SHERMAN OAKS : Proposed Traffic Changes Questioned

Days before long-awaited traffic improvements were to begin at a busy Sherman Oaks intersection, the wisdom of the proposed improvements has been called into question by local civic leaders.

Work scheduled to begin this month by the owner of La Reina Fashion Plaza, 14622 Ventura Blvd., called for widening Ventura Boulevard at its intersection with Van Nuys Boulevard, inserting turn lanes and making other improvements to accommodate increased traffic created by the mall.

But Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn. and a frequent critic of the mall owner for failing to make improvements, called the proposed improvements “a total waste of time and money.”

“It’s solving a non-problem,” Close said. “It’s going to cost $212,000 and do little for the area.”

Jeff Brain, president of the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the money could be better spent, and has presented a plan that he said would solve the problems.

Brain has proposed spending the money on traffic lights that would provide protected turn signals at Cedros Avenue and Ventura Boulevard, directly across from the mall, and Van Nuys Boulevard and Moorpark Street.

He said traffic patterns show that there is not as strong a need for a right-hand turn lane at the congested intersection as there is for a dedicated left-hand turn signal.

Stephen Hlebasko, president of Trans-Pacific Partners Co., the San Francisco-based real estate firm that manages the mall, was not available for comment. But according to Brain, Hlebasko is amenable to whatever improvements the homeowners and business owners agree upon provided they do not exceed the current $250,000 budget and do not interfere with the mall’s permit to do business.

Brain said a meeting between city officials, the mall manager, himself and Close to discuss the improvements is scheduled Monday.