Meeting Date: 05/07/15 06:00 PM
Meeting Type: Regular
Location: William & Ariel Durant Public Library
Details: HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL
PLUM COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, May 7, 2015, 6pm
William & Ariel Durant Public Library
7140 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046
The quorum for Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council Planning, Land Use & Management Committee is three. Public comments on agenda items will be heard when the item is considered. Public comments on other matters within the committee's jurisdiction may be made during the Public Comment period. Public comments are limited to two minutes per speaker; That limit may be modified at the discretion of the committee. Speakers are requested to sign in at the meeting. Action may be taken on any agenda item except Public Comment, announcements and reports. You may request a copy of printed materials that are distributed at the meeting. You may record the meeting by audio, video or photographic means as long as it is not disruptive. Meeting notices and agendas are posted at the William and Ariel Durant Public Library and at the Fuller Ave. entrance to Runyon Canyon. If you need translation or accommodation for a disability, please call the city Department of Neighborhood Empowerment at least three business days in advance (213-978-1551, or toll-free 3-1-1). The city is a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you believe the council is not following the law or its own rules you may file a grievance in writing with copies to both the Chair and the Secretary. The HHWNC bylaws can be found at www.hhwnc.org. Please be respectful of others, even when you differ with them.
1. Call to Order
2. Approval of April 1, 2015, PLUM meeting minutes.
3. General updates from Issue Chairs and Chairman.
4. Updates on Community Position Papers
5. 1352 Fairfax Ave.
Review of and possible vote on proposed 8-unit small-lot subdivision.
6. 1727 Cherokee Ave.
Review of and possible vote on the Environmental Impact Report for this project.
7. LADWP meeting recap
Discussion about the LADWP meeting hosted by the infrastructure committee on April 29.
8. Old Business.
9. New Business.
10. Public Comments.
11. Adjournment.
Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
PLUM Committee
May 7, 2015
Minutes
Present: Cyd Zeigler (Chair), Carl Ripaldi, JoAnn Koplin, Barbara Witkin, Jim Geoghan, Oren Katz, Casey Maddren
The meeting was called to order by Cyd Zeigler, Chair, at 6:03 pm.
Pending Demolition of Historic Mansion
John Girodo, of Hollywood Heritage, spoke about an American Colonial mansion built in 1917 that could soon be demolished. The structure is located at 1905 Grace Ave., at the corner of Grace and Franklin. Girodo received word that a hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, though the time had not yet been set. He asked that anyone interested in saving the mansion appear at the hearing. Koplin and Geoghan will work on this with Area 3 Chair Brian Dyer.
General Updates from Issue Chairs
Katz – Business
Meeting scheduled with the State Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control and LAPD on Wednesday, May 14 at 6:00 pm. Stakeholder concerns about alcohol licenses will be discussed.
Geoghan
Councilmember O' Farrell has tried to limit closures of Hollywood Blvd. to 3 per venue, but it may be that that limit has already been reached.
Zeigler
7107 Hollywood
Met with developer reps a few months ago. Developers have suggested another meeting. Zeigler believes that there's no point unless significant revisions have been made.
8150 Sunset
Gabe Kramer says that developer is still in the process of reimagining the project. May increase residential and decrease commercial. We’ll have an update in a couple of months.
Presentations
1352 Fairfax
Small lot subdivision consisting of 8 units located between Sunset and Fountain. Developer presented images. Have tried to be sensitive to neighbors' concerns, observing setbacks, creating recessed screened rooftop decks. Have worked to make project environmentally sensitive.
Witkin
Where will trash be and how many bins?
Trash will be within building limits. 3 bins.
Asking for 43" variance?
Yes.
Roof decks have BBQ pits?
No.
Zeigler
Has the problem with queuing on the street been corrected by wider driveway?
Yes, driveway widening should eliminate that problem.
Koplin
Do front units have yards with landscaping and fence?
Yes.
Witkin
How will service vehicles enter and exit?
Through main driveway, widened in part to accommodate them. There is a 26' space between the units where they can park without blocking residents.
Stakeholders
What will be in back of building?
Similar to front.
How high is the building?
30' high.
Are there decks in back?
No.
Will roof decks look south?
Yes, but since they're set back from the edge of the building they won't look down.
What about noise from the rooftop?
The developer believes that since the occupants are homeowners, they will respect neighbors.
Why is it necessary to have roof decks?
It's the only open space that residents will have. The roof decks will be small, holding approximately six people.
My house is right behind the proposed structure. How tall will the wall be? Concerned about lights from cars entering structure.
The walls will be built to the maximum height that the city allows, which is 6'. With the changes that have been made to the entrance, the units will block light from cars entering.
Ripaldi
The city is facing water rationing. Has landscaping been planned with this in mind?
Yes. Landscaping has been designed to use minimum amount of water.
Geoghan
What about using greywater?
The city makes it difficult to use greywater because of health concerns.
Stakeholder
What about noise from air conditioning units?
The AC units are more or less silent. They will be on the roof, but they will be screened.
Zeigler made motion to support project, and was seconded.
Committee voted unanimously to approve project.
Hollywood Cherokee Project
Developed presented recap of project, 224 residential units to be built on existing parking lot between Cherokee and Las Palmas. Revisions have been made. DEIR has been released. Two letters have been received.
Zeigler
Why can't the buildings be set further back? Many projects currently proposed seem to turn streets into tunnels. Hollywood is turning into New York.
City policies promote density will little or no setback. The developer has increased setbacks in some areas.
Wouldn't it be possible to increase setbacks, even if it meant losing a few units? Is it about money?
The city does not want setbacks. Wants to create a "predestrian friendly" environment.
Katz
Stakeholders want setbacks.
Zeigler
You're saying the city has asked you not to do setbacks?
We believe we've been responsive to the neighborhood by creating some setbacks.
We're creating parking that will be open to the public to replace lost parking.
Katz
Are the units mostly one bedrooms?
Yes.
Geoghan
There's a concern that more people will be living in units with additional cars.
Zeigler
The EIR mentions a significant increase in wastewater.
The Bureau of Sanitation has asked us to calculate what we do with the pool water.
Concerns have been expressed about the design.
We're sticking with the design. We've spent 9 to 10 months working on it with different architects.
The building will have one corner shop, and is receiving a density bonus. What is the bonus?
We're allowed to increase density. More units per lot.
Maddren
Concerned about increased traffic causing further wear on surrounding streets. Yucca and Franklin are already in bad shape.
Project will increase traffic on surrounding residential streets which are already carrying beyond the capacity they were designed for.
The City is facing a severe drought, and Angelenos have not come close to reaching goals for reduction of consumption. A large residential project like this will increase consumption, and cumulatively the projects currently under construction in Hollywood will consume thousands of additional acre feet of water per year.
Ripaldi
How long before completion?
Between 24 and 30 months. Will work with community during construction. The design of the project will allow trucks to park on site.
Zeigler
Is the developer paying Quimby funds?
Yes.
Any other improvements?
Things have been discussed, but no specifics have been agreed on.
Move and second to approve project.
Committee voted to approve project: 4 yes, 2 no.
Update on April 29 Meeting with DWP
Maddren reported on meeting with DWP officials. Brief summary of planned infrastructure maintenance projects, including Whitley Heights and Runyon Canyon. Maddren passed out info on water and electrical rates.
Meeting adjourned at 7:49.
Minutes taken by Casey Maddren.