Several dozens residents from Lachman Lane packed the Community Council meeting last Thursday, hoping to gain support for their opposition to a proposed remodel that they fear will ultimately lead to a loss of ocean views and a decline in their property values. Speaking on behalf of neighbors on the high side of the 600 block of Lachman Lane in Marquez Knolls, resident Janet Turner detailed four major objections to the permit that was issued by the L.A. Department of Building and Safety for a 1,986-sq. ft. addition to a home at 642 Lachman (the lower side of the hillside street). Three Building and Safety officials were among those listening to Turner’s presentation. She argued, first of all, that according to her calculations, adding a third story to the hillside property would exceed the allowable 33-ft. height limit. Second, “adding an additional story over the current home…does not meet prevailing neighborhood standards,” Turner argued. “Every home on the 600 and 700 blocks, from the time they were first constructed to now, has never built up. According to the original developers, the homes on the even side of the street were specifically designed with a second story below the first level for the purpose of keeping one level at the street as the prevailing standard [and ensuring] that that every home on Lachman would have an ocean view.” Third, said Turner, “the permit granted for the remodel and addition of a third story…has violated City of Los Angeles rules and regulations since no notice has ever been posted on the property notifying residents of the proposed change.” And fourth, “there is no code protecting us and we need a view ordinance, especially in regard to the significant victory for view protection on upper Lachman Lane just announced by the California Court of Appeal.” Turner also charged, “The addition at 642 Lachman will immediately destroy the ocean view of several homes, and the mountain view of several other homes, but more importantly, it breaks the precedent that has protected all the homeowners on the odd side of the street on the 600 & 700 blocks…In addition, several neighbors on the even side of the street have told us that they have had no intention of breaking the precedent, but the minute it is broken by someone else, they would build up.” Turner appealed to city officials “to protect us and to protect our beautiful neighborhood. Please interpret the code in favor of the neighborhood. Let the prevailing PREVAIL.” Following Turner’s presentation, Santa Monica designer Denise Zacky read a statement from the 642 Lachman Lane owner, which began by saying: “Our remodel is 100% in compliance with the law and there is no legal basis for anyone’s contention that this remodel might have a negative affect on property values.” Ifa Kashefi, office manager for L.A. Building and Safety in Van Nuys, where the 642 Lachman permit was granted, answered each of Turner’s objections. “We added two additional reviews to this project and closely examined the plans at every stage,” Kashefi said. “The proposed heights in the plans were measured by licensed surveyors for accuracy, and their figure is 32’5″‘six inches shorter than the limit. The prevailing setbacks are 15’3″ and the owner has 15 ft.” Kashefi continued, “I realize there are issues with views and character of the neighborhood, but unfortunately, zoning code regulations in your area don’t have any requirements [about these issues]. Perhaps you need a specific plan for your area, and a residential design review board.” She vowed that “we will carefully monitor the building plans during construction to be sure that the project complies with the code.” An appeal of the 642 Lachman building permit has been filed, and a public hearing will be held by the Planning Commission within about a month.
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