|
|
Minutes Detail
Monday, November 17th, 2003
Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
LAND USE COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES
NOVEMBER. 17, 2003
Call to order by Chairman, Larry Slade @ 6:40pm
Present: Leslie Elkan, Michael Diliberto, Jacqueline Diamond, Rick Mayer,
Jackie Campbell, Carrie Konjoyan
Excused: Robert Cohen
1. Charlene Warwick, Principal and Joan Boone, President of Sherman Oaks Parent’s Association of Sherman Oaks Elementary School made a short presentation to the committee to illustrate a problem that they are trying to resolve concerning traffic safety around the perimeter of their school. The school was built in 1924, enrolls 924 students in Kindergarten through Fifth grades. As part of their presentation they passed out maps of the school and surrounding areas. Currently the school has sought and received assistance from LAUSD and LAPD police to manage traffic patterns and safety issues concerning during drop-off and pick-up school periods. The current remediation has helped but not cleared the problem. The presenters are requesting additional assistance in the from the council committee members. The following suggestions were offered:
a. Consider an updated traffic study in coordination with the Dept. of
Transportation
b. An integrated approach employing a combination of remedies including:
crossing guards, school personnel, police on foot, parents assoc. volunteers, physical changes, staggering dismissals, utilizing cones to prevent parking on the street areas utilized for pick-up and drop-offs, note the license plates of drivers violating posted practices;
c. The representatives from the school seek the Council’s support in placing crosswalks, speed bumps or humps, crossing guards, better and more pronounced signage, stop signs, etc.
RESULT:
· The LUC will take under consideration; propose a resolution designed to improve the safety of our children who attend the school.
· LUC will join the SOHA representative in continuing discussion on this matter.
· A member of the audience pointed out to the chair of the Committee that a child had been killed in front of the school when hit by a car back in the late 1970’s.
2. Barone’s Site: Presentation by Michelle Hessman, PCS Development Co. on the Camino Real project located between Hazeltine Ave. and Calhoun St. (east/west), Ventura Blvd and Moorpark Ave. (south/north). The project has been in development for two years, if approved it would encompass 118 rental apartments, 16,000 sq. ft. commercial space fronting on Ventura Blvd, 360 parking spaces underground, total area 146,463 sq. ft. Residential units enter on Moorpark Ave. The residential units will be leased at the current market rate, there will be no units set aside for senior or low income housing. PCS has worked in consultation during the planning stages of this project with our Council office, SOHA representatives, Ventura Blvd. Design Committee. Public hearings concerning this project are scheduled for Jan. 15 2004.
The exceptions PCS will be requesting are:
· Zone change to C (current designation mixed C and P).
· More floor area to apartments
· Greater lot coverage on the ground
· Increase height restriction
· Project compliance
· Zoning administrator adjust to go to property line instead of set backs
· Site plan review findings for project w/more than 50 units.
· Space division currently designed for a 10,500sq ft restaurant and a 5000sq. ft. restaurant.
· Parking is planned according to current code requirements, 39 guest parking spots for residential units, and an accommodation for valet parking on Ventura Blvd.
· Assisting M. Hessman in the presentation were Mark Brown, Art Chasten,
and Gustav Dodderer.
3. Brother William and Sister Marcie Jacobs of Notre Dame High School (Woodman Ave / Riverside Dr.) presented an overview of the Phase II of the school master plan. The school has operated on this site since 1947, sits on 20 acres, and enrolls 1100 students. Phase I was completed in Jan 2000.
The proposed Phase II includes the following:
· Remodel existing classrooms
· Build a new science center (2 stories) located along Woodman by the current location of the school marquee. This will result in a reduction of
30 parking spaces that will be more than recouped in
The proposed Phase II includes the following:
· Additional landscaping and wrought iron fencing along Riverside Dr. to provide additional security for students and campus in general.
Later improvements in consideration:
· Student fitness center Gymnasium/parking under bldg, to be sited along Riverside by playing
fields.
LUC committee expressed interest in ND returning to a future meeting with further input from the planning department, surrounding community and have completed their own feasibility study.
4. Chris Curry, Westfield Fashion Square Mall made a follow-up presentation to address questions concerning the centers plans for additional signage.
· Westfield will request a variance to exceed the 42ft requirement by 18ft to construct a 60ft lighted sign located at the northeast corner of the property.
· The proposed location has two tall pine trees, the center is requesting the height variance to construct the sign so that it may be seen above the trees and save the trees from being removed. Without the variance the center will remove the trees to place the 42ft sign. (The Ralph’s sign @ Ventura and Hazeltine is approx 42ftx22ft. according to Mr. Curry)
Comments from the community at this meeting:
· Proposed location of the sign is not of value for bringing people into the mall as it is past the freeway off ramp.
· Proposed sign value is for branding benefits
· The sign pad foundation is not included in the presentation, such a large sign would require a foundation that would require the removal of the trees the variance is trying to save.
· Is it possible to place sign on freeway side, hung from current parking structure.
· The community name Sherman Oaks should be added to signage.
Motion: Councilperson Carrie Konjoyan resolved that the Committee vote in opposition to any sign predicated upon the notion that Westfield represented it could build a 42-foot sign as of right and the committee did not possess confirmation of this representation. In an abundance of caution, the committee sponsored and passed this resolution. Michael Diliberto seconded the motion. Motion carried 5 –1-1 with the Chair abstaining.
Motion: Carrie Konjoyan resolved that if a sign is permitted, we are opposed to any variance that increases its height. Jackie Diamond seconded. Motion carried 6-0-1 with the Chair abstaining.
5. Chase Knolls will make a follow-up presentation Dec 15, 2003 at 6:30 pm.
6. The Walgreen’s project proposed for Ventura Blvd on the site of the former Ventura Club would provide a formal presentation on Dec. 15, 2003. Ellen Vucovitch of SOHA commented on the current status of community involvement. The project slated for the corner of Ventura Blvd and Colbath (southeast) is slated by Walgreen’s to be open in the fall of 2004 if permitted. The Design Advisory Committee will meet 11/24/03 to continue to review and discuss parking mitigation and landscape issues. Councilman Jack Weiss has met with community members concerning this proposed project and has noticed Walgreen’s on the issues that need to be addressed.
7. Committee notification process was discussed. The issue was framed by L. Slade as follows:
· When? What types of projects should notice be made
· How? Do notice methods vary between proposals and what mechanism do we use to notice and when
Committee discussion ensued:
· Suggestions:
1. Notice currently given through current public notification process.
2. Parties responsible for projects have some responsibility to notify.
3. LUC might consider utilizing "ZIMAS" through LA City website to identify affected addresses on any project
4. The notice should be referee to, as “advisory” not notice as notice has specific legal meaning.
5. Early notice of projects in early stages given to committee might have less stringent "advisory" considerations.
6. Committee to continue development of notification plans
8. Land Use Budget Proposal item tabled.
9. Next month's agenda to include presentations by the Chase Knolls Development and from the Buckley School.
10. Meeting adjourned at 9pm
|
|
