Yaroslavsky Seeks City Control on UCLA Land Use

Concerned that UCLA’s long-range development plans would cause additional congestion in a crowded neighborhood, Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky has asked school officials to grant the city binding power to approve new building on the Westwood campus.

In a letter to university officials released Monday, Yaroslavsky conceded that as “a state institution . . . (UCLA) is exempt from local land use regulation.” But the councilman added that the state Board of Regents would “not (be) prevented from entering into a binding contractual agreement” with the city for review of development projects.

The request drew a noncommittal response from a university administrator. “We intend to continue ongoing productive discussions with . . . Yaroslavsky and others regarding the plan,” Vice Chancellor Peter W. Blackman stated.