COUNCIL RETHINKS APPEAL FEES.Byline: Patrick McGreevy Daily News Staff Writer Faced with strong opposition from homeowner leaders, the Los Angeles City Council  The Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States. backed away Tuesday from a measure aimed at discouraging appeals of planning actions by people who do not live near projects. The proposal by Mayor Richard Riordan's Development Reform Committee would raise the planning appeal fee from $64 to as much as $5,000 for people living more than 500 feet from the project under review. People living within 500 feet of a project would pay up to $150 to appeal the planning action to the Board of Zoning Appeals or the City Council. However, the motion was denounced as unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. and undemocratic in testimony Tuesday by homeowners leaders from Van Nuys, Woodland Hills, Sunland, Westwood and Baldwin Hills. ``It's a political question, it's a constitutional question and it just isn't very nice,'' said Sylvia Gross of the Sunland-Tujunga Association of Residents. Faced with the opposition, the council directed its Planning and Land Use Management Committee to consider alternatives - including lower appeal fees for homeowners groups that represent a large area. Sandy Brown Sandy Brown may refer to:
``The proposal is unconstitutional, it's undemocratic, it's unneighborly and it's unwarranted,'' Brown told the council. Connie Brown Connie Brown (born January 11, 1917 in Vankleek Hill, Ontario) was a professional ice hockey player who played 93 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Detroit Red Wings. He would win one Stanley Cup with the Wings in 1943. of Baldwin Hills said the higher fees will hurt low-income residents. ``We see this fee increase as discriminatory dis·crim·i·na·to·ry adj. 1. Marked by or showing prejudice; biased. 2. Making distinctions. dis·crim to the minority communities,'' she said. Councilman Hal Bernson Hal Bernson served as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 12th district. He was chair of the Transportation Committee. Prior to being on the City Council, he served in the Navy. Preceded by Robert M. said the proposal was put forward to reduce unwarranted delays of development projects by people who are not affected by the projects. ``Unfortunately, there are people who appeal everything, even if they don't live in the neighborhood or aren't attached to the neighborhood,'' Bernson said. He said that on a $1 million development project, a one-year delay caused by a nuisance appeal can cost the developer $100,000. But council members Joel Wachs Joel Wachs served for several terms as Los Angeles City Councilman for the 2nd district. He was first elected by defeating incumbent James B. Potter. While in office, Wachs chaired the Public Works Committee and vice-chair of the Environmental Quality & Waste Management , Laura Chick chick abbreviation for chicken (1). and Mike Feuer said homeowners groups serve a legitimate purpose in protecting the quality of larger communities. ``In this case, the appropriate focus is assuring meaningful participatory processes in this city - in a city where neighborhoods frequently feel disenfranchised from the process,'' Feuer said. |
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