In Brief...
Moratorium Resolution
Passes
A resolution for a
moratorium on commercial development was approved by the Neighborhood
Council’s Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC), Feb. 1.
Contrary to the moratorium petition being
circulated by Venice Progressives, the LUPC resolution does not address the
explosion of condominiums in Venice and would not stop the proposed Lincoln
Place or MTA/RAD condo
developments.
Voting for the moratorium
were Sabrina Venskus, Ann Giagni, Pam Emerson, Challis Macpherson and Phil
Raider (who introduced the
motion).
Voting against the moratorium
were Sylviane Dungan, Michael King and Brett Miller. Susan Papadakis
abstained.
The moratorium resolution
will be on the agenda of the Grass Roots Venice Neighborhood Council (GRVNC)
Board meeting on Feb. 21 at Westminster School. Opponents will likely turn out
in force.
A Giant House is not
a Home
Also on Feb. 1, the LUPC
approved a nearly 4,000 square foot, 7 bedroom, 6 bath house at 201 Bernard
Avenue.
The approval was in spite of
the oppositions of residents in the surrounding North of Rose (NoRo)
neighborhood which is made up of small, single-story homes. Inge Mueller of NoRo
said 60 neighbors had written letters and 131 had signed petitions against the
project.
An only slightly different
proposal had been unanimously rejected by the Coastal Commission on Jan. 11. At
that time, Bill Rosendahl wrote a letter opposing the project.
The Applicant, James Shaw, argued that
the project should be approved since he was not seeking exceptions to the Venice
Specific Plan. Turning out in his support were a collection of developers,
contractors, landlords and real estate
agents.
The new LUPC approved the
project, probably in ignorance of the requirement that a building must conform
to the character and proportion of the surrounding neighborhood. In February
2005, the West L.A. Planning Commission denied two projects of developer Frank
Murphy on those grounds. The Commission President, Matthew Rodman, said at the
time, “Decisions made tonight should guide developers and owners in the
future.” Apparently some people didn’t hear him, or didn’t
want to hear him.
L.A. to sell
Venice land?
Sources in City Hall
confirm that a sale of city-owned land in Venice is in the works. The sale would
not benefit Venice, but would go to augment the city’s $6 billion budget.
If you’d rather see the land
retained for parks, community gardens, affordable housing, parking, etc. protest
at the usual places.
Bush
Responds to Terrorist Birds
To deal
with the threat of bird flu, President Bush has ordered a preemptive bombing of
the Canary Islands.
Beachhead
could use your help
Volunteers
needed to help with distribution, write poems, articles, take photos, sell ads.
Apply at Beachhead@freevenice.org or 396-0811.
Posted: Wed - February 1, 2006 at 06:17 PM