California: Woodland Hills development and a plea for more meaningful peer pressure
This article is a great example of how dangerous compromise can be…
To the extent you accept the right of people to destroy trees /
ecosystems is the extent to which your position is weakened in the
compromise process. Too often “reasonable” people feel peer pressure
and agree to a pared down, less severe form of destruction… But what
if we created the necessary peer pressure that makes most all form of
destruction unreasonable? What is it that will inspire and motivate
society to more meaningfully say thus far and no further? –Editor,
Forest Policy Research
DS Ventures has proposed a 29 lot subdivision on a 6.2 acre area
between San Feliciano Drive and Mulholland Highway at the south edge
of Woodland Hills.
Opposition to the project comes from the area
residents who object to the small size of the lots, the large number
of lots, the traffic that would result from the development, the
removal of the protected Oak and California Black Walnut trees and the
resulting encroachment on the view shed. The WHWCNC Board will
entertain discussion and a motion to oppose the submitted tract map
and will instead consider a proposal that the developer submit a less
dense tract map, deferring the upcoming Planning Department hearing
from February 5th to a later date.
The WHWCNC Plum Committee Chair,
August Steurer, reports that the developer originally proposed a 37
unit condo development but that the community opposed so vehemently
that the two parties have been working for four years to arrive at a
compromise. “We are so close that it would be shame not to arrive at a
consensus this late in the game. It is my hope that the immediate
community and DS Ventures can agree on the final submitted project
before it goes to the planning department for determination. After
all, we’re neighbors and we all need a solution that we can live
with.” http://whwcnc.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/29-lot-development-proposed-for-oaks-savanna-community/
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In response to the question: What is it that will inspire and motivate society to more meaningfully say thus far and no further?
People must be courageous enough to stand up and be heard – not give up and, as SOS has demonstrated, not be bullied into an unreasonable compromise. This takes time, effort and passion and it is all worth it.
FINALLY – PUBLIC HEARINGS BEGIN! First hearing is June 4th – go to saveoaksavanna.org for details.
June 2009 marks the 4 year anniersary of Save Oak Savanna (SOS) starting their grass roots fight against the DS Ventures high density McMansion project on Mulholland in Woodland Hills, CA. SOS is comprised of all volunteer neighbors and remains committed to promoting the concept of a project that adheres to the Mulholland Scenic Corridor Specific Plan, ordinances and corresponding guidelines. SOS still wants more reduction in density and a project that would not require a code adjustment, variance or exception or include monster-sized retaining walls.
Since SOS forced the original hearing off calendar, the developer has failed to make any effort to design a project that would address SOS’s remaining concerns about the project’s density, predominance of oversized, 3- story and/or 2-story units in a predominantly 1-story neighborhood, entrance placement, safety and parking issues and incompatibility with the surrounding community.
Just like that disclaimer at the bottom of press releases about “forward looking statements”, some representatives on our Neighborhood Council unreasonably expected the neighborhood residents to back down and settle for less than what Woodland Hills deserves in any new residential development. Despite SOS’s cooperation in meeting the developer multiple times, SOS was NEVER close to any agreement on the final submitted project.
During one of the meetings last year, the developer produced an “unofficial” plan for 23 homes. In February 2009, they marketed this 23 home plan to the community and our Neighborhood Council. They expected SOS to take it and like it, yet they never supplied this plan to the City Planning Department. The 29 home high density project is the only one on record.
At the June 4, 2009 Concurrent Hearings, starting at 9:30 am, SOS will firmly oppose the
29 home project. Join our show of organized opposition if you can: 6262 Van Nuys Blvd. 1st Floor Conf. Rm., Van Nuys, CA
MORE THAN 10 YEARS LATER – Update on High Density Project and destruction of trees:
DS Ventures had to back down in 2009 when the 1st city planning panel sent them back to the drawing board to reduce the density to 19 homes or less. They took full advantage of the Bankruptcy laws to rid themselves of the debt incurred by investing in and pitching a high density development where it does not belong. A new name and new investors have been back now for a few years, known as Harridge San Feliciano, LLC. They refused to budge in response to the unanimous community concerns and have handily secured city planning (rubber stamp) approval for 19 lots on the 6.2 acre area with a rolling topography and plenty of trees (Between San Feliciano Drive and Mulholland Highway at the south edge of Woodland Hills). The Neighborhood Council attempted to bully the neighbors to no avail and did not support the community they were elected to represent. SOS and other concerned parties have filed appeals with the South Valley Planning Commission. No date has been set for a hearing before the Commission. https://planning.lacity.org/pdiscaseinfo/caseid/MjMzNTQ50