STUDIO CITY : CBS Will Request Variance to Expand

CBS will ask the city for permission to embark on a major expansion of its studio facilities at a zoning hearing today.

Specifically, the television network wants permission to build seven sound stages on residentially zoned land and to build above height limits on Radford Avenue in Studio City.

The 245,000-square-foot project includes dressing rooms, storage areas, production support areas and 1,202 parking spaces. The CBS proposal also includes a bridge over the Los Angeles River to connect the existing and new lots. Network officials predicted the expansion would create 800 new jobs.

The hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. at the Sherman Oaks Women’s Club, 4808 Kester Ave.

The 16 sound stages at CBS Studio Center are at capacity, according to the network. Among the shows produced on the lot are “Seinfeld,” “Roseanne” and “Dave’s World.”

The studio center is on 30 acres bounded by the Los Angeles River to the north, Colfax Avenue to the east, the alley behind Ventura Boulevard to the south and Radford Avenue to the west.

CBS proposes building on 11.5 acres of property across the river on land being used for parking and truck storage.

The network has met with the Studio City Residents Assn. to present its plans and sound out concerns.

“Our concerns are about traffic and about the visual impact of the project,” said association President Tony Lucente. “How high are the buildings? Are they going to be visible from surrounding residential areas? How much additional traffic will be generated by this project? And how are they going to deal with those increases?”

Lucente added that he feels confident that CBS will address neighbors’ concerns.