Zoning Panel OKs Most of Getty Villa’s Parking Slots

In a compromise heavily weighted in favor of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the Los Angeles City Board of Zoning Appeals on Tuesday approved 560 parking spaces for the Getty museum in Pacific Palisades.

The unanimous decision fell short of granting the 610 spaces requested by the Getty, but nearly doubled the existing limitation of 291 spaces and denied an appeal by neighbors who want to maintain the status quo at the Roman-style villa.

In making the decision, the board accepted the recommendation of City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who has tried to reconcile differences between the Getty and its opponents in the community. Both sides had appealed a July decision by the city Planning Commission allowing the Getty to expand its parking to 427 spaces.

The villa, which borders Malibu, was closed more than two years ago for a four-year, $150-million renovation that will transform the popular facility into a museum and study center exclusively devoted to antiquities. But construction has been stalled by well-organized community groups in Pacific Palisades and Malibu that say the project will increase noise and traffic in the affluent seaside neighborhood.

The closure period hasn’t been entirely wasted, according to Getty officials. The villa’s artworks had to be moved to the Getty Center in Brentwood, where the antiquities are in storage and other parts of the collection are on display. The Pacific Palisades Getty also has proceeded with planning and preliminary work on the grounds, but the opening date of the villa has been pushed back one year, to the fall of 2002.

During the hearing, John Murdock, attorney for community opponents of the expansion, said his clients would take legal action if their appeal was denied because the 1975 conditional use permit for the site precludes expansion of parking. If that threat becomes a reality or other obstacles arise, the villa’s reopening could be further delayed. However, Zoning Administrator Emily Gabel-Luddy said the original permit allows for review and adjustments in keeping with changes in operations.

The master plan for the villa calls for two new 250-space parking structures, in addition to 110 existing spaces under the outer peristyle garden. One planned structure would replace the existing open-air visitors lot near the front of the site; the other, at the rear, would be used by staff and business visitors. In reducing the Getty’s request to 560 spaces, the board stipulated that 50 spaces must be trimmed from the staff facility.

The zoning variance granted Tuesday can be appealed to the City Council.

In early November the council is expected to deliberate on the site’s entire master plan, including an amphitheater which is vehemently opposed by some neighborhood groups. Opponents have vowed to pursue their cause, but Getty officials said they were relieved to have moved one step closer to realizing their plans.

“We are generally pleased with the outcome and feel we can live with the reduction of our request because the most important element, parking for visitors, was maintained,” said Marion True, curator of antiquities and assistant director of villa planning. “The reduction of spaces for employee parking will be accommodated, hopefully, with more car-pooling and other measures.”

Despite the reduction, the decision “recognizes the importance of developing the villa,” she said.