Stipulations Eased on May Co. Building : Development: Police Chief Gates scraps some of the conditions that a subordinate placed on conversion of the facility.

Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl F. Gates has moderated concerns voiced earlier by a police subordinate over developers’ plans to convert the old May Co. building downtown into a garment-making center.

On Tuesday, Gates rescinded several conditions that had been placed on the project last September by Central Division Capt. Jerry Conner. In September, Conner sent a letter to city zoning administrators noting “major concerns” about the project and proposing limits that would have required developers to provide additional security, parking and transportation.

In a letter of his own sent Tuesday to City Council President John Ferraro, Gates said that “we are not recommending additional parking to encourage more vehicles into the Central Traffic District. However, the Department of Transportation should be consulted on this issue.”

Gates also said that only those businesses selling alcohol must have conditional-use permits. Conner said in his letter that the project should be required to provide 1,000 parking spaces for employees and 2,000 parking spaces for patrons. Conner also said conditional-use permits should be imposed on every business renting space.

Gates added, however, that he agreed with Conner’s earlier recommendation that the project include security guards, telephones, restrooms and video monitors throughout the building.

Responding to charges by developers that some of Conner’s concerns were outside the scope of the Police Department, Gates ordered an investigation into Conner’s letter soon after it was sent.

A developers group led by Belfor Shalomi and Amanollah Simantob labeled Conner’s letter a “poison pill.” The developers are seeking a conditional-use permit to house 600 businesses and 7,000 workers in the May Co. building, now called the Broadway Trade Center, at 801 Broadway in an area zoned for commercial and residential uses.

Mayor Tom Bradley cited Conner’s concerns in vetoing the project after it had been approved by the City Council on Sept. 17. Bradley fears the project will increase traffic, lure tenants from the nearby garment district and trigger more requests for similar permits from other building owners.

Ferraro, who supports the project, could not say whether the Police Department’s diluted demands would influence the council when it considers the mayor’s veto Tuesday. The council needs 12 votes to override the mayor’s veto.

Danny Partielli, executive director of the Broadway Trade Center, said he was pleased with the modifications he believes will “definitely influence the council.”

“I’m glad the Police Department has realized our project is viable,” Partielli said. “We will continue working with the Police Department and all city agencies to make sure the safety conditions are as required by law.”