Zoning Approval Likely for Major CBS Expansion

It appears that CBS will receive the go-ahead from the city to undertake a major expansion of its production facilities in Studio City.

At a zoning hearing Friday that lasted nearly three hours, Associate Zoning Administrator William E. Lillenberg indicated that he intends to grant CBS a conditional use permit to build commercial property on land zoned for residential use. He also indicated the CBS facility could go beyond height limits on Radford Avenue--provided that the television network meets certain conditions.

Among the conditions are provisions that CBS build the project in phases, address morning noise created by trucks and forklifts, and route heavy trucks away from Woodbridge Avenue. Lillenberg said he will issue his formal decision in 10 to 14 days.

Lillenberg praised CBS for working with the community to reduce traffic, noise and visual impacts of the project.

“They’re going beyond what you would expect them to do,” he said.

CBS seeks to build seven additional sound stages on 11.5 acres across the Los Angeles River from its 30-acre lot at Radford Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. The $30-million, 245,000-square-foot project also includes dressing rooms, storage areas, production support areas and 1,202 parking spaces.

“I’m pleased,” said Michael L. Klausman, president of CBS Studio Center. “I think it’s a good project. I think we’ve done everything we can to address problems that have arisen in the development.”

“We’re not surprised that they got the approval,” said Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Homeowners Assn., who earlier ran down a long list of suggested conditions in his testimony before Lillenberg.

Lucente said he will request a meeting with CBS officials and a representative from City Councilman Joel Wachs’ office to discuss some of the proposal’s details that he said he learned about for the first time on Friday.

Sondra Frohlich, executive director of the Studio City Chamber of Commerce, said she was happy about the direction in which Lillenberg appeared to be heading and expressed hope that his conditions would not end up being too restrictive.

None of the community members testifying Friday opposed the project, but several expressed concerns about potential traffic, parking, noise and visual problems.

Gail Conway, who lives in the Studio Village condominium complex to the north of the proposed project, said she and her neighbors have been disturbed by noise generated by three sound stages that were built five years ago.

“We’re not against this project per se--we know it’s good for business--but we’re very concerned about the impact on our property values and about noise,” she said.

William J. Hirsty, whose Volvo/Saab dealership backs up to the CBS lot, said the television network has been a good neighbor.

“I think we need it for the business they bring and the prestige that CBS brings to the city,” he said.

The current lot is 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.

The current height restrictions are 45 feet for the entire lot, except for along Radford Avenue, where buildings cannot exceed 35 feet. Some of the proposed sound stages will be 50 and 60 feet high.

Lillenberg said he will accept letters from the public regarding their concerns about the project.