RESEDA : Club’s Parking Problem at Issue

A Los Angeles city zoning administrator Monday postponed for two weeks a decision on a request by the owner of The Country Club for a liquor license, encouraging Councilwoman Laura Chick’s office to seek a solution in the meantime to the club’s parking problems.

Monday’s hearing became primarily a squabble over parking, centered on an unusual parking lot agreement.

Country Club owner Tony Longval, who bought the hall at 18415 Sherman Way in 1991, is seeking a conditional use permit to serve alcohol on the premises.

Longval has the support of Chick’s office, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Reseda Chamber of Commerce in his bid for the permit, all saying he has gone out of his way to address concerns.

According to an agreement, both supporters and critics of the request said, more than a dozen businesses in the area share a parking lot with 395 spaces. The agreement, however, does not appear to provide for business changes that increase occupancy.

“I’ve been in this business 28 years, and I’ve never seen a parking arrangement like this,” said Associate Zoning Administrator Albert Landini.

Landini agreed with proponents that “Mr. Longval has established himself and his track record in three years here,” and emphasized that a series of stringent restrictions recommended by the LAPD would likely limit any problems.

But he also told neighboring businesses owners the way to handle the parking fiasco might be by taking the Country Club to court.