Residents push again towards housing growth in Woodland Hills – NBC Los Angeles
Dozens of individuals packed the pews of St. Mel Catholic Church Friday to give you a plan to cease builders from closing a historic golf course and nation membership to construct practically 400 properties on the land.
Residents at Friday’s assembly say their prime concern is extra congestion in a excessive hearth hazard zone.
“I feel it’ll be the loss of life of Woodland Hills in the event that they go forward with this undertaking,” stated Woodland Hills resident Stephen Scheff.
Constructed within the Twenties, the membership and golf course have been round for generations, sitting on 93 acres simply east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and south of the 101 Freeway.
The membership was bought in 2020 and is owned by Newport Seashore-based actual property agency Arrimus Capital.
In keeping with the undertaking’s web site, builders plan to shut the membership and use a 20-acre portion to construct 175 single-family properties, 126 residences and 97 rent-restricted senior properties.
“The fireplace dangers and simply the altering character of our neighborhood,” stated Anita Zaccaro. “It’s in a excessive hearth zone and it’s numerous models they’re contemplating placing there. I feel it’s approach too large for the realm.”
The builders filed an software with the town of LA final month and declare their efforts will assist tackle the housing disaster.They’re looking for approval below AB 2011, a state legislation that fast-tracks housing permits in business corridors by bypassing environmental evaluation and public hearings.
“This isn’t a business hall and in consequence, it’s a misapplication of the legislation,” stated Matt Heisie, with the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Collective.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield explains that Governor Newsom lately signed amendments to the invoice, redefining what makes a business hall – as a substitute of use, it’s the width of the road. He claims the builders lobbied lawmakers in Sacramento to craft modification language to keep away from public scrutiny.
“If this strikes ahead below these state legal guidelines, it by no means involves a vote earlier than the town council,” stated Blumenfield. “I finally assume that is in all probability going to be one thing that leads to courtroom.”
Presently, the developer’s software is below evaluation by the town’s planning division.
Blumenfield says he desires to get readability from the town’s land use attorneys to ensure the state legislation is appropriately interpreted earlier than the undertaking goes any additional.
The developer and undertaking spokesperson didn’t instantly reply to NBC4’s request for remark.
