PANORAMA CITY : Group Loses Bid for More Gym Parking

Los Angeles city officials Tuesday denied an appeal from a Panorama City homeowners group opposed to construction of a community gymnasium without additional parking or security.

The Board of Zoning Appeals decision upheld a variance granted by the city in April that allowed the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks to build a 10,700-square-foot gymnasium at the Sepulveda Recreation Center without adding to the 95 parking spaces.

The $2.1-million project would replace two outdoor basketball courts with a gymnasium, complete with a basketball court, meeting rooms and offices.

The ruling was a blow to the Panorama Park Homeowners Assn., which represents the tenants in the 94-unit condominium across the street from the recreation center at 8825 Kester Ave.

Peter Goodman, the group’s representative, argued that the park already creates a parking hazard, and that the new facility should not be considered without an environmental impact report focusing on parking and security.

But representatives of Councilman Joel Wachs and from another homeowner group, the North Hills Community Coordinating Council, countered that parking was adequate.

“The available parking today is heavily underutilized,” aide Tom Henry said. “Councilman Wachs would hate to see more green space turned into asphalt for parking that will never be used.”

After the hearing, a frustrated Goodman said his group did not plan further opposition to the gymnasium project.