Building Moratorium Urged at Hansen Dam Recreation Area

Councilman Ernani Bernardi on Wednesday called for a 90-day moratorium on construction and demolition in the Hansen Dam Recreation Area, which he hopes will prevent owners of property near the park’s entrance from building an auto-repair shop.

The city of Los Angeles wants to acquire the 0.85 of an acre in Lake View Terrace for use as a park gateway. A used-car lot and a fast-food restaurant now occupy the parcel.

“I can’t think of anything that would be more undesirable than to have that kind of auto activity at what should be the key entrance to this recreational area,” Bernardi said.

A deal to buy the land for $525,000, which was to have come before the City Council on Wednesday, fell through unexpectedly when the city discovered that the former owner had sold the property in April. The new owner, Hayden Hamilton, filed papers with the city zoning administrator’s office to begin the hearing process Oct. 2 for an 18,000-square-foot auto-repair shop.

Hamilton paid more for the land than the city’s estimated value--about $675,000, according to Bernardi--and the City Council voted Wednesday to try to renegotiate a sale with him. Bernardi said the city will turn to seizing the land through eminent domain if necessary.

Hamilton could not be reached for comment.

Bernardi said he thought that Hamilton’s land was the only parcel that would be affected by the moratorium, which is scheduled to be considered Tuesday by the council.