Residents Organize to Keep Site Undeveloped

Residents in the hills south of Ventura Boulevard are banding together to oppose the proposed development of one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land in Studio City.

Developer Howard Stone hopes to put nine luxury homes on the 14-acre site near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Canton Drive. Residents successfully blocked a similar plan for that land several years ago.

“There are so few open spaces left in our community,” said Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Residents Assn. “Certainly we’re very concerned when another large tract like this is threatened, especially when there’s a lot of earth that’s going to be moved.”

Residents cite concerns about environmental impact, adequate fire road access and possible increased risk of mudslides as reasons for their opposition. They strategized Tuesday night at a meeting of the residents association.

Stone was invited to attend the meeting, but declined.

He said via telephone Thursday that he is entitled to do what he wants with the property.

“I have no idea what they want from me,” he said of development opponents. “It’s mine. I paid money for this property. If the city turns me down, I’ll fight them. I have the money.”

The city’s Planning Department has not discussed the matter and no hearings or meetings on it are planned. But Tom Henry, planning deputy for City Councilman Joel Wachs, whose district includes the hillside tract, said Stone has contacted the city to inquire about building a new road that would serve the homes.

Henry said the land has been subdivided--ready for development, pending city approval--since the 1920s. He added that Wachs has not yet taken a position on the proposed development.

“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered about this very steep and virgin hillside,” Henry said.