Developer Jim York, who was denied the necessary permits four years ago, plans to develop the vacant 94-acre tract in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., into an organic farm, golf course and outdoor dining and reception area. Construction will include a 100-foot-long, 12-foot-high sound wall enclosing the “event garden,” a 2.5-acre turf golf course and 250-sq. ft. greenhouse all within the new Catalina View Estates
A vacant 94-acre Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., tract where dozens of Palos Verdes homes could have risen will instead accommodate an organic farm, golf course and outdoor dining and reception area, the Torrance (Calif.) Daily Breeze reported.
Developer Jim York, who headed a real estate investment group that bought and sold the land that became Terranea Resort, hopes to start work within a month on what he’s calling Catalina View Estates, the Daily Breeze reported.
POINT VIEW or CATALINA VIEW ESTATES information
The Planning Commission approved the hillside project January 8 on a 3-2 vote, four years after York was first denied the necessary permits for the project on what’s known locally as the Point View tract. No one has appealed that decision, the Daily Breeze reported. Here is a link on the Rancho Palos Verdes website to get more information http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/planning/Point-View/
“After four years we’re glad to have this behind us and we can start holding events,” York said. “Compared to getting Terranea planned and built, this [Catalina View Estates] was easy.” Construction will include an “earth-tone” half-mile-long road into the property, a 100-foot-long and 12-foot-high sound wall enclosing the “event garden” to shield nearby homes from the noise, a 2.5-acre golf course and 250-sq. ft. greenhouse, the Daily Breeze reported. York also won approval for 25.5 acres of agricultural land, although he said he doesn’t expect to plant quite that much land for the Catalina View Estates development.
“I’m basically doing organic farming,” he said. “I’m doing avocados, citrus, olives, vegetables and then finally we’ll plant a vineyard. I want to have fun with this property. I enjoy growing things. [Catalina View Estates] It will be my retirement gift to myself.” Catalina View Wines originating in the Catalina View Estates grounds, as York is calling his modest vineyard, will use cloned vines from the Santa Rita Hills appellation between Lompoc and Buellton on the Central Coast, best known for its Pinot Noir grapes that create big, sweet cola-like wines, the Daily Breeze reported. Because of long-standing concerns in the area over the stability of the land (part of the access road will cross an ancient landslide complex), York is restricted to using drip irrigation for the agriculture.
Artificial turf will cover the nine-hole, two-green golf course, the Daily Breeze reported. It was the golf course that enabled the rest of the project to move forward on land zoned residential, York said.
By building the course, which is allowed in that zoning, York is permitted ancillary structures like the event facility. York held a dozen private events on the property last year, receiving noise and other complaints from some neighbors, the Daily Breeze reported. “It’s been a learning experience,” York said.
The Planning Commission imposed 94 different conditions for operation of Catalina View Estates, including stringent noise restrictions. York has hired prominent Torrance chef Michael Shafer to cater events, including those York held last year, the Daily Breeze reported. “It’s phenomenal,” Shafer said of the property. “You have a 360-degree view of beauty, it’s really that simple.
On one side you view the complete coastline and on the other side there’s rolling hills, forest and nature.” York originally bought the land which will be known as Catalina View Estates, with partners in 1994, intending to develop almost 100 homes on the site. In 2009, he bought out his partners, the Daily Breeze reported.
Other documentation from the City of Rancho Palos Verdes concerning Catalina View Estates
Final initial Study/Mitigated negative declaration
Citizen comments concerning the project
FIND HOMES AROUND CATALINA VIEW ESTATES
