By LINDA RENAUD News Editor No decision was made last Wednesday after the Los Angeles Planning Department hearing regarding the proposed 82-unit condominium/townhouse project, which would nestle into the hillside at 17331-17333 Tramonto Drive and resemble an Italian hillside town. ”The property, which developer Ken Kahan purchased in 1999, occupies 3.98 acres overlooking Santa Monica Bay, above the Sunset/PCH intersection. It is zoned RD2-1 (multiple family), and while Kahan could build up to 87 units on the site, he has proposed 82, of which 11 are townhomes. While 20 tenants will relocate when the existing apartment building on the site is torn down, still to be determined is how many, and where, the affordable housing units required under the Mello Act will be built (on site or elsewhere). ”After hearing presentations from both sides regarding the feasibility of building the complex in a known landslide area, planning deputy Emily Gabel said she will accept written submissions from concerned citizens for three more weeks before making a decision, now expected in early May. ”’We didn’t learn anything at the hearing that we didn’t already know,’ said Paula Williams, whose husband John is chairman of the 36-unit Ocean Woods Terrace Condo Owners Association, which is directly above the proposed project. At the hearing he spoke in favor of the plans, after being assured by Kahan that none of the condo owners would lose their ocean views. ”’We’re no longer opposed to the project,’ Paula Williams continued, ‘because we trust that Mr. Kahan will carry through on what he has promised us. I think it will improve the hillside tremendously.’ ”Until recently, Kahan was battling with various neighbors over half a dozen major issues. Residents were concerned not only about losing their views, but that the project would threaten the hillside’s stability. Also at issue were the hours of construction, the increased traffic, health questions and liability’all of which Kahan managed to diffuse in recent weeks after meeting with residents and agreeing to numerous mitigating measures. These include a plan to have residents deal directly with his insurance carrier should the project cause any damage to their property. ”’Still to be resolved is the density problem,’ said Andrew Martin, president of the Castellammare Homeowners Association, which represents some 220 residents in the area. ”’I’ve lived here for 32 years and I can only imagine what the traffic is going to be like on Tramonto if the population is allowed to triple, which is what is being proposed,’ Martin said. ‘If this project does get the go-ahead, the one good thing it will do is repair the hillside, which the city has long refused to do. And Kahan did say he would widen Tramonto, which will help somewhat. Still, there will be a lot more traffic than there is now.’ ”Kevin Keller, chief planning deputy for Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who attended the hearing on her behalf, told the Palisadian-Post earlier this week that she ‘is generally in favor of the project but only if there is meticulous adherence to all the mitigation requirements as set out by the EIR.’ ”After the hearing, Kahan said that he is ‘hopeful of approval’ on the project, which has been five years in the planning. He confirmed that he plans to widen Tramonto from the entrance to his property to a subdivision up above, a length of some 400 feet. He has also agreed to repave Tramonto from his proposed complex down to Los Liones Drive. ”When and if the 82-unit development is approved by the city, it will next go to the Coastal Commission’if there are no appeals. ”Submissions should be sent to: Emily Gabel, 200 N. Spring St., Room 763, L.A., CA 90012.
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