The Rolling Hills Planning Commission approved on Jan. 9 a site-plan review and conditional-use permit that allows a property owner at 1 Chestnut Lane to rebuild a 264-square-foot covered patio and outdoor kitchen that had been previously constructed and later demolished.

The project required a front-yard setback variance and a conditional-use permit because the roofed structure exceeds 200 square feet, placing it in the front-yard area as defined by city code. Planning staff recommended approval and provided Resolution 2024-01 for the commission’s consideration.

The matter drew brief public comment and questions about fire risk and about an unrelated stable or corral set-aside requirement for the lot. Planning staff member John (Planning staff) told the commission the commission’s purview was the structure’s location and zoning compliance; he said the association, not the city, controls the composition and operation of the outdoor kitchen. Resident Alfred Visco asked the commission to avoid approving any outdoor open-flame cooking because of the area’s high fire risk: “I don’t think we need any more open flame in this city given the high fire risk,” Visco said. John responded that the grill type and fuels were governed by the association and building/fire codes rather than the planning review.

Commissioners discussed the required set-aside for a future stable or corral. John said the code requires either a built stable and corral or a designated set-aside area of at least 1,000 square feet; he explained steep slopes on the lot make finding suitable set-aside locations impractical. Commissioners who visited the site said the slope and access were unsafe for horsekeeping. Commissioner (unnamed) noted the commission has granted set-aside waivers in past cases and that the current request includes a waiver for the set-aside requirement.

After discussion, a commissioner made a motion to approve Resolution 2024-01 to allow reconstruction of the covered patio with the requested variances. The motion was seconded and passed on roll call: Commissioner Cooley — approve; Commissioner Cardenas — approve; Vice Chair Kirkpatrick — yes.

The approval language included the conditional-use and the variance to permit the structure to occupy a portion of the front yard and to exceed the 200-square-foot administrative threshold. The staff report noted structural coverage would rise by 0.3 percentage points (from 23.3% to 23.6% of the lot) and that the proposed covered patio is under the municipal maximum structural coverage (20% maximum structural and 35% maximum combined coverage are city calculation points referenced in the staff report). The commission did not impose conditions limiting grill type or fuels; John reiterated that those items fall under association rules and building/fire permitting.

Planning staff will finalize the resolution language and record the decision in the planning files. No follow-up direction to staff beyond standard plan-check and permit processing was recorded.

The commission moved on to other agenda items following the vote.