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July 11, 2009
Central Area Planning Commission
200 N. Spring Street Room 525
Los Angeles, CA 90012-4801
RE: Case No. ZA-2007-2504-ZAD,
Environmental: ENV-2008-2505-MND,6041 Rodgerton Drive
Dear Commissioners:
You requested the Hollywoodland Design
Review Board meet to discuss and give a recommendation on a
pending variance and appeal for 6041 Rodgerton Drive, Case
No. ZA-2007-2504-ZAD, Environmental: ENV-2008-2505-MND.
The Board recommended supporting the appeal initiated
from the Hollywoodland Homeowners Association and the
Beachwood Canyon Association and denial of the variance.
The appeal requests to overturn a variance for over
height freestanding retaining walls at 6041 Rodgerton Drive
(section code, 12.24-X, 26, Section 12.21-C,8 Section
12.21-C,8
On July 9, 2009 the Hollywoodland DRB
officially met. A quorum was present. Testimony was given
by the architect/applicant, Mr. Ronald Chang, eight
neighbors and the president of the Hillside Federation.
DRB members in attendance included:
architect, Brian Lane, architect Paul Helmle, designer Jean
Clyde Mason and Christine O’Brien. The motion passed, 4-0.
The DRB’s official recommendation was
based on the applicant’s self imposed hardship,
inaccurate retaining wall/elevation site plans and the
planning department’s inconclusive findings
Lack of Hardship
There is no hardship relative to this
site. Any claim for a hardship is self imposed.
Construction obstacles of oversized walls can be eliminated
by reducing the size and scale of the project.
A completed specific plan project,
located at 6231 Rodgerton Drive is an 8823 square foot lot,
with a 1,932 square foot, three story house. This project’s
site is similar, but even more restrictive in elevation
(steeper and smaller in square footage), than 6041 Rodgerton.
It is an outstanding example of scaled, functional design
without deviation from the specific plan demonstrating “no
hardship for” 6041 Rodgerton Drive.
The DRB architects and neighbors also
showed examples of similar hillside homes in Hollywoodland
that resolved the parking situation by constructing a second
garage to accommodate the Plan’s four parking space
requirement.
Inaccurate, unreliable site plans
There was an inconsistency in the
drawings of the retaining walls from the original approval
to the variance submission. The size, length and overall
height changed. The architect concurred that the original
drawings did not clearly communicate the length and height
of the retaining walls. Board architects identified the
lower retaining wall adjacent to the street would actually
be taller than the 12foot height claimed and presented to
the commission.
Mandatory findings
To grant relief from the provisions of
the municipal code, regulating retaining walls located in a
R-zone and on land designated as a hillside area, all of the
legally mandated finding of section 12.24X of the code must
be made. None of these findings can be substantiated.
If I can be of additional assistance in
this matter, please feel free to contact me (323-463-8200)
or email
christineomailbox-mailbox@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Christine Mills O’Brien
Secretary, Hollywoodland Design Review Advisory Board
Cc:
Mr. Doug Mensman
Mrs. Renee Weitzer
Mr. Jason Chan
Hollywoodland DRB
Mr. Larry Friedman
Hollywoodland Homeowners Assoc.
Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Assoc.
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