Neighbors Renew Fight Over Developing Carwash Site : Zoning: A group that failed to save a Studio City landmark tries to block permits for three restaurants and a stereo store.

A celebrated carwash may be gone, but Studio City’s battle over the site where the neighborhood landmark once stood continued Monday, with opponents of development appealing on grounds of liquor and zoning laws instead of cultural memorabilia.

Leaders of a neighborhood group fought the issuance of city conditional-use permits for three trendy restaurants and a stereo store proposed for the two-story Laurel Promenade shopping center under construction at the intersection of Ventura and Laurel Canyon boulevards.

The site was the center of a nationally publicized controversy last year when opponents of the development led an effort to declare the carwash a culturally significant example of 1950s architecture.

The preservation effort was widely viewed as a creative ploy to stop more development along busy Ventura Boulevard.

Although developer Ira Smedra won a lawsuit against the city over the cultural landmark issue and obtained a building permit, the carwash battle left bitter feelings between the developer and neighborhood activists.

Polly Ward, president of the Studio City Residents Assn., complained at Monday’s hearing at the Van Nuys Woman’s Club that Ventura Boulevard has too many bars and restaurants serving alcohol, and that installation of car stereo systems by a proposed store would disturb neighbors.

Smedra called her objections an extension of “the ongoing campaign against us.”

“I would deny blocking anything,” Ward said. “He (Smedra) is exhibiting such chutzpah coming in and asking for three restaurants.”

The three restaurants--Kaktus, Daily Grill and Louisa’s--have signed leases with Smedra and are applying for liquor licenses with the city’s Alcohol and Beverage Control Board.

Ira Handelman, a consultant to Smedra, called all three restaurants first-class establishments and told zoning administrator Robert Janovici that the shopping center would provide adequate parking.

Ward said three alcohol-serving restaurants were too many for one shopping center.

Armed with a list of neighborhood restaurants and bars, she said there are 30 restaurants with alcohol permits within a one-mile radius of Smedra’s shopping center, and more than 60 such establishments in Studio City.

Janovici said he would issue a decision in 10 days.

Both sides vowed to appeal the outcome if it is not to their likings.