Village at Westfield Topanga

At our board meeting on June 14, 2011 we had a presentation about the proposed Village at Westfield Topanga project by John Alderson, the Development Director for the project. It is a mixed-use project to be located in between Westfield Topanga and Westfield Promenade. The project will include nearly 100 specialty shops and restaurants, a multi-story first class office complex, a 275 room boutique hotel, and a multipurpose community center.

We discussed how to make the back wall of Costco more aesthetic for the community. The developer said they would add architectural interest similar to that at Crate & Barrel. When questioned about graffiti, they noted that they stayed on top of it. Also, they plan to include bike paths, off the street that are separate from pedestrian walkways. This will be a benefit to bicyclists, and by bringing the bike paths a little closer to the stores, a benefit to the stores. More information about the project is on the Westfield Website.

At this meeting we also approved the details of our $40,500 budget and an expenditure of $1,000 for new benches on Sherman Way.

Construction Project

The Metro Orange Line Extension Project will extend four miles from the Metro Orange Line Canoga Station to the Metrolink Chatsworth Station. This dedicated busway will offer improvements to north-south mobility in the western San Fernando Valley. The construction of the Metro Orange Line Extension will offer faster travel time, improved bus connections, and provide better access to destination throughout Los Angeles County. Anticipated project completion is summer 2012.

The first order of business was for the Metro Contractor to build a new parking lot at the north end of the Metrolink Chatsworth Station. Having completed that, the Contractor will now utilize a portion of the south parking lot as a construction staging area to store construction equipment and to perform construction work along the alignment.

When: Beginning at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2010 through the end of construction summer 2012, a portion of the south parking lot will be used as a staging area by the Metro Orange Line Extension Contractor.

What to expect:
Parking will be restricted at the South parking lot. Metrolink/Amtrak patrons are encouraged to park in the North parking lot.
Access to pedestrians will be maintained outside the construction zone.
Access to emergency responders will be maintained.

Mobile Billboard Regulations In Winnetka

Mobile Billboard Advertising Display Task Force Hits the Streets
On December 17, 2010, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed an ordinance prohibiting mobile billboard advertising displays from parking on City streets and public lands.

Mobile Billboard Advertising Displays (AB 2756, Blumenfield), a key piece of state legislation sponsored by the City of Los Angeles, created Section 395.5 of the Vehicle Code, which defines "mobile billboard advertising display" as an advertising display that is attached to a wheeled, mobile, non-motorized vehicle that carries, pulls or transports a sign or billboard and is for the primary purpose of advertising. This bill also amended Section 21100 of the Vehicle Code to give local authorities the ability to adopt rules/regulations by ordinance/resolution to regulate mobile billboard advertising; this includes establishing penalties that could authorize removal of the mobile billboard advertising display. In addition, VC Section 22651 was amended to say that the mobile billboard advertising display may be towed when left parked or standing in violation of a local ordinance. Warning citations advising of the consequences, including towing of the mobile billboard display, are sufficient warning to the public.

The State law and City ordinance took effect January 1, 2011.

Councilman Zine created a task force in the Third District mobilizing his community P.O.S.S.E. (People Organizing a Safe, Secure Environment) to help enforce the law banning mobile billboard advertising trailers on city streets. They worked with the Department of Transportation beginning January 1, 2011 to issue the appropriate warnings and impose the available penalties to those who did not comply. For non-compliance, the vehicle may be impounded and the owner may be subject to misdemeanor penalties that range from $250 to $1000 and/or up to six months in jail.

The week before January 1st, task force members hit the streets and inventoried concentrated areas in CD3. On January 1st, some of those had been removed by their owners; but of those that remained, LADOT issued warnings to 16 mobile billboard advertising displays. When LADOT returned the following day, 5 more had been removed by the owners and 8 were impounded. 1 additional display was impounded on January 3rd.

To report a Mobile Billboard Advertising Display, call the DOT Parking Enforcement Communications Division at 818-752-5100 or 213-485-4184. Immediately Press "2" to report a parking violation. Please be ready to provide the trailer license plate number and the street block location.

WNC Reviews Cell Tower

Walter J. Gaworecki, Director/Synergy Development Services, Inc. for T-moble shared the transmitter design at the November 2010 board meeting. The design was previously approved by our board. View this simulation.  The dimensions are 8’ x 8’ atop the roof, colors are simpatico with the existing building and hold the wireless transmitter. Grey colors, etc. the symbols are a relief style. A board member inquired why it wasn’t more of a spire. The church wasn’t reaching for a conventional style steeple. The project is in the process to be approved by the City. The board again voted in support of the project.