Bernardi Calls for Rezoning Store Site

Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi, concerned about the potential for a huge development at the site of a closed Robinson’s department store at the Panorama Mall, Tuesday asked city planners to rezone the property and surrounding area.

Bernardi said he was surprised to learn that zoning in the six-block area near Roscoe and Van Nuys boulevards in Panorama City would allow for development of several buildings similar in scale to the 62-story First Interstate Bank Building in downtown Los Angeles.

He said he was unaware of the development potential of the site until informed recently by a city planner, who had decided to alert the councilman after the store closed in July and the land was put up for sale.

Bernardi could not say how the zoning came into existence. Chief Zoning Administrator Frank Eberhard said the zoning probably dates back to 1946 when the city was promoting growth. He speculated that the zoning did not become an issue because there was never any threat of intense development on the site.

No specific project has been proposed for the site of the closed store, Bernardi said.

City officials could not recall any area of the Valley where zoning would allow such development.

Bernardi proposed downzoning the area bounded by Parthenia Street, Strathern Street, Van Nuys Boulevard and Cedros Avenue.

Existing zoning, he said, would permit 13 million square feet of development. In contrast, Warner Center has about 11 million square feet.

“If construction of this magnitude were permitted in this area, a tremendous burden would be placed on the already overloaded infrastructure, particularly the street system,” Bernardi said in his motion.

Bernardi said he wants to keep the area commercial, but has not decided how much development should be restricted.

Bernardi’s request was referred to the council’s Planning and Environment Committee for study.