Updates on the Hillside Overlay Ordinance

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Catherine Modesitt, RHA VP

At the Planning Commission meeting on January 21st, numerous Riviera residents appealed the “Minor Hillside Exemption” issued for the construction project at 439 Via Linda Vista. Residents even presented a petition with over one hundred signatures. Their appeal was approved.

David Kartsonis, Chair of the Torrance Planning Commission, asked his fellow commissioners for consensus to ask the City Council to task the Planning Commission to update the Hillside Overlay Ordinance. The commission agreed.

At the Torrance City Council meeting held on Jan. 27th, Kartsonis made this request, addressing the need for specific language to better manage building projects in the HOO.  Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director, shared that she and city staff were putting together a workshop on the HOO, which would be presented to the Planning Commission at their upcoming meeting in February.  The City Council suggested they wait until after the workshop has been presented to follow up with the Planning Commission’s request.

If you are interested in learning more and offering your input on the City’s efforts to update the Hillside Overlay Ordinance, consider attending the Torrance Planning Commission meeting, which will be held Wednesday, February 18, 2026, starting at 6:30 pm in the LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber at City Hall, located at 3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance.

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6/17 Torrance City Council Meeting Summary

Posted on June 22, 2025 by bmerryman

We recently called attention to two agenda items – the Hillside Overlay and Torrance Airport Ordinances — being discussed at most recent Torrance City Council meeting.  Several residents attended the meeting as well as emailed their points of view on these topics. Here are the results of the discussions:

Hillside Overlay (Agenda item 9B):  While the appeal against the Planning Commission’s recent approval of the precise plan for a property on Susana (PRE23-00013) was denied, the council recognized that the Hillside Overlay Ordinance (HOO) should be updated to include the objective language needed to better assess such projects.  Council member Sharon Kalani stated they (the council) needed to “look into doing public input to update the HOO with objective language and bring the relevant brains together.”  We look forward to learning what next steps will be taken to begin this important update.

Torrance Airport (Agenda item 10B):  Stating their obligation to stand by their previous decision to support noise abatement efforts for the benefit of Torrance residents, the Torrance City Council voted 5-1 against the staff-proposed settlement of a lawsuit and ordinance amendment that would have overturned last year’s ban on touch-and-gos and related maneuvers at the Torrance Airport.  The lawsuit may continue to its trial date already scheduled for February 2026, unless the pilots’ group drops its complaint.  Watch this space for updated information on this situation.

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6/17 Torrance City Council Meeting: Discussion on Airport & Hillside Overlay Ordinances

Posted on June 15, 2025 by bmerryman

We posted previously about the opportunity to share your views on updating the Hillside Overlay at the next Torrance City Council meeting. The Council will also discuss adopting an ordinance to amend the Torrance City Code to once again allow Touch and Go, full stop-taxi back, and low approaches at the Torrance Airport (item 10B).  Last year these operations were prohibited by the Council because of the residents’ protests against increasing airport noise.  If you would like to share your opinion on this issue, consider attending the upcoming City Council meeting, emailing City Council Members or offering comments if you can’t attend.

When: Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30PM

Location: LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber, 3031 Torrance Blvd.

Email Information: CityCouncil@TorranceCA.gov

Offer Comments: Note that comments submitted before 5:30 p.m. on Monday, June 16, 2025, will be published for public review prior to the meeting. Comments received after 5:30 p.m., but prior to the adjournment of the meeting will be added to the record. You can submit your comments here: https://torranceca.primegov.com/public/portal?fromiframe=true (Use the comment bubble on the right)

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Torrance Planning Commission/Hillside Overlay Ordinance Update

Posted on June 2, 2025 by bmerryman

Times have changed since 1977. That’s when the Hillside Overlay Ordinance was adopted into the Torrance Municipal Code to “provide development standards, design review criteria, and limitations for hillside and coastal development.” (https://www.torranceca.gov/)

Recent Events

As expressed by Torrance Planning Commissioner Ron Riggs at the May 7 Planning Commission meeting, residents should be aware that the Overlay is “being beaten up” in recent events, and to “spread the word” to the community.  So we are doing just that.

At the earlier March 19th Planning Commission hearing, the Commissioners discussed a building project (item 8C) that required objective standards to be applied, which are not present in the current Hillside Overlay.  As the frustrated Commissioners expressed to the public, due to the lack of the Overlay’s objective standards, “our hands are tied.”  They were unable to apply the standards of the Hillside Overlay to the project.

The Commissioners discussed the possibility of adding the necessary objective standards to bring the Hillside Overlay Ordinance up to date. 

Upcoming Council Meeting

If you are interested in sharing your views on updating the Hillside Overlay, the next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, June 17th, 2025. Torrance residents can offer comment for the Council to consider in tasking the Planning Commission with updating the Hillside Overlay Ordinance with the objective standards it needs,

Here are the Council Meeting details:

  • When: Tuesday, June 17 at 6:30PM
  • Location: The LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber, 3031 Torrance Blvd.

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