubic yards of grading (cut and fill combined) per lot, with no more than 50 cubic yards of imported fill per lot;
  • Maximum 25% (RS-1) or 40% (RS-2) net lot coverage;
  • Maximum building height of 16 feet for residences and 12 feet for detached accessory structures;
  • Minimum front setbacks of 20 feet, minimum rear setbacks of 15 feet, minimum street-side setbacks of 10 feet, and minimum interior side setbacks of 5 feet, with setbacks along private street rights-of-way measured from the easement line rather than the property line; and
  • No subdivision of existing lots within Zone 2.

View the aerial photograph depicting the boundary of Zone 2 and the locations of the Monks plaintiffs' 16 lots and the other 31 undeveloped lots in Zone 2.

Zoning Boundary Map of Zone 2

Zone 2: Landslide Moratorium Ordinance Revisions (Non-Monks Lots)Background
In September 2009, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number 498, which amended the Landslide Moratorium Ordinance to create a new Landslide Moratorium Exception Category P, to allow the owners of the sixteen Monks plaintiffs' lots to apply for Exceptions for the construction of new residences. In December 2009, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 501U, to further amend the Landslide Moratorium Ordinance to allow site grading for the development of each of the Monks plaintiffs lots not to exceed 1,000 cubic yards of combined cut and fill, and with no import in excess of 50 cubic yards. A Mitigated Negative Declaration was certified by the City Council in conjunction with these actions.

In October 2009, the City commenced the processing of a further revision to the Landslide Moratorium Ordinance to allow for the future development of the remaining 31 undeveloped lots in Zone 2. At that time, the City and its environmental consultant, Rincon Consultants, began the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the Zone 2 Landslide Moratorium Ordinance revision, which proposed to expand Exception Category P to include the development of the 31 undeveloped lots, thereby allowing 47 undeveloped lots in Zone 2 to be developed with single-family residences. As a result of the CEQA review, in January 2011, the City distributed an Initial Study, accompanied by a Notice of Preparation for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). In September 2012, the Draft EIR was made available to the public for review during the 60-day public comment period, which concluded in November 2012. Over the course of the next year, the City, along with Rincon Consultants, completed a review and analysis of the public comments received on the Draft EIR. In March 2014, the Final EIR was completed. In April 2014, the Final EIR was presented to the City Council for certification, as was the approval of the proposed Code Amendment to expand Exception Category P. The City Council continued the public hearing to the following month, to allow additional time for the public to submit comments on the proposed Zone 2 Landslide Moratorium Ordinance Revisions. In May 2014, the City Council continued the public hearing to June 2014, to allow City Staff and the City's consultants to address additional comments made by the public and issues raised by the City Council. In June 2014, the City Council continued the public hearing to August 2014 to accommodate the time and resources needed to review and address the public comments on the Final EIR. On August 5, 2014, the City Council, after considering evidence introduced in the record, tabled the certification of the Final EIR and the adoption of the proposed Landslide Moratorium Ordinance Revisions. Copies of the un-certified 2014 Zone 2 EIR are available below:

Draft Environmental Impact Report

Final Environmental Impact Report