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(3 votes) 1:36 pm
June 20, 2007
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The Venice Neighborhood Council will meet this evening from 7-9:30 pm at the Westminster Elementary School. Click here to see the entire agenda!
Of interest will be discussion of the "Mass, Scale, And Character Adhoc Committee":
MOTION: The VNC Board shall create the Mass, Scale, and Character Ad hoc Committee with the following Mission Statement approved by the Administrative Committee:
MISSION STATEMENT: The Mass, Scale, and Character Adhoc Committee will study the application of requirements for new development in the Coastal Zone to be compatible with existing neighborhoods in mass, scale, and character as mandated by the VCZSP and related planning documents. It will meet with, and solicit input from residents of the Venice Coastal Zone, city officials, and other interested and relevant people in order to research standards and protocols by which these issues may be evaluated in new Coastal Development Projects in order to implement the intent and letter of the governing planning documents in the most fair and practical manner. The conclusions of this Committee will be reported directly to the Venice Neighborhood Council Board. The Committee shall automatically terminate after one year or the seating of a new VNC Board, whichever occurs first.
2:37 pm
February 10, 2011
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What does "mass" mean in this context? Are they going to weigh the buildings? Or does it have some obscure planning dept meaning?
It would seem like "volume" or even just "size" would be a better term for communicating the issue.
4:03 pm
February 17, 2010
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What it has to do with is the decision by Zoning official Daniel Green about some of Frank Murphy's dual condo projects that were under review north of Rose, because they actually fit within the City's guidelines but were considered too big by neighbors who felt that they were too big for the neighborhood even though they complied – I thought that it was not fair to the builder but stayed out of it because my friends and neighbors were so against it and I understood that it would overwhelm and shade their properties, while I already have a two story structure and it would only be a few feet higher BUT – after Green's decision, many neighborhoods are using it to put off any development that the neighbors find "too big" whether it complies with City rules or not… This is being introduced to the VNC by a Walk Street resident for the same reasons that the Rose Ave neighbors wanted the ruling… Since this is a standing ruling at Zoning and will always be reviewed on a per-case basis with full neighborhood response, I am not sure why it is being considered for additional action by the VNC except if some people want the VNC land Use & Planning to become a "design review board" that will provide a louder voice than the residents at a Zoning meeting – The planning and permit process here in Venice has been horrible but that has more to do with the really big mixed-use, multii-unit projects that seem to get through with little opposition or neighborhood input and not the smaller ones that usually piss off the neighbors who want to keep things as they are above all…. It is really not fair to the developers, if we are to want smaller construction, change the laws…. but I do not think that an extra layer of approval is necessary…. I am not an oracle and might not have all of the facts so please let us all know if there is anything that I left out or do not correctly understand…….
5:23 pm
June 7, 2010
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Feeling sorry for developers isn't something I hear about a lot in LA, WatchDawg. I've always been under the impression that most politicians here are bought and paid for by large scale developers and it's only when community groups catch on and organize that they get any resistance at all.
I think they point of the motion is to provide some additional local oversight into the process. I frankly don't trust the City or "zoning officials", for the reason above, and while the VNC is not always the paragon of good government, not all of its functions revolve around enabling transients. Some committee's actually do things that are helpful. Residents don't always know what's going on or have time to attend zoning meetings at 3PM on a weekday so some of these one-off, subjectively "monsterous" projects get approved before people have time to digest what's happening. I realize an argument against is that conspiracy theorists may see it as a way for activist neighbors to impose their will on others, but it should also be mentioned that given many lots in Venice are only 35-40 feet wide, your neighbor's development can have a significant impact on the value and enjoyment of your property. Once you're surround by massive "compound" like structures, you may just give in and sell or build your own. Then Venice ends up looking like coastal Manhattan Beach, which is aptly named. This is just another layer of review to make sure there has been an appropriate level of review and discussion before such a thing occurs.
5:39 pm
July 8, 2010
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Ahhhh more government. We're getting closer and closer to Greece, France, and other dysfunctional countries. Soon we'll be like communist Romania where cigarettes became the currency of choice to get anything done.
I'm all for sticking IT to all developers, large and small, landlords also, and toss in a few corner stores, how dare they make money.
Some of you need to go live in Europe and see why anyone with any drive in "outa there".
6:20 pm
June 7, 2010
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Shanty, this is a bit off topic, but what country in Europe did you live in where you found it so terrible and when? Did you run a small business there and went bankrupt from regulation before coming to America? Just curious about your personal experience there.
8:03 pm
July 8, 2010
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AmorosoNate
I worked for a multinational corporation and the US government all over Europe. Specialty was economic development analysis of free market conditions.
Recently I'm told that the small to mid size businesses are packing up trucks and moving from Northern Germany to Poland. Sort of interesting that the Poles are attracting the German juggernaut.
By the way, like education, the US has dropped further down the list of countries with free market economies. We've fallen below some of the socialist economies of northern Europe. Those economies, generally, don't let anyone in who isn't rich, educated, and white. Try to migrate to Denmark.
I personally know no economist who thinks the increasing regulation is a prudent way to encourage economic growth.
Shanty
2:24 pm
October 28, 2010
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I have to weigh in… as a german who has lived in venice for 22 years… because I find it quite ludicrous to think that europeans are moving out. and, just to help your geography, poland is also a european country and quite a bit more socialist than germany.
of course, I appreciate the social aspect of european countries. and I don't go back because it's not just "good" vs. "evil". socialist vs. capitalist. all countries have their downsides. but that's all off topic.
it is a fact that german zoning laws are much stricter and the review process takes longer. that hasn't prevented anyone from building, though, especially around potsdamer platz in berlin, the biggest construction site in europe at that time. but every construction has to fit within the overall "picture" that a given neighbor hood offers. size ("mass") matters quite a bit in that you can't just build what you want.
my feeling of the "new venice" is that people are quite attracted by the quaint neighborhoods, especially around the walk streets – on one of which I happen to live for 20 years. prices have gone up and people spend millions to buy and build but, in many cases, destroy that very quaint neighborhood by building these bunkers, as I like to call them.
I also notice that many of these new neighbors have to work quite a bit (presumably to pay their mortgage) and leave the house at 8am, come back at 8pm and don't get to enjoy that neighborhood much.
but I don't want to generalize.
my point is that it's silly to build a 3600sqft bunker on a small walk street. I think one just needs to apply common sense and be happy with half of that size. everyone should have the freedom to build what they want but if it doesn't fit in the neighborhood, maybe there's a better place for your bunker.
2:45 pm
June 20, 2007
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Mass, Scale, And Character is in play on Abbot Kinney, with a proposed 50,000 sq foot development. There have been some hedge fund guys going door to door on A.K. asking people if they want to sell out for other developments too.
2:50 pm
August 6, 2010
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Where on AK is this development being proposed?
