Article 49 — TORRANCE TRACT OVERLAY ZONE

a) The Torrance tract overlay zone shall consist of the area lying within the following boundaries:

Residentially zoned properties located within the Original Torrance Tract area bounded by Dominguez Street to the north, Western Avenue to the east, Plaza del Amo to the south and Crenshaw to the west as shown in the map below:

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b) The provisions of this Article shall apply to all residentially zoned properties containing contributing and altered-contributing residential structures identified in the Historic Resources Survey within the Torrance tract overlay zone in addition to the requirements of the underlying zone, except as provided in this Article. No permits shall be issued for development in the Torrance tract overlay zone unless the requirements of this Article have been met.

c) Nothing in this Article shall be deemed to repeal or modify any provision of Article 36 of this Chapter, nor Section 95.3.37 pertaining to the construction or conversion of dwellings to multiple-owner occupied residential structures.

Nothing contained in this Article shall be deemed to repeal any provision of this Code, and the requirements of all preexisting zones in existence in the area encompassed by this overlay zone shall be and remain in full force and effect in addition to the requirements of the overlay zone, except that the requirements of the overlay zone shall be applied where the requirements and standards contained therein are more restrictive than those of the preexisting underlying zones.

a) Upon receipt of the complete application, the Community Development Director shall set a date, time and place for a public hearing thereon as soon as practicable and shall send notice thereof to the owners of land included within a five hundred (500) foot radius of the exterior boundaries of the land for which the permit is sought as shown on the last equalized assessment roll. The Planning Commission may conduct said hearing in an informal manner. The rules of evidence shall not apply. The hearing may be adjourned to a future time at the discretion of the Planning Commission without the giving of further notice, other than announcement by the Commission of the date, time and place of such adjourned meeting at the time of said adjournment.

b) The applicant shall have the burden of proving that all the requirements of this Article have been met.

c) The Planning Commission may consider all measures which are proposed by the project proponents to be included in the project and other measures that are not included but could reasonably be expected to reduce the adverse impacts of the project, if required as conditions.

91.49.040 PLANNING COMMISSION REVIEW

a) Any development on a lot within the Torrance tract overlay zone shall be subject to a Planning Commission review, except as provided in Section 91.49.060.

b) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to permit the Planning Commission to impose restrictions which are less restrictive than those established in this Code.

c) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to authorize the Planning Commission to impose conditions more restrictive than the express provisions of this Code when so doing would render construction on any lot impossible where such construction would be possible in accordance with the Code as written.

No construction and no remodeling or enlargement of a building or structure shall be permitted unless the Planning Commission (or City Council on appeal) shall find that the location and size of the building or structure, or the location and size of the remodeled or enlarged portions of the building or structure, or the arrangement of off-street parking spaces have been planned and designed in such a manner as to comply with the following provisions:

a) The proposed construction or remodeling will tend to preserve the neighborhood characteristics; and

b) The proposed construction or remodeling will be done in such a way as to minimize the need for a curb-cut for driveway purposes; and

c) The proposed construction or remodeling will provide the required off-street parking spaces for each dwelling unit and any required guest parking; and

d) The use intensity of the proposed construction or remodeling will be compatible with other properties in the vicinity; and

e) The proposed construction or remodeling will provide suitable open space, both in size and configuration, for the property; and

f) If the proposed construction or remodeling exceeds a floor area to lot area ratio (F.A.R.) of 0.5 to 1 (using outside building dimensions), such application would not be materially detrimental to the public welfare and to other properties in the vicinity; and

g) The proposed construction or remodeling will provide sufficient storage space for personal effects so that the occupants will be encouraged to use the garage spaces.

a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article, no Planning Commission review (PCR) will be required if the proposed development within the Torrance tract overlay zone is for the purpose of constructing or remodeling dwelling units, provided the following requirements are met:

1. The completed dwellings, whether they are new construction or remodeled or enlarged, including the area of the garages, whether attached or detached, will not exceed a floor area to lot area ratio (F.A.R.) of 0.5 to 1 (using outside building dimensions); and

• 2. There will not be whole or partial demolition of the contributing or altered-contributing structure; and
• 3. There will not be alterations to the exterior facade of the contributing or altered-contributing structure; and
• 4. No curb cut for driveway purposes is proposed on the street.

b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article, no Planning Commission Review (PCR) will be required prior to obtaining a building permit for the following minor construction, minor remodeling, and minor repairs within the Torrance tract overlay zone:

• 1. Emergency repairs.
• 2. Reroofing with historically accurate materials.
• 3. Historically accurate window replacements.
• 4. Routine property maintenance.
• 5. Fences and walls.
• 6. A detached, noncontributing accessory structure.