Meeting Date: 02/23/06 06:30 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: Univeresal City Nissan
3550 Cahuenga Blvd. West – second floor conference room
Los Angeles, Ca 90068
Details: HOLLYWOOD HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
AREA 2 (Cahuenga Pass/Universal City) & TRAFFIC COMMITTEE
Joint Meeting Agenda
Thursday, February 23, 2006 at 6:30 PM
Universal City Nissan
3550 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Parking on site, across the street and on Cahuenga Blvd. West
818 769-8100
The public is requested to fill out a “Speaker Card” to address any item of the Agenda prior to the committees taking an action. Comments from the public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the committees’ subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public
Comment is limited to 3 minutes per speaker unless waived by the presiding chair(s) of the meeting. Agendas are posted for public review at Gardner Street Elementary School, Valley View Elementary School, Yucca Community Center, on bulletin boards at the top and bottom of Runyon Canyon Park, Los Angeles Library: Will and Ariel Durant Branch and 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 accommodations 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, Christine Jerian, at (213) 485-1588, toll free at (866) LA HELPS, or e-mail to [email protected].
1. Call to Order, Welcome, Introductions and Sign In – 5 minutes
2. Public Comments – 5 minutes
3. Beautification Presentation by Krista Michaels, President of Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Association – 10 minutes
4. Presentation by LAFD Chief Stormes – Red Flag Day/No Parking Signs – 10 minutes
5. Guest Speaker – Rory Fitzpatrick, Chief Field Deputy for Councilman Tom LaBonge
– 20 minutes
a.) State of the District Report
6. New Business:
a.) Presentation by Brian Sotille – Deputy City Attorney (Neighborhood Prosecutor) Re: Club “ICE” and Citizen Declarations – 10 minutes
b.) Discussion concerning LaBonge motion to conduct public hearings re: licenses of night clubs involved in violent crimes – POSSIBLE MOTION AND VOTE – 10 minutes
c.) Discussion concerning LaBonge motion re: name change from Cahuenga Blvd. West to Cahuenga Pass – 10 minutes
7. Reports/presentations:
a.) Presentation by Bill McGregor – Hanna Barbera – 10 minutes
b.) Presentation by Steve Erdman – Braille Institute – POSSIBLE MOTION AND VOTE – 20 minutes
c.) Discussion of sale of 150 acres at Universal Studios/NBC back lot – 10 minutes
8. Announcements
9. Adjournment (9 PM or earlier)
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.
Minutes of Joint Area 2 and Traffic Committee’s Meeting
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council (HHWNC)
Date: Thursday, February 23, 2006
Location: Universal City Nissan
3550 Cahuenga Blvd, West
Los Angeles, California 90068
Joint Area 2 and Traffic Committee’s meeting of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council HHWNC (over 100 people in attendance)
Joan Luchs: Chair of Area 2 (Cahuenga Pass/Universal City) Committee for HHWNC
Dennis Lytton: Co-chair of the meeting and Chair of HHWNC Traffic
Committee
Rena Dheming: Chair of HHWNC Emergency, Fire and Police Committee
Rory Fitzpatrick: Chief Field Deputy for Councilman Tom LaBonge
Stacey Marble: Field Deputy for Councilman LaBonge
Polly Ward: President of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon
Associations
Krista Michaels: President of CPPOA Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Assoc.
Florence Blecher: VP of CPPOA
David Kegaries: Treasurer of CPPOA
Michael Cathey: Area Director of Neighborhood and Community Services for Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Brian Sotille: Deputy City Attorney and Neighborhood Prosecutor
Officer Robert Benavidez: Senior Lead Officer and six other police officers
Mark Hogan: LAPD – Vice Squad
Bill McGregor: Owner/developer of the Hanna Barbera project who made a presentation
Steve Erdman: Owner/developer of the Braille Institute
Renee Meshul: consultant who made the Braille Institute presentation
Kevin McCarny owner of Poquito Mas, who catered the meeting and received a citation from Councilman Tom LaBonge
Bob Bailey: General Manger of Universal City Nissan who arranged for the meeting room and paid for all the beverages and copying
Darnell Tyler: Universal Studios/NBC – Director of Real Estate Planning
& Community Relations
CALL TO ORDER: 7:05 p.m. by Chair, Joan Luchs
Joan Luchs said that this is a joint Area 2 and Traffic Committee’s
meeting of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council and introduced
Rory Fitzpatrick, Chief Field Deputy to Councilman Tom LaBonge, Stacey
Marble, Field Deputy to Councilman Tom LaBonge, Krista Michaels,
President of CPPOA and Florence Blecher, VP of CPPOA, Kevin McCarney, owner of Poquito Mas and Bob Bailey, General Manager of Universal City Nissan.
Joan Luchs introduced Krista Michaels, President of the Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Association, who spoke about the beautification plans for the Cahuenga Pass community. A couple of years ago, she formed a group called “Cahuenga Beautification.” The first project is the El Paseo Cahuenga Park. They are planning to put a beam at the back of the park next to the freeway fence. The biggest problem for the park is the freeway noise. Last year, three flowering Magnolia trees were planted in honor of three of the fallen firefighters in New York on September 11, 2001. Tom LaVeque, Supervisor of Parks and Recreation, worked closely with CPPOA in arranging these plantings. The CPPOA will be putting a plaque commemorating the names of those three fallen firefighters.
The second project involves tree planting on Cahuenga Boulevard West. We will be planting five -200 foot planted medians between Cahuenga Boulevard West/Highland Avenue and Mulholland Highway which intersects with our area of the Hollywood Hills.
Joan Luchs introduced Rory Fitzpatrick, Chief Field Deputy to Council LaBonge who gave a state of the district report.
Rory Fitzpatrick said our area is in the 4th district of the City of Los Angles. Most of the district’s problems are related to traffic and transportation. Our road system in not expanding, but the amount of cars on our streets are expanding by one-half million new vehicles each year. Tom LaBonge wants to see the red line go all the way to the beach. We need to upgrade our traffic and utilize a signalization system to keep traffic flowing.
There are 138 acres of land above the Hollywood sign called “Cahuenga Peak.” Unfortunately, this land was recently purchased by land developers from Chicago who want to build houses there. This land is right next to Griffith Park and should be kept for the public and made part of Griffith Park. The City, County and various agencies are trying to raise funds to purchase this land and incorporate it into Griffith Park.
We are in the middle of the public process for the Master Plan for Griffith Park. Tom LaBonge’s philosophy is “no more development.” One of the biggest traffic obstacles we will face is when the Griffith Park Observatory reopens in the fall of this year. We are planning to have a timed entry into the observatory to alleviate any traffic problems.
We are working on extending the LA River bikeway into the San Fernando Valley as far as Bell Canyon. Regarding public safety, we are trying to get 100 additional traffic officers. As far as neighborhood development, we are working to improve the North Hollywood (NoHo) neighborhood.
The last item I want to speak about is Club Ice, the nightclub (restaurant) across the street from Universal City Nissan. Councilman Tom LaBonge presented a motion, dated November 22, 2005, to the Planning and Land Use Management requiring that a public hearing be conducted within 45 days after the Zoning Administration is made aware of a serious crime having taken place in a nightclub, bar, etc.
Joan Luchs introduced Stacey Marble, Field Deputy to Councilman Tom LaBonge.
Stacey Marble mentioned that she manages the area north of Mulholland Drive. Her office in on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake and her phone number is (818) 755-7634. If anyone has any concerns about trees, street paving, or other problems in their neighborhood, please contact her.
Joan Luchs introduced the following people: Brian Sotille: Deputy City Attorney and Neighborhood Prosecutor; Officer Robert Benavidez: Senior Lead Officer and Officer Mark Hogan, LAPD Vice squad.
Brian Sotille mentioned that Club Ice which is located across the street from our meeting on Cahuenga Boulevard West has had three shootings and a couple of stabbings since August of 2005. One of these shootings resulted in a homicide in October of 2005. We have assembled a team of law enforcement officers, composed of vice, gang officers, etc. We all met with the property manager of Club Ice to be sure they are aware of the crime problem involving Club Ice. However, we need the community’s assistance in this area. I am requesting that everyone sign the Citizen Declaration that is available at this meeting to help us start the abatement procedures to curtail and/or end Club Ice’s business.
Joan Luchs passed out information where residents can write letters addressing their concerns.
Mark Hogan, LAPD – Vice Squad said that his office investigates ABC licenses and it is very difficult to lift an ABC license. This ABC process can take from 1 to 2 years to revoke an ABC Alcohol Beverage Control license. The property manager is not willing to work with the police.
Officer Robert Benavidez, Sr. Lead Officer asked everyone to write to the names and addresses being passed out and let them know what you have observed. He also told the community to contact him at (818) 623-4001 if they have any question or wish to send in a Citizen’s Declaration.
Joan Luchs: Are there any motions?
Krista Michaels: I make a motion as follows
– Per Section 12.27.1 of the LAMC, Administrative Nuisance Abatement
Proceedings: To Support and approve Councilman LaBonge’s ll/22/05 motion CF# 05-2579 requesting that a public hearing be conducted within 45 days after the City’s Zoning Administrator is made aware of a serious crime having taken place in a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or any other commercial entertainment venues wherein a violent crime (i.e. homicides, shootings, stabbings, assaults and rapes) occurred and the commercial entertainment venue is the cause of a violent crime, inasmuch as the current process for revocation hearing is lengthy and time consuming.
The motion was seconded by Florence Blecher.
Discussion: Polly Ward, President of Federation and Hillside and Canyon Associations. She wanted to amend this motion to include a restaurant in Studio City called Romano’s which has had criminal elements connected to the restaurant.
Joan Luchs said this would not be a good idea at this time but should be revisited at a future meeting.
The motion as stated was unanimously passed.
Joan Luchs introduced Michael Cathey of Mayor Villaraigosa’s office who said that the Mayor’s office will work with the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Prosecutor, LAPD and Vice Departments as well as the council office and get this Motion out of the Planning Land Use Management Committee and back to City Council.
Joan Luchs introduced Kevin McCarney (owner of Poquito Mas) who mentioned that the Cahuenga Pass Merchants Association has contacted several business owners along Cahuenga Boulevard West who want to propose the name Cahuenga Blvd. West be changed to “Cahuenga Pass.”
Joan Luchs stated that a motion for this name change has already been presented to City Council by Councilman Tom LaBonge and sent to committee.
Joan Luchs introduced Bill McGregor who is the owner and developer of 3.85 acres of land at the Hanna Barbera site on Cahuenga Boulevard West. Mr. McGregor said that the project, currently under construction and estimated to be completed by October/November this year, has three existing Hanna Barbera buildings which will remain on the site. He discussed his plans for development of this site. Building A (adjacent to Universal Center Drive) will be LA Fitness; Building B along the front will be a 35,000 square foot office building and Building C also along Cahuenga Blvd. West will be an office building with 5,000 square feet on the first floor facing the street which will be dedicated to community services and retail stores. Building D, in the rear, adjacent to the freeway, will be approximately 148 apartments adjoining the 101-Hollywood Freeway consisting of three stories in height. This new apartment building will lessen the noise from the freeway to adjacent neighbors. There will be 541 parking spaces which the Code requires.
Bill McGregor mentioned that the median will give this development a community/residential feeling. There will be new traffic signals in front of the Hanana Barbera site and at the Bennett/Cahuenga Boulevard West intersection.
Joan Luchs introduced Steve Erdman, owner and developer of the Braille Institute property and Renee Meshul (consultant for the project) who made a presentation. The property consists of 2-l/2 acres and is classified as C-2 (which is zoned for commercial property). Rather than becoming a huge concrete office building or high density apartments, this project will be a low density project, consisting of 67 work/live town home condominiums. The building will be three stories high and there will be nine separate buildings. The project will be set back fifteen feet from the front property line and there will be many trees on the property. The developer had a traffic study done and, as a result, a median will be put in front of the building. Cars will only be allowed to make right turns exiting out of the two driveways. There will be 2-l/4 parking spaces for each unit on the property. These town homes are designed for people to live and work in their living space.
Joan Luchs: Are there any motions at this time?
Krista Michaels: I make a motion as follows:
To approve the proposed development at 3450-3458 No. Cahuenga Boulevard West DIR 2005-8156-DRB-SPP currently known as the Braille
Institute for 67 joint living and work, loft style, town home condominiums with the increased front yard setbacks averaging 15 feet, increased landscaping, changes to the building facade along Cahuenga Boulevard West, increased parking totaling l83 spaces, smaller skylights, one approximate 25 square foot, monument sign containing only the street address and two landscaped medians in the middle of Cahuenga Boulevard West designed in such a way that will prevent cars who are exiting the property from being able to make left turns out of the complex.
The motion was seconded by Florence Blecher and unanimously passed.
Darnell Tyler, Director of Real Estate Planning and Community Relations at NBC Universal, said that in connection with an article in the local newspaper, NBC Universal has no intention at this time to sell 150 acres at the NBC/Universal Studios Backlot.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted-
Muriel Zollman