Council Confirms Approval of Orlando Ave. Condo Project

The West Hollywood City Council unanimously affirmed Monday its decision to allow condominiums rather than apartments for an Orlando Avenue development project.

The building is a three-story, four-unit structure that replaced a single-family home, a city staff report states.

A company called Development and Management Solutions owns the property and Camille Zeitouny, owner of Zeitouny Construction in Rowland Heights, is the project applicant, documents show.

In June the council overturned a Planning Commission rejection of condos on the property located at 500 N. Orlando Ave.

Planning commissioners rejected the project in February because the property owner initially applied for approval of an apartment project, not condos which require a more rigorous application process.

As Patch previously reported, the commission found a loophole in the zoning code to justify the denial.

In 2007 when the approval application was filed the property was zoned for three stories. But since the adoption of the city’s new General Plan, the lot is now only zoned for two stories. The commission based its rejection on the claim that the project’s construction permits for a three-story building would not be good on a lot zoned for two stories.

The council voted in favor of the applicant's appeal on the grounds that state law prevents a city from compelling a property owner to rent apartments rather than sell condos.

The city staff report notes that the city's goal is to encourage multifamily residential housing and upgrade West Hollywood's aging buildings and infrastructure.

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