Article 3 — RESTRICTED MANUFACTURING PERMIT

The provisions of this Article shall apply only to the area known as downtown Torrance which is defined as all the property within the boundaries of downtown Torrance as defined in Section 93.1.2.

Uses permitted in the M-1 zone without a conditional use permit are hereby permitted in downtown Torrance if a restricted manufacturing permit has been issued therefor in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

The owner lessee or other person having the right to possession of the land for which the restricted manufacturing permit is sought may apply for the granting of such permit. Whenever the application is made by a person having less than the fee simple title to the land the Planning Director must require that the holders of the reversionary or remainder interests consent thereto in writing. Such application shall be filed with the Planning Director and shall be accompanied by a fee as set forth in Section 99.1.10. to cover the cost of the publication and the processing of the application and shall include such information as prescribed by the Planning Director.

Before issuing such permit the Planning Director shall publish a Notice of Intention to issue such permit setting forth the location of the property and the type of use at least six (6) days prior to issuance of the permit. In addition, the Planning Director shall send notice of such intention to issue a permit to the owners and tenants of property within one hundred (100) feet of the property subject to the permit as shown on the last equalized assessment roll and to the tenants of properties within said area who are physically in possession thereof as determined by visual inspection.

The Planning Director shall hold public hearing thereon at the time and place set forth in said notice. The Planning Director 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 Director without the giving of further notice other than announcement by the Planning Director of the date, time and place of said adjourned hearing at the time of said adjournment.

After the conclusion of the hearing the Planning Director shall deny or grant the application in whole or in part. If the permit is granted the Planning Director may impose thereon such conditions as he may deem desirable and necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Division and the best interest of the City. In making his decision, the Planning Director shall use the criteria set forth in Section 95.1.1. for the issuance of conditional use permits.

(Amended by O-2031)

The applicant, the City Manager, the City Council or any person owning or leasing real property within one hundred (100) feet of the subject property may file with the City Clerk within five (5) days from the date of the action by the Planning Director granting or refusing the permit a written appeal from such decision. If the appeal is filed by any person other than the City Manager or the City Council an appellate fee equal to the amount of the filing fee as required by Section 99.1.10. shall accompany the application.

Upon receipt of the appeal a hearing shall be set and held before the Planning Commission in the same manner as hearings are set and held by the Planning Commission for the issuance of conditional use permits. After the conclusion of said hearing the Planning Commission shall deny the application or grant the permit in whole or in part as applied for. If the permit is granted, the Planning Commission may impose thereon such conditions as it may deem desirable and necessary to effectuate the purpose of this Chapter and the best interest of the City. In making its decision, the Planning Commission shall use the criteria set forth in Section 95.1.1. for the issuance of conditional use permits.

(Amended by O-2031; O-2397; O-282;)

The decision of the Planning Commission may be appealed to the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article 5, Chapter 1, Division 1 of this Code, commencing at Section 11.5.1.