Summer Riviera Reporter is Here!

President’s Message: Summertime provides a nice break to enjoy life and catch up with local happenings in the latest edition of The Riviera Reporter, such as:

  • TUSD released a picture of the proposed mural at Richardson Middle School (page 1)
  • Our latest Landscaping Award (page 2)
  • The Torrance City Council meeting on June 17th, which touched on updating the Hillside Overlay and a vote regarding the Torrance Airport (page 3)
  • Marking the RHA’s 80th Anniversary (page 3)
  • A resident’s complaint about street sweeping and the RHA’s response (page 4)

Please check your membership status here and don’t forget to renew!

Enjoy the July sunshine!

Elizabeth “Libby” Spatz, RHA President

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

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)

Torrance Planning Commission/Hillside Overlay Ordinance Update

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.

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON FRIDAY, MAY 23 at 5 PM

What: Special Torrance City Council Meeting

Why: To discuss the pending proposal from Los Angeles County to include the Extended Stay America Hotel on Torrance Boulevard as one of the five properties being submitted to the State’s Homekey+ Program for potential conversion into interim or long – term housing.

When: Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

Where: LeRoy J. Jackson City Council Chambers, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance, CA 90503

You can find more information on the City of Torrance website here.

Riviera Reporter is Here!

After a drier than normal winter, we welcome any showers that April may bring. We have many updates in this issue of The Riviera Reporter

  • Join us for our General Meeting on April 29 at 7 pm via Zoom. (More info on p. 1)
    • Our main topic will be fire safety, with guest speakers focused on emergency preparedness and plans for our community, among other things.
    • The Riviera Homeowner’s Association board members updated our bylaws, which you can review here. Another agenda item is voting on the new bylaws by the RHA membership.
    • Here’s the link to join the Zoom meeting; Meeting ID: 842 2687 4083; Passcode: 737740
  • We’ve handed out two Landscaping Awards — see page 2
  • We continue to mark the RHA’s 80th Anniversary on page 3
  • Join us in congratulating our scholarship winners on page 4
  • We answer a resident’s question about a neighbor’s illegal dumping on page 4

Read the entire issue: Riviera Reporter Spring 2025

If you would like to become an RHA member or need to renew your membership, here’s how.

We look forward to seeing you at our Zoom meeting! 

Elizabeth “Libby” Spatz, RHA President