Vote paves way for 28-unit condo project in Montrose

Plans to replace a long-shuttered pool hall in Montrose with a 28-unit condominium project won support from the city’s Planning Commission Wednesday night.

With a 5-0 vote, commissioners recommended the City Council approve a zoning amendment to make way for the residential project on the former site of the Mix at 2612 Honolulu Ave.

That type of amendment is what’s known as a precise plan of development overlay zone, which allows a developer to apply for a series of exceptions to zoning rules if their project is found to be in character and conforming with the adjacent neighborhood.

In this case, planning staffers were in favor of the condo project that’s poised to be spread across four buildings and stand at 36 feet in height at its tallest point.

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The zoning exception sought was mainly to reconcile regulations on the Honolulu section of the project and the more residential side along Sycamore Avenue, according to planning staff.

” This project addresses Honolulu and Sycamore avenues, respectively, with an appropriate style that reinforces the mixed-use and commercial feel of Honolulu and the lower-scale residential feel of Sycamore Avenue,” said Kristen Asp, senior planner.

The project’s developer is Art Simonian, the principal of Metro Investments, who said the key toward putting his application together was holding a series of meetings with nearby residents to gauge their feedback.

“It just goes to show you that through dialogue and meetings that these difficult sites could come to fruition,” he said.

Commissioner Stephanie Landregan said she agreed.

“The compromises you made were in good taste and in good faith,” she said. “I understand that they were economically sometimes not to your advantage, but to the community, that kind of cooperation and civic mindedness is to be commended.”

The condo development will have 67 parking spaces with a lot entrance off Sycamore.

Another feature commissioners said they liked was the inclusion of an open-space courtyard that anyone can visit.

Commissioner Talin Shahbazian said that will be a welcome change from having the Mix, which has been closed for several years, continue to sit there.

“It makes it more comfortable to walk with all the open space rather than having the empty parking lot that’s there,” she said.

Prior to the Mix, the establishment was called Lady Jane’s, and before that, it was the Three Oaks, a family restaurant.

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Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com

Twitter: @ArinMikailian