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WATCH FOR THE RETURN OF THE PALMS–VILLAGE SUN, IN MAY 2008
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The Palms–Village Sun
News, opinion and features about Historic Palms,
including Westside Village
www.PalmsVillageSun.info
This site is not affiliated with any group. Opinions are those of the writers.
Land use & development / November 2006
THIS IS THE REAL ESTATE PAGE
IN THIS SITE
REAL ESTATE STORIES
MAPS
This NONCOMMERCIAL site is a harmless hobby of George Garrigues, who has lived in the Westside Village district of Palms for 12 years. These pages have no connection with any organization.
Send him e-mail with corrections and comments.
WHERE ARE THE PRICIEST HOMES IN PALMS?
No suprise — they're in Westside Village Story below
VICTORY FOR OPEN SPACE: Setback change is denied for a planned condominium on Keystone Ave.

DEFEAT FOR OPEN SPACE: Setback change is approved for a planned condominium on Jasmine Ave.

Permanent bar is sought against decreasing the space between bldgs. and sidewalks
Stories below
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Westside Village HAS THE COSTLIEST HOMES IN OUR AREA
The Web site L.A. Life tells us that the single-family districts of Westside Village in Northwest Palms (purple shade) have an 'average house price' of $530 to $850 per square foot. The boundaries of Palms are those drawn by L.A. Life.
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VICTORY FOR OPEN SPACE: Setback change is denied for a new condominium structure on Keystone Ave.

DEFEAT FOR OPEN SPACE: Planner approves moving new Jasmine Ave. bldg. closer to the sidewalk

A city official known as a Deputy Advisory Agency (go figure!) decided on Sept. 19 to maintain the existing open space on Keystone Ave. when she denied a setback change for a planned five-unit condominium bldg. at 3509 S. Keystone Ave. (the west side of the street), one block east of Overland and south of Palms Blvd.

The developer wanted to bring the new structure five feet closer to the sidewalk than the existing bldg.

All the properties on that street — which was once scheduled for widening — are set back 25 feet from the sidewalk line (see photo at right).

The setback change was opposed by Councilman Bill Rosendahl's office.

The tentative tract no. is 65309, and the environmental report no. is 2006-843-MND. The contact person for the developer is Camille Zeitouny at (818) 430-5808.

A large parkway tree, which has completely buckled the sidewalk, will be removed, Zeitouny told The Sun. There would be 12 parking spaces for five units on an approx. 5,000- net-sq.-ft. site in an R3-1 zone.

Setback is broken on Jasmine Ave.; Neighborhood Council opposes reducing open space everywhere in Palms

City Planner Theodore L. Irving has recommended that the 25-foot setback on the west side of Jasmine Ave. be broken to allow construction of a condominium bldg. just 15 feet from the property line.

The decision has been appealed to the West L.A. Area Planning Commission by a member of the Palms Neighborhood Council.

The Representative Assembly of the Palms Council voted at a special meeting on Oct. 7 to oppose the waiver of the 25-foot setback line at 3665 Jasmine Ave.

Builder Gary Schaffel of Van Nuys wants to construct the bldg. only 15 feet from the sidewalk, which would be closer than the other bldgs. on that side of the block, all of which are set back by 25 feet (see the aerial photograph).

He told the Palms Neighborhood Council on Nov. 1 that the "77 property owners" on Jasmine Ave. "would take a $31-to-$35 milion hit" because they wouldn't be able to construct any new bldgs. closer to the sidewalk. He has since sent a letter to all of them making the same claim, The Sun has learned.

The Assembly held a quickie special meeting before the Bike Rodeo at Palms Elementary School on Oct. 7 and approved a motion to oppose the waiver.

Palms President Pauline Stout and Development Committee Chair Todd Robinson sent a letter to city authorities opposing the setback waiver on behalf of the Palms Council.

On Nov. 1, the Assembly approved a motion that would put Palms on record in opposition to such setback changes in the future. The text is as follows:

(1) The Palms Neighborhood Council is concerned about reduction of open space in Palms and is opposed to the reduction of building setback requirements on all streets in Palms unless they are specifically approved by the Neighborhood Council.

(2) Our City Council members are requested to take this concern and opposition into account when considering developers' requests for setback changes.