Local News in Brief : Parking-Lot Permit Denied for Toluca Lake Restaurant

Residents of a Toluca Lake neighborhood won a round Friday in their battle to keep owners of a nearby restaurant from tearing down a house to put in a parking lot.

In refusing a conditional-use permit to the owners of Chez Nous restaurant, the Los Angeles Office of Zoning Administration sided with area residents who said the parking lot would spoil their neighborhood.

“We’re just delighted,” said resident Pat Wood, who led the opposition. Wood, who lives three houses from the property, said the proposed parking lot would decrease property values of homes in the area and increase traffic and noise.

Assistant Zoning Administrator Willie H. Gerard said a parking lot would not be an appropriate use of the property. Traffic and noise in the neighborhood would increase, he said, especially after a bar under construction at the restaurant is completed.

Restaurant owners Bud and Chris Petrosian said they were shocked that their request was denied. They bought the property, across an alley from the restaurant, five months ago and had planned to tear down the house to make room for a 25-space parking lot. The restaurant has a 10-space lot.

The owners have 15 days to appeal the decision.