Petitioning Mitch O’Farrell (CD13), Carolyn Ramsay (CD4 candidate), David Ryu (CD4 candidate),Gil Cedillo (CD1)

Please sign petition to put a MORATORIUM on SMALL LOTS in Silver Lake, Echo Park & Elysian Valley to stop projects like Black Birds.

PETITION: We the undersigned residents of the Silver Lake - Echo Park - Elysian Valley Community Plan call for the following:
(Please sign if you live or work within the area- See map on the attached photo)

IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM on all projects subject to the SMALL LOT ORDINANCE -Interim Control Ordinance shall be issued by our elected City Councilmembers to halt all Small Lots pending

TINY LOTS = MANSIONIZED HOMES   Subdividing one housing lot into 5 or 6 small lots is producing tall, narrow, 3-4 story homes that dwarf adjacent residences.

SMALL LOT DESIGN GUIDELINES   Must be re-written to specifically address compatibility with existing neighborhood character; they shall be made enforceable criteria for project approval; they shall align with the Silver Lake – Echo Park – Elysian Valley Community Plan.  We want clear provisions to ensure that projects conform to the prevailing height, mass and set back of surrounding homes.

DENSITY LIMITS   Adopt a new ordinance that protects hillside lots and narrow, dead-end or undeveloped streets from Small Lot over-development where these limitations exist.

DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE   Must be seated to provide for a community-based review of project compliance with existing neighborhood character.

PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE GROWTH   We are not against development.  We are for well-designed projects that blend with our neighborhoods to produce new housing opportunities for a range of residents.

 WE WANT ENFORCEABLE RULES TO PRESERVE COMMUNITY CHARACTER

Blackbirds Constuction Site Issues

Dust and noise are unavoidable with any construction, but Blackbirds construction site issues need to be addressed to make sure they're in compliance.  Neighbors complain of constant toxic diesel fumes, dust and lack of street parking - not to mention the daily noise.

STOP Over-Development!

STOP Over-Development: Honor Neighborhood Character.  Tell City Hall to follow the Community Plan.  Join We Are Echo Park and sign the petition now! 

Post Hearing Summary and Documents

EP Neighbors, through pre-hearing negotiations in Garcetti's office and onsite visits, could not hold the developers to a definite commitment to build fewer units. (Over a year of negotiations we heard "15" units but then would hear "18 units.")  However, issues regarding safety, traffic, signage and the steep topography, were included in the discussions.  Representatives from LADOT and the Bureau of Engineering gave their input and laid out what could be done and not be done.  Street widening was on the table.  If the final decision required widening of Vestal Ave., the developers would have to foot the bill.  

Although many Echo Park Neighbors spoke out at the February 28th, 2013 hearing, unit reduction was off the table, in spite of 134 signatures of protest and letters sent to Garcetti.  Unfortunately, because of current zoning regulations, the developers have the right to build 18 units. During the hearing, Georgic Avanesian, representing LA City's Dept. of Engineering, passionately argued for street widening to reduce water runoff.  

The Department of City Planning's FINAL DECISION came May 22, 2013 in a 28 page pdf file: VTT-71901-SL Decision 5_22-13. It includes street widening, as well as many stipulations covering all phases of the development process.  Worth a read to understand and monitor the processes.  

Case No.: ZA 2012-1388(ZAA) the ZONING ADMINISTRATOR'S ADJUSTMENT is posted in a 7 page pdf. document.  This approval is tied to VTT-71901-SL and ENV-2012-1389-MND, listing mandatory findings.

HEARING NOTICE - PLEASE BE THERE. THIS IS IT!

NOTE: Whether or not you're within a 500-Foot Radius EVERYBODY is invited to come.  This project will affect ALL OF US for years to come.  Let your voices and presence be known.  Safety, traffic and parking are top priorities.

UPDATE - LocalConstruct Requests Setback Variances!

The clip below is from the L.A. Times - caught by a neighbor - that shows LocalConstruct now requests variances on setbacks. DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS IS JANUARY 14TH for comments.   Please try to make time out of your busy schedules to drop a comment BEFORE Jan.14th to air your views.  Make your comments specific to the issue of setbacks.  (Character of neighborhood, safety issues for exiting cars seeing both ways, etc.)  Comments to be emailed to Darlene.Navarrete@lacity.org  Include the case # ENV-2012-1389 in your subject/body.   (Please include a Bcc to epneighbors@yahoo.com)

Update

After many discussions and meetings, the EP Vestal/Preston Neighbors Group are asking that LocalConstruct make necessary changes to their plans in order to make it a better and more safe project for our community.  Our focus is not on the architecture, concepts of community and low density -- but only on the impact that 30 - 40 more cars will have on street parking, traffic and safety.

LocalConstruct's initial exhibit of their plans are posted here under Case No. VTT-71901.  Download the pdf document "Tentative Tract No. 71901"  to your hard drive in order to view it in detail.