News of Venice, CA and Marina del Rey CA
By Roxanne Brown
Attorney for Fran Camaj’s Gjusta at 320 Sunset asked that the appeal hearing (regarding City’s approval of change of use from bakery/retail to restaurant/retail with full liquor license) be given a 90-day extension. West LA Planning Commission approved 60 days.
Appealing the decision are: Jim Murez and Ilana Marosi and others.
Rescheduled appeal hearing will be 20 January, 11214 Exposition Blvd, LA 90064
A group of Venetians who live nearby was formed around the 320 Sunset project and grew in size as other questionable projects appeared. They were asked what their reaction was to this decision. Ilana Marosi, spokesperson for the group, made the following statement.
This is hardly a surprising course of events. It seems Gjusta’s “approval” was in before day 1, when City Planning and Zoning enabled piece-mealing of the project, while Building and Safety allowed a full commercial restaurant to be built where only a bakery was allowed. Bear in mind that the Certificate of Occupancy, issued by Building and Safety in September 2014, was for a TAKE OUT BAKERY ONLY – NO SEATING. This permit was ignored for almost a year whilst the operator smoked fish, grilled pigs heads, and barbecued chickens in his “bakery”, all the while seating patrons illegally on milk crates in an illegally operated parking lot. Neighbors suffered (and still do) from breathing fumes and black smoke, noise disturbances, lack of parking, and traffic congestion to dangerous levels.
Gjusta refused to comply after being cited several times by Building and Safety since December 2014. Apparently a criminal case was in the works. Yet somehow, the City Attorney Mike Feuer (via Neighborhood Prosecutor Claudia Martin) refused to prosecute. The Garcetti administration allowed this unlawful activity to continue for 10 months and now his Zoning Administrator, Maya Zaitzevsky has given it her blessing. All of this despite the hundreds of complaints, alcohol protests and huge community disapproval by immediate neighbors and others who are affected daily. Councilman Bonin has come out in support of the community to oppose the project and alcohol service at Gjusta. We are grateful for the Councilman’s support. Yet the blight marches on with no regard for the laws or for the neighbors — just as Camaj does at his other locations at Gjelina, GTA, the Black Beast (1305 abbot Kinney), and the future restaurant at 259 Hampton where Sauce is currently.
Gjusta had a traffic hearing at the West LA Area Planning Commission on July 15, 2015. The day prior to this at City Hall, Concerned Neighbors discovered different (unseen) plans and expansion paperwork, in the zoning file, which incorporated the chiropractic office upstairs/next door and the use of its grandfathered (invisible) parking. (The chiropractor was still a tenant at this stage, and unbeknown to him, was about to be evicted to make way for Camaj’s latest ‘scheme’.}
This expansion alone should have been enough to warrant a new traffic study, further community outreach, and another zoning hearing. Concerned Neighbors advised the Planning Commission of this, yet City Attorney Cathy Phelan recommended the hearing go forward regardless. The now irrelevant traffic study was then accepted without any community consideration and without an accurate traffic assessment. The traffic at the immediate intersections was not studied, neither was rear alley egress, nor were the busy times of the day and week documented … yet the city went ahead and approved this? It seems the community’s best interests and safety do not factor in.
So where is our city when they should be representing the community? Or is that representation reserved for a certain moneyed few? Gjusta is 13-1/2 feet (alley width) from neighbors homes and children’s bedrooms in a residential community. The Alcohol Beverage Control regulation 61.4 states that alcohol shouldn’t be served within 100 feet from residences. The city of LA seems to think that alcohol service on an outdoor patio until 1 am, a mere 13-1/2 feet from residents, is okay.
What do you think? Would you like a rowdy bar as your next door neighbor? Or would you like your voices heard and our laws upheld? We all have the right to peace and quiet enjoyment in our homes. Let’s speak up now, and forever have our peace!
The “project” at 320 Sunset gets approval for all that owner sought.
The project at 320 Sunset, that wanted to be a bakery/retail, then changed its mind and wanted to become restaurant with outdoor seating and liquor, got approval this week from Planning for everything.
Gjusta received approval for a full liquor dispensary, outdoor seating 13-1/2 feet from an apartment house or crate seating in part of an noncoveted parking lot, and change of use from bakery/retail to restaurant. The lease for the parking lot is 10 years.
Update could not follow all the appeals so Robin Rudisill was asked if maybe a step had been skipped.
Robin Rudisill, chair of the Land Use and Planning Committee for the Venice Neighborhood Council, said she might have a statement later.
This is the restaurant at 1305 Abbot Kinney Blvd being built by Fran Camaj. He owns Gjelina/GTA on Abbot Kinney and Gjusta at 320 Sunset. This one, which is yet to be named, has unofficially been dubbed the “Black Beast.”
Parking in area is normally underground. This is the first for Abbot Kinney on the roof. Residents are fearful that owner will once again use parking for service use. Although not permitted as a restaurant, 320 Sunset parking lot is being used as a dinning area. Gjelina on Abbot Kinney has a garage that is used for the restaurant, not parking.
California Coastal Commission (CCC) rejected the Amendment Request by Fran Camaj for providing bike parking inlieu of three car lifts originally planned and permitted for his project at 1305 Abbot Kinney.
CCC issued permits for the car lifts. Owner then got City to change permit to provide bike racks inlieu of three lift parking places. Permit changes have to be made by CCC.
The following video is of the commission hearing and is provided by Roxanne Brown whose commentary follows the video. Video is admittedly bad but audio is great.
By Roxanne Brown, Member of Concerned Neighbors
Restaurateur Fran Camaj’s promise of car lifts at 1305 Abbot Kinney (called the Black Beast by some local residents) seems to have been a bust.
Chronology of all Events
2010 – CCC decided that 1305 Abbot Kinney required 13 parking spaces. Camaj agreed to park 9 cars 3×3 in tandem with 3 single car lifts on the roof top parking lot, and one disabled space on ground level.
2012 — Construction commenced and lifts were not built.
2014 — Greg Shoop at City Planning granted a permit allowing Camaj to remove the lifts and replace them with bike racks.
OOPS: The City is not allowed to override the CCC.
2015–Concerned Venetians alerted the CCC and Building and Safety (B&S). B&S investigated and filed an intention to revoke permit.
Vitalich Testimoney
Stephen Vitalich, Black Beast architect and representative, said that the building at 1305 Abbot Kinney can’t support the weight of 3 lifts.
Vitalich went on to say that they would always have 3 attendants doing valet parking and that there are paid parking lots between Electric and Abbot Kinney. He also claimed that most of the time there would not be more than 10 cars requiring parking. If there were more, two cars could be parked on the (steep) access ramp to roof.
Venetians Presented
Meanwhile, the valet only rooftop “parking lot” was paved with beautiful stonework and planters with lovely vegetation were installed. Additionally, a gorgeous staircase was built to wind up from the small restaurant interior to the ample rooftop “parking lot.
Venetians presented photos of alley dining at Gjelina/GTA, “parking lot” dining plus unpermitted patio dining at Gjusta, and photos of the Black Beast’s beautiful rooftop “parking lot.”
One Venetian pointed out that Gjelina’s food has a great reputation and people come from far and wide for that food. He said it would be unlikely that these diners would be riding bikes or taking buses to 1305 Abbot Kinney’s Black Beast.
CCC Decision
One commissioner said that it was noble of Camaj to look outside the box for parking.
Commissioner Jana Zimmer commented that Venice residents and beach goers are already competing for scarce and on street parking. Outdoor “parking lot” areas are not permitted for dining. What is the record of enforcement?
Commissioner Roberto Uranga noted that the project seems to have been disingenuous from the start. It seems there was never any intent to build parking lifts.
COMMISSIONERS VOTE – 6 to 5
GREGORY COX – YES JANA ZIMMER – NO
DAYNA BOCHCO – YES CAROLE GROOM – NO
MARTHA MCCLURE – YES ERIC HOWELL- NO
MARK VARGAS – YES STEVE KINSEY – NO
WENDY MITCHELL- YES ROBERTO URANGA – NO
RANDY PESTOR – NO
Conclusion
Had Camaj been a good neighbor at Gjelina/GTA, Venetians would be clamoring to have one of his restaurants in their neighborhood. Unfortunately, Gjelina’s/GTA’s neighbors have complained that his restaurant/take away has not been in compliance and has been a nuisance for eight years. The consequences of residents experiencing this are that many Venetians do not want Camaj’s establishments near their homes.
Camaj’s restaurants include Gjelina/GTA, Gjusta, and the Black Beast. He will also manage 259 Hampton (Sauce). Currently all five seem to be ignoring permits and have compliance issues.
Listen to Us
Developers, please work with residents, work with transparency and within the City’s laws, permits, and compliance policies. This will save developers, the City, and Venetians time, energy, and money. Do the right thing. It’s easier.