NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Residents Protest Proposed Mini-Mall

Residents protested a proposed mini-mall on Riverside Drive just east of Lankershim Boulevard at a zoning hearing this week, saying the project would exacerbate parking and security problems that they are already facing.

“I’m just flabbergasted that you could contemplate so many businesses in such a small lot,” said Mae Sailor, who lives on nearby Landale Street.

On Monday, Associate Zoning Administrator Horace E. Tramel Jr. said he is concerned about the effect of the proposed development on the community and about the “over-concentration” of liquor licenses currently held by businesses in the area.

Tramel said he would issue his decision within two weeks on Panda Management Co. Inc.’s application to build four restaurants--all of which would require liquor licenses--and an oil-change business at 10760 Riverside Drive. He said he will also consider any letters he receives from community members within that time.

“I have a concern about giving four liquor licenses without knowing who I’m giving them to,” Tramel said. “We have 16 liquor licenses in this census tract--that’s an over-concentration.”

The South Pasadena-based developer proposes to build two to four restaurants on the site, which will have 57 parking spaces. Among the restaurants under consideration are California Chicken Cafe, Chubby’s Diner, Poquito Mas, Subway and Kachina.

A six-bay oil-change station, EZ-Lube, would occupy a separate 2,900-square-foot building.

The project is considered a mini-shopping center because it involves two or more retail businesses on a site with an area of less than 6,500 square feet. The proposed hours of operation for the restaurants are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Robert Grosse, director of corporate development for Panda Management, said his company will build four restaurants in the “worst-case scenario” but may construct fewer restaurants or have a combination of stores and restaurants.

“We tried to play it conservative,” Grosse said. “Maybe we made it harder for ourselves.”

Three residents spoke against the project at the hearing. Two said they will encourage their neighbors to oppose the mini-shopping center.