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Venice News Updates

News of Venice, CA and Marina del Rey CA

Planning

Posted by :reta On : August 29, 2014
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Category: Planning

21 Voyage will be heard 10 am, 29 September at the West Los Angeles Municipal Building, 1645 Corinth.

To permit the conversion of a recreation room into a third dwelling unit (DU), within an existing duplex, on a lot that is approximately 3,412 square feet (including one-half the alley); the resulting density would be approximately one DU for each 1,137 square feet of lot area.

Pursuant to Section 11.5.7 F of the Municipal Code, Specific Plan Exceptions from the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan, Ordinance 175,693, as follows:

A. From Section 10.D. to allow three dwelling units in lieu of the maximum two (2) dwelling units on R3-zoned lots and to allow a lot area of approximately 1,137 square feet per dwelling unit in lieu of the minimum lot area of 1,200 square feet per dwelling unit.
Venice Specific Plan States:
On R3 zoned lots, a maximum of two dwelling units per lot shall be permitted, and the lot area per dwelling unit shall not be less than 1200 square feet.

B. From Section 13.D. to allow a total of six (6) parking spaces: two (2) for each dwelling unit, in lieu of providing a total of seven (7) required parking spaces: two for each dwelling unit and one (1) guest parking space.
Venice Specific Plan States:
Two spaces for each dwelling unit; plus a minimum of one guest parking space for each four or few units (e.g. 0.25 guest parking space per unit, any fraction shall be rounded up to require one additional guest parking space.

Correspondence can be sent to Kevin D. Jones at Kevin.Jones@lacity.org, 213-978-1361.  Ref: APCW-2014-0364-SPE-SPP-CDP.

Party/Hotel Houses Flourish in Venice

Posted by :reta On : August 23, 2014
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Category: Planning, Short-Term Rentals

People throughout Venice are asking themselves what is happening to the neighborhood. House down the street is a motel. House next door is a party house. What happened to the right to peaceful coexistence? Is this right? Is it legal? What is this that is happening?

It is the short term rental (STR) bonanza that is alive and flourishing in Venice.

It is changing the scene of Venice so much so that Update has asked Keep Neighborhoods First , a team on top of latest developments in this big and growing business to inform the Update readers and keep them informed with a continuous column. They plan to give background information on this, where it is going, relate stories from neighbors, relate stories from those in the rental market.

One thing is certain, each neighborhood west of Lincoln has a short term rental (STR) or will be getting one soon. There are big bucks in this. Just one can change the climate of a block completely. But the closer one gets to the water, the larger the percentage of short term rentals on a block.

First of all they are illegal. There is no municipal code that the police can enforce. But the Los Angeles Department of Planning says Short Term Rentals (STR) are prohibited in R1, R2, RD, and R3 lower-density, multi-family residential zones. That leaves commercial and R4 plus zones. Venice has commercial but no R4. So if that party house is not zoned commercial or surprisingly R4, it is illegal. Operators may pay the 14 percent bed tax, and City thanks them for the coins, but they are illegal.

They are totally disrupting the Venice rental market. They are raising the rents because fewer rentals are available for long term. They are raising the values of these houses because of the rent owners can get.

It is an inflated value based on an illegal activity.

This is big business for those dealing in the short term rentals from the owners to the businesses involved. Councilman Mike Bonin made a motion for the city to study this “sharing economy.” New York, New Orleans, Paris, Barcelona have banned these rentals.

Update looks forward to input from Keep Neighborhoods Free. Let’s hear your story.

Quality-of-Life Infractions to Get Tickets?

Posted by :reta On : August 23, 2014
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Category: City, Planning

The dog barks continuously.  The parties are too loud.  Lawn gas blower is unbearable.  For those suffering such infractions, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel.

A program to address quality of life issues was proposed five years ago and is getting closer to fruition.  It is designed to allow police officers to issue a citation instead of a warning.

Program needs funding by the City.  Claim is that the program would more than pay for itself in fines.

Daily news had the article by Rick Orlov.

Plan a Foot to Legalize Illegal Rental Units

Posted by :reta On : August 23, 2014
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Category: City, Planning

Note: This is an editorial. Update writer’s personal opinion.

Supposedly, tenant and landlord groups are uniting to accomplish legalizing illegal rental units. LA Times had article on such.

Update is totally against such action. Update feels tenants are being led to the slaughter by landlords with an agenda. If units are legalized, the “secret” aura will be removed and tenants, mark my word, your rents will go up and/or you might find your unit gone.

It will not increase the number of rental units.

If bootlegged units were legalized, the units that are unsafe and do not meet building code would be shut down. Legalization might cost the owner many coins to bring a unit up to standards and he may not want to do such. So that unit would be off the market. Actually, legalization of the units will take many units off the market because bringing them up to code would not be possible or feasible. Thus fewer units. Fewer units, more demand results in higher rents.

Just one example of what it would do to one type zoning. Single family areas would soon find their property values lowered with the legalization of the mother-in-law units, the breakaways. Who buys a home in a single-family zoned neighborhood only to live next to a duplex without proper parking, or a triplex without proper parking? Parking would be only one of the problems. Think of noise, traffic.

This is chaos in the making and sounds like an agenda for a landlord or an agenda for a group trying to unite the tenants and landlords for a power play. Tenants beware. They come in sheep’s clothing.

An answer is to rezone certain areas for more density. There is a reason for zoning.

Planning

Posted by :reta On : August 23, 2014
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Category: Planning

b 1511
1511 Abbot Kinney appeal will be heard 17 September after 4:30 pm at the Henry Medina Building, 11214 W. Exposition Blvd.

This project was not approved by LUPC and VNC but was approved by Department of Planning. Jim Murez, former member of LUPC, is appealing that decision.

The project used certain entitlements provided for artists but now wants to change the use, yet keep the limited parking entitlements. Murez also warned that 1421 Abbot Kinney is a similar situation.

All correspondence should be addressed to West LA Area Planning Commission, 200 North Spring Street, Room 532, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Case No. DIR 2013-4118-SPP-1A and address must be referenced. Twenty (20) copies, one of which is the original, must be provided and they must be received 10 days prior to hearing date. All correspondence and exhibits must fit in envelope no larger than 8-1/2×11.

2536 Lincoln, formerly Red Garter (Case No. ZA 2014-1613(PAB), will be heard 27 August at 1:45 pm, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 North Spring St., Room 1020, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

The project was approved by LUPC and VNC.

The continued sale of a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption in

conjunction with an existing 2,317 square foot Bar/Restaurant with live entertainment and addition of a 440 square foot outdoor patio. The Bar/Restaurant will have 56 interior seats with 11 proposed outdoor patio seats for a total of 67 seats in the C2 Zone.

Correspondence may be addressed to May Sinnopwongsagon at May.Sinnopwongsagon@lacity.org, 213-978-1372.

Chris Robertson Distributes SLS Directive

Posted by :reta On : August 17, 2014
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Category: Land Use and Planning Projects, Planning

Chris Robertson, deputy director of Land Use and Planning for Councilman Mike Bonin, announced the new Planning Department directive (DIR-2014-2824-D1) for the Small Lot Subdivision (SLS) ordinance and explained its authority in relation to specific plans.

The former directive for Small Lot Subdivisions (SLS), in many cases, conflicted with the Venice Coastal Specific Plan.

Challis Macpherson, then chair of the Venice Land Use and Planning Committee appealed the first directive. She was concerned about parking and affordable housing provisions. Her appeal was granted in part. The Determination by Planning clarified language regarding Beach Impact Zone parking and required replacement affordable units to be located onsite.

“Really interests me as to how this will play out from now on,” Macpherson wrote. “Stay tuned … .”

Christ Robertson said the new Director’s Interpretation is intended to:

(1) Prevent small lot projects from exceeding the densities set in the Specific Plan on individual lots;

(2) Highlight where conflicts between the Municipal Code and the Venice Coastal Specific Plan exist and uphold the Specific Plan regulations where applicable; and

(3) Outline a review process for new small lot projects in the Venice Specific Plan area that takes into account the density, parking, and setback regulations of the Specific Plan and incorporates the use of the Small Lot Design Guidelines in the review of small lot subdivisions.

Sunset Not Approved by LUPC; Can Operate as Bakery

Posted by :reta On : August 16, 2014
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Category: Land Use and Planning Projects, Planning, Venice Neighborhood Council

The property at 320 Sunset was not approved as proposed for restaurant with full bar and beer and wine takeout at the last Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC) but City approval was given to operate as a commercial bakery with bakery accessory retail.  Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) will hear the case 19 August.

The property, zoned M-1, was approved 2 May 2013 to be a “commercial bakery with accessory retail” use.  A certificate of occupancy was issued 28 July 2014 stating change of use was from office to “bakery and retail.” This type of permit does not provide for seating service.  None of this went thru the LUPC.

“It got approved because it is “by right” meaning the LAMC allows such a use in this zone and parking was grandfathered,” according to Jim Murez, former member of LUPC.  “This is a fundamental understanding of the system, nothing special nor anything to get upset about.”

After getting approval for the commercial bakery, the applicant decided he wanted, in addition to the bakery, to have a restaurant with a full alcohol license and a takeout license for beer and wine.  The latter part is what was turned down by LUPC and will be heard next week by the VNC.

Planning

Posted by :reta On : August 16, 2014
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Category: Planning

A hearing for 701 Lincoln Blvd, Be My Guest, Inc., will be heard 28 August, 9:30 pm, at West LA Municipal Building, 1645 Corinth Ave.

A Zoning Administrator’s determination, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.24-X,2 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to permit the sale and dispensing of beer and wine only for on-site

consumption in conjunction with an existing 1,085 square-foot deli/cafe seating 16 patrons, with hours of operation from 7 am. to 11 pm daily.

Correspondence for ZA 2014-1701(CUE) can be addressed to Michael Sin, 213-978-1345, Michael.sin@lacity.org.

 

Hearing date for 2404 Boone is 21 August, 9:30 am at West Los Angeles Municipal Building, 1645 Corinth Ave.    JoJo Pewsawang is hearing officer.

Hearing date for 2707 Ocean Front Walk is 11 September, 9 am at West Los Angeles Municipal Building, 1645 Corinth Ave.  JoJo Pewsawang is hearing officer.

Macpherson Receives Copy New Directive on SLS

Posted by :reta On : August 15, 2014
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Category: Land Use and Planning Projects, Planning

“I may cartwheel down Venice Blvd and then go kiss Allan Bell, assistant director of Planning, and Michael LoGrande, director of Planning,” wrote Challis Macpherson former Chair of the Venice Neighborhood Council (VNC) Land Use and Planning Committee (LUPC).

“Just received the revised Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan Director of Planning Specific Plan Interpretation regarding Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance.  Becomes effective end of August, unless appealed. “

Salient part:

A Specific Plan Director’s Interpretation that clarifies the relationship between Section 12.22.C.27 of the LAMC, established by the Small Lot Subdivision Ordinance (No. 176,354) and the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan.  The revised Director’s interpretation is intended to:

  1. Prevent small lot projects from exceeding densities otherwise allowed in the Specific Plan on individual lots
  1. Highlight where conflicts between the LAMC and the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan exist and uphold the Specific Plan regulations where applicable
  1. Outline a review process for new small lot projects in the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan Area which takes in account the density, parking, and setback regulations of the Specific Plan.

As set forth herein, this Director’s Interpretation shall supersede the previous interpretation issued by the City Planning Commission (on appeal) on February 12, 2010 as Case Number DIR-2008-4703-DI-1A, and shall be applicable only within the Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan Area.

Macpherson concluded by saying that “Lots of stakeholders worked really hard on this—congrats to them all.”

 

Planning

Posted by :reta On : August 12, 2014
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Category: Planning

Hearing for 1620 Electric Ave will be heard 4 September at 9 am at West LA Municipal Building, 1645 Corinth Ave.

A Coastal Development Permit, pursuant to the provisions of Section 12.20.2 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, for the demolition of an existing one-story single-family dwelling and the construction of a new, approximately 4,066 square-foot, three-story and basement, single-family dwelling with attached three-car garage and swimming pool, on property located within the R2-1 Zone, and the Calvo Exclusion Area of the Coastal Zone Commission Authority Area of the California Coastal Zone, located within the single permit jurisdiction of the California Coastal Zone.

Comments may be addressed to Antonio Isaia at 213-978-1353, email: Antonio.isaka@lacity.org.