Encino : Zoning Panel to Hear Synagogue’s Appeal

A Los Angeles city panel will consider on Jan. 16 an Encino synagogue’s appeal of a zoning official’s rejection of its latest request to use a house as a place of worship.

The Board of Zoning Appeals will review a Nov. 16 decision by Chief Zoning Administrator Robert Janovici to deny the Sephardic Jewish Center’s request to use a house near the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Lindley Avenue as a synagogue.

The synagogue’s request for the city permit was its second in about a year. Unlike a 1994 application, which asked for permission to increase the size of the building, the current application asks only to continue to use the house as a synagogue.

Responding to neighbors’ complaints about congregants’ cars blocking driveways and other problems, the City Council in June ordered the synagogue closed by Oct. 31.

But on Oct. 30, Rabbi Joseph Cohen, executive director of the center, filed the revamped application for the city permit. Janovici, the zoning official, issued his ruling two weeks later.

“Based on the city attorney’s current opinion and my own belief that this is a duplicate filing of a similar case in which the city has clearly ruled on less than a year ago, I am terminating your application,” Janovici wrote.

“In order to be a good neighbor and maintain your credibility in the future, you should vacate the site at the earliest possible date.”

The city attorney’s office is reviewing the case to see whether it wants to prosecute the synagogue for failing to obey the City Council’s order.

Fred Gaines, an attorney for the synagogue, has said the synagogue, by limiting its activities to small prayer services and some classes, has complied with the order.

The hearing will be at 9 a.m. Jan. 16 at 201 N. Figueroa St., Room 170, in downtown Los Angeles.