Meeting Date: 07/26/07 06:00 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Oakwood Toluca Apartments
North Clubhouse
3600 Barham Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90068
Details: AREA 1, HOUSING COMMITTEE , EMS/FIRE/POLICE COMMITTEE
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (HHWNC)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Oakwood Toluca Lake Apartments
North Clubhouse
3600 Barham Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90068
Free parking on site
The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address the Committee on any item of the agenda prior to the Committee taking action on an item. Comments from the public on non-agenda and agenda items will be heard during the Public Comment Period and, within the discretion of the Committee Chair, when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to 3 minutes per speaker unless waived by the Chair. Agendas are posted for public review electronically on the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council website www.hhwnc.org .
As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting the Neighborhood Council Project Coordinator at (213) 485-1588.
AGENDA
1. Call to order, roll call and introductions
2. Presentation by Matthew M. Winsryg, Assistant Vice President, Archstone Smith, detailing a proposed addition of 307 units (net) to the Toluca Lake Property at 3600 Barham Boulevard. (Possible Motion and Vote)
3. Public Comments – Comments from the public on agenda items and non-agenda items within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction. Public comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker
4. Scheduling of next meeting and adjourn.
PROCESS FOR RECONSIDERATION: The committees may reconsider and amend their action on items listed on the agenda if that reconsideration takes place immediately following the original action or at the next regular meeting. The Committees, on either of these two days, shall: (1) Make a Motion for Reconsideration and, if approved, (2) hear the matter and Take an Action. If the Motion to Reconsider an action is to be scheduled at the next meeting following the original action, then two items shall be placed on the agenda for that meeting: (1) A Motion for Reconsideration on the described matter and (2) a Proposed Action should the motion to reconsider be approved. A Motion for Reconsideration can only be made by a committee member who has previously voted on the prevailing side of the original action taken. If a Motion for Reconsideration is not made on the date the action was taken, then a committee member on the prevailing side of the action must submit a memorandum to the committee(s) chair(s) identifying the matter to be reconsidered and a brief description of the reason(s) for requesting reconsideration at the next regular meeting. The aforesaid shall all be in compliance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
AREA 1
HOUSING , SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES, RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS, PLANNING & SUPPORT
EMERGENCY SERVICES, POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE
HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (HHWNC)
July 26, 2007
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Oakwood Toluca Lake Apartments
North Clubhouse
3600 Barham Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90068
1. Area 1 Committee Chair Daniel Savage called the meeting to order at 6:15 PM. and a quorum was present.
Speakers and Guests:
Matthew M. Winsryg, Assistant Vice President, Archstone Smith
A. J. Jarasunas, Attorney/Partner, Armbruster & Goldsmith LLP
Sandra Yamane, Vice President, Marathon Communications Inc.
Geetika Maheshwari, Transportation engineer, Fehr & Peers / Kaku Associates
2. Presentation by Matthew M. Winsryg, Assistant Vice President, Archstone Smith, detailing a proposed addition of 307 units (net) to the Toluca Lake Property at 3600 Barham Boulevard.
ADDITIONAL UNITS
The Oakwood Apartment complex currently has 1151 units on 106 acres of land. 60 acres are developed and another 40 acres are a permanent open space easement in the hills.
A covenant limiting additional development expired in March 2006. Current entitlement could allow 5400 units.
The proposal is for the construction of 364 units and the removal of 57 existing units for a total of 307 additional units.
Archstone is willing to enter into a covenant to prevent future additional development on the property.
RELOCATION OF EXISTING TENANTS
Most tenants in Oakwood are not long-term residents.
Building will take place in two phases and a new building will be in place before the old building is demolished. This will allow relocation of affected tenants.
TRAFFIC
A draft traffic study has already been submitted to DOT with a request for a mitigated negative declaration. 20 intersections have been studied.
Forecast for additional evening traffic during rush hour includes 100 additional vehicles (60% in and 40% out).
Forecast for additional morning traffic during rush hour includes 85 additional vehicles (30% in and 70% out).
The majority of the new traffic will be going North and towards Forest Lawn Drive.
The traffic engineer believes that, due to the unique demographics of Oakwood, the actual count will be 50% less than the official formula expressed above and used in the traffic study.
Traffic mitigation includes:
– An improved road through the property to facilitate resident access to Forest Lawn Drive, relieving traffic on Barham Boulevard;
– Improving the queuing line at the S. Coyote Canyon Road main entrance off Barham to ease congestion on the Boulevard;
– Voluntary dedication of a right lane at the bottom of Barham to ease the flow of traffic towards Forest Lawn Drive;
– A proposal to eliminate parking on Barham in front of the Oakwood Apartment complex to open a right lane flow of traffic towards Forest Lawn Drive has already been implemented;
– No left turns from Dark Canyon Road onto Barham for safety reasons. Left turns will still be allowed from Barham to Dark Canyon Road.
PARKING
817 additional parking spaces will be added and 345 removed for a total of 472 new stalls. This will bring the whole complex up to current code.
VIEWS
The building height will be under the current limit and the parking will be underground beneath the new buildings. An elevation diagram was reviewed and the new buildings will not be visible from Barham Boulevard.
Matthew Winsryg expressed a willingness to work with neighborhood groups, especially the Hollywood Knolls Community Club Barham Beautification Committee, to participate in cooperative efforts to improve the community.
FIRE SAFETY
To address fire safety concerns following the Cahuenga Peak fire in March 2007, additional measures will be taken:
An educational brochure will be included in the welcome package for new residents, who often are from out of town and may not be familiar with fire hazard in Southern California hillsides.
Educational signs will be placed on the perimeter of the property.
A focused effort will be made to have non-flammable landscape on the perimeter of the property and beneath protected trees.
Smoking by construction crews will be monitored and appropriate safety limitations implemented.
The possibility of an increased cleared fire prevention buffer was explored but would encounter strong opposition from conservation groups. The trees on the perimeter of the complex are mostly protected species.
COMMITTEES MOTION
Committee chairs and stakeholders expressed their appreciation for the level of cooperation, concern for the community, and information provided by Archstone and their consultants.
The following motion made by Howard Strom and seconded by Chris Monte passed unanimously:
“We agree with the proposal as stated and request full information on the covenant as promised.”
Area 1 Chair Daniel Savage will ask for the Oakwood project to be included in the next HHWNC Board of Directors agenda with a presentation by Archstone and a support motion as passed by the committee.
3. Public Comments – No comments
4. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 PM