Panel Upholds Approval of 2 Storage Buildings

LOS ANGELES —  The Building and Safety Commission on Tuesday upheld a city decision to allow the construction of two three-story buildings at a self-serve storage facility in Glassell Park, where residents complain the structures block their view of the hills.

Opponents, who have argued that the Department of Building and Safety abused its discretion in approving the work, said they will appeal the commission’s decision.

On a 3-2 vote, the five commissioners rejected an appeal by City Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg and residents, who said that the buildings at the Public Storage Inc. lot at 3810 N. Eagle Rock Blvd. obstruct the view of the surrounding hills and that there were no public hearings held on the construction.

The panel sided with Public Storage, which maintained that it acted within city guidelines in constructing the two new structures.

A controversy erupted last summer when the two structures went up. Residents, who had no advance notice about the work, asked Public Storage to reduce the buildings’ height. Although it offered some compromises, Public Storage officials rejected the demands.

In making its ruling, the commissioners said Tuesday that city officials acted properly when they determined that no public hearing was needed.

They did so when they “credited” the company for space lost because old storage units had to be demolished for the new buildings. Deducting the lost space from the new structures yielded a total of 38,000 square feet--just 2,000 square feet shy of the city’s threshold for public hearings.

Goldberg, who represents Glassell Park, argued that the crediting procedure was inappropriate. She pointed out that the company acknowledged that the total space of the new structures is 69,000 square feet--exceeding the threshold.