Developer Told to Scale Back Plans for 4 Parcels

Los Angeles City Council President John Ferraro said Monday that a massive plan to develop four properties surrounding the vast Park Labrea apartment complex must be scaled down before it can win city approval.

The plan, which began as a proposal for a regional shopping center, has been changed to feature twin office towers and a hotel at the site of the May Co. store at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.

Under the proposal submitted by Forest City Development, more than 2,000 apartments would be constructed at the sites of an existing shopping mall and tennis club on 3rd Street. There would also be a senior housing facility on 6th Street.

But at a hearing required for zoning changes requested by the developer, Ferraro aide Renee Weitzer said the councilman, whose district includes the development site, opposes the proposal as being too bulky and likely to attract extra traffic to a congested area.