Local News in Brief : Permit Snafus Resolved

The Lawndale City Council has resolved two cases in which the Planning Department erroneously granted permits to developments that do not meet city building requirements.

In one project, the developer will be required to set aside for senior citizens one of four apartments for 10 years. The requirement was imposed because the project, at 16313 Prairie Ave., has four parking spaces rather than the five required by law. In a lengthy discussion weighing developers’ rights against the city’s parking needs, the council indicated that the trade-off of senior housing for parking could be implemented in other apartment projects where permits were issued in error.

On another project mistakenly given a building permit, the council granted a variance that would restrict heavy traffic-generating uses in a commercial development at 16711-16725 Hawthorne Blvd. The $350,000 project has 27 parking spaces rather than the 33 required.

The two projects are among an unknown number which, through Planning Department errors and misinterpretations, received building permits even though they do not comply with city setback and parking requirements. The errors were detailed in a scathing report delivered to the council last fall by City Atty. David J. Aleshire.

City planners are attempting to resolve the illegalities on a case-by-case basis as they come to City Hall for final approvals. In late April, the city had in progress 64 commercial projects, 8 industrial developments, 69 residential projects and 147 additions, planners said.