MVCC Planning – A real PLUM of a committee

In addition to changing the name of our Planning Committee from Urban Planning/Land Use (UP/LU) to Planning/Land use Management (PLUM), we've dealt with some of the major issues affecting the quality of life of residents in Mar Vista and the entire Westside.

In particular, there have been variances both big and small that involve projects and living unit upgrades to allow for affordable housing but with the attempt to preserve the character of the beautiful neighborhoods of Mar Vista.  Whether it's the old UCLA Apartments at 3160-3178 Barrington Avenue, the old Circuit City/Shoe Pavilion store at 3115 Sepulveda Avenue, or the old Fire Station 62 site on Centinela, the Committee has been supportive of the efforts of local neighborhoods or other MVCC committees to maintain and improve upon the land parcels in the Mar Vista Community that are potentially up for significant rebuilding or upgrading.  Sometimes the consensus of the committee has been to work with, and other times to oppose, the private developers and the City entities who wish to build upon these and other sites within the MVCC.

Similarly, projects outside the boundaries of the MVCC have merited the attention and efforts of the PLUM Committee.  In particular, the committee has endeavored to confront and mitigate the proposed large projects at Venice/Lincoln, Exposition/Sepulveda/Pico, and Olympic/Bundy which will certainly affect Mar Vista Community Council residents - hence necessitating our work to ensure that these large developments are done and mitigated correctly.  Although there is a profound lack of updated Community Plans in West L.A. and Mar Vista by which to determine the proper size and zoning of these and other parcels, the Committee will strive to avoid "spot-zoning" of a given development that allows its construction without consideration of the greater community at large.

   Other efforts and issues upon which the PLUM Committee focuses include the overproliferation of rehab houses and medical marijuana clinics that threaten to alter the character and quality of life of neighborhoods within and adjacent to the MVCC.  Furthermore, we strive to work with other neighborhood councils in the Westside to ensure a more consistent Planning and Building/Safety Department operation for all projects within the City.

   Both our short-term and long-term future has and will be determined not merely by politicians, bureaucrats and developers, but by ordinary residents who recognize and appreciate the wonderful region in which we live, and who are willing to use the newfound power of neighborhood councils to improve our lives and those of future generations.  One person can make a difference... and maybe that person is you.

Ken Alpern, Co-Chair

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee