Dear City Council and Staff,
I am writing to express deep concern regarding Entry #18 (833 Westbourne Drive) in the Attachment A development update. Following the rushed approval process of 948 N. Hayworth in Center City on February 19, the Tri-West neighborhood now faces a similar procedural “shotgun” regarding this 6-story proposal in a 2-story (R3A) zone.
6-Story Builder’s Remedy Project
The Facts of Record:
- AB 130 Shotgun Clause: The report states that an AB 130 determination has been requested. The project must be acted upon by May 29, 2026.
- The Legislative Deadline: We just witnessed a Planning Commission hearing where a project was pushed through under the threat of “default approval” due to these same AB 130 deadlines.
Procedural Questions for the Record:
- Public Input vs. AB 130: Given that the project is already “deemed complete,” what is the specific date for the required public hearing? Will the Tri-West community be given more than the bare minimum notice to prepare?
- Design Review Subcommittee (DRS): Will this project still be submitted to the DRS for a formal review of its massing and scale relative to the Westbourne streetscape? As the Council considers moving toward “voluntary” streamlining (scheduled for the March 19 Planning Commission meeting), will the City protect the current requirement for a public DRS hearing for this specific project?
- CEQA Exemption: The applicant is requesting a “statutory exemption” from CEQA under AB 130. Has the City independently verified that a 6-story project on this specific lot meets the criteria for such an exemption, particularly regarding cumulative traffic and infrastructure impacts?
- Environmental Analysis: Entry #18 mentions “Application materials under review.” Does this review include an analysis of the “objective standards” that still apply even to Builder’s Remedy projects?
The residents of Tri-West deserve a deliberate, transparent process—not a repeat of the “approval by default” pressure tactics seen just two weeks ago.
Sincerely,
Victor Omelczenko, West Hollywood Center City Resident
Editor’s note: Views expressed are those of the author, a West Hollywood resident and are not necessarily shared by WEHOonline or its editorial staff.
I can’t imagine how they would even construct such a thing on our narrow street. Two cars cannot pass one another. Construction equipment would make Westbourne impassable.
You gotta love all the bizarre assumptions that they won’t need in-site parking because we’re all going to ditch our cars.
Exactly! Council and Planning are pushing forward these mammoth buildings of luxury apartments with no concerns for affordability or their impact in the neighborhood. Council and Planning are beholden to developers while they ignore residents. VOTE THEM OUT!