Picus Calls for Building Restrictions in Reseda

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Joy Picus on Wednesday asked the City Council to severely restrict building in Reseda’s business district until a development plan can be prepared.

Her proposal would impose tighter controls on building heights, landscaping, parking and signs on the commercial strip along Reseda Boulevard and Sherman Way. It also would temporarily prohibit development of any more adult bookstores, thrift shops and certain other businesses that residents claim have contributed to the area’s decline.

The proposal comes at a time when Picus, who faces reelection next year, has been criticized in her stronghold of Reseda for not doing more to slow growth in her West San Fernando Valley district.

Picus scoffed at the criticism Wednesday, saying: “There wouldn’t be much of Reseda left if I weren’t there protecting it.”

Picus said she introduced the proposed restrictions at the request of a citizens’ advisory committee she appointed to prepare a development plan for the business area.

“We’re just trying to prevent undesirable development” until the plan is finished, said the Rev. Lyle Gordon of First Baptist Church of Reseda, committee chairman.

The plan, which seeks to transform the area into an fashionable shopping district, is expected to be sent to the council for approval in about a year. The area is under controls imposed in 1985.

Reseda Bypassed

The business district was a thriving retail hub in the 1950s. But in the ‘60s and ‘70s, fashionable stores started bypassing Reseda. Shoppers followed suit.

Today, the area, extending along Reseda Boulevard between Kittridge and Lull streets and Sherman Way between Hesperia and Wilbur avenues, consists of a mishmash of adult bookstores, auto-related businesses, pawn and thrift shops, and fast-food restaurants.

Many buildings are “in poor condition, cluttered with signage, devoid of landscaping and generally uninviting,” said Picus.

Picus’ proposal would, among other things, limit development to new buildings of no more than two stories and with a square footage no more than 1 1/2 times the size of the lot. Zoning now allows buildings up to six stories with a square footage of six times the lot size. The proposal also would increase parking requirements.

“These controls will help preserve and improve residential neighborhoods adjacent to commercial areas by preventing inappropriate development,” Picus said.

One-year Reseda resident Daniel Robertson applauded Picus’ efforts.

“If you look at Sherman Way and Reseda, all we have is a bunch of empty stores and thrift shops,” he said. “I’d like to see some good respectable places being put in there. The pornographic stores and such are giving Reseda a bad reputation.”

‘Land Use Indiscriminate’

Steve Aufhauser, co-owner of an art supply business on Reseda Boulevard, added: “I think land use in Reseda and probably valleywide has been pretty indiscriminate. It doesn’t make sense to put an auto parts shop or thrift store right next door to a movie house. What you should put next to a movie shop is a coffee shop or yogurt store.”

Milena Miller, a Reseda Community Assn. board member, pointed out that Picus is seeking the restrictions while her committee develops a plan. “It would be crazy for builders just to be able to run loose in Reseda while these people are trying to put together a more responsive program.”

Danny Porter, owner of an export and import business in Reseda, said, however: “I’m for development myself. That’s the problem with Reseda. It just sat here and rotted for a long time. Now it seems like people come in and want to rehabilitate the buildings and everybody’s opposed to it.”

If approved by the council and Mayor Tom Bradley, Picus’ proposal would remain in effect for one year or until the council approves a development plan. Developers could seek hardship exemptions.

The council is expected to refer the proposal to the city attorney next week for drafting of an ordinance. Council members usually defer to the colleague whose district is affected by the proposal.