‘Bare-Boned’ Concessions : Builders Trim Size of N. Hollywood Project

North Hollywood homeowners and two developers have reached a compromise that will decrease the number of units in a controversial cluster of apartments where construction was halted because of a zoning dispute.

The agreement ends a dispute between developers and a group of homeowners that erupted in a fistfight in December and included a picket-line protest in front of the Tujunga Avenue construction sites.

Ami Dabach, owner of Condor Wescorp. of Encino, which is developing four of the properties in the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Tujunga Avenue, agreed to eliminate plans for two apartment buildings and instead will construct two smaller condominium complexes. He said he also will reduce the number of units in two other apartment buildings.

The other developer, Martin Urov of West Los Angeles, reduced the size of his Tujunga Avenue apartment project from 22 to 20 units. In all, the five buildings will house 59 units instead of the originally slated 71.

The developers also agreed not to build balconies that overlook neighboring homes, to build additional parking and to submit architectural designs and landscaping plans to homeowners for their approval.

“We bare-boned them,” said Sharon Keyser, an aide to City Councilman John Ferraro, who represents the area and initiated negotiations between the developers and homeowners. “They made major concessions in reducing the size and now have to change their marketing scheme to sell condominiums.”

Homeowners had protested the construction of the larger apartments, saying that tall buildings with balconies would eliminate privacy, reduce property values and lead to curb-side parking in front of their homes.

They maintained that the city had erroneously issued an exemption to the area’s general plan in allowing the apartment construction. Although the land was zoned for apartments up to three stories high, the general plan indicated that only single-family homes were allowed in the area.

While the city was working out these inconsistencies, the projects were granted the exemption. But Ferraro sided with the homeowners saying city planners had misinterpreted guidelines that govern granting exemptions to the general plan.

The Planning Commission agreed, and the building permits were revoked.

Two of the buildings were under construction at the time. In an attempt to salvage the projects without going through lengthy city appeals processes that could end up in court, the developers, homeowners and Ferraro agreed to the compromise, Keyser said.

In the meantime, the Planning Commission has approved a new general plan and zoning designations for the Tujunga Avenue area that will allow for small and medium-sized apartment complexes along Tujunga Avenue. It will be several months before the commission’s recommendations will be sent to the City Council.

“If we had to go through the appeals it would have cost me and the city several million dollars,” Dabach said. “I have an investment and wanted to move along as quickly as possible.”

Jack Easton, who lives a block from the projects and led the homeowners’ protest, said that although the residents still believe parking is inadequate, they are pleased to get the balcony concession and the authority to approve design plans.

“We hope this will set some standards for other homeowners’ associations,” Easton said.