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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21565 - RESOLUTIONS - 5/3/2006 RESOLUTION NO. 21565 ' A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S DENIAL OF CASE 6.486-VAR A VARIANCE TO THE ALLOWED WALL HEIGHTS LOCATED AT 2001 EAST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, ZONE R2, SECTION 13. WHEREAS, Dr. Reza Mazaheri ("applicant") has, pursuant to Chapter 2.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, appealed the Planning Commission decision denying Case No. 6.486-Var, a variance to the allowed wall heights located at 2001 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Zone R-2, Section 13; and WHEREAS, On March 22, 2006, the Planning Commission heard case 6.486 in a public hearing and passed a resolution denying the application; and WHEREAS, Pursuant to Chapter 2.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code, the City Council is authorized to hear appeals of Planning Commission actions; and WHEREAS, the City Council has carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence presented in connection with the application and appeal, including but not limited to the staff report; and WHEREAS, the City Council heard the appeal at a public hearing on May 3, 2006 in accordance with applicable laws. THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY FINDS AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Pursuant to the requirements of Section 94.06.00(B), the City Council finds: 1) Because of the special circumstances applicable to the subject property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of the Zoning Code would deprive subject property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity and under identical zone classification. The subject property is currently developed with five foot walls within fifteen feet of the front property line. The existing masonry wall is legal nonconforming based on the current Zoning Code and would be permitted to remain. All new construction is required to conform to the current code. There are none of the physical characteristics mentioned above which deprive the subject property of privileges enjoyed by other properties. The applicant has stated that the difficulty in building a fence that complies with the code comes partially from ' the location of the structure on the lot. The structure is set back approximately twenty-five feet from the front property line and would cut off the courtyard garden. The location of a structure on the lot is not a characteristic of the lot itself and Resolution No. 21565 Page 2 cannot be considered in making variance findings. The zone outlines a consistent regimen for wall heights when a property abuts a major thoroughfare. Staff cannot ' find that there are special circumstances of this lot distinct from other properties under an identical zone classification or in the vicinity. 2) Any variance granted shall be subject to such conditions as will assure that the adjustment thereby authorized shall not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which subject property is situated. All other properties in the vicinity would be required to adhere to the same standards for new construction therefore, the granting of the variance would constitute a grant of special privilege for the subject property. 3) The granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the pubic health, safety, convenience, or welfare or injurious to property and improvements in the same vicinity and zone in which subject property is situated. The subject area is not within a visibility cutback area, therefore the project is unlikely to be materially detrimental to the public health, safety, convenience or welfare or injurious to property or improvements in the area. 4) The granting of such variance will not adversely affect the general plan of the city. The Tahquitz Canyon Corridor requires pedestrian-friendly architecture. The increase proposed would not push the subject property into a non-pedestrian scale. Therefore, the granting of the variance would not adversely affect the general plan. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council upholds the Planning Commission Resolution denying Case No. 6.486-Var. ADOPTED this 3rd day of May, 2006. David H. Ready, City Man r ATTEST: / mes Thompson, City Clerk Resolution No. 21565 Page 3 ' CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss. CITY OF PALM SPRINGS ) I, JAMES THOMPSON, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. 21565 is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on May 3, 2006, by the following vote: AYES: Councilmember Mills, Councilmember Pougnet, Mayor Pro Tem Foat and Mayor Oden NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmember McCulloch ABSTAIN: None ' 'Hies Thompson, City Clerk Cam"City of Palm Springs, California [[[dddd