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Western Ave. Facelift - 9th to 19th |
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Have you seen Western Avenue from 9th to 19th lately?? Thanks to Board Member Joyce Hall's persistence,.the median has been highlighted in bright yellow and lots of reflective dots....plus the west side of the street has a new bike lane and a continuous red (no parking) curb. Other improvements include: a solar powered radar speed sign (south bound) and the new barrier rail on the east side of the street.
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City Planning Ponte Vista Denial |
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On April 9, the Ponte Vista plan to build 1950 homes on a 62.5 acre site was unanimously denied by the Los Angeles Planning Commission. The commission asked DLJ Partners, successor to Bisno Development Co., to return in three months with two plans with more promise of viability. One, which was proposed informally by the developer, would pare down the project to 1,395 homes. The other, recommended by the city staff, would reduce the number of homes to between 775 and 886 homes.
Representatives of your South Shores Homeowners Association were present at the Planning Commission hearing and expressed the Association’s support of the Planning Departments findings. The Planning Department had formally stated that the project, as proposed by the developers, would produce an excessive amount of traffic on the already clogged segment of Western Avenue in the area of the project.
For more information: Ponte Vista Specific Plan
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Hillside Ordinance Adopted |
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The City Council unanimously voted to adopt the Hillside Area Definition & Map Ordinance 9/23/09: 14 Yes, 0 No, and 1 Absent. The two changes that our Department had agreed to make at the June 16, 2009 Planning & Land Use Management Committee meeting were also included as part of the action.
As a result of the 14 Yes votes, a second reading is not needed.
The new Hillside Area definition and map will better reflect the true hillsides throughout the City of Los Angeles. It will provide the protections of the provisions established by the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance for the roughly 51,000 residential lots which are not truly hillside. More importantly, it will leave only the true hillside lots to be addressed by the Baseline Hillside Ordinance.
Erick Lopez
City Planner
Department of City Planning
Community Planning Bureau - West Coastal Division
200 N. Spring St., Room 621
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1243
(213) 978-1226 - fax
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Cell Phone Clarification |
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Q: When did the new wireless telephone laws take effect?
A: The new laws took effect July 1, 2008
Q: What is the difference between the two laws?
A: The first prohibits all drivers from using a handheld wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. (Vehicle Code (VC) §23123). Motorists 18 and over may use a hands-free device. Drivers under the age of 18 may NOT use a wireless telephone or hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle(VC §23124).
Q: What if I need to use my telephone during an emergency, and I do not have a hands- free device?
A: The law allows a driver to use a wireless telephone to make emergency calls to a law enforcement agency, a medical provider, the fire department, or other emergency services agency.
Q: What are the fines if I’m convicted?
A: The base fine for the FIRST offense is $20 and $50 for subsequent convictions. According to the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, with the addition of penalty assessments, a first offense is $76 and a second offense is $190.
Q: Will I receive a point on my drivers license if I’m convicted for a violation of the wireless telephone law?
A: NO. The violation is a reportable offense: however, DMV will not assign a violation point.
Q: Will the conviction appear on my driving record?
A: Yes, but the violation point will not be added.
DRIVERS 18 AND OVER
Q: Does the new “hands-free” law prohibit you from dialing a wireless telephone while driving or just talking on it?
A: The new law does not prohibit dialing, but drivers are strongly urged not to dial while driving.
Q: Will it be legal to use a Blue Tooth or other earpiece?
A: Yes, however you cannot have BOTH ears covered.
Q: Does the new hands-free law allow you to use the speaker phone function of your wireless telephone while driving?
A: Yes.
Q: Does the new “hands-free” law allow drivers 18 and over to text page while driving?
A: The law does not specifically prohibit that, but an officer can pull over and issue a citation to a driver of any age if, in the officer’s opinion, the driver was distracted and not operating the vehicle safely. Text paging while driving is unsafe at any speed and is strongly discouraged.
DRIVERS UNDER 18
Q: Am I allowed to use my wireless telephone hands free?
A: NO. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a wireless telephone, pager, laptop or any other electronic communication or mobile services device to speak or text while driving in any manner, even hands free. EXCEPTION: Permitted in emergency situations to call police, fire or medical authorities. (VC §23124).
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