CITY EYES HOUSING LIMIT ZINE: WARNER CENTER EXPANSION TOO FAST.

Byline: Gregory J. Wilcox Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS - Ambitious expansion plans for Warner Center that include hundreds of apartments and possibly an upscale hotel have prompted Los Angeles city officials to consider an emergency ordinance for an earlier cap on residential building limits.

Called an interim control ordinance, it would limit to 3,000 the number of apartments and condominiums that can be built immediately instead of in 2010 as set in the Warner Center Specific Plan.

Though the specific plan still has five years, developers have already built or been approved for more than 2,500 new residential units. That sparked concern at the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council, which asked City Councilman Dennis Zine to intervene. The council opposes three projects that will add 1,964 apartments in Warner Center.

Zine ordered the ordinance drafted and it could be ready for consideration in the next several weeks.

``I want to catch up. I said we're not going to make any more approvals. We're going to put everything on hold,'' Zine said.

The specific plan was approved in the mid-1990s but the strong demand for housing, especially multifamily and senior units, prompted a surge in project approval last year.

``Unfortunately, as we see it, it's outpaced itself,'' he said.

Gordon Murley, the group's vice chairman, said the intent of the plan - which outlines how development will occur - is a good relationship between jobs and housing, which should help keep traffic at bay. The desire is that new residents will work in Warner Center and have an easy commute. But they need jobs.

``We don't care how many units you build as long as you keep jobs balanced,'' Murley said.

The neighborhood council is also concerned that some commercial and light industrial parcels, potential sites for new jobs, are being converted to residential use.

And executives of the Westfield Group have also informed the council of its desire to build a luxury hotel in Warner Center, Murley said.

Company officials were holding their national meeting on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. Westfield has already announced a $300 million redevelopment of Westfield Shoppingtown Topanga that includes a Neiman Marcus and a Target.

Zine said those jobs are important to the Valley's economy and the city's tax base.

While close to 3,000 permits have been approved, builders don't seem to be in a rush to pull them. So far, about 250 have been issued, a city official said.

It's not much of a concern right now, said attorney Mark Armbruster, who represents REW De Soto Partners LLC, which has approval for an 879-unit project on 10 acres at 6219 De Soto Ave., currently home to Panavision Inc., the movie camera products maker.

The 3,000 permit limit still has some air under it, too.

``Our plan is to be with the first 3,000 so we would not be affected by it,'' Armbruster said.

And it looks like however many units are built, while not affordable, will be attractive because home prices continue to rise.

The Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast this week noted that the number of renters will increase as housing affordability worsens.

And renting activity will pick up along with jobs.

``The new supply of apartments has not kept up with demand from newcomers attracted to jobs in our diverse economy,'' forecast director Delores Conway said in her outlook.

Gregory J. Wilcox, [phone]

greg.wilcox(at)dailynews.com