Local Council Urges CVS Redesign, Code Compliance

At the Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting last Thursday, members unanimously approved two motions calling for CVS/Pharmacy to rethink the store’s exterior in light of the community building codes and standards. Representatives of the pharmacy chain, which recently acquired hundreds of Sav-on stores nationwide including the one on Swarthmore Avenue last June, are expected to meet with the Design Review Board to discuss their plans to bring the store into compliance with existing codes. Community members constitute the DRB, which as an arm of the Department of City Planning oversees zoning and building permits. In December, the DRB rebuked CVS for the following: (1) the elevator from its rooftop parking is inoperative, which is expected to be a violation of state and federal disability laws; (2) merchandise was sold and stored outside the building; (3) CVS’ landscape is not regularly maintained; (4) the loading dock has been frequently cluttered with overflowing trash; (5) equipment has blocked rooftop parking spaces; and (6) the driveway ramp leading to rooftop parking is frequently locked. Early this month, CVS discontinued selling and storing merchandise outside the store and its loading dock has been more regularly cleaned of trash. Last month, CVS’ plans to significantly enlarge and brighten its neon store signs frustrated DRB members and community leaders, who insist that CVS’ corporate management has misunderstood the community standards. Community Council members passed the two motions to give added authority to community efforts to upgrade the building. One motion sponsored by AYSO representative David Schneiderman encourages the DRB to strictly enforce the relevant building codes of the store. A division of power between the Department of City Planning and the Department of Building and Safety has delayed–and often stymied–the enforcement of city codes. The DRB relies on inspectors from Building and Safety for enforcement of DRB codes. Although council members approved that motion unanimously, many have little hope that the DRB can force CVS to comply with local building codes. ‘Enforcement is not going to happen,’ said member Stuart Muller, who voted for the motion and has led community efforts to bring the Sav-on/CVS property into compliance with community ‘standards’ for nearly a decade. More controversially, the council approved a motion sponsored by Harry Sondheim that reads ‘it is the sense of the community that the CVS exterior be extensively refaced and redesigned.’ Although all voting members of the council approved the motion, some members expressed discomfort with its scope. ‘My concern was whether it’s a proper role for the council to make judgments about the attractiveness of a particular building,’ said Mike Streyer, an alternate from Marquez. ‘At the same time, I strongly support Stuart Muller’s attempt to get CVS to follow our local ordinances.’ CVS representatives are meeting with the DRB next Wednesday evening, and community members hope that the pharmacy will present revised plans to renovate the building. ————– Reporting by Staff Writer Max Taves. To contact, e-mail: reporter@palipost.com