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November 21, 2011

Claire Bowin, City Planner

City Planning Departmet

200 N. Spring St.

Los Angeles, CA  90012


RE: LA RIO Ordinance [CPC-2008-3125-CA & CPC-2007-3036-RIO, 11-0098]

Dear Ms. Bowin,


It has come to our attention that several issues of concern and other issues not addressed in the current version of the LA RIO Ordinance need to be included in the LA RIO Ordinance.  Below are those issues:


1.  The return to the natural state goals to be established by a RIO must clearly state that Sign Districts are prohibited in the RIO area.  Sign districts as a recent development have no place in recreating the ambiance of a Riverwalk.  Any such provision in the RIO overlay will impinge upon what is trying to be achieved.

2. The provisions of the RIO should be more restrictive and therefore should include language that the RIO takes precedence over similar provisions in the Los Angeles Municioal Code.

3. The RIO must state where Specific Plans are in place prior to the RIO then the Specific Plans, if more restrictive, take precedence over the RIO.

4. Pedestrian and bicycle path lighting wattage on the River's right-of-way is not addressed as to its effects on adjoining residential zoned properties although lighting wattage is addressed on private property adjoining the river.

5. The RIO encourages "Riverfront Dining" yet does not address areas like Studio City where dining would be on one side of the river and single-family home neighborhoods on the other side. Because of the nature of the river channel intensifying noise, provisions must be included to protect the single-family home neighborhoods from excessive noise in such physical locations.

6. The RIO cites "Urban Design" many times yet nowhere does it differentiate where the RIO goes through a "Suburban" or "Rural" area.  Studio City is a suburban area and the design parameters for Studio City or other "Suburban" areas must be different than that for urban areas.

7. The RIO states that new multi-residential developments adjacent to the river must include "access" to the river, but does not include the words "public" or "private" access.  The RIO must include provisions for all access.

8. Any "Director's Determination" letters should be mailed to the applicable Neighborhood Council.

9. The RIO encourages "Shared Parking." This situation can be problematic.  Parking is a major issue in Studio City. For example: Valet companies have been known to sell the same parking spaces to more than one business therefore each community must be able to have parking arrangements that meet the needs of that community.

10. The RIO was written before several areas in Studio were re-designated from "Hillside" to Non-Hillside". The RIO does not include those areas that were previously designated "Hillside" and then re-designated "Non-Hillside".  Therefore, the re-designated "Non-Hillside" areas within 2,500 feet of the river must be included in the RIO.

11. Public gardens should be 100% organic and must not be allowed to use fertilizer so as not to contaminate the river.

 

Please take these concerns into account while continuing the LA RIO process.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Sincerely yours,

Alan Dymond

President

Studio City Residents Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Meeting

 

audience sitting at SCRA meeting

 

The SCRA Community Meetings are held at:

 

Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn, theatre

4222 Vineland Ave.

Parking will be VALIDATED

 

7:00 p.m. Light Refreshments and Meet the Board

7:30 p.m Program Begins

 

The meetings begin with announcements about current issues by President Alan Dymond. In addition, Senior LAPD Lead Officer Mike Lewis provides an update on local crime. Guest speakers address SCRA members and guests on matters that impact the community.

 

Next Community Meeting:

 

The SCRA holds it annual General Meeting each January at which time Officers are elected.

 Continuing the SCRA's Mayoral Candidate Series with:

Mayoral Candidate Wendy Greuel

  

Tuesday January10, 2012

Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn Theatre

4222 Vineland Ave

(Parking validated)

 

7:00 p.m.  Refreshments

7:30 p.m.  Meeting

 

Studio City Cares awards will honor outstanding service to the Studio City community.

 

 

 

From Your SCRA Board

 

Board Resignation

Board member Mark Batterman tendered his resignation on the SCRA Board.  Mark chaired the Budget Committee and sat as the SCRA’s Parks Advisory Board Liaison.  The SCRA Board voted to keep Mark on as an advisory board member and Mark has accepted. 

 

Treasurer Position

Bryan Abrams was elected assistant Treasurer with the intent of becoming the Treasurer of the SCRA, SCBA and Save LA River in January 2012. Laura McKinzie is stepping down as Treasurer.

 

BILLBOARD ORDINANCE REPORT

The City's Planning and Land Use Committee met on October 18th to the discuss the latest revisions the City Planning Department had made to the proposed new billboard ordinance (City File No. 08-2020). 70 people signed up to speak from the standing room only crowd of nearly 200 people. Of those 70, 60 were against the ordinance's latest revision which includes "grandfathering" at least 10 new proposed sign districts now in the permitting review process. Both of NBC/Universal's proposed sign districts are included in this group. An earlier version of this ordinance did not have this grandfathering provision. Community groups in attendance are still puzzled as to how this "grandfathering" provision magically appeared in the last 2 revisions. The original draft ordinance did not grandfather these 10 proposed sign districts. Nearly all of the 60 people who spoke against the current version of the ordinance stated they were not in favor of this "grandfathering". Many also stated there was no protection for single-family homeowners who surround the majority of these 10 proposed sign districts. P.L.U.M. Committee members Ed Reyes, Jose Huizar and Paul Krekorian sent the Planning Department back to the drawing board with the next revision due in 60 days.

 

City Council Redistricting

The committee to draw the new LA City Council districts met to formulate a plan on how to proceed with redrawing the Council District maps. There will be numerous public hearing for input from the SCRA and other organizations.   Several months ago the Board member Barry Johnson drew up a proposed district which was approved by the SCRA.  Barry will be taking our proposal to the 21 member panel for their consideration.

 

Holiday Event Report

Plans for the” Winter Family Festival” for Dec 4th is progressing very well.  Bonnie Goodman has signed up Radio Disney’s Festival of Giving to promote the event and to be a presence at the event.  Volunteers to help on the day of the event are needed.  Please call 818-509-0230 or e-mail us at SCRABoard@studiocity.com.   

 

Administrative Code Enforcement  (ACE)

The LA City Budget and Finance Committee heard arguments on the proposed Code Enforcement Ordinance.  There were concerns about “complaint based” citations.  Neighbor reporting neighbor.  Commercial properties and Apartments owners are not in favor of ACE because there is no provision to control actions of tenants.  Also there were questions on who would preside over citations and arguments on the violations.  The ordinance was sent back to the Chief Legislative Analyst and the City Attorney for revisions to make ACE fair and enforceable and address quality of life issues.  There will be more public hearing on the revisions.

 

TWO “QUALITY OF LIVE” ISSUES

Government Affairs Committee of the SCNC is working on an ordinances to limit flyer being left on doorsteps and to extend the time that trash cans can be left on the street.  The first one is to eliminate papers blowing around neighborhoods and the second is to create an enforceable law to make residents put their trash can away.

 

 

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