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08/15/08 Chuck Ray
cray@gte.net
 
3160-3178 BARRINGTON PROJECT
At a meeting held in Bill Rosendahl's office on August 14th Mr. Assil, the
developer, agreed to amend his request for Tentative Tract Map NO.
69349-CN [ENV-2007-2438-MND] 3160-3178 Barrington in order to convert the
48 units in the buildings currently on the property, keeping the original
construction and character, and turning them into condominiums.  A
variance from the City's parking requirement of 2 spaces per dwelling unit
[96 spaces] will be necessary to implement said condominium conversion.
The meeting was attended by Gene Manusov and Chuck Ray representing the
Westdale Homeowners Association and Sharon Commins and Albert Olsen
representing the Mar Vista Community COuncil.

NOTE: Additional parking spaces [12-16] beyond the existing 48 spaces will
be created by removing the existing parking structures along the alley and
reconfiguring open parking with trees and landscaping. The residential
buildings will not be touched. The variance will be to allow a shortfall
of between 32-36 parking spaces.
(Barrington will not be widened.)
 
08/15/08 Chuck Ray
cray@gte.net
 
WORK ON SHELL PIPELINE UNDER SAWTELLE BLVD.
The Shell Pipeline Company LP has answered my questions (see below) as
follows: The signs along Sawtelle Blvd. about the project were created and
installed by the Los Angeles Dopartment of Transportation (LADOT). LADOT
is also responsible for preventing Shell Pipeline Company from doing any
of their work at night. The maintenance on the pipeline is mandated by
Federal regulators to be completed before December of this year.
I've contacted both Councilman Rosendahl's office (CD11) and Albert Olsen
of the Mar Vista Community Council. They both know the relevant people at
LADOT to contact to reopen these issues.
08/18/08 Jerry Hornof
On Friday, August 15, Councilperson Rosendahl's office convened a meeting to discuss the Barrington project. Those in attendance included Westdale Homeowner Association directors Chuck Ray and Gene Manusov, Len Nguyen (Rosendahl's staff), Albert Olsen (MVCC), Abe Assil (owner), and Sharon Commins (MVCC). 
 

At the meeting Mr. Assil stated that he is willing to limit his project to the renovation of the existing buildings and their conversion to 48 condominiums provided the community backs his request for a variance on parking. Los Angeles City requires 1.5 parking spaces per unit for residential condominium conversion or a total of 72 spaces for this project. Currently there are 48 parking spaces. Mr. Assil indicated that by reconfiguring the current parking space he can achieve an addition 10-12 spaces for a total of 58-60 spaces. This would result in a variance request of 12-14 parking spaces. While this is less than an ideal solution, all of those present believed that it was a reasonable solution that accommodates Mr. Assil while keeping the character of the neighborhood. Mr. Assil will be filing for this variance with the Los Angeles City planning department. The Mar Vista Community Council will be asked to pass a motion at its monthly meeting in early September giving agreement to this proposed variance. Bill Rosendahl attended the end of the meeting and concurred with this agreement.
 

The following is the recommendation that will be on tomorrow's (Tuesday August 19) agenda for the MVCC Urban Planning and Land Use Committee meeting being held at 6:00pm at the Mar Vista Library (12006 Venice Blvd).
The UP/LU Committee recommends the Mar Vista Community Council support the following compromise proposal. 
1) Mr Assil proposes to amend his request for Tentative Tract Map NO. 69349-CN [ENV-2007-2438-MND] 3160-3178 Barrington in order to convert the 48 units in the buildings currently on the property, keeping the original construction and character, and turning them into condominiums.
2) A waiver from the City's requirement of 1 and one quarter parking spaces per unit for residential condominium conversion projects, or 60 total sp aces, plus an additional one quarter space per dwelling unit, or 12 spaces, for guest parking, will be necessary. (NOTE: Additional parking spaces (12-14) beyond the existing 48 spaces will be created by reconfiguring the existing enclosed garages and carports, for a total of 60 to 62 spaces. The resulting shortfall of parking will be 10 to 12 spaces.)
3) The residential buildings will not be demolished.
4) Changes to the street and parkway are not contemplated as part of the project.
The MVCC believes this alternative best accommodates the desires of the surrounding community that any proposed development of this property respect the character and scale of the existing residential neighborhood.
 

There are concerns about the parking waiver as well as the conversion of the apartments to condominiums. There is an alternative recommendation being proposed: 
General Concern regarding Loss of Rental Housing Units
Whereas Mar Vista has lost a substantial number of rental housing units as prior rental units have been converted to condominiums,
The Urban Planning and Land Use Committee requests the Mar Vista Community Council Board of Directors to send a letter to the Department of City Planning stating that the MVCC prefers that no additional conversion of rental units to condominiums be granted where such conversions would require discretionary approvals by such actions as variances, tentative track map amendments, specific plan or general plan amendments.
 

This recommendation if passed would prevent the negotiated compromise discussed above.  Mr. Assil could decide to move ahead with the 92 unit proposal. My sense is to support the compromise which includes the variance on parking. In my discussions with the neighbors on Barry the primary concerns were privacy, traffic, health, and safety associated with a 92 unit project. Some neighbors indicated they would prefer condominiums which could have a less transient occupancy. I encourage you to reflect on these proposals and let me know your preference. I also encourage you to attend tomorrow's meeting.
 

Thanks, Jerry

 

 

08/30/08 Frank Heuser
fheuser@ucla.edu
In the last week (8/24 - 30) I have observed 3 dead crows in the
neighborhood (2 on Purdue and 1 on Federal). If you see dead birds or
squirrels, PLEASE report them to the West Nile Virus website
(http://www.westnile.ca.gov/) or call the hotline at 1-877-968-2473.
Although I do not want to be an alarmist, West Nile is something to be
concerned about. I have a close friend's whose wife has been in a coma
resulting from the disease. They live in the eastern part of Los Angeles
County. As a result, I am acutely aware of how devastating it can be.
There is no cure for West Nile although most people who contract it do
eventually recover.
     

 

 

 

 

 
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