Wall
on Rodgerton
This is a monstrous
10 foot wall being proposed!
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Issue: 1 |
| "I didn't believe this when I saw the notice the other day!" - Fran Reichenbach |
For the good of ALL Hollywoodland Homeowners, PLEASE attend this hearing:
April 3rd at 10:30 a.m.
Friends and Neighbors,
Once again a builder is looking to bypass the municipal codes in the interest of making a buck; leaving the neighborhood scarred forever.
At issue is a variance on the current code for retaining wall height of 10 feet maximum for a series of two walls. This variance would grant the builder rights to build a 12 ft wall followed by a 20 ft wall - essentially 32 vertical feet of sounding board for the canyon.
This is no minor variance request - the project asks for a 20% code variance on one wall (10 ft code vs. 12 ft request)- a considerable deviation in itself - then goes on to ask for a 100% variance on the second wall (10 ft. code vs. 20 ft request).
The current retaining wall code was amended in 2005 to specifically prevent this type of uncontrolled development from further degrading our hillside communities. Retaining walls of this magnitude are not only an eyesore, permanently scarring the character of our hillsides and neighborhood, but amplify & reverberate noise from all over the canyon.
In addition there are serious concerns to the stability of such a structure especially given the geologic composition on that side of Rodgerton (FYI - construction on the lot adjoining 6041 had to be aborted previously due to hillside collapse during excavation).
Unfortunately, the variance process gives builders an avenue for getting around the codes. The proposed design has gone before the Hollywood Design Review Board several times; each time the builder has been asked to comply with code. Instead it appears the owner has decided to short circuit the process by going straight to the City for a variance. It will take a loud and clear voice from residents to ensure this type of variance is not granted here or anywhere else in Hollywoodland.
Our one chance to make our voices heard will be next Thursday, April 3, at 10:30 AM in the office of the Zoning Administrator. I understand that the time and location are not convenient for most but your participation at this time is critically needed. A variance granted here not only gives a free pass to this builder but sets precedent for like development around Beachwood Canyon or any other LA hillside community.
The issue here is not to restrict development - we all applaud those builders who work within the constraints of the natural topography (and the building code) to create homes that complement the characteristics of our historical canyon. Our mission is to stop the continued degradation of our hillsides and neighborhood (not to mention property values) due to unmitigated development.
Please help lend a voice to this issue and join us downtown on April 3, 10:30AM.
Los Angeles City Hall
200 N. Spring St - Room 1020
(enter from Main St.)
Call 213-485-3337 the DAY BEFORE this hearing to get FREE parking under City Hall. Write to BeachwoodCanyon@sbcglobal.net to carpool.
If you know anyone else who might be interested and concerned about over scale building in our community, please forward this note!
Jeanne and George Clark
jclark@pactiv.com
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Fran Reichenbach
Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association
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