Jim York plans in about a month to begin upgrading his 94-acre property adjacent to the Portuguese Bend community for a commercial event space, an organic farm and an Astroturf golf course.
Last month the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission granted final approval for the project with 82 conditions including restrictions on noise, the construction of a sound barrier, an agreement to plant $100,000 worth of native plants on city property and to conduct a biological study of endangered species.
“There are many conditions that I don’t agree with like the native plants, but I want to be a good neighbor,” York said. “The sound barrier will reduce the sound levels to not greater than the ambient noise level.”
Early on, the project had drawn criticism from the neighbors who were already exposed to some noise issues from a small number of events last year.
When York went to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to build a formal event space and hold up to 30 events per year, they told him it would only be allowed if he had a golf course. So he built a golf course, which is actually more of a glorified driving range. The course will be made of artificial grass and several holes will shoot at the same green to save space.
York hasn’t been shy about his stated reason for building the golf course. Back in July he told the Easy Reader it was a “silly rule.”
“If they wanted me to build an archery range, I’d do that – whatever the requirement,” he said.
York also appeased much of the neighborhood by agreeing to build his own driveway leading to the event space. The land, dubbed Point View, offers broad views of the Pacific Ocean from the top of a hillside that stretches down to Palos Verdes Drive North. The property has been used to shoot several commercials and a Bollywood film last year.
York, who was a principal owner of the land formerly occupied by Marineland, was closely involved in the construction of Terranea Resort, which sits there now. While Point View took about four years to win approval, Terranea took almost 19 years, he said.
The neighbors at Portuguese Bend may also be glad York withdrew plans to construct up to 78 homes, which technically could be possible under current zoning.
For now, York said he plans to simply enjoy gardening on the land and making it a fun place to hold a wedding or other event. They plan to start taking reservations in August. For more, visit pointviewfilmlocation.com. ER
