Homeowner Groups Sue Over Studio Expansion

Two Westside homeowner groups filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles and its Planning Commission on Friday, claiming the city violated its planning rules to silence neighborhood opposition to 20th Century Fox studio expansion plan.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of the Cheviot Hills Homeowners Assn. and its neighbor to the east, the California Country Club Homes Assn. The two groups represent about 2,000 residences abutting Century City, where Fox proposes to expand its studio facility by 771,000 square feet, including space for its KTTV television station.

Residents contend that Fox should not have been allowed to initiate zoning changes until an official session was held with those affected by the project. Fox officials, who have put on a major campaign to gain community acceptance and have support from some neighbors, said they could not comment until they saw the lawsuit.