WOODLAND HILLS : Panel Upholds Plan for Shopping Center

In another small step forward for a planned shopping center on the corner of Ventura and Topanga Canyon boulevards, a Los Angeles city panel Tuesday rejected an appeal on behalf of a competing grocery store owner that the project would cause traffic hazards.

The Planning and Land Use Management Committee recommended that the City Council uphold a decision by the Planning Commission to allow the construction of a Ralphs supermarket and other retail shops next to an existing Vons grocery store. Committee member Nate Holden said he plans to file a separate recommendation after looking at the Woodland Hills site.

Ben Reznik, the attorney for Vons owner Stan Weiss, said his client simply wants the plans for the Ralphs market to include a driveway between the two stores--a request that, if granted, would likely stall the project for months.

But after a City Hall hearing, committee Chairman Hal Bernson said the current plans include enough driveway for cars, trucks and pedestrians.

“What the agreement called for was for (Ralphs) to provide alternate access, which they did . . .,” Bernson said. “And there doesn’t appear to be a sizable increase in traffic.”

Reznik, brushing off suggestions that his client wanted to block a competitor, said the issue of traffic safety may have to be settled in court if the council refuses to grant the appeal.

Ralphs owners “just insist on blocking the way, making it very convenient for their shoppers and very inconvenient for ours,” Reznik said. “We welcome the Ralphs there, and we have no problem with the competition. . . . They’re the ones acting in an anti-competitive fashion.”

The plan to increase retail space on the 7.8-acre property by 26,000 square feet was hashed out last year as a compromise between Woodland Hills homeowners and Ventura-Topanga Partners L.P., which had planned to build 10- and 13-story office buildings there. The council is scheduled to consider the land use committee’s recommendation July 14.