L. A. Council Votes to Curb Growth in Residential Area
A measure that seeks to protect single-family residential neighborhoods in a wide swath of the south San Fernando Valley from the construction of large, out-of-scale apartment and condominium projects sailed through the City Council Friday.
The unanimous vote sent the measure to Mayor Tom Bradley for his expected approval.
The measure temporarily prohibits construction that does not conform to the community plan for an area from the San Diego Freeway east to Burbank and south from the Ventura Freeway to Mulholland Drive.
A 1985 ordinance requires new construction to conform to the community plans rather than less restrictive zoning, but the city granted exemptions. In many cases, the exemptions allow construction of apartments and condominiums in single-family residential neighborhoods.
The measure approved Friday was proposed by the city Planning Department in response to a neighborhood dispute over six apartment buildings under construction in the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Tujunga Avenue in Studio City. The projects were among those that received exemptions from the 1985 ordinance.
The city has ordered work stopped on the projects, but the developer has threatened to fight the city in court.
The new controls will remain in effect until the city completes a review of the community plan for the area, which takes in Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Toluca Lake. The review is expected to be completed in February.
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