Il Villaggio Toscano Fails to Secure OK from SONC Land Use Committee

Despite the appearance Thursday night of twice as many supporters than opponents to Il Villaggio Toscano, a proposed $100 million housing and retail project, the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council’s Land Use committee declined to approve the project and instead asked for further meetings with the developer to discuss changes.

Ron Ziff, who heads the Land Use committee, acknowledged that a six-person working group had received a series of changes to the project which is slated for a vacant lot at Sepulveda Boulevard and Camarillo Street. But Ziff began a three-hour public hearing on the project by declaring that the group did “not see enough changes to recommend supporting the project.”

A detailed presentation by Paul Krueger and others, representing developer M. David Paul, plus a lineup of  20 speakers, most in favor of the project, failed to move the committee from its initial position. The group’s major concerns were over the 5.05-acre project's size, height, density and traffic impact on an already clogged intersetion.  

Originally envisioned as a 500-unit rental project, Il Villaggio Toscano has been scaled back to 413 units. Similarly, the project’s height has been modified from eight stories to a stepped-back version with four stories at the street level, then six stories and finally eight stories at the back of the project.

Krueger said the project landscaping was also improved with setbacks from Camarillo and Sepulveda which will soften the project’s appearance where building walls would have originally stood. Villagio also includes 45,000 square feet of proposed retail space, with 35,000 square feet slated for a supermarket and the remainder for neighborhood retail, plus 1,273 parking spaces.

Overall, the project will benefit the community, Krueger said, by creating 1,470 construction jobs, and bringing in $19.1 million in tax revenues and $11.7 million annual income to local businesses from Villaggio residents who will be able to walk to those businesses.

He added that the large project will actually reduce traffic impact because it is within walking distance of office workplaces, stores, restaurants and bus lines. The developer has also proposed creating a $300,000 fund to mitigate traffic impacts.

Supporters echoed Krueger in their comments about the project.

Long-time Valley resident Allen Clair said the project will remove a “terrible eyesore” that has existed in Sherman Oaks for years.

“It brings a benefit to the business community, that alone, plus cleaning up the area, makes it a beneficial project,” Clair said.

Doug Areseneault, representing the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, praised the project and said it will create economic revitalization for Ventura and Sepulveda Boulevards and increase property values, plus create a walkable environment and thus reduce traffic impact.

Bruce Gridley said the project would approve the appearance of Sepulveda Boulevard which is “not a very attractive boulevard.”

Opponents criticized the size of the project and questioned whether it would actually bring the benefits touted.

“One project is not going to change the Valley,” argued Ann Ohlenkamp herself a rental property owner. Ohlenkamp said the economic downturn has altered the upscale characteristics of the renter population so that the project now “does not make economic sense.”

Russ Meyer criticized the predicted economic benefits and traffic reduction, saying “that’s a hope, that’s a wish. The cost of this project is too high.”

SONC Land Use Committee members appeared divided over the project. Committee member Jeff Kalban sought to require the developer to create a public park in return for the 27,500 square feet of city-owned streets that will be included in the project. But fellow committee member Robert Cohen argued that the L-shaped “streets to nowhere,” were no bargain, since they were often filled with trash.

The committee meets again March 15.