Green Hills Memorial Park Master Plan

City Council Appeal Hearing

On June 26, 2018, the Planning Commission adopted P.C. Resolution No. 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’ 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. 

Click here for Resolution No. 2018-55

Click here to view the C.C. Staff Report (scroll down to Public Hearing Item No. 1)

Click here to view the Public Notices for the August 8th City Council meeting

Click here for the Appeal Letter to the City Council

Click here for the Notice of Decision and P.C. Resolution No. 2018-21

Click here for the P.C. Staff Report (scroll down to Item No. 2)

Click here to view the Public Notice for the June 26th Planning Commission meeting.

Click here for the Appeal Letter to the Planning Commission

Click here for the Notice of Decision and Staff Report

Click here for the Approved Plans

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.

Click here to view Resolution No. 2018-07

Click here to view the Staff Report (scroll down to Public Hearing Item No. 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 No. 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’ 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 No. 2018-03 (coming soon)

Click here to view the City Council Staff Report (Public Hearing Item No. 1)

Click here to view the Appeal Letter to the City Council

Click here to view the Notice of Decision and P.C. Resolution No. 2017-44

Click here to view the Planning Commission Staff Report (scroll down to item no. 12)

Click here to view the Public Notice for the Appeal Hearing with the Planning Commission

Click here to view the Appeal Letter to the Planning Commission

Click here to view the Director's Notice of Decision and Approved Staff Report

Click hereto view the Director-Approved Plans

The Director approved the following:

1) Construction of a 12' tall, 119.5ft² addition at the center of the existing Administration Building to accommodate a new bathroom. 

Click here to view the Notice of Decision and Staff Report

Click here to view the Approved Plans

2) Expansion of the existing information booth at the entrance from 72.5ft² to 123.25ft² in size (50.75ft² increase) and increase the structure height from 9.5' to 11' (1.5' increase). 

Click here to view the Notice of Decision and Staff Report

Click here to view the Approved Plans

Director Approves 6' Tall 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', whichever is lower, within existing private garden or family estates areas, and up to 6' in height within the St. Peter's Church yard.
        
Click here to view the Notice of Decision
Click here to view the Staff Report
Click here to view the Public Notice
Click here to view the Director-Approved Plans

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’ 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' 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.  
  
Click here to view the Commission-Approved Plans 
Click here to view the Notice of Decision
Click here to view the March 28, 2017 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 3)
Click here to view the January 24, 2017 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 5) 
Click here to view the November 29, 2016 Staff Report (scroll down to Item 6)
Click here to view the Public Notice
Click here to view the Appeal
Click here to view the Notice of Decision
Click here to view the Staff Report
Click here to view the Director-Approved Plans

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. 
 
Click here to view the Council-Approved Conditions of Approval (Resolution No. 2017-03)
Click here to view the Staff Report  
Click here to view the Public Correspondence (Attachment D)
Click here to view the City Attorney's Response Letter to Noel's Weiss' email 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.

Click here to 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
• Executed Waiver of Claims

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)

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' 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)

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 No. 2015-102
• Staff Report & Attachments (scroll down to Public Hearing Item No. 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 No. 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
• P.C. Minutes from the Meeting
• PowerPoint Presented at the Meeting

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 No. 2014-21
• PC Minutes from Meeting
• PowerPoint Presented at the Meeting 

   

 

2021 Fireworks Special Use Permit

On May 19, 2021, the Community Development Department issued a Notice of Decision (Click here to view) for a conditional approval of a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow Green Hills Memorial Park to stay open until 9:00 p.m. (two hours past the usual Daylight Savings closing time of 7:00 p.m.) and to conduct a 15-minute fireworks display with amplified/live music on Sunday, May 30, 2021, in coordination with an invitation-only Memorial Day presentation to commemorate the display of “The Moving Wall”, which is a traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The Notice of Decision was distributed to all interested parties and the Applicant, and a listserv message was sent as well. For any project questions, please contact Senior Planner, Amy Seeraty at (310) 544-5231 or via email at amys@rpvca.gov. The location of the fireworks launch site and Memorial Day ceremony are identified in the aerial map below.

On May 10, 2021, Green Hills submitted an application to conduct 440 cubic yards of balanced grading (220 cut and 220 fill) in the Sky Ridge Area in Area 4 of the Master Plan. Also proposed are 3 feet tall walls and benches adjacent to family estate areas and walkways.

Click here to view the Public Notice.

The Director of Community Development approved the grading permit on August 16, 2021.  Please click here to view the Notice of Decision, Staff Report, and Conditions of approval.

On August 12, 2022, the Director of Community Development issued a Notice of Decision, conditionally approving a Major Grading Permit (Case No. PLGR2022-0030) to conduct conduct 844.8 yd³ of balanced on-site grading to accommodate the installation of vaults associated with earth interments along with ancillary site improvements in unimproved portions of the Alta Vista Gardens and Inspiration Slope areas in Area 2 of the City Council-approved Master Plan. 

The Notice of Decision provides for a 15-day appeal period, which ends on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. A copy of the notice is available on the City's website  https://www.rpvca.gov/376/Green-Hills-Memorial-Park-Master-Plan or by clicking here. The associated Staff Report can be viewed by clicking here.