Dispute Over Parking Space Halts Restaurant Construction

Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety officials on Friday ordered the builders of a Sizzler restaurant in Sherman Oaks to cease work, saying they had violated city requirements and may have to provide more parking.

Art Devine, manager of the department’s Van Nuys Division, said the developers were demolishing a large amount of the existing building rather than simply remodeling it in accord with plans they submitted to the city.

“They said they would remodel and just add some additional square footage, but more than that was going on,” Devine said.

Representatives for Sizzler could not be reached for comment.

Sherman Oaks homeowners complained to the city because they said the new Sizzler, at the site of the former Josephina’s restaurant at 13562 Ventura Blvd., would not include adequate parking for customers. Residents said the developers told them they did not have to comply with parking requirements because they were only remodeling an existing structure, not building a new one.

Devine said Sizzler officials would have to revise the building permit they obtained on Nov. 8, and might have to provide on-site parking and other requirements if the city concludes that a new building was under construction there.

Tom Grant of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. said he was torn by the department’s decision. “People have been looking forward to a Sizzler restaurant,” he said. “But we just couldn’t allow it to go forward the way it was. They were not following the rules, and it would set a precedent for restaurants on Ventura Boulevard.”