Another Setback for 21-Home Proposal

A group of Reseda homeowners Thursday won the latest round in a dispute over a development they say would change the character of their neighborhood.

Members of the city Planning Commission, meeting at the Sherman Oaks Woman’s Club, made it clear they did not favor a plan that would put 21 homes on a two-acre site near Reseda Boulevard and Calvert Street. But the commission voted to hold off on taking formal action in order to allow the owner of the property, Bernard Little, two months to revise his plan.

The first plan Little submitted to the commission called for 27 single-family homes on the lot. After neighborhood residents objected, he scaled back to 26, 24 and finally 21 homes, said Brad Rosenheim, a land-use expert working as a consultant to Little.

Little’s current plan won the support of Councilwoman Laura Chick, whose planning deputy, Denise Schall, appeared before the commission to voice support for it.

Two area residents also told the commission they favor the development. “The street is kind of worn down now. It looks bad,” said Gene Wu, who lives three houses away from Little’s property. “I think [Little] is trying to do his best to make sure things work out.”

But several residents spoke in opposition.

“When I bought my house, I checked very carefully to make sure this was the right place to raise my family,” said Gabriel Taslakian, whose home abuts Little’s property. “I thought it was perfect.

“This plan is too much. It would totally change the area.”

City planner Don Taylor, who studied the Little plan for the commission, also said he saw no compelling reason to make a zoning change that would allow Little’s development to go ahead in its current form.

Rosenheim said Little would probably revise his plan and try again.

“We’re a little disappointed, but we’re also hopeful we will still be able to work something out,” he said.