West Hollywood City Council is slated to convene on Tuesday night to deliberate on an appeal that challenges the Planning Commission’s decision regarding a major affordable housing initiative.
This development, earmarked for 910-916 Wetherly Drive, proposes the construction of an approximately 78,425 square-foot, seven-story, 89-unit, 100% affordable multi-family residential building, complete with three levels of subterranean parking. The project has ignited discussions due to its polarizing approach to addressing the acute need for affordable housing in the area.
The appeal, submitted by Arthur Bernstein, Martha Orellana, and Joseph Dickstein, contests the Planning Commission’s adoption of Resolution No. PC 23-1534. This resolution not only approved the project’s development plans but also its exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under specific sections related to in-fill development projects and affordable housing. The appellants have raised several issues, including potential violations of the Public Records Act, eligibility for CEQA exemptions, improper granting of modifications, breaches of fiduciary duty, violations of the California Solar Rights Act, and concerns regarding the project’s environmental and community impact.
City staff have recommended that the City Council deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission’s decision, citing a thorough review process that found the project in compliance with the necessary regulatory and environmental standards. The staff report emphasizes that the appeal did not present new evidence or documentation that would undermine the findings of fact supporting the Planning Commission’s decision.
The proposed development is notable for its comprehensive use of a density bonus and concessions under both the West Hollywood Municipal Code and the State Density Bonus Law. These provisions are designed to facilitate the construction of affordable housing by offering developers certain flexibilities, such as reduced parking requirements and the ability to exceed standard height and density limits. In this case, the project benefits from a height increase allowing for a total of seven stories, significantly contributing to its capacity for 89 affordable housing units.
The project’s location within the West Hollywood Fault Precaution Zone has necessitated a detailed site-specific fault rupture evaluation, ensuring that the new structure will be safely set back from any active fault lines. Additionally, the development plan includes the granting of a permanent easement for public street utility and sidewalk purposes, alongside a reconfiguration of the public right-of-way along Wetherly Drive to improve pedestrian accessibility.
Environmental considerations have been a significant aspect of the project’s approval process. The development exceeds the maximum soil export quantity, prompting a project-specific construction air quality study. These studies, covering both construction and operational phases, concluded that the project would result in less than significant air quality impacts, aligning with the city’s and state’s environmental standards.
Parking has been another area of focus, with the project located within a half-mile of a transit stop, qualifying it for a reduction in parking space requirements. Despite this, the plan includes the provision of 62 parking spaces, accommodating both residential and some non-residential uses, such as adjacent church activities. This aspect of the project underscores its design to meet the community’s needs while maximizing the development’s affordability and accessibility.
The project also requested modifications for a 10% reduction of both side yard setbacks and the rear yard setback, a common practice for housing projects in West Hollywood to optimize the use of space. These modifications, along with the project’s alignment with the R4 Zoning District objective zoning standards, the West Hollywood General Plan goals and policies, and the applicable requirements under the California Density Bonus Law and the Housing Accountability Act, underscore the project’s careful planning to adhere to local and state housing legislation.
The project has faced opposition from the community.
Justin Rezvani, a local resident, expressed significant concerns regarding the project’s compatibility with the surrounding area. “The sheer number of units proposed for this development is excessive for the surrounding area. This influx of units will inevitably strain local resources and infrastructure, leading to overcrowding and congestion,” Rezvani wrote, highlighting fears that the project could exacerbate parking, traffic, and safety issues.
Jim Banks, Co-captain of the Norma Triangle Neighborhood, criticized the project’s size and the developer’s community engagement practices. “The size and scale of this building is outrageously large for a small neighborhood on an in-fill street. More importantly, it OVERSHADOWS the Historic First Baptist Church and will thus detract from the focal point of our neighborhood,” Banks noted. He also accused the developer of misrepresenting community members’ statements, adding, “Pulling a quote out of context, goes to show you the lengths that this developer will go to get what they want and speaks volumes as to who they are and how they operate.”
As City Council prepares to make its decision, the outcome of Monday night’s meeting will have lasting implications not only for the future of 910-916 Wetherly Drive but also for the broader strategy of affordable housing development in West Hollywood.
A couple of city Council meetings ago, there was a agenda item authored by John Erickson and Chelsea Byers to includeYIMBY on a city council list for some kind of approval. Now it seems that YIMBY is fighting for the Wetherly project… A project being developed by Chelsea‘s boyfriend‘s boss. Doesn’t that seem awfully convoluted?
Can somebody who’s a hell of a lot smarter than I am, please explain all that… please!
Because to me, even though I don’t really understand it, it sounds fishy. If I’m wrong, please tell me I’m wrong and why. thanks!
Hi Mikie, no there are a million different organizations that use the phrase YIMBY in their name. It stands for Yes In My Backyard and refers to generally pro-housing policies. The previous item you’re referring to was for authorization to attend a conference in Austin called YIMBYTown. This is not at all the same organization as YIMBY Law which is a group that (successfully) sues cities who violate state housing law.
thanks for taking the time to respond.
I guess I just don’t trust these two council members…particularly Chelsea. And I will be watching to see if she recuses herself tomorrow night…which I believe would be the ethical thing for her to do considering…
It is unconscionable that they allow a development of 89 units to only have 62 parking spaces. That’s not even one parking space per unit, and some units will need two parking spaces to accommodate at least two people living there who have cars. Public transportation is, and always has been, a total joke in Los Angeles, ever since the elimination of the red car by the oil and gas and tire companies years ago. It is just not a walkable city or a bus/subway city as our buses and subways are merely mobile homeless shelters. The middle class and… Read more »
This letter was submitted in public comments to this items agenda. While I don’t appreciate the tone of threat made it appears West Hollywood lost the opportunity to stop this development due to the builder’s remedy. Dear West Hollywood City Council, YIMBY Law is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, whose mission is to increase the accessibility and aordability of housing in California. YIMBY Law sues municipalities when they fail to comply with state housing laws, The above captioned proposal is zoning compliant and general plan compliant, therefore, your local agency must approve the application, or else make findings to the eect… Read more »
While this project has been marked by insider dealing and a lack of sensitivity to the concerns of the residents, this is really about how West Hollywood is being penalized by the State for other cities’ lack of commitment to affordable housing. This project would not have been built to this size under our local zoning but the State legislature, frustrated by the lack of progress in building affordable housing State-wide, enacted over the top development standards that are completely disconnected from local realities. Because West Hollywood’s zoning has been welcoming of affordable housing construction, the State mandates have given… Read more »
This proposal was presented to the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce homeless committee in 2018 or 2019 by the West Hollywood Housing Corp. long before there was a builder’s remedy. You had it right the first time when you said insider dealing.
Correction: the City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday (not Monday).
Thanks for the clarification.
Waist of a meeting, it’s going ahead and nothing anyone can do. Jeff Seymour is a thug. Really unfortunate for the people who own homes in neighboring buildings, who will land up loosing huge amounts from their investments and life long hard work. People who are in retirement and dependent on the value of their properties. Another disgrace from a disgraceful Weho.
I attended the Planning Commission meeting. 25 people spoke in favor of this project, only 14 were opposed. It passed Planning 5-0-1.
There are some loud NIMBY neighbors, and I’m sure we’ll hear from a few in the comments section here. But the community and the church support this project. See you Tuesday night.
No, the community that lives in this area does NOT support this development. Please knock on some doors and ask the neighbors. You are making a fool of yourself by hiding behind the term NIMBY. And yes, it’s still raining.
Sorry you think I’m making a fool of myself by using the word NIMBY. But to me, the public comments said on the record at the Planning Commission meeting speak for themselves.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C1nQtvNyLtq/?igsh=NzBmMjdhZWRiYQ==
Highly edited comments on a faceless Instagram account, much like some of the other new websites popping with domains registered anonymously in lands far away. The political nastiness this year is going to make previous small-town charm in politics disappear. Every single one of those people actually live in the area and that counts for something. Can we say the same about the actors brought in to argue the other side?
👏👏👏
In your 2021 WEHOonline interview, you described yourself as one of those “vanilla straights who are changing the fabric of the city”. I guess your support of tall vertical building in charming residential areas is part of that agenda.
Hi Peter,
I support more housing whether 100% affordable or market rate. I especially support housing on streets that are already zoned R4, like this project, the highest & densest residential zone in Weho. At the Planning Commission meeting, many more spoke in favor of the project than against. I don’t think I’m changing the fabric of the city. I’m just agreeing with the majority.