Department of City Planning Approves The Hydration Room

By LILY TINOCO | Reporter

The Department of City Planning recently approved The Hydration Room—which is slated to be located at 15278 Antioch Street—on Tuesday, December 14. The decision comes after the Pacific Palisades Design Review Board voted unanimously to disapprove the project during a virtual meeting Wednesday, September 22.

The Hydration Room was established in December 2014 by anesthesiologist Dr. Brett Florie, and integrates both allopathic and osteopathic medicine into vitamin injection and IV therapies.

There are currently 15 Hydration Rooms across LA, Orange and San Diego counties, according to representative of the project Cason Hall.

The DBR met a number of times to discuss the project before voting to disapprove it. Board members previously acknowledged the significance of IV treatment, but expressed The Hydration Room would be better suited in a medical clinic or suite of medical offices.

The DRB also asked the applicant to consider eliminating “IV and Injection Therapy” from the signage in order to be less obtrusive, and to revise plans to include full height wall partitions or window tinting to obstruct the public’s view into the storefront.

The applicant did not revise their plans, and board members were concerned the issues the DRB raised were not addressed.

“The DRB does not feel that the proposed business enhances or protects the community-oriented uses, or preserves the quality of the existing residential area,” according to the DRB’s recommendation and motion. “It does not promote the general welfare of the community and is inconsistent with the purpose, objectives and standards set forth in the Specific Plan.

“The proposed business is inappropriate for the site, surroundings and environmental setting. Located across a narrow street, adjacent to a community park, the Village Green, the proposed business is not compatible and consistent with the general character of the community as stated in the Pacific Palisades Specific Plan.”

The Director’s Determination states the ways sections of the Specific Plan are not applicable “because the project is limited to a change of use of a retail to medical office use, exterior improvements and a 23 square-foot sign.”

The determination goes on to detail the project, stating the color scheme of the multi-tenant building on Antioch Street is respective of each individual tenant and there is no cohesive color palette, but the proposed color scheme for The Hydration Room will include a light grey body color, a dark grey metal canopy to match the adjacent tenant and a blue sign.

“No new building materials are proposed that will not complement the existing building or other existing buildings within the general area. Therefore, the project complies with … the Specific Plan,” according to the Department of City Planning. “The proposed project will include a new metal canopy … [which] will provide … partial shade for the pedestrians below consistent with the nearby commercial properties and general character of the Pacific Palisades area.”

Now, the applicant is supposed to submit all final construction plans for final review and approval by the Department of City Planning.

“I’m just profoundly disappointed in the city, not working with us, not asking for further clarification, or not … [letting] it go to a broader hearing so more people can be involved,” DRB Chair Donna Vaccarino said to the Palisadian-Post.

“They don’t have the best interest of the community at heart. I don’t know who they’re representing here but it’s not the Palisades.”