Local News in Brief : 2 Proposals to Restrict Construction Advance

Two proposals to temporarily restrict building in parts of the San Fernando Valley advanced at Los Angeles City Hall on Tuesday.

The City Council’s Planning and Environment Committee approved and sent to the full council a proposal to restrict for one year the height of new apartments and condominiums built next to single-family homes in parts of Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood and Van Nuys. The council is expected to approve the measure next week.

The measure was proposed by Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky in response to complaints from homeowners about blocked views, parking and traffic problems, and loss of privacy and sunlight caused by the construction of apartments and condominiums of up to five stories near their homes.

Under the proposal, projects closer than 50 feet from a single-family residence would be restricted to two stories and those 50 to 100 feet away would be restricted to three stories. Projects more than 100 feet from a single-family home would not be affected.

The measure would affect an area roughly north of Ventura Boulevard, east of the San Diego Freeway, west of Colbath Avenue and south of the Ventura Freeway. Also affected is the area north of the Ventura Freeway, east of the San Diego Freeway, west of Tujunga Wash and south of Magnolia Boulevard.

Meanwhile, the full council approved a request by Councilman Ernani Bernardi to draft an ordinance to impose a six-month moratorium on large apartment and condominium projects in Arleta, Pacoima and Sylmar, which are part of his district. The ordinance must come back to the council for final approval.

Both measures seek to give city planners time to prepare new development plans to permanently control growth in the communities.