Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council
Land Use Committee Minutes 
December 19, 2013
1.  Meeting is called to Order by Chair Ziff at 6:30 pm.
2.  Present: Chair Ziff, J. Kalban, A. Bartley, C. Buck, J. Diamond, A. Fields, M. Maloney. Absent: J. Campbell, Sue Steinberg.
3.  Minutes of November 13, 2013 meeting are approved on  Motion made by J Diamond, Seconded by J. Kalban -- unanimous approval.
4.  Elected Official Staff member J. Brand is present and provides an update on the issue of the need for more Ventura Blvd public parking. Confirms that they are seeking the use of an existing public structure as a potential solution to the off-street parking problems.
5.  No Public Comments.
6.  Chair Report 12/19/13:
1) We had approved a cell antenna array at the public storage facility at 4610 Van Nuys Blvd. That application has been going through process for over a year. On November 20 the application was denied by the zoning administrator.
2) The new Mulholland Bridge over the #405 Freeway was opened yesterday.
3) The southbound onramp at Valley Vista and Sepulveda will be closed Friday 12/20 through Monday 12/23.
4) The application for a CUB at 13625 Ventura Blvd. Was heard at the zoning administrator on December 16. I appeared and presented the committee's position that we approved it with leases for 25 parking spaces for valet use. The hearing officer said that the applicant had lost its vested rights because the facility had been closed for over 1 year and needs to have 44 parking spaces. The applicant stated that Building and Safety had extended the rights. The applicant's tenant also said that he was near securing a lease for 20 more spaces. The hearing officer asked the applicant to provide a determination from Building and Safety.
5) There has been a change in my duties. At the last Board meeting I was elected First Vice President of the Neighborhood Council.

7a.  Returning Business: Berkshire Tavern CUB Liquor License approval sought at 13615 Ventura Blvd. 
Applicant presents. Discussion: upper level will not be used for seating of patrons; a vegetation sound wall will be installed to reduce ambient noise; no music outside; required bike parking to be added will eliminate 2 parking spaces; 18 spaces have been leased for parking at Woodman Bldg -- offers parking agreement for off-site parking; provides rendering of changed façade as requested by LUC;; have tried to address the concerns raised by LUC at prior meeting; 
Public Comment: Noise concern expressed by neighbor Aline Bichert. 
LUC Member Questions addressed to applicant: by C. Buck re: green wall – there will be no smoking on patio seating; J. Kalban re: nature of material being used for the sound wall and reservation about use of patio seating at all; J. Diamond: concern re: noise and bar seating; R. Ziff: concern re: bike spaces location; status of dispute with prior tenants; nature of parking space lease – month-to-month?; No term stated in pending parking lease – Ron wants 5 yr term; A. Bartley comments that a defined term for such off-site parking will be very hard to get;  (they will clarify and add necessary term);  Jeff K. Cannot go along with rear patio seating, sound wall won’t adequately shield noise, would approve as presented but w/o rea patio seating, use this space for added parking; A. Fields suggests that if we eliminate patio seating entirely, that will reduce the no. of patrons who can be served and this will have a negative impact on profitability, when we all want this business to succeed for best interests of S.O., and reasonable efforts are being made to reduce the noise level. After discussion among LUC Members, Jeff K agrees to withdraw his Motion to approve only if patio seating is eliminated; Craig B offers new Motion to approve as proposed, but limit serving  hours to 11 pm Sun-Thursday, and to 12 AM on Fri and Sat, with sound wall to use hardscape materials such as cinderblock or concrete, and with vegetation at the sides.   Motion by C. Buck, Seconded by M. Maloney. Motion approved (6 Yes- no Abstentions. Ron Z did not vote.)
7b.  New Business:  For Fuel Cell to be Installed at AT & T Bldg on Ventura Blvd in C-2 zone. Applicant has applied for zone boundary adjustment with ZBA.
Applicant presents: 14 parking spaces will be removed to accommodate fuel cell structure, which will be visible from Venture Blvd. site has 340 parking spaces and Code requires only 297 spaces, this would reduce that to 263 spaces, more than ample to handle current staffing needs at AT & T; provides slide presentation; will fully comply with all environmental laws; it is “fail safe”; if a problem arises with gas line that feeds it, it auto shuts off; unit will be monitored remotely 24/7; discuss what can hap[pen to fuel cell material inside in event of an earthquake; inside are ceramic plates which chemically react with natural gas delivered via gas pipeline; works like a battery; cannot be opened by intruders; if opened, it auto shuts down; produces low level hum – 60 dcb when on.
LUC Member Questions/Discussion:  J. Kalban expresses concern that absent some shielding greenery, it will be an eyesore; also has concern re: level of hum noise near Ventura Blvd; Ron Z. notes that Zoning Admin has granted prelim approval; and now they need our approval letter; applicant is AT & T – they filed the application; 
Motion to approve was made and seconded 4 Yes, 1 No, and A. Fields Abstains. Motion Passes; Ron Z will issue letter. 
AT& T rep volunteers that he will follow up on adding greenery to cover the cell structure.
8.  Committee Business: Next LUC meeting January 17, 2014 at the Sherman Oaks Public Library 6:30 pm – agenda to follow.
9.  No Announcements. 
10. Meeting is Adjourned at 8 pm.