Plan Would Pave Way to Better Boulevard

A new way to raise money for bus benches, trees and more parking on Ventura Boulevard will be discussed at a community meeting Thursday in Woodland Hills.

The city Planning Department will sponsor the meeting, which will present information on how community leaders and the city can form so-called business improvement districts along the boulevard. The districts are areas where merchants agree to be taxed to pay for amenities, such as landscaping and special paving, that would presumably make the businesses more attractive to shoppers.

The city is in the process of rewriting the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan so that street beautification, parking and shuttles would be paid for by business improvement districts. Street widening would continue to be paid for through developer levies once known as trip fees.

A citizens committee overseeing the plan envisions setting up districts in Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino, Sherman Oaks and Studio City. The City Council’s planning committee has recommended setting aside $250,000 to promote the idea of the districts to merchants.

Jeff Brain, chairman of the citizens review committee, believes that an additional $250,000 to $500,000 will be necessary to get the districts up and running.

Thursday’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Auditorium B, first floor, through Entrance 5, 5601 De Soto Ave. in Woodland Hills.