One good measure of the pace of development in our area is the number of projects the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s Land Use Committee is asked to review each month.  In years past, agendas tended to contain 3-5 projects per month, and there was often a slowdown in the summer months.
This year, however, the number of projects on each month’s LUC agenda is at least double what it’s been in the past…and business is still booming, even in the dog days of summer.  Last month’s GWNC LUC agenda contained a whopping 15 projects and issues…and the agenda for the July meeting, to be held tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilshire United Methodist Church (4350 Wilshire Blvd.), contains 10 new and continuing projects/issues.
Tonight’s agenda lists follow-up discussions of four items that have previously come before the committee, including:
117 N. Manhattan Place – An 8-unit Small Lot Small Lot Subdivision project.  In a previous discussion of the project in March, committee members asked the developer to consider some design revisions and report back as plans develop.  No city hearing date is scheduled yet.
421 S. Wilton Place – Demolition of a single-family residence in an R-3 zone and construction of a four-unit Small Lot Subdivision. Â In a previous discussion of the project in June, committee members asked the developer to return as plans take shape. Â A city hearing is scheduled on September 7.
703 N. McCadden Place – Subdivision of a currently vacant single-family lot into two smaller lots, and construction of a duplex on each of the two new lots. At a previous LUC meeting, committee remembers asked that the developers do more community outreach before returning for a committee vote on the project.  A city hearing will take place on September 7.
Small Lot Subdivision Code Amendment – Comments from the GWNC and members of the public on proposed changes to the city’s Small Lot Subdivision ordinance are due by August 8, 2016. Â The committee will recommend comments to the full GWNC board for approval at its August meeting.
In addition to these reviews, there will also be first-time looks at six more projects and issues:
507 N. Sycamore Ave. – Demolition of an existing duplex and construction of a new 6-unit Small Lot Subdivision project.  City hearing scheduled for September 7.
5019 W. Maplewood Ave – Construction of a five-unit condominium building.  No city hearing scheduled yet, but the developer has applied for expedited processing (so the approval process will move quickly).
743 N. June Street – “Hardship” application to allow the construction of a 432 square foot addition to the rear of a single-family home in an Interim Control Ordinance area.  According to the application, the height of the home will not increase.
5030 W. Rosewood Ave. – A tentative tract map was approved in 2008 (with several mitigating conditions) to combine four single-family lots and construct a new four-story, 33-unit apartment building at this address, with one level of subterranean parking.  The Department of Building and Safety issued permits for demolition, grading and shoring at the site on July 6, 2016.
Affordable Housing BillÂ
Proposed Revisions to the City’s HPOZ Ordinance – As reported previously in the Buzz, the city is seeking to streamline and clarify the ordinance that governs Historic Preservation Overlay Zones.  Committee discussion will aim to make recommendations on various points to the GWNC board.
If you’re interested in any of these issues or projects and how they could affect your neighborhood, attending tonight’s meeting – which is open to the public and provides time for public comments – would be a great way to learn more.
