Storage Firm Forced to Scale Back Plans

Citing the company’s poor record in adhering to operating restrictions placed on its businesses, the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday overturned a decision that would have allowed Public Storage Inc. to rent moving trucks from a proposed storage facility on the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Vanalden Avenue.

Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who spoke in support of the appeal by area property owners, told the board that she would introduce a motion in the council making it more difficult to erect self-storage facilities in commercial areas.

Miscikowski said she has instructed the Planning Department to draft the ordinance.

It could be before the council as early as next week, she said.

About 25 residents and business owners erupted in applause when the board announced its decision following an hourlong hearing.

While the board’s decision does not affect Public Storage’s right to build a storage facility on the site--which all parties agreed it is legally entitled to do--it does force the company to scale down its plans.

“You guys have a done a bad job,” board member James Acevedo told representatives of Public Storage who attended the meeting. “I’ve never seen a chamber of commerce come up here and oppose a business before.”

The Tarzana Chamber of Commerce was one of several community groups attending the meeting to support the Tarzana Property Owners Assn.’s appeal.

Much of the discussion Tuesday revolved around concerns that the facility would exacerbate traffic problems at the busy intersection, which includes a fire station and an eastbound onramp to the Ventura Freeway.

The board was unmoved by Public Storage’s arguments that a storage building would generate less traffic than almost any other commercial use of the site.

Several speakers testified that Public Storage was operating in violation of restrictions concerning signage and vehicle storage at some of its other Valley locations.

“We’re trying to revitalize the neighborhood, to make it a place where people can come to shop,” said Greg Nelson, president of the Tarzana Business Improvement District.

“This would do nothing in that way. Nobody in Tarzana supports this project.”

Public Storage officials declined to comment on the board’s decision.