CITY OF SANTA MONICA

CITY PLANNING DIVISION

 

STATEMENT OF OFFICIAL ACTION

FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION OF THE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR

 

 

 

PROJECT INFORMATION

 

         CASE NUMBER:            Wall Height Modification 07FWHM-007

 

         ADDRESS:                    1107 San Vicente Boulevard

 

         LEGAL

         DESCRIPTION:             SANTA MONICA LAND AND WATER CO TRACT ‘LOT COM S 14? 11”W 102.35 FT FROM MOST S’ ‘COR OF TRACT                                    #15726 TH N 75 36”40” W’ 27.91 FT TH NW ON A CURVE CONCAVE TO NE LOT BLK 46

 

         ZONING DISTRICT:       R1 (Single-Family Residential) District

 

         DIMENSIONS /

LOT AREA:                   Irregularly-shaped lot / 16,120 square feet.

 

         RENT CONTROL

         STATUS:                        Single-Family Residential Exempt

 

         APPLICANT:                  Martin Bohan

 

         PROPERTY

OWNER:                        Martin Bohan

 

         CASE PLANNER:          Ivan Lai, Assistant Planner

 

         RELEVANT

         PRIOR PERMITS:         None.

 

REQUEST:                    The applicant requests approval of a wall height modification to construct an 8 foot high wall and entrance gates (2) located in the front yard setback area of an existing single family residence. Pursuant to Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 9.04.10.02.080, fence, walls, or hedges cannot exceed the maximum height of 3’-6” within the required front yard area. Interim Ordinance No. 2236 (CCS) Section 2(f) permits modifications to fence, wall, and hedge heights within the front yard setback area subject to the approval of the Zoning Administrator.

 

         CEQA STATUS:     The project is categorically exempt from the provisions of California

                                         Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15303(e), Class 3 of the State Implementation Guidelines in that the project involves the construction of an accessory structure (wall) at an existing single family residence.

 

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ACTION

 

March 11, 2008

Public Hearing Date.

March 26, 2008

Approved based on findings and subject to conditions.

 

Denied based on findings.

 

Effective Date Of Action If Not Appealed:

April 10, 2008

Expiration Date:

April 10, 2009

Length Of Any Possible Extension:

One year

 

HEDGE HEIGHT MODIFICATION FINDINGS

 

(a)               The subject fence, wall, or hedge will be compatible with other similar structures in the neighborhood and is required to mitigate impacts from adjacent land uses, the subject property’s proximity to public rights-of-way, or safety concerns in that the proposed 8’-0” wall and entrance gates (2) provide privacy, safety and noise attenuation from the heavily traveled, high traffic volume and vehicle speeds on San Vicente Boulevard. Several properties on the same street maintain fences, walls, or hedges that range in height from approximately 6’-0” to 12’-0” in the front yard setback area, including the properties located at 139 and 143 Foxtail Drive, 150 Esparta Way, and 1117 San Vicente Boulevard, where an 8 foot high wall with a 5 foot high entrance gate was approved by the Zoning Administrator on October 31, 2007.   

 

(b)               The granting of such modification will not be detrimental nor injurious to the property or improvements in the general vicinity and district in which the property is located in that the proposed wall and gate are compatible with the existing street character on San Vicente Boulevard where walls, fences, and hedges ranging from 6’-0” to 12’-0” in height exist at four other properties. The wall and gate are also recessed further back from the front property line in the area of the pedestrian entrance way which reduces the mass of the wall and gate at the street front and will not visually obstruct vehicles entering and exiting the site. The proposed front yard stucco wall will be built on top of an existing 18” high retaining wall and will have a total height of 8’-0” as measured from the street side (lowest finished grade). The wall will serve as a combination retaining wall and perimeter wall.

 

(c)               The modification will not impair the integrity and character of the neighborhood in which the fence, wall, or hedge is located in that other fences, hedges and walls of similar or greater height are located in the front yard setback areas of four other properties along the same block of San Vicente Boulevard, including fences, walls or hedges located at 139 and 143 Foxtail Drive, 1117 San Vicente Boulevard, and 150 Esparta Way that range from 6’-0” to 12’-0” in height.

 

CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL

 

Standard Conditions

 

1.                  This determination shall not become effective for a period of fourteen days from the determination date or, if appealed, until a final determination has been made on the appeal.

 

2.                  This approval applies only to the request to construct a wall and two entrance gates that are a maximum of 8’-0” in height (measured from lowest finish grade) that are located within the front yard as shown on the plans dated December 19, 2007, and subject to any special conditions. Minor amendments to the plans shall be subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator.

 

3.                  Except for allowances granted by this entitlement, the applicant shall comply with all other applicable provisions of Article IX, Chapter 9 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code and all other pertinent ordinances and General Plan policies of the City of Santa Monica.

 

4.                  This approval shall expire twelve (12) months from the effective date, unless, if the rights granted under this approval are exercised within one year of the effective date of the Zoning Administrator’s determination. Upon the written request from the applicant, prior to expiration, the Zoning Administrator may extend this period up to an additional one (1) year. Applicant is on notice that extensions may not be granted if development standards, the development process, or other requirements relevant to the project have changed since project approval.

 

5.                  Within ten (10) days of transmittal of this Statement of Official Action, the project applicant shall sign a copy of the determination and return the document to the City Planning Division. The applicant’s signature constitutes acceptance of the conditions of approval and understanding that failure to comply with such conditions shall constitute grounds for potential revocation.

 

 

APPLICANT NOTICE

 

This decision of the Zoning Administrator may be appealed to the Planning Commission during a 14 calendar day appeal period following the decision date.  Such an appeal may be made by filing an official appeal form with the City Planning Division, 1685 Main Street, Room 212, Santa Monica, CA 90401, accompanied by a filing fee of $406.37.

 

                                                                                                      March 26, 2008

_____________________________                                          ____________________________

Amanda Schachter                                                                    Date

Zoning Administrator                                                         

 

Acknowledgement by Permit Holder

 

I agree to the above conditions of approval and acknowledge that failure to comply with any and all conditions shall constitute grounds for potential revocation of the permit approval.

 

 

______________________________                  _______________

Signature                                                               Date

 

______________________________                  ____________________ 

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