Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code § 17.34.050 Development standards

The Open Space Recreation District (OR) provides open space for outdoor recreation, including, but not limited to, areas particularly suited for park and recreational purposes, including access to beaches, natural drainage channels and areas which serve as links between major recreation and open space reservations, including utility easements, banks of natural drainage channels, trails and scenic corridors.

(Code 1981, § 17.34.010; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

A. When land is in public ownership:

1. Public parks, playgrounds, wildlife preserves and viewing areas;

2. Drainage channels, banks of natural drainage channels, watercourses, corridors, accessways and easements; and

3. Active recreational uses.

B. Privately owned land upon formal agreement between the owner and the city for a specific period of time:

1. Land which is in its natural condition;

2. Land which is in agricultural or horticultural use; and

3. Active recreational uses.

(Code 1981, § 17.34.020; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

Only the following uses may be constructed or conducted in open space recreation districts:

A. Drainage channels, watercourses, parkways, trails and utility easements;

B. Public recreational uses. Those in the coastal specific plan district shall be compatible with, and incidental to, the uses set forth in the coastal specific plan;

C. Agriculture and horticulture;

D. Temporary special uses and developments, if a special use permit is first obtained, pursuant to chapter 17.62 (Special Use Permits);

E. Commercial filming or photography, if a city film permit is first obtained, pursuant to Code chapter 9.16 (Still Photography, Motion Picture and Television Productions);

F. Recycling centers, pursuant to chapter 17.58 (Recycling);

G. Temporary vendors, if a temporary vendor permit is first obtained, pursuant to chapter 17.62 (Special Use Permits); and

H. Other uses as provided in any applicable overlay or special district.

(Code 1981, § 17.34.030; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 149, § 9, 1982; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)

The following uses may be permitted in the open space recreation district pursuant to a conditional use permit, as per chapter 17.60 (Conditional Use Permits):

A. Privately owned recreational areas of an open nature, stables, parks, playgrounds, wildlife preserves and such buildings and structures as are related thereto;

B. Residential structures for a caretaker and family;

C. Commercial antennas, pursuant to section 17.76.020 (Antennas);

D. Developments of natural resources, except in the coastal specific plan district;

E. Golf courses, driving ranges and related ancillary uses;

F. Helistops, in conjunction with another use allowed by this chapter;

G. Public utility structures;

H. Small wind energy systems, pursuant to section 17.83.060 (Small Wind Energy Systems); and

I. Such other uses as the director deems to be similar and no more intensive. Such a determination may be appealed to the planning commission and the planning commission's decision may be appealed to the city council pursuant to chapter 17.80 (Hearing notice and appeal procedures). If a proposed use or development is located in the coastal specific plan district, the city's final decision regarding such other use may be appealed to the California Coastal Commission for a determination that the uses are similar and compatible with the local coastal program.

(Code 1981, § 17.34.040; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997; Ord. No. 377, § 11, 2002; Ord. No. 481, § 23, 2008)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, commercial marijuana activities, as defined in section 17.96.445 (Commercial Marijuana Activities), are prohibited in the open space recreation district of the city.

(Code 1981, § 17.34.045; Ord. No. 600U, § 6, 11-8-2017)

The following development standards shall apply to all privately owned land and structures in the open space recreation district:

A. Minimum lot size. No lot shall be created with an area of less than one acre, except that the planning commission may permit a smaller lot or may rezone a smaller lot to the open space recreation district upon finding that such smaller lot will provide for an open area which is to be used by the general public or a group of property owners.

B. Building height. Institutional buildings erected in the city shall have a building height not greater than 16 feet and shall not exceed one story, except with the approval of a conditional use permit by the planning commission, pursuant to chapter 17.60 (Conditional Use Permits).

C. Lot coverage. Lot area covered by buildings or structures shall not exceed ten percent of the total lot area.

D. Parking. Parking spaces for private uses shall be provided as required by the planning commission. Such requirement shall be based on the requirements of this title for uses similar to the proposed use. (For parking area development standards, see chapter 17.50 (Nonresidential Parking and Loading Standards)).

(Code 1981, § 17.34.050; Ord. No. 78(part), 1975; Ord. No. 320, § 7(part), 1997)