March Newsbites

Posted on 03/03/23

***Update on Old Bel Air Market Locatin***   BAHA has been informed by the landlord of the old Bel Air Market location and by the architect for the new tenant, that a long-term lease has been signed for the entire property.  The new tenant will be a preschool and the owner of the preschool already has several other locations.  We will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

 

*** Wildlife Ordinance ***    The Los Angeles City Planning Department has submitted the proposed Wildlife Ordinance (WO) to the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM Committee), but it has not yet been put on their agenda. Our new Councilwoman, Katy Yaroslavsky, is on the PLUM Committee, and has said she wants to hear from her constituents about their opinions on the proposed WO.  We understand that there are some people, many of whom live outside the proposed new WO designated area, who suggest that even more stringent regulations be added to the proposed WO.  As readers of Newsbites know, BAHA supports protecting wildlife, open space and ridgelines, and therefore supports most of the provisions of the proposed WO, but only if they apply solely to undeveloped areas of the Santa Monica Mountains.   It would be helpful if those of you in our community who share such views, write to Katy Yaroslavsky at ([email protected] ) to let her know that:  1) no additional restrictions should be placed on properties in fully developed and established neighborhoods such as Bel Air Hills, and, 2) that if the proposed WO is to be applied to fully developed and established neighborhoods, then its provisions, as applied to neighborhoods such as ours, must be less restrictive than those applied to undeveloped areas of the Santa Monica Mountains.

 

***Senderos (formerly Hoag) Canyon Update***    In early February our Councilmember, Katy Yaroslavsky, responded to our concerns by introducing a motion calling for the Recreation and Parks Department to report back on available strategies to preserve the Senderos Canyon property and to identify various options to fund the purchase of the property, including potential County, State, and Federal funding sources. The motion was passed by the full council on February 17.

At the same time, members of the BAHA community have started a campaign called Save Senderos Canyon to raise awareness and funds to help preserve this irreplaceable regional ecosystem.  Residents of the BAHA neighborhood can do the following to help protect this pristine open space area:

1. Complete a Public Comment Form to the council file to support Councilmember Yaroslavsky’s Motion by going here: https://cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment/?cfnumber=23-0129 )   Please also let BAHA know that you did this at [email protected].  Thank you.

 

2. Donate to Canyon Back Alliance, a 501 (c) (3) organization, by going to www.savesenderoscanyon.org.

 

3. Forward this information to your friends and neighbors.  While the auction for this property ends March 15, 2023, the effort to save the canyon will continue. 

 

This is irreplaceable land, which serves as a wildlife habitat and connectivity corridor and deserves to be held in the public domain.

 

 

***Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project***   Metro wants to know where the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Stations should be located.  Here is how you can respond:

We want to hear from you. Please review information about station location considerations and spend some time with the Station Location StoryMap so you can understand the station and entrance locations being considered and share your thoughts with us. The online feedback form can be accessed here.

 

Station Location StoryMap

 

For additional information, please visit the general and station location StoryMaps and the project website.

Once again, to sign up for project updates, go to https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/KsXDI8K/MetroSepulveda.

 

***Voting for Candidates for BABCNC***   You are encouraged to vote for candidates who are running for the Bel Air Beverly Crest Neighborhood Council (BABCNC).  BABCNC is certified by the City of Los Angeles to represent the City’s hillside communities stretching from Laurel Canyon Blvd to Sepulveda Blvd and from Sunset Blvd to Mulholland Drive.  Here are the two ways to vote:

VOTE IN PERSON

MARCH 26, 2023:  10:00AM TO 2:00PM

HARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL:  

700 North Faring Road, Los Angeles, CA 90077, or

VOTE BY MAIL

Applications for a Vote By Mail ballot must be completed by March 7, 2023. Vote-By-Mail ballots can be obtained online or by filling out a paper application.  Unlike general elections, mail in ballots will NOT be sent to you automatically.

 

For information on obtaining applications for a Vote By Mail ballot and to find out who are the candidates, together with their statements, go to https://clerk.lacity.gov/clerk-services/elections/nc-elections/how-vote.

 

***Expansion of Van Nuys Airport***    For those of you with concerns about proposals for expansion of the Van Nuys Airport, please consider attending the following meeting:

 

Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council Meeting

Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 7:00 pm

Van Nuys FlyWay Terminal Upstairs Conference Room

7610 Woodley Ave. (at Saticoy)