Auto Mall Protested at Zoning Hearing

Residents and a councilman’s aide protested what they called an unwanted and illegal automotive equipment-and-supply mall at a zoning hearing Friday.

The future of the partially constructed 12,000-square-foot retail center appears in limbo.

“This part of Studio City needs another auto repair shop like Clinton needs another intern scandal,” said Tom Henry, an aide to City Councilman Joel Wachs. “I can tell you right now this is not going to get community support.”

Associate Zoning Administrator Lourdes Green said she would postpone the decision for a permit for an auto repair shop within 300 feet of residences until the Planning Commission determines if that type of business could be built on Ventura Boulevard.

Green said she was concerned the applicant had not determined if the building and use were consistent with the Ventura Corridor Specific Plan.

But construction continued Friday on the L-shaped retail center, located on the north side of Ventura Boulevard between Colfax and Tujunga avenues.

So far, the owner has confirmed Smog Test Centers as one tenant and is in negotiation with Discount Tires, said real estate broker Ted Roberts. Another potential tenant is a specialty mechanic.

The city’s Building and Safety Department gave the project a green light based on a post-Northridge earthquake ordinance allowing businesses to rebuild to prior specifications.

“This is not an illegal building because we went through hell to get the permits,” said Shapour Shajirat, an advisor to one of the project’s developers, Design and Development Consultants of Studio City.

Because the new structure would be nearly three times as large as the original building, it is questionable whether the building is legal, Henry said. “This is a classic example of where the system has failed.”

Residents at the meeting echoed Henry’s objections, repeatedly saying the new partially built mall looked like a “prison.”

“There are a number of great concerns, but basically we’ll reserve any further comment because we see this project as illegal right now,” said Tony Lucente, president of the Studio City Residents Assn.