WEST HOLLYWOOD—West Hollywood’s Community Development Department has dismissed water reservation as an invalid reason to prevent community development.
The West Hollywood City Council rejected an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a new 34 –unit apartment building at 8017-8029 Norton Avenue, which was made by Victor Omelczenko, on January 21, 2016.
Omelczenko argued that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power might not be able to provide sufficient water to the building due to California’s drought. According to WEHOVille.com, his opposition is refuted by a staff report from West Hollywood’s Community Development Department which will be presented at the City Council’s meeting on November 7, according to WEHOville.
The report states that Community Development Department have confirmed with Beverly Hills Public Works and the LADWP, the two current city’s water suppliers, that there will be enough water supply to West Hollywood in spite of the project.
“Furthermore, with the water suppliers serving as the authority on water capacity and supply for the City, it would be difficult to establish scientifically supported local thresholds of significance for water in West Hollywood that would justify more stringent requirements,” states the report.
The staff report suggests the city of West Hollywood offer property owners an audit of their water usage to identify inefficient fixture and track each apartment unit’s water usage with meters given; most buildings are served by one meter. It is recommend the city’s Green Building Program offer incentives for developers to utilize efficient water system while including water efficiency targets to the program.
