NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST SCHOOL TOO LOUD, NOT ENOUGH PARKING, SAY RESIDENTS.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

TOLUCA LAKE - Residents of Toluca Lake and Burbank are sounding off on a proposed recording engineering trade school they say would bring loud music, loitering and traffic congestion to their neighborhood.

About 50 residents appeared before the Toluca Lake Neighborhood Council late Tuesday to speak against the trade school, proposed for a former Kaiser Permanente laboratory at 10407 Magnolia Blvd. The vacant property sits in Toluca Lake - part of Los Angeles - but Burbank borders it.

Many said they oppose the idea of a school that would be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to midnight. Applicant Christopher Knight also is proposing to use half of the 180 parking spaces there.

The Los Angeles city zoning administrator is set to rule next month.

``The obvious impact on our neighborhood would be devastating,'' said Toluca Lake resident Sandy Jackson. ``I don't think anybody here believes that the parking, at 180 spaces, is sufficient.''

Renee Weitzer, chief planning deputy for Councilman Tom LaBonge's office, said Wednesday she has received more than 50 letters and e-mails from residents who oppose the school.

She said she was initially excited about a business moving into the old laboratory, but changed her mind after Knight filed requests for two variances early this month.

``There was no way we could support it,'' she said. ``We always support our constituents.''

Knight said Weitzer had ``flip-flopped'' on the project.

Burbank officials also oppose the plan.

``What triggered the concern was the variance requesting reduced parking,'' said Burbank City Planner Art Bashmakian. ``Everybody became concerned because people will start parking on nearby streets, in residential and business areas.''

Knight, who owns the Los Angeles Recording Workshop on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood, said no more than 60 students would be at the new trade school at one time.

``We've operated our current school in North Hollywood for seven years and we've had zero problems,'' Knight said. ``We teach recording engineers; we're a big part of the industry. People come to our school and they are inside for eight hours. We have very little impact on the neighborhood because we have soundproof walls.''

Knight was told two years ago to leave the Lankershim building by the Community Redevelopment Agency because of a proposed street widening project there.

Knight said he is concerned he will not be able to find another adequate place for his school by the end of December, when he must vacate the current building.

``We're at the point where we might have to take legal action,'' he said. ``It's left us in a bad position. We've spent a considerable amount of time and money.''

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

This former Kaiser Permanente lab could become a trade school to teach recording engineers, but neighbors are against it.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer