Woo to Let Studio City Groups Block Developments

Reacting to a growing border dispute between neighborhoods in the southeastern San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Woo signed an unprecedented “compact” with Studio City residents Monday that gives them the power to block new developments near their homes.

Woo said he will listen “exclusively” to the Studio City Residents Assn. and the Studio City Chamber of Commerce when considering projects proposed along Ventura Boulevard in an area east of Fulton Avenue.

Left out of future negotiations over density, traffic flows and other development issues in fast-growing Studio City will be the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn., which has clashed with Woo over development of the Tail O’ the Cock restaurant site near the boundary between the two communities.

Leaders of the Sherman Oaks group also have lost out in a campaign to establish their community’s eastern boundary at Coldwater Canyon Avenue.

Woo Favors Fulton

Two months ago, Woo approved the posting of a sign at Fulton Avenue marking the boundary between the two communities.

Irritated Sherman Oaks association members had scheduled a May 18 straw vote of residents who live in a 1-square-mile area between Coldwater and Fulton to determine which community they want to be a part of.

Woo said Monday that he plans to have the controversial boundary sign removed. But he said he considers the disputed territory part of Studio City, just as do city transportation planners, postal officials and private map makers.

Fulton will be the dividing line as far as he’s concerned and all residents of ZIP code 91604 will be considered Studio City, he said.

The upcoming poll by the Sherman Oaks group will serve no purpose, Woo suggested.

He said of people living in the disputed area: “I don’t care whether they say they live in Sherman Oaks or Studio City. They can say they live in Malibu or West Hollywood. That’s a separate issue.”

It remained a matter of major importance to Sherman Oaks leaders late Monday, however.

“There are many hundreds of people east of Fulton who have a Sherman Oaks ZIP code,” said Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks homeowner group. “I think that, on the 18th, people will tell that to Mike Woo. If he disregards the people at our election on the 18th, I assume they’ll do the same to him next year when he’s up for reelection.”

Close said Sherman Oaks will suffer as a result of the Tail O’ the Cock project because some traffic from its stores and a proposed Bistro Garden restaurant will be channeled into that community.

He said many in Sherman Oaks are uncomfortable with Woo and the Studio City Residents Assn.’s tolerance of development.

“The Studio City groups seem to be pushing less restrictions on development than our residents do,” Close said.

Close said he was not informed in advance of Woo’s covenant plans. In fact, Close said, Woo postponed a meeting the two had scheduled for Monday to discuss improved relations between the Sherman Oaks association and the council office.

Woo said his new covenant, full of “whereases” and “therefores” and executed as an official City of Los Angeles resolution, is expected to come into play if private redevelopment of Sportsman’s Lodge near the intersection of Coldwater and Ventura occurs.

The residents’ association and the chamber of commerce will have unprecedented power over unwanted development concepts for the site, Woo said.

“I think it gives both of these organizations a lot of clout,” Woo said. “If they say ‘no’ to a project, I suspect nothing is going to happen at that site. They’re going to be powerful partners.”

Woo would have ultimate control over any development project requiring rezoning or other discretionary approvals by the city. The City Council traditionally goes along with the local council member on such issues.

Although no development plans have been announced for the longtime Valley landmark restaurant and hotel, Sportsman’s Lodge has been rumored to be on the market. Community leaders said the lodge recently fell out of escrow.

Representatives of the restaurant were unavailable for comment Monday. But hotel executive Anne Levitt said the separately owned 200-room hotel is not for sale.

If the day comes when the property is redeveloped, residents’ association president Polly Ward said, her group will favor a low-density project such as a senior-citizens residential center with limited shops or a resort facility.

Wants Lodge Saved

Jo Dell Hays, president of the chamber of commerce, said she would prefer to see the Sportsman’s Lodge upgraded and preserved.

Hays said her group represents 300 of Studio City’s about 1,200 businesses. Ward’s association, whose members include apartment dwellers as well as homeowners, lists 1,200 families out of about 6,000 residential addresses in the community.

Woo said both groups represent “a true constituency” and are unique in that they get along. In many communities, chambers of commerce and homeowner associations fight over most issues, he said.

If other Studio City-area groups seek his ear, Woo said he will decide on their legitimacy before including them in development negotiations.