PACOIMA : City Council Fails to Defeat Project Veto

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday tried but failed to override a veto by Mayor Tom Bradley that has stalled a developer’s plan to rezone a 2.7-acre parcel in Pacoima for a 62,000-square-foot industrial park.

On a motion by Councilman Ernani Bernardi, who represents the area, the council voted 10 to 4 to overturn the veto and allow developer George Lanning to proceed with his plan.

But 12 votes were needed to undo the veto.

Bradley’s veto follows the advice of the Planning Commission, which contends that Lanning’s project would be an unwanted intrusion in a residential area.

But Bernardi has argued that the property is also in the Pacoima enterprise zone, an area where the city and state governments are supposed to be encouraging job development projects like Lanning’s.

The disputed site, at the southeast corner of Osborne Street and Norris Avenue, adjoins residential properties on Osborne and manufacturing properties on Norris.

It is now zoned for residential use.

Despite Tuesday’s defeat, council rules allow Bernardi to try again to muster the requisite 12 votes.

He has until Jan. 22, when the council’s ability to override the veto expires.

Bernardi actually needs only one more vote to succeed because he was out with the flu during Tuesday’s council balloting and so could not vote himself.