Brentwood Community Council

September 4, 2007 Meeting Highlights

Dec 27, 2007

SPIKE IN BRENTWOOD?’S CRIME RATE ?– The high rate of burglary/theft from motor vehicles has given Brentwood the dubious distinction of leading West Los Angeles in crime. In his Public Safety report, Senior Lead Officer Phillip Enbody reported that the Westside and Brentwood in particular is a target-rich environment ?– attractive to criminals. He spoke about the excessive number of smashed car windows throughout the community because items were left in unattended vehicles in full view of passersby. He warned that leaving anything in a parked vehicle acts as a lure and provokes crime. Even cars parked in locked subterranean garages are not totally safe. Officer Enbody reported that two vandals in Mandeville Canyon, suspected of breaking twenty-six vehicle mirrors and vandalizing mailboxes were recently apprehended. Community members helped by identifying the perpetrators. He also reported that hillside burglaries continue to be a problem, and advised residents to activate their alarm systems and remove ladders and patio furniture, which can be stacked to gain access to upper floors.

STATE VETERANS HOME CONSTRUCTION ON SCHEDULE ?– Dr. Robert Johnson, Director, Capital Development and Construction, State of California, Department of Veterans Affairs, said that the State Veterans Home is ?“on task, on budget, and going forward.?” Significant earth-moving equipment will soon be used over the next five weeks, entering on Bringham and exiting via Wilshire. Every attempt will be made to keep dust to a minimum. Dr. Johnson provided his telephone number: 310-651-5066 and clarified that his department works on state-related veterans projects.

CITY COUNCIL UPDATE ?– Andrea Epstein, Council District 11 Field Deputy announced that the Public Comment period for the 405-Sepulveda Pass High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Project has been extended until October 1st. She said that Councilman Rosendahl has not taken a final position on the three 405 alternatives, however, his office is engaged in ongoing discussions with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and CalTrans.

PRINCIPAL CITY PLANNER ADDRESSES CITY?’S DENSITY BONUS ORDINANCE ?– Jane Blumenfeld of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning spoke at length about the need for affordable housing and various issues in connection with the State Density Bonus Statute, passed fifteen years ago. According to Ms. Blumenfeld, the statute was amended a few years ago, mandating that cities provide density bonuses to developers of multi-family projects that include affordable housing units. The amended statute also requires that cities write implementation ordinances. Ms. Blumenfeld said that building more affordable housing units would provide the developer with additional incentives. She said that the City of Los Angeles is currently writing an implementing ordinance, which is expected to go before the City Council for approval in the next few months.

Chairwoman Rosen expressed concern that the City of Los Angeles is offering more incentives (deviations from current code) than is required by State law. Examples of incentives are: changes in set-backs, number of floors, number of parking spaces, height limits, etc. Flora Gil Krisiloff expressed concern about the Ordinance?’s effect on Specific Plans, including raising existing height limits and relaxing other requirements to the detriment of scenic corridors, such as the San Vicente Scenic Corridor Specific Plan area.

Questions and comments from the Council raised the following concerns:
-Density bonuses allow the State and City to sidestep specific plans of neighborhoods.
-State law is requiring a 10% bonus for moderate income living units.
-The City?’s proposal will exceed the State law requirement by increasing the bonus to 35%.
-There is a lack of increase in infrastructure to support an excess increase in the number of living units.
-With the tremendous congestion on the Westside, the area cannot afford to go beyond the State requirement.

The BCC Land Use Committee will meet to draft language to submit to the Council for input to Councilman Rosendahl.

PLANS FOR BARRY BUILDING SITE ?– Charles Munger, owner of the property occupied by the Barry Building, which houses a number of small businesses including Dutton?’s Books, spoke of his plans for the property. He said that he had originally planned to build sixty luxury condominiums on the site. However, his current proposal is to tear down the Barry Building, Del Mano Gallery, and the Bonner School, and build a 70,000 sq.-ft. retail project. He stated that the project would include two areas of open space, water features, and an abundance of parking, and said that he would be seeking a zone change to expand the parking lot onto two residential lots on Saltair.

At a previous meeting with the BCC Land Use Committee, Mr. Munger promised to bring architectural drawings of his current plan to the September 4th BCC meeting. Instead, he distributed his own rough, hand-drawn sketch. Council members were disappointed that professional architectural drawings were not provided. They expressed frustration with the difficulty in interpreting the incomplete self-sketched drawing, which was not to scale. It was requested that Mr. Munger return at a future meeting with proper architectural plans of the proposed project.

BCC FEDERAL LAND COMMITTEE POLICIES ?– Ray Klein discussed the work undertaken by the BCC?’s Federal Land Committee, which he chairs.

He first described the BCC?’s proposed VA Land Use Policy, which primarily reiterates past statements by the BCC that no portion of the land should be sold, transferred, or exchanged, and use of the land should be limited to direct services to veterans consistent with the least adverse impact on the surrounding communities.

Mr. Klein spoke about the CARES public hearing, scheduled for September 6th. He said the VA was using 2003 statistics in forecasting healthcare demand and excess land, which does not take into account veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

He also discussed his committee?’s work, studying the needs of homeless veterans, saying that one of the conclusions reached was the dire need for transitional housing (a long-term but not permanent housing program) for veterans who have successfully graduated from rehabilitation programs such as New Directions. These veterans need affordable housing as well as therapeutic and supportive services, until they can reenter the community. Additionally, homeless solutions must be treated on a regional basis.

Mr. Klein discussed the U.S. Army Reserve facility, which the Department of Defense (DOD) is currently considering for a land swap. He said that in recommending development of the land, the DOD has failed to look at cumulative adverse environmental impacts, and needs to consider reasonable alternatives, including returning the property to the VA. Environmental Scoping meetings are scheduled for September 11 and 12 at the Army Reserve property.

The BCC unanimously approved the BCC West Los Angeles VA Land Use Policy Statement, BCC West Los Angeles VA Homeless Policy Statement, CARES and Army Reserve Statements for the upcoming hearings. Copies of these policies can be obtained from Chairwoman Rosen at RosenFree@aol.com.

NEW BCC CONGREGATIONAL/MINISTERIAL ALTERNATE ?– The BCC unanimously approved Fr. Ben Le, Parish Administrator of St. Martin of Tours Church for the Congregational/Ministerial Alternate position.

NEXT MEETING ON OCTOBER 2ND ?– The next BCC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 2, 2007 from 7:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. The November 6, 2007 meeting agenda will include a presentation by State Assemblymember Mike Feuer. Questions for Assemblymember Feuer may be e-mailed to Chairwoman Rosen at RosenFree@aol.com. The BCC meets regularly on the first Tuesday of each month at the Brentwood Kaufman Library. The BCC agenda is posted at the Brentwood Kaufman Library one week prior to the meeting date. To receive the BCC?’s monthly agenda by e-mail, contact Chairwoman Wendy-Sue Rosen at RosenFree @aol.com or visit the BCC website: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/la/brentwoodcc.

(Bette Harris serves as Recording Secretary and Public Safety Representative on the Brentwood Community Council.)