Prominent Ridge Construction Rules

Prominent Ridges are mountain ridges visible from Mulholland Drive and designated on the Plan’s mapping series. They carry hard environmental protection: construction is prohibited on top of a Prominent Ridge. Construction within 50 vertical feet of the top of a Prominent Ridge is prohibited unless the Director makes four findings. Grading, alteration, or removal of a Prominent Ridge is prohibited without prior Director approval, and is capped at 1,000 cubic yards even where five findings are made.

A project assumed to clear a ridge by visual inspection but located within 50 vertical feet of a Prominent Ridge typically requires Director approval and detailed findings, and may not be eligible for Administrative Review.

• Top-of-ridge construction prohibited. Buildings and structures visible from Mulholland Drive may not be constructed on the top of a Prominent Ridge.
• 50-vertical-foot setback. Buildings and structures visible from Mulholland Drive may not be constructed within 50 vertical feet of the top of a Prominent Ridge without Director approval pursuant to §11, supported by four findings.
• 1,000-cubic-yard grading cap. Prominent Ridges may not be graded, altered, or removed without Director approval. The Director may approve up to 1,000 cubic yards of grading after five findings — and not more.

• Prominent Ridge identification using the Specific Plan map series, cross-referenced against the project’s topographic survey.
• The 50-vertical-foot setback verified by elevation, not just plan distance.
• For grading or construction within the protection band, the four findings (for construction) or five findings (for ridge grading) supported in the project record.
• For projects within 50 vertical feet of a Prominent Ridge, ineligibility for Administrative Review and routing through Project Compliance with the DRB.

• Identify Prominent Ridges before the design parti is set. Building footprint, building height, and grading strategy all flow from this.
• Where construction or grading is contemplated within the protection band, plan the findings narrative into the Project Description. The findings address scenic feature protection, view from Mulholland Drive, driveway and right-of-way access, and consistency with the purposes of the Specific Plan.
• Treat the 1,000 cubic yard cap as binding — there is no with extra findings path beyond it.

Source: Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, §5 B 1 (Prominent Ridge construction and grading protections). Prominent Ridges identified on the Mulholland Topographic / Lot-line map series adopted as part of the Specific Plan.