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On November 21 2011 SCRA provided its comments and suggestions to the City Planner on the River Improvement Overlay that impacts Studio CIty as the LA river and the Tujunga Wash, The main points of the comments and suggestions are stated below.
The present status is that the proposed ordinance and will soon come before the city council. The language of the proposed ordinance can be found at the city’s website under this reference
LA River Improvement Overlay [CPC-2008-3125-CA & CPC-2007-3036-RIO, 11-0098]
Here are the main point raised by the SCRA:
1. The return to the natural state goals to be established by a RIO must clearly state that Sign Districts are prohibited in the RIO area. Sign districts as a recent development have no place in recreating the ambiance of a River walk. Any such provision in the RIO overlay will impinge upon what is trying to be achieved.
2. The provisions of the RIO should be more restrictive and therefore should include language that the RIO takes precedence over similar provisions in the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
3. The RIO must state where Specific Plans are in place prior to the RIO then the Specific Plans, if more restrictive, take precedence over the RIO.
4. Pedestrian and bicycle path lighting wattage on the River's right-of-way is not addressed as to its effects on adjoining residential zoned properties although lighting wattage is addressed on private property adjoining the river.
5. The RIO encourages "Riverfront Dining" yet does not address areas like Studio City where dining would be on one side of the river and single-family home neighborhoods on the other side. Because of the nature of the river channel intensifying noise, provisions must be included to protect the single-family home neighbourhoods from excessive noise in such physical locations.
6. The RIO cites "Urban Design" many times yet nowhere does it differentiate where the RIO goes through a "Suburban" or "Rural" area. Studio City is a suburban area and the design parameters for Studio City or other "Suburban" areas must be different than that for urban areas.
7. The RIO states that new multi-residential developments adjacent to the river must include "access" to the river, but does not include the words "public" or "private" access. The RIO must include provisions for all access.
8. Any "Director's Determination" letters should be mailed to the applicable Neighborhood Council.
9. The RIO encourages "Shared Parking." This situation can be problematic. Parking is a major issue in Studio City. For example: Valet companies have been known to sell the same parking spaces to more than one business therefore each community must be able to have parking arrangements that meet the needs of that community.
10. The RIO was written before several areas in Studio were re-designated from "Hillside" to Non-Hillside". The RIO does not include those areas that were previously designated "Hillside" and then re-designated "Non-Hillside". Therefore, the re-designated "Non-Hillside" areas within 2,500 feet of the river must be included in the RIO.
11. Public gardens should be 100% organic and must not be allowed to use fertilizer so as not to contaminate the river.
