OAC update and Upcoming WNC Meeting

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Please review the attached Westside Neighborhood Council Agenda: WNC agenda May 11, 2017

You will notice that the Planning Department will be presenting the proposed Expo Corridor Neighborhood Transit Plan. There is another meeting scheduled for May 23rd at the IMAN center on Motor but the WNC meeting will focus on our area.

The proposal will continue to allow 3 story commercial building on Pico and the Neighborhood Overlay District for Pico/Westwood will still be honored. Exposition from Sepulveda to Westwood would continue to have the same zoning. If the zoning is changed we could see a corridor with 3 story buildings (more if they apply for bonus density) along Expo

The Westside Pavilion property is now included in the proposal. Sepulveda to Military, Expo to Pico now has a different zone than the rest of Pico. Casden Project (Expo/Sepulveda) is underway. There will be just under 600 units. 2600 Sepulveda will tear down 4 properties (presently 8 units) and build a 3 story with loft in front building that will have 34 units. The property across from Casden on the east side of Sepulveda (does not include Anawalt or 99 cent store) has leases that run out in 2018.

The former Norm’s site has become an eyesore. With persistence from the surrounding neighbors they managed to finally get it boarded up. The new owner has not reached out to Councilmember Koretz or the homeowners.

Please come to the WNC meeting so you will understand the NTP proposal and you can better understand the impact of changing the present zoning on Pico would have on this community. Then you can make your own decision on whether to support the proposal.

Information on the May 23rd meeting regarding this issue is below.

• Open House and Public Hearing for the Preliminary Exposition Corridor Transit Neighborhood Plan
• Tuesday, May 23, 2017
• IMAN Foundation (3376 Motor Avenue)
• Open House 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Public Hearing 6:30 PM

I am waiting on information about Pelham stop sign and over height fence meeting, but I did not want to delay this email any longer…so will follow up soon.

Join us at the WNC meeting this Thursday at 7pm, on Level 1 Next to Hallmark ****This new location is due to the expected size of the crowd****. Please see WNC AGENDA March 9, 2017

The BMO (Baseline Mansionization Ordinance) that we discussed in our last email was passed by City Council on Wednesday.

I know I sent you info about this before…but in a nutshell the BMO allows for 45% FAR or floor area ratio on lots regardless of size. It also has rules about articulation of homes so a large box like structure can be avoided. Our lots are pretty consistent…with some homes north of Olympic slightly smaller than those south. There are also the R1 variation zones that an area can petition for if they do not think the 45% is appropriate.

Before the BMO was passed, the ordinance in place, the ICO or Interim Control Ordinance, allowed 50% and no bonuses to add to it…and before that it was 50% plus 20% of possible bonuses… so houses could get to a 70% FAR a few years ago. It did not specifically address the articulation of a house as well. The new R1 variation zones vary from 65% FAR to as low as 35%. They also vary with lot sizes.

Some folks believe 45% is a good compromise…others think it is too low and hinders how a homeowner could improve their house and use their home.

The OAC has not taken an official position, but I can tell you from my conversations with you via email and on the street and on the phone that we have a mixed bag of opinions here with some wanting larger and some wanting smaller. I think the best thing the OAC can do is give you the information, direct you to meetings that address this and then if and when the times comes…. vote.

Every property owner should be able to vote for what they believe is best for them. No one should be overlooked or pushed into any decision. Each of us have different situations and different goals for our homes…some of us have been here a long time and have completed major home additions…while others are new to the area and have not yet started any expansion projects.

The most important thing is that everyone really understands this zoning change and the implications. I will know more as to next steps in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I urge you to take the quick survey that our council office has put out. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SBWGKSN

I also urge all of you…and you know I do not ask you to do this often, to come to the WNC meeting this Thursday at 7pm. This issue will be discussed. It will be video taped. Your comments will be a part of the record as we move through this. Many voices will be there expressing their view and I want to be sure everyone has a chance to speak respectfully for and against the BMO. It will also be a great learning tool for you to understand this issue in depth and see how the BMO applies to you and the options going forward to possibly change it to a R1 variation.

You may wonder what it takes to change to one of these zones…well that IS the question. We would need to figure out a way to let everyone vote…either by mail or via email or a large town hall or some kind of petition. If it is proven that a majority of people want a change (and those people must live in the area and the signatures need to be validated) then the council office will bring it to PLUM (Planning and Land Use) and it will be voted on again. The process I am told will take 6-12 months.( I originally thought 4-6 months so sorry Caroline C. that I gave you an incorrect estimate)

I will also say that there are serious questions that need to be addressed with this new BMO. How large or small of an area can opt in or out? Should those areas be defined by HOAs or geographically? What about existing non conforming buildings (ones that are now over the allowable square footage) can they be rebuilt fully if destroyed by fire or earthquake? Are there any hardship cases when a home is currently sandwiched between oversized homes? What % of change can the Zoning Administrator give if a variance is filed under the BMO?

LAPD will share crime trends and how we can protect our community in the fight against crime.

The meeting will be March 30 6:30pm at the Westside Pavilion in the store front next to Hallmark (where we hold our annual meeting). This is open to all WNC stakeholders. Encourage your neighbors to attend and invite friends in other HOAs.The more blocks that have a Neighborhood Watch the safer for all of us.

There was a question about driveways…

This is what the program covers. Driveways that are not in compliance with ADA requirements for the sidewalk portion of the driveway will be eligible for replacement up to the property line as necessary to make the sidewalk ADA compliant. Driveways that intersect sidewalks must have a 4-foot wide walkway with a cross slope no greater than 2% to be in compliance with ADA requirements. Whether the apron portion of a

driveway is eligible for a rebate will be determined when the City representative assesses the sidewalk adjacent to the property. If the driveway apron must be altered to make the sidewalk ADA compliant, the apron portion will be included in the rebate. Aprons are not eligible in cases where the apron is damaged but the sidewalk itself does not need repair or the sidewalk can be repaired without altering the driveway apron.

Presented to Shannon Burns and Lisa Morocco at the OAC annual meeting this year.

The certificate reads:

The City of Los Angeles salutes you on your continuous work in preserving the beauty, safety and quality of life of residents residing in the Overland Avenue Community. The City thanks you for your dedication, time and service to the community. Through steadfast ways and caring deeds, you have made the City of Los Angeles a better place in which to work, live and play.

Congratulation to the OAC for this high honor.

Many thanks to Councilman Paul Koretz and his staff for attending our meeting and providing our community with updates on current issues.

Hi Everyone

I am hoping you have all carved out a little time for me this Sunday October

23rd. We will be having our annual meeting for the Overland Avenue

Community. I try not to overwhelm you with information or have unnecessary

meetings so when we do have one it is important we all try to come.

This meeting is especially important because not only are we having two reps

from CD5 we are also having the Councilman himself, Paul Koretz come update

us and answer any questions you may have. The Councilman has never sat down

with ll of us directly so this is a great opportunity.

I cannot strive how important it is that we have a good showing for this. Many

times I sit in at meetings with other neighborhood groups that are much larger

than ours. We are small, but mighty and we know how to get things done…so

please try and swing by at 4pm on Sunday to welcome our Councilman. Please

come prepared to ask questions you may have about our neighborhood.

We have some big topics on the agenda that will directly affect us.. I also ask you

to please be respectful of our guest speakers …they are making time on a Sunday

to see us.

Please bring your checks or cash for annual dues…a whopping $5!

I will be sure to have good snacks and plenty of wine! I promise to not go over 2

hours.

I look forward to seeing each and every one of you.

Thanks So Much

Lisa Morocco

Nicola O’Byrne, a talented illustrator from England and nominated for the Kate

Greenaway Medal, was one of many authors and artists who participated in

Westwood Elementary School’s annual Bedtime Story Jam on Friday, September

16th!

Wearing an ice cream cone costume to celebrate her book, Gorilla Loves Vanilla,

O’Byrne told stories, signed copies, and engaged neighborhood children in

producing custom-designed illustrations. For the second year, OAC was proud

to support the event by purchasing t-shirts for OAC and PTA volunteers, selling

decorative mugs, and assisting with sign-ins, cookie distribution, hosting, and

other activities.