Library Plan Deletion Prompts Outcry

In the Encino-Tarzana district plan adopted in September 1971, the Los Angeles Department of Planning proposed a library to be built in Encino some time in the future.

About 27 years later, it appeared that Encino’s hopes for a library were dashed when the project was deleted from the Encino-Tarzana Community Plan Update Program. The deletion was made public April 2.

The news prompted an outcry from Gerald Silver, president of the Homeowners of Encino, and other community members.

“Wouldn’t you be upset if they pulled out a library from the Community Plan and did it quietly with no public comment?” Silver said. “I’m not asking for something that we’re not entitled to, but we had a library proposed and now they want to take it away.”

David Lynn, chief executive officer of the Encino Chamber of Commerce, said, “There are a lot of people in Encino who would like to see a library and we’ve had this in the adopted plan for a long time, but it looks like we’re about to lose an opportunity for a new library.”

Silver brought this to the attention of Gary Klein, city planning associate, during a public hearing April 9.

Since then, Klein said the planning department has reviewed the text for the plan and will make the necessary changes to allow for a proposed library.

“We are going back to rewrite the section so that the language is there to encourage that a library be built somewhere in the Encino area,” Klein said.

The planning department will present the proposal to the Planning Commission in June, Klein said.

Documents are available for review at 6255 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys. The review period ends May 18.