HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2003-04-14 #G AGENDA REPORT
DATE Apnl 14, 2003
TO Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU John B Bahorski, City Manager
FROM Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT REQUEST BY COUNCILMAN YOST - CITY
REVIEW OF PROPERTY LINE WALL HEIGHT
REQUIREMENTS
SUMMARY OF REQUEST
It is the request of Councilman Yost that the Council authonze staff to prepare a Zone Text
Amendment to revise the allowable heights for mtenor side and rear yard walls to not exceed
8 feet m height and to not proceed with enforcement actions already initiated or future
enforcement actions dunng the preparation and consideration of the Zone Text Amendment
BACKGROUND
Councilman Yost has requested this item be prepared to seek City Council direction regarding
a review of the City Zoning Code standards regarding property line wall heights The Code
allows for intenor side and rear yard walls to not exceed 6 feet m height, as measured from the
high side of the fence There are separate provisions that allow rear and side yard walls that
are directly adjacent to a street to be up to 10 -feet high Many of the walls along Pacific Coast
Highway, Seal Beach Boulevard, Lampson Avenue, Balboa Avenue, Bolsa Avenue, and
Manna Dnve have been constructed m accordance with these greater height allowances
As part of a code enforcement action, Councilman Yost has reviewed the current Code
provisions, and believes that allowing for walls higher than 6 feet would not be detrimental to
the community
Provided as Attachment 1 is an excerpt of the current Code provisions regarding fence
heights
FISCAL IMPACT
Re- allocation of staff resources to prepare necessary Zone Text Amendment and
environmental documentation, if so directed by the City Council
Agenda Item
C \Documents and Settings \LWhrttenberg\My Documents \City Council \Wall Height CC Staff Report doc \LW \04 09 03
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Councilman Yost Request of Council Consider ation r e
Zone Text Amendment r e Side and Rear Pr open ty Line Wall Heights
Citj Council Staff Repoi t
Apu it 14 2003
RECOMMENDATION
It is the request of Councilman Yost that the Council authonze staff to prepare a Zone Text
Amendment to revise the allowable heights for mtenor side and rear yard walls to not exceed
8 feet in height and to not proceed with enforcement actions already initiated or future
enforcement actions dunng the preparation and consideration of the Zone Text Amendment
NOTED A 0 • PPROVED
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-e Whittenberg Jo Bahorski
P i rector of Development Servi • s C anager
Attachment 1 Section 28 -2316 Fences, Walls, Hedges and Screen Plantings
(Excerpts)
Wall Height CC Staff Report 2
•
Councilman Yost Request of Council Consider ation i e
Zone Text Amendment re Side and Real Pi operty Line Wall Heights
City Council Staff Repoit
Api i114 2003
ATTACHMENT 1
Section 28 -2316 Fences, Walls, Hedges and Screen Plantings
1 Specific Fence Provisions Setback Requirements
(B) Side Yard
(1) A wall, fence, hedge or screen planting not more than six (6) feet
in height may be located along or within one (1) foot of the
common line between the lots to the extent that it does not violate
the front or rear yard setback requirements pursuant to this section
(2) Corner Lots On the side street or side alley side of a corner lot, a
wall, fence, hedge or screen planting, not more than six (6) feet in
height, may be located along or within one (1) foot of the side
property line to the extent that it does not violate the front or rear
yard setback requirements pursuant to this section
(C) Rear Yard
(1) Typical Lots A wall, fence, hedge or screen planting not more
than six (6) feet in height may be located along the rear property
line unless otherwise prohibited in this section
(2) Alleys A wall, fence, hedge or screen planting may be located
within the required rear yard setback up to five and one -half (5-
1/2) feet from the rear property line
Exception In cases where a building has a greater rear setback than
required off an alley, a six (6) foot high fence, wall, hedge
or screen planting may be located to the required rear yard
setback
2 General Fence Provisions
(E) Legally Required Fences The provisions of this section shall not apply to
fences required by State law to surround and enclose public utility
installations
(F) Fence Height The height of a fence shall be the average height between
pilasters or posts to the nearest full masonry unit to six (6) feet or forty -
two (42) inches The height at the property line shall be measured from
the owner's side of the fence A point fence on the property line may be
measured from either side of the fence
(H) Ten (10) Foot Fences In the following cases, ten (10) foot high fences
may be constructed where six (6) foot fences are permitted by this chapter
(1) Between commercial and any residential land,
(2) Along the following streets
Almond Avenue
Balboa Dr from Pacific Coast Highway to Bolsa Ave
Wall Height CC Staff Report 3
Councilman Yost Request of Council Consider ation i e
Zone Text Amendment le Side and Real Pi opei ty Line Wall Heights
City Council Staff Repot t
Apt it 14 2003
Bolsa Avenue
First Street
Lampson Avenue
Manna Dnve
Pacific Coast Highway
San Diego Freeway
Seal Beach Boulevard
Westminster Avenue
Properties which back to the I- 605 /7th Street Connector
Properties which back to Beverly Manor Road
(3) For Secunty in the Following Areas
Back yards of Hill homes adjacent to vacant Hellman land
and Gum Grove Park
East Flood Control Channel, College Park East
Edison Park, and
West fence of Leisure World
* * * *
Wall Height CC Staff Report 4