2 Errors in Warner Center Ordinance Fixed

The Los Angeles City Council has corrected two clerical errors that weakened building control laws in Warner Center.

In the most serious error, the interim control ordinance adopted April 9 failed to specify that all Warner Center properties zoned for manufacturing were to be subject to development restrictions, according to a city report.

City zoning maps show that the area bounded by Vanowen Street on the north, De Soto Avenue on the east, the Ventura Freeway on the south and Canoga Avenue on the west is zoned for manufacturing.

The interim control ordinance prevents developers from obtaining building permits unless they first sign a pact with the city agreeing to perform whatever traffic mitigation measures would be required under a specific plan for the area. The specific plan is expected to be unveiled this summer.

The unanimous Tuesday vote correcting the error in the interim control ordinance requires that all new developments, including those zoned for manufacturing, be subjected to its terms.

Councilwoman Joy Picus, who represents the area, recently proposed that the interim control law be amended to prevent the total commercial development in Warner Center from exceeding 15.8 million square feet. About 14.6 million square feet is now built.

Because of another error, a provision in the interim law that is intended to require developers to notify all property owners within 300 feet of their projects of their future building plans was inadvertently reduced to 100 feet.