Pyrrhic Victory in La Tuna Canyon : Planners Deny Tract, But Residents Fear Council Override

Los Angeles Councilman Joel Wachs is expected to push for City Council approval of the first tract homes in rural La Tuna Canyon despite the city Planning Commission’s denial Thursday of a zoning change necessary for the development.

“I believe the councilman will continue to support this to protect and preserve the mountains in the area,” said an aide to Wachs, Arline De Sanctis. Wachs could not be reached for comment.

Plans for development of the pristine 47-acre site call for 25 large houses with yards big enough to keep horses.

For more than 2 years, many La Tuna Canyon residents, who are fiercely protective of their rural canyon and horse trails, have fought the project, fearing it would lead to more tract housing in their quiet hills.

Because of Wachs’ support of the project, several residents who attended the Planning Commission meeting at the Van Nuys Women’s Club were not encouraged by the rejection of the requested zoning change.

The 15-member City Council traditionally defers to the district council member who represents the area. It takes 10 votes for the council to overturn a Planning Commission decision.

“We are very disappointed with Councilman Wachs’ position,” said Mary Ann Geyer, vice president of land use for the La Tuna Canyon Community Awareness Assn. “This project is not in keeping with the flavor or character of La Tuna Canyon in any way, shape or form. It’s a disgrace.”

The Federation of Hillside and Canyon Assns., a coalition of more than 40 homeowner groups, joined the La Tuna Canyon group in opposing the project.

Wachs supports the development because of restrictive conditions he worked out with the developer, MPH Development Co. of Granada Hills. The conditions require donation of 33 hillside acres to the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, building houses on 20,000-square-foot lots and preventing grading of steep hillsides.

La Tuna Canyon leaders say that plans for the project are misleading because while lots are big, much of the land is steep hillside that is undesirable for horses.

They also argue that the project is too dense and not in keeping with the Sun Valley general plan, which dictates how the community should be developed.

The Planning Commission voted 3 to 2 to reject the project because of what members said were ambiguities in the general plan.

MPH wants to build one house for every 20,000 square feet, which could conflict with the general plan. The plan calls for one house for every 5 acres in one area and one house for every 20,000 square feet in another. It is difficult to determine boundaries between the two areas from the general plan map, planning staff said.

But the planning staff recommended that the commission approve the project because of the strict conditions placed on it.

Mark S. Armbruster, the developer’s attorney and a City Hall lobbyist, said he is confident that the Planning Commission’s decision will not hurt the project’s chances.