The Pacific Palisades Community Council is seeking community input on a proposal to install a cell tower in the Riviera neighborhood, when it meets on Thursday, January 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the community room of the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. AT&T recently applied to install a cell tower on the public right of way along Sunset Boulevard near Capri Drive, upsetting the neighbors, who argue that the pole does not fit in aesthetically with the area. Sunset is designated as a scenic highway with no above-ground utilities. The neighbors recently fought Verizon, which wanted to place a cell tower in that same location, causing Verizon to withdraw its application, Council Chair Richard G. Cohen told the Palisadian-Post. Cohen said he knows that the Riviera neighborhood has inadequate cell coverage, so he asked AT&T to find an alternative location for the pole such as the parking lot of the Riviera Country Club. He also asked that the tower be disguised as a tree. Kyle Sutherland, a consultant representing AT&T who will be at the January 14 meeting, told Cohen in an e-mail on December 28 that he spoke to Riviera about the proposal, and the club is in favor of locating the cell site on its property if there is community support. Cohen would like to learn if the community finds the alternative location on the country club’s property more acceptable. Other agenda highlights include: ‘ Ira Handelman, representing Vons, will talk about plans to remodel the grocery store at Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway. Neighboring resident Carol Bruch will share her traffic safety concerns about Vons’ plans to relocate the loading dock from the south side of the building to the north side. ‘ The Council will discuss the ramifications of L.A. City Planning Department’s recent decision to postpone indefinitely the development of an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance, which would have provided guidelines for single-family property owners who want to have a second dwelling on their property. According to a December 17 press release from L.A. City Planning Director Gail Goldberg, the city decided not to create an ordinance at this time because of impending staff reductions due to the budget crisis. State law requires that all cities allow second units in single-family and multi-family residential zones. The law has specific standards that all cities must follow unless the city has adopted its own ordinance. Since the city has postponed developing its own ordinance, it will comply with the parameters of the state law.
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