August 21, 2000
Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, Room #383
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, California 90012
Fourth Supervisorial District
The Workman Mill Zoned District
Petitioner: Rose Hills Company
3888 S. Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90608
Dear Supervisors:
Attached you will find a copy of the zone change resolution adopted by the Regional Planning Commission at its regular meeting of May 10, 2000. Included in the resolution is the
That your Honorable Board hold a public hearing on a Change of Zone as follows:
From: A-1-5 (Light Agriculture)
To: M-2-DP (Heavy Manufacturing-Development Program) for
the entire eight (8) acre site to accommodate the development of a pet cemetery consisting of a columbarium, an informal memorial lawn, a future burial area, a topiary focal point, a chapel and administration building, crematory, storage building, and, appurtenant parking and landscaping (2,100 pet grave plots proposed).
The Regional Planning Commission summary is as follows:
The Regional Planning Commission conducted a concurrent public hearing on Zone Change and Conditional Use Permit Case Nos. 99-171-(4) in the Commission hearing room on the morning of March 15, 2000. Four Commissioners were present with Commissioner Feldman being absent. Three persons were sworn in who were John D. Taylor, the applicant’s representative; Bruce Lazenby, the project engineer; and, Diane Acosta, the Public Relations representative who spoke in support of the proposed development. The two zoning requests before the Commission were: (1.) a zone change to change the existing A-1-5 zoning to M-2-(DP) to allow a pet cemetery, and, (2.) a conditional use permit to authorize a pet cemetery and caretaker’s residence. The addition of the DP- Development Program to the zone change will restrict the use of the rezoned site to the site plan presented at the public hearing consisting of a pet cemetery and caretaker’s residence. No other development uses would be permitted without a new conditional use permit being filed. There was discussion regarding the type of pet funeral services to be available. Ms. Acosta explained that a site tour was well-received by the community and that 500 residents were invited to visit the site on Saturday, March 4th . Ms. Acosta said that a press conference had been held with the Chamber of Commerce and the Whittier Town Council and that there had not been any negative comments received. The Commission voted unanimously (4-0) to direct staff to prepare the necessary findings and conditions for final approval. There was no opposition received on this case.
The Regional Planning Commission voted (4-0) to approve the requested change of zone at their May 10, 2000 meeting.
At the time of the hearing, it would be appropriate to approve the preparation of an ordinance effecting the change of zone.
Respectfully Submitted,
DEPARTMENT OF REGIONAL PLANNING
James E. Hartl, AICP, Director of Planning
Donald C. Culbertson, Acting Administrator
Current Planning Division
DCC:FM:rc
Attachments: Commission Resolution, Legal Description, Commission Findings & Conditions, Commission Staff Report & Attachments