For Sherman Oaks : L.A. Council Panel Votes Condo Curbs

One-year limits on the construction of large apartment and condominium projects in part of Sherman Oaks were approved Tuesday by a City Council committee, a vote applauded by a homeowners group but opposed by major landowners.

After an hour of testimony, the three-member Planning and Environment Committee unanimously endorsed the curbs, while expressing sympathy for property owners whose development plans will be placed on hold.

“The thing that troubles me about all these moratoriums is that they inhibit people from making a good-faith investment,” Councilman Hal Bernson said. “This sends a signal that Los Angeles is not a good place to do business.”

Nevertheless, Bernson said he voted for the 12-month development restrictions in deference to Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who picked up Sherman Oaks under the council’s recent redistricting.

Requested by Residents

Yaroslavsky told the committee that the building restrictions were the first request of Sherman Oaks residents when the area became part of his district. Putting breaks on high-density residential development will at least “buy some time” to analyze the 18-year-old community plan for the predominantly single-family area, he said.

“This will give us the chance to do the proper planning,” the councilman said.

The proposed curbs, which must be approved by the full council and Mayor Tom Bradley, would prohibit the city from issuing building permits for the construction or expansion of high-rise apartments and condominiums to the extent now permitted in the area south of Ventura Boulevard and east of the San Diego Freeway.

In areas where five-story apartment buildings are now allowed, construction would be limited to two stories.

The restrictions would take effect 30 days after approval by the mayor. However, developers would have to comply with the limits if their plans were not submitted to the city department of building and safety by Jan. 8.

Limits Endorsed

The Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. endorsed the limits, saying that a glut of residential development in recent years has contributed to the area’s traffic and parking problems. In addition, high-rises are being built adjacent to single-family homes, causing a loss of views, sunlight and property values, said Fred Kramer, the association’s vice president.

Opponents of the building restrictions argued that the measure would jeopardize their development plans.

Arthur K. Snyder, former city councilman who is now a lobbyist, said parking and traffic problems are caused largely by commercial development along Ventura Boulevard.

Snyder said he was representing a client who bought land on Dickens Street with “old, low-density buildings,” intending to build apartment buildings there.

“All of a sudden, bingo, this proposed moratorium comes out of nowhere,” Snyder said.