GRASSROOTS VENICE NEIGHBORHOODCOUNCIL
Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC)
May 4, 2004, Meeting Minutes
Date: Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Time: 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Venice Boys and Girls Club
Present: Sabrina Venskus, Lydia Ponce, Laura Burns, Dennis Hathaway, Greg Fitchit, Dan Valenzuela, John Davis
1) March meeting minutes approval
--Fithchit move, Ponce second, approved by unanimous vote
2) Report from Council Office (5 min): Kevin Keller, Chief Planning Deputy
--Not present
3) Public comment (10 min)
--Ponce on community gardens
--Burns on Playa Vista EIR
4) Discussion Item: Proposed mixed use project at Abbot Kinney & Venice ("the
Christmas tree lot")
• Developer Patrick Tooley presented a preliminary plan for a mixed use development project on the NE corner of Venice Blvd. and Abbot Kinney Blvd. The proposal would include approximately 5,000 square feet of retail space, and 20 residential rental units, two of which would be very low income to comply with the Mello Act. Brian Lane of Koenig Eizenberg Architects assisted with the presentation.
5) Discussion Item: Participation in the Coastal Commission Hearings on the
amended Venice Coastal Specific Plan ("VCSP"), which replaced the earlier VCSP
on Jan. 19, 2004.
a. Report of issue by John Davis
b. Delegate a committee member to be the "watchdog" so that LUPC can
timely agendize the matter to take public testimony and represent community
wishes at the Coastal Commission public hearings
--The committee agreed that John Davis to be the representative at the hearings
6) Discussion/Action Item: Lincoln Center Project, Central Planning Commission
Hearing, May 13, 11 am, City Hall. LUPC will consider the planning department’s
staff report and recommendation, take public testimony and consider actions
the committee might take.
--Laura Burns reported that staff report has not been issued.
--Laura Silagi recommended that LUPC have representative at the hearing May 13, and suggested that the history of interaction between the developers and LUPC and the neighborhood council be transmitted to the planning commission.
--Burns agreed to represent LUPC at the hearings.
--Burns moved to ask for a continuance of the hearing so that LUPC can study staff report and make a recommendation to the Neighborhood Council. Davis seconded the motion. Hathaway, Ponce, Venskus, Valenzuela and Burns voted in favor. Fitchit opposed.
7) Discussion Item: Venice Specific Plan: Relative to holding a public forum
on a VSP for the eastern section of Venice (the only area in Venice not covered
by the Venice Coastal Specific Plan or the Oxford Triangle Specific Plan)
--Alex Utas gave public comment to the effect that there has been no support voiced in the residential area for change.
--The committee agreed to invite someone from city to explain details of the change and how it would affect the area.
8) Discussion/Action Item: Community Design Overlay Zone for Lincoln Blvd,
request to Council Office and Planning Dept to initiate process, expenditure of
Venice Real Property Surplus Fund
--Laura Silagi reported thata meeting is going to be held with Kevin Keller to determine the best planning tool to use for this process.
9) Action Item: Motion requesting GRVNC Board make the Housing Committee a
subcommittee of LUPC
--Motion by Hathaway, second by Ponce, unanimous
10) Action Item: Motion to send the City of Los Angeles a letter requesting an
extension of the review and comment period on the five requested action items,
including the Playa Vista Phase Two Final Environmental Impact Report, to 120
days prior to the public hearing on the same, so the certified Neighborhood
Council has adequate time to review the materials and provide meaningful
comments on this project in accordance with the City of Los Angeles Charter.
--Motion by Davis, second by Ponce. Davis, Venskus, Ponce, Hathaway, Burns approved, Fitchitt and Valenzuela opposed.
11) Items for June agenda (5 min)
a) Discussion Item: Conditions of approval for discretionary projects (45
min)[Requested by
Committee at March meeting]
A representative from City Planning and the City Attorney’s office will
explain whether and how conditions of approval for Vesting Tentative Tract
Maps and other discretionary projects can be enforced, and will answer
related questions from the Committee and the public
b) Discussion regarding transportation and traffic [requested by Dennis
Hathaway]
--The committee agreed to carry all items under 11 over to the June meeting.
12) Adjourn. Total Time: 2 hrs.