Planning Commission Denies Front Yard Parking Spaces

The West Hollywood Planning Commission denied a variance to allow parking spaces in a front yard at its meeting Thursday night.

For aesthetic reasons, the city does not allow residents to park on their front yards. However, Pete Katz who owns the property at 511 San Vicente Blvd was asking for a variance. The narrow driveway for his triplex building is on San Vicente where the cars must back into the busy street. Between the curve of the road and the cars parked on the street, it can be difficult to see when backing into the street, creating a safety hazard.

Therefore, Katz was requesting to put two parking spaces in the front yard, which faces Dorrington Avenue. He said he would install a fence around the property so the parking wouldn’t be as noticeable. If approved, the city would either have to eliminate one space of street parking or move that space closer to San Vicente.

Commissioners John Altschul and David Aghaei were opposed to the plan because it goes against city policy. However, Commissioners Marc Yeber and Sue Buckner understood Katz’s reasoning saying this was an exceptional circumstance due to the shape of the property.

Commissioner Alan Bernstein was sympathetic to Katz’s concern but said he wasn’t sure “the perception of fear rises to fact.” He then voted against granting the variance.

Commissioners Donald DeLuccio and Roy Huebner were both absent from the meeting.

Afterward, Katz told Patch he thought the Commission made the wrong decision.

“They’re ignoring safety,” said Katz. “We proved there was no detriment to the neighborhood – screened parking, no one will see it, not loosing a parking space. We meet all the other city requirements. I think it was typical of the city of West Hollywood, ‘We don’t ever want to see any development. If you want to fix up your place, go away.’”

Katz was not sure if he will appeal the decision to the City Council.