Area Planning Commission

Informacion en Español acerca de esta junta puede ser obtenida llamando al (213) 978-1300. SOUTH VALLEY AREA PLANNING COMMISSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2009, 4:30 P.M. MARVIN BRAUDE CONSTITUENT SERVICE CENTER 6262 VAN NUYS BOULEVARD, FIRST FLOOR VAN NUYS, CA 91401 Matt Epstein, President Gordon Murley, Vice President George Andros, Commissioner Steve Cochran, Commissioner Barbara Romero, Commissioner Fely C. Pingol, Commission Executive Assistant (213) 978-1300; FAX (213) 978-1029 EVERY PERSON WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION MUST COMPLETE A SPEAKER’S REQUEST FORM AT THE MEETING AND SUBMIT IT TO THE COMMISSION EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT. POLICY FOR DESIGNATED PUBLIC HEARING ITEM NOS.: 3, 4, 5, AND 6: Pursuant to the Commission’s general operating procedures, the Commission at times must necessarily limit the speaking times of those presenting testimony on either side of an issue that is designated as a public hearing item. All requests to address the Commission on public hearing items must be submitted prior to the Commission’s consideration of the item. TIME SEGMENTS noted * herein are approximate. Some items may be delayed due to length of discussion of previous items. To ensure that the Commission has ample opportunity to review written materials, members of the public who wish to submit written materials on agendized items should submit them to the Commission Office, 200 North Spring Street, Room 272, Los Angeles, CA 90012, at least 10 days prior to the meeting at which the item is to be heard in order to meet the mailing deadline. The Commission may RECONSIDER and alter its action taken on items listed herein at any time during this meeting or during the next regular meeting, in accordance with the Commission Policies and Procedures and provided that the Commission retains jurisdiction over the case.. AGENDAS are posted for public review in the Main Street lobby of City Hall East, 200 No. Main Street, Los Angeles, California, and are accessible through the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.lacity.org/pln/index.htm. If you challenge these agenda items in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing agendized here, or in written correspondence on these matters delivered to this agency at or prior to the public hearing. If you seek judicial review of any decision of the City pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5, the petition for writ of mandate pursuant to that section must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which the City's decision became final pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6. There may be other time limits which also affect your ability to seek judicial review. GLOSSARY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TERMS: CEQA - Calif. Environmental Quality Act ND - Negative Declaration EIR - Environmental Impact Report MND - Mitigated Negative Declaration CE - Categorical Exemption 1. DEPARTMENTAL REPORT - ITEMS OF INTEREST 2. COMMISSION BUSINESS A. Advance Calendar B. Commission Requests 3. ZA-2007-4872-ZAA-1A CEQA: ENV-2007-4873-CE Council District: 3 Plan: Canoga Park Location: 4914 Nomad Drive Expiration Date: 01/13/09 ext. Continued from 01/08/09 Appeal Status: Not further appealable to City Council PUBLIC HEARING AN APPEAL from the Zoning Administrator’s decision, pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.28, in granting approval of a Zoning Administrator’s Adjustment from Section 12.21-C,1 for the construction, use and maintenance of a fence up to 12-feet in height in the front yard setback in lieu of the permitted 6-feet, in conjunction with a single-family dwelling; and adoption of Categorical Exemption, No. ENV-2007-4873-CE, the environmental clearance for the project as recommended by City staff. APPLICANT: Mekhi Phifer Daniel Johnson, Representative APPELLANT: Arman Torossian/Andre P. Sanii Derek L. Tabone, Esq., Representative STAFF RECOMMENDS: Deny the appeal; sustain the decision of the Zoning Administrator, in granting approval for the construction, use and maintenance of a fence up to 12-feet in height in the front yard setback in lieu of the permitted 6-feet, in conjunction with a single family dwelling; and adopt Categorical Exemption, No. ENV-2007-4873-CE, the environmental clearance for the project as recommended by City staff. Adoption of the categorical exemption will mean that the project may be approved without any environmental review or other compliance under the California Environmental Quality Act. Staff: R. Nicolas Brown (818) 374-5069 SOUTH VALLEY 2 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009 4. ZA-2008-1749-CUW-1A CEQA: ENV-2007-1750-MND Council District: 5 Plan: Encino-Tarzana Location: 4401 North Gable Drive Expiration Date: 02/21/09 Appeal Status: Not further appealable to City Council PUBLIC HEARING AN APPEAL, from the Zoning Administrator’s decision pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.24-W,49, for the denial of a Conditional Use Permit to permit the installation, use and maintenance of an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility consisting of 12 antennas (three arrays of four each) placed on stub mounts (16 feet top of antennas) on the south edge of the hilltop of the existing water tank and six equipment cabinets mounted on a raised concrete pad in an 8-foot high chain link fence enclosure; and do not adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2007-1750-MND . APPLICANT: Scott Harry, T-Mobile USA; LADWP; Brandy Roybal-Valdez Representative: Charles Dunn, Synergy Development Services APPELLANT: Omnipoint Communications, Inc. A subsidiary of T-Mobile USA, Inc. STAFF RECOMMENDS: Deny the appeal; sustain the decision of the Zoning Administrator, in denying Conditional Use Permit to permit the installation use and maintenance of an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility consisting of 12 antennas (three arrays of four each) placed on stub mounts (16 feet top of antennas) on the south edge of the hilltop of the existing water tank and six equipment cabinets mounted on a raised concrete pad in an 8-foot high chain link fence enclosure; and do not adopt Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2007-1750-MND, the environmental clearance for the project as recommended by City staff. Staff: R. Nicolas Brown (818) 374-5069 5. ZA-2007-4635-ZV-ZAA-PA1-1A CEQA: ENV-2007-3642-MND Council District: 5 Plan: Van Nuys- North Sherman Oaks Location: 13079 West Chandler Boulevard Expiration Date: 02/23/09 Appeal Status: Zone Variance is further appealable to City Council if granted. PUBLIC HEARING SOUTH VALLEY 3 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009  APPEALS, from the Zoning Administrator’s decision 1) pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.21-A,2, for the dismissal of a Zoning Administrator’s Interpretation that the R1-1 Zone applies to the vacated portion of Chandler Boulevard per Resolution to Vacate No. 07-1400957 adopted April 27, 2007 and recorded July 27, 2007 inasmuch as said action is consistent with Section 12.30-F of the Municipal Code and an interpretation is not necessary as the zoning maps for the vacated portion have already been updated to reflect the R1 Zone; 2) pursuant to Charter Section 562 and Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.27-B, for denial of a variance from Section 12.21.1 of the Municipal Code to permit a building height of 37 feet for a religious facility in lieu of the 33 feet otherwise permitted in the R1 Zone or in lieu of the 28 feet permitted in the R1 Zone when the roof of the uppermost story of a building has a slope which is less than 25%; and, 3) pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.24-W,9, for the approval of a conditional use to permit the construction, use and maintenance of a religious facility in the R1 Zone; and 4) pursuant to Charter Section 562 and Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.27-B, the approval of a variance from Section 12.21-A,4(e) of the Municipal Code as modified by this action to permit 5 parking spaces in lieu of 68 spaces required (1 per 35 square feet of assembly space) in conjunction with a maximum permitted assembly space of 2,400 square feet (which shall include Synagogue and Multi-Purpose Room space) instead of the applicant’s request for a variance to permit 5 parking spaces in lieu of 104 spaces required (1 per 35 square feet of assembly space) in conjunction with the applicant’s proposed maximum assembly space of 3,654 square feet (2,366 square-foot Synagogue plus 1,288 square-foot Multi-Purpose Room); and, a variance from Section 12.21-A,6(d) of the Municipal Code to permit no wall enclosure for the parking area; and, 5) pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 12.28, approval of an adjustment from Section 12.08-C,1 of the Municipal Code, as modified by this action, to permit a minimum front yard setback along Ethel Avenue of 10 feet in lieu of the 20 feet otherwise required instead of the applicant’s request to provide a varying front yard setback between 2 feet and 10 feet 10 inches in lieu of the 20 feet required; and, an adjustment from Section 12.08-C,2 of the Municipal Code to permit a northerly side yard adjoining MTA property of zero feet in lieu of the 7 feet otherwise required for a four-story building (with a habitable basement which counts as a story), and an adjustment from Section 12.08-C,2 of the Municipal Code, as modified by this action, to permit a minimum southerly side yard adjoining Chandler Boulevard of 6 feet in lieu of the 7 feet otherwise required for a four- story building (with a habitable basement which counts as a story) instead of the applicant’s request to provide a southerly side yard setback varying from 2 feet to 10 feet 2 inches; adoption of Mitigated Negative Declaration No. ENV-2007-1099-MND. APPLICANT: Rabbi Aaron Abend, Chabad of North Hollywood, Chabad of the Valley, Inc. Representative.: Benjamin Reznik, Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro, LLP APPELLANT: Mitchell L. Ramin; Jeff Gantman; Rabbi Aaron Abend STAFF RECOMMENDS: Deny the appeal: sustain the decision of the Zoning Administrator, for the proposed Conditional Use for a religious facility in the R-1 Zone with related Variances, Zoning Administrator’s Adjustments, and a Zoning Administrator’s Interpretation, and Mitigated Negative Declaration ENV-2007-4636-MND for the project as recommended by City Staff. Staff: Lourdes Green (213) 978-1313 SOUTH VALLEY 4 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009 6. DIR-2005-3266-PUB-ZV-ZAA-PA1-1A Related Case: CPC-2005-3266-PUB-ZV-ZAA CEQA: ENV-2008-4300-CE Council District: 2 Plan: Sherman Oaks-Studio City- Location: 4155 N. Whitsett Avenue Toluca Lake-Cahuenga Pass Expiration Date: 01/30/09 ext. Appeal Status: Zone Variance may be appealed to City Council if granted PUBLIC HEARING AN APPEAL, of the Director’s Determination allowing the removal of four (4) trees fronting Whitsett Avenue from Fire Station No. 78 approved for construction, use and maintenance by the City Planning Commission on September 22, 2005 (CPC 2005-3266-PUB-ZV-ZAA); adoption of Categorical Exemption No. ENV-2008-4242-CE will be considered. REQUESTED ACTION: Pursuant, to Section 12.24 M, delegating authority to the Director of Planning to approve in behalf of the City Planning Commission plans for the development of previously approved conditional use, to approve a modification of the Landscape Plan (Condition No. 5) allowing the removal of four eucalyptus trees from the Fire Station site. APPLICANT: Los Angeles Fire Department Bureau of Engineering APPELLANT: Barbara Monahan Burke STAFF RECOMMENDS: Deny the appeal; sustain the Director’s Site Plan Review Determination dated December 12, 2008; adopt findings and adopt Categorical Exception ENV-2008-4300-CE Staff: Rony E. Giron (818) 374-9907 7. APCSV-2008-2458-BL-ZBA Related Case: AA-2001-5731-PMLA CEQA: ENV-2008-2459-ND Council District: 2 Plan: Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Location: 6557 N. Woodman Avenue and 6550 N. Mammoth Avenue Expiration Date: 02/14/09 Appeal Status: Further appealable to City Council PUBLIC HEARING COMPLETED JANUARY 05, 2009 BUILDING LINE REMOVAL, pursuant to Section 12.32 R of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) of a 49.89 linear foot portion of a 20-foot building line established by Ordinance No. 86,540, located on the east side of Woodman Avenue; SOUTH VALLEY 5 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009  ZONE BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT, pursuant to Section 12.32 R of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC), to allow the exchange of approximately 1,098 square feet between the existing R1-1 and [Q]R3-1 zones; and ADOPT NEGATIVE DECLARATION NO. ENV-2008-2459-ND. PROJECT: No project is proposed. A separate public hearing before the Advisory Agency was held on June 13, 2002 for Parcel Map No. AA-2002-5731-PMLA APPLICANT: Serob Torosian Representative: Oscar Ensafi . STAFF RECOMMENDS: Approve the Building Line Removal request of a 20-foot building line; approve a Zone Boundary Adjustment as requested; adopt findings and; adopt Negative Declaration No. ENV-2008-2459-ND. Staff: Debbie Lawrence (213) 978-3034 8. AA-2007-3951-PMLA-1A CEQA: ENV-2007-3952-ND Council District: 5 Plan: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Location: 13526 & 13610 W. Mulholland Drive, 13616, 13530, 13546 & 13568 Firth Drive Expiration Date: N/A Appeal Status: Not further appealable to City Council PUBLIC HEARING COMPLETED SEPTEMBER 04, 2008 AN APPEAL, of the Advisory Agency’s approval of AA-2007-3951-PMLA in its entirety for the Preliminary parcel map for a two-parcel, single-family, residential subdivision over a 227,351 square-foot parcel in the existing RE40-1-H Zone and Minimum Residential Land Use designated area; adoption of Negative Declaration No. ENV-2007-3952. APPLICANT: Dr. Martin Krell APPELLANTS: Edward Brody Benedict Hills Estates Homeowners Association STAFF RECOMMENDS: Deny the appeal; sustain the findings and conditions of the Deputy Agency; and adopt ENV-2007-3952-ND. Staff: Jennifer Driver (818) 374-5034 SOUTH VALLEY 6 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009 9. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD The Area Planning Commission shall provide an opportunity in open meetings for the public to address it, on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Area Planning Commission. (This requirement is in addition to any other hearing required or imposed by law.) Persons making requests are encouraged to do so in writing and should submit 10 copies to the Area Planning Commission for its consideration. Persons wishing to speak must submit a speaker’s request form prior to the commencement of the public comment period. Individual testimony within the public comment period shall be limited to five (5) minutes per person and up to ten (10) minutes per subject. The next regular meeting of the South Valley Area Planning Commission will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center 6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91401 An Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate. The meeting facility and its parking are wheelchair accessible. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or other services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request no later than three working days (72 hours) prior to the meeting by calling the Commission Executive Assistant at (213) 978-1300 or by e-mail at APCSouthValley@lacity.org SOUTH VALLEY 7 AREA PLANNING COMMISSION FEBRUARY 12, 2009