Voit to Pay $5.5 Million for Added Congestion

Under an agreement worked out Tuesday by City Councilwoman Joy Picus, a Warner Center developer will pay the city $5.5 million to cope with the extra traffic caused by the project.

Picus, whose district includes Warner Center, said developer Robert Voit had agreed to make the payment. In return, she will support his request to reduce the number of parking spaces the city is requiring him to create for his massive Warner Center Plaza project by 620--from 7,097 to 6,477.

The council’s Planning and Environment Committee approved the agreement Tuesday. It must still be approved by the full council, but in such cases council members usually defer to the colleague who represents the affected district.

Although Picus called the agreement “precedent-setting,” city transportation officials said the city already requires developers in other parts of the city to pay for traffic improvements.

An ordinance, drafted at Picus’ request, to extend the requirement to Warner Center developers is awaiting Mayor Tom Bradley’s signature after being approved by the council last month.

The $5.5 million, however, is the highest amount paid by a developer in the Valley, said Ed Rowe, acting general manager of the city Department of Transportation.

Funds Are Not Earmarked

No decision has been made on how the money will be spent. It could be used to pay for traffic-easing measures such as shuttle buses, bicycle facilities, bus subsidies and wider streets.

Voit’s project, which has been under way for five years, consists of the construction of a Marriott Hotel and six office towers in an area bounded by Canoga and Vassar avenues and Califa and Oxnard streets. All the buildings have been completed or are nearing completion except for a 22-story office building that is expected to get under way this year.

The city approved the project in 1983, but required Voit to provide 7,097 parking spaces. Voit recently requested the reduction to 6,477 spaces.

City transportation planners supported the reduction, but recommended that Voit ease the need for parking spaces by encouraging employees to walk to work or use car pools, buses or bicycles.

Norman Emerson, a Voit consultant, said the developer will still be providing more parking than is required in most of Los Angeles because parking requirements in Warner Center are more strict than the citywide standards.

“We’re confident this is going to be more than sufficient,” Emerson said.