Land Use Meeting - Approved
January 21, 2010
Time: 7:00 PM

Linda called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm

Present:  Linda van der Valk, Jelena Csanyi, Andre van der Valk, Teena Takata, Larry Heller, Jeff Hammond, Chuck Knolls, Mary Kaufman, Mark Levinson, Steve Columbus, Vicki Briskman, Dan Huffman

Not here: Judi Daniels (excused), Saul Daniels (excused)

Stakeholder and Public Comments

Kingdom Hall Jehova Witness on Topanga (they are located within the Specific Plan) - they have been collecting money for new hall for some period of time.  Question about what would be allowed from a design point of view; comments from Linda that the standard is Spanish colonial or Western as a general theme, with multiple approvals needed from various agencies including DRB.

Question about 9824 and 9814 Baden - we believe approvals for both lots to subdivide went through.

Rose Pruning - at the Acre -Jan 30 - 8:30 to noon for trimming work. 

The minutes for November were reviewed and will stand as approved as read.

Patrick Smith (legal representative); Gary Golainick for the Chime school at Valley Circle and Devonshire; they helped their school become established there.  Request for renewal of conditional use permit.  This is an existing elementary/middle school for special needs children and others.  They receive the State's average daily attendance rate for revenue.  CSUN and LAUSD also help; they use Charter to provide a least restrictive environment for special needs children (Candice Smith case).  So they now have children coming in from out of the area because of their specialty.  Chime did purchase the property. 

Regarding a recent request for review of a project at this site by a church, associated with a proposed purchase of the property - the Church has backed off their bid; the Church came in with a design that was somewhat incompatible with the neighborhood.  Their families have also provided input that they really want the school to stay open.  The property is still for sale, but this is more as a fiduciary responsibility matter and they really want to simply keep the school open.  Help with living skills; their special needs children run the gamut of all types of disability.....the legal standard is a problem that "affects the child's access to education".   Autism, Cerebal Palsy, Downs, others as a broad definition of disabled.  Learning disabilites (auditory, verbal, ADD); generally a juvenile delinquent is not a qualified disabled child.  When does the sale listing expire-it's a pocket listing....committee member commented that the initial sale we looked at was not providing a use that was compatible with the neighborhood.  They are proceeding with having their Woodland Hills campus serve one age group, or could mix the age groups to provide a higher coverage area. 

With regards to conditions in the CUP application, or other operational issues - Why is the exit (from vehicles to property) from Valley Circle and not from Devonshire?  Its really a way to try to create a cleaner drop off area, where the corner isn't interfering and the cars therefore are not backing up around the corner; and it discourages u turns at Devonshire to reverse direction at Valley Circle.  Concerns were expressed about children in and near the equestrian trail along Valley Circle after school, more control of the children seems to be needed - keep them more on premises.  Noted also, some children especially handicapped are picked up in school parking lot.  School is about 25% children with disabilities and the rest normal/gifted.  ADA revenue from public sources is about $5800 per year based on  average daily attendance. 

A change in the balance between the equestrian trail safety and the access to the property could be structured.  Other considerations are that a bar could be taken down in the equestrian trail to reduce the kid issue swinging on the rail, and some brushed concrete could be placed as a further visual crossing sign.  Consider signage on the trail for everyone; kids, drivers and equestrians....work on educating everyone because that the equestrians should have priority and everyone should be yielding to equestrian. 

Neighbor commented that their concern is mostly about expansion, or about expanded hours over and above the normal base M-F hours to cover special events - the current level of special events is fine, but keep reasonable control over the number of events. 

Present request for CUP is for 450 students (max 15 classrooms, 30 children per class as part of the Q&A) - but the overall paragraph describing the project is for 300 students (with relief from an improved wall) - Applicant confirmed that their intent is 300 students for a 15 year grant.  The CUP should also provide for outside even hours (minimal so after school events are allowed as required elsewhere). 

Concern was brought up about the grant period; at one place in the CUP (page 2 of 5 "Project Description") it says the request is for perpetuity, but they state 15 years is requested and the committee recommends 15 years for the maximum grant period in the new CUP application.

Jelena made a motion to support the CUP, Mary seconded the motion, which was amended by committee to provide more specifics as follows.  The discrepancy in the students between the Q&A (item b) that provides for 450 children needs modified to be 300 children maximum, as stated in the introductory paragraph.  The committee recommends 15 years for the maximum grant period for the new CUP.  The hours of operation should include special event hours to eliminate a conflict between normal operating hours and special events, and events should not exceed four days per year.  Adult supervision by school personnel is required to reduce children's presence in the equestrian trail in the afternoon; signage "children crossing" to be posted in area.  Waiver of the requirement for a 6 foot masonry wall on the easterly boundary, as per the prior CUP and as requested in the present CUP, is also recommended.  Unanimous approval was made of the motion as modified.

Request to preserve pepper trees on Canoga and incorporate them in the proposed bike plan.  Dan advises that the Councilman has requested that the trees be saved.  Andre moved to approve the request, Jelena seconded, approved unanimously.

Accessory Dwelling Units - analysis to come

DRB update - no recent meetings - the 76 at Devonshire and De Soto closed; the operator lost the lease; now graffiti all over; the City will paint it over, but Andre thinks that 76 can maintain the property and reduce the graffiti more effectively than the City. 

Mormon Canyon - a new bridge was built over the stream; built by the owner of the Hidden Creeks stable, Mountain Meadows.  They have been dumping pvc, masonry; Jeff noted this is illegal. 

Coordinating Council lunch is the last Monday in January, Mitch Englander is the speaker.

The meeting adjourned 8:50 pm