STUDIO CITY : Planning Panel Says Building Is Too Tall

How much difference can 14 inches make?

A whole lot if it’s on top of a building in Studio City.

The Los Angeles Planning Commission on Thursday denied a company’s request to keep a 14-inch parapet on its building, saying the decoration violates the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan because it increased the building’s height from 33 feet to 34 feet, 2 inches.

The Planning Department, which monitors the Specific Plan, approved Zentac Investment’s original building-improvement proposal, which set the height at 33 feet, hearing examiner Michael Davies said. Zentac later changed the plans, and the Department of Building and Safety apparently issued a building permit without alerting the Planning Department of the design change, he said.

Commissioners called for a review of such procedures between the two departments. But regardless of who was at fault, the parapet violates the Specific Plan and should be removed, the commission ruled in a 3-2 vote.

Ira Handleman, a consultant representing Zentac, said the firm will appeal to the City Council. If the council upholds the planners’ decision, Building and Safety would order the parapet removed, Davies said.