sr-042275-11fSanta Monica, California, April 9,, 1925
~"^ ~*
f.
T0: Mayor and City Council ~°° g
~~~
FROM: City Staff
AAR ~ ~ 1975
SUBJECT: Application for a construction variance in the z~~~'~~~~s
"beach front" moratorium area. R~PU~e~~sa i~~ s
... C1PY-Cy~RK.S 6Fg ~~
. _ FdBR P64lR~~.
Introduction "~
This is an application for a building permit in the "beach
front" moratorium area established by the City Council on
February 18, 1975-
Address of Permit $ Nature of
Proposed Work Valuation. Work
1255 Ocean Front $400,000 New 7 unit, 4 story
Lots 42, 43, 44, and basement apart-
Sunset Beach Tract ment building
Background
As a result of the development of Beach Area Plans by both
the City and State which designate Public Recreational uses for
the Santa Monica beaches, the City Council recently established
a moratorium on further development unless such development was
specifically approved by the City Council. The intent of the
moratorium is to prevent construction which would not be in ac-
cordance with the long range uses..
In October, 1974 the applicant obtained an approval in con-
cept from the City for the construction of a '] unit apartment at
1255 Palisades Beach Road. The approval in concept permits the
applicant to proceed through the Coastal Commission to see if they
will approve the project without having to prepare expensive work-
ing drawings and engineering.
On November 8, 1974 an application for permit was filed with
the South Coast Regional Commission. On January 27, 1975, follow-
ing a staff recommendation for denial, the applicant requested a
continuance of-the matter and no further action has been taken..
Subsequently on February 7, 1975 the applicant-filed working
plans for plan check with the Building Department. On February 26
he was advised that the project was in the moratorium area, that a
building permit could not be granted without a variance from the
City Council and that inasmuch as the plan checking had not com-
menced, the fee could be refunded.. The applicant advised that he
wished to proceed ~°~ith the processing of his plans and requests
a var=_ance from the City Council to ~~pedite his construction.
- 1 -
The property is situated between the Pacific Co-ast Highway
and the Promenade, approximately 750 feet from the tideline.. The
Santa Monica State Beach Master Plan presently under consideration
indicates this-area would ultimately be developed'as a public
recreation zone for public coastal and recreation-related uses.
The report also indicates that the Santa Monica State Beach is a
public recreation resource, that all further private development
should be prohibited by the City and that remaining private pro-
perty should eventually be in the public domain.
The proposed development represents
very reason the moratorium was imposed.
apartment house at this location is not i
mendations of the Beach Plan nor has the
sued his request for approval through the
plans with the Building Department having
after he requested the Coastal. Commission
Alternative Soluti
Not applicable..
Recommendation
a prime example of the
The development of an
n accord with the recom-
applicant actively pur-
Coastal Commission, the
been filed some 11 days
continuance.
In view of-the fact that the proposed construction is not
in compliance with those uses recommended in the proposed Beach
Master Plan, that the development is representative of the situ-
ation that-the moratorium was designed to avoid, and further that
there appears to be no indications of practical difficulties,
unnecessary hardships or unusual circumstancesapplying to this
application, it is respectfully recommended that the variance
should be denied.
Prepared by:
W. D. Rome
Building Officer
J. W. Zunsford
Planning Director
- 2 -
'~~-~~RUg~R jNV ~
X002 SAN VICENTE BOULEVARpESTM~NT cX
sANTq MoNlc ,MANA ~' ~ M E N 7'
- A CALIFORNIg90402 C~MpgNY
(213) 393.3853
_ 1'.
March 14, 1975
Mr, W, D, Rome
Building Officer
City of Santa Monica
Building Ijepartrrlent
Room 10I, City. Hall
Santa Monica,. California -
it
Dear Mr Rorne.
cedieplY to Your letter of ~
don ~Wesh hone conveys { nruary 27, 1975 T
mY Plan ch Please be and our pre_ -
PIea eck fee of $3gZ_ 50 7dvised that I C
ofe be so kind and eturned. C
me an com fete
mit will becread es or yeQuP em the plan k
ch Y b
bea moratorium eSAugust 18 e975 io that a buildinnform
Piyes, , 1 g Per_ ~~-".
The plans sub n time when the present
mitted ~~"
Precisely with the re
wish tO the best of mY kno
to start co
please nstructionta uildin wledge com
advise me g re9uirements. PIY
submitted are in v'hich the earliest possible monCe j
f a deficient.. rnanneY, if anY, the plans Sent,
R
aPPmovaly familiar with the Coastal
C
in due course. Zon
e and will get their
rev er ry
it~ { ent anY furth
furthe~ubeoylquirea lY with my re u delay I would a cer
please advise irements, PPreciate
Very lY our me thereof immoedaatelying
f`` s,
Kurt ~~ Lu
Hill rube
KH:pb I