Developers Downsize Proposal for Sherwood Forest Elder-Care Facility

Opponents of a proposed elder-care facility in the midst of Northridge's residential Sherwood Forest neighborhood were blindsided Sunday by word the developer changed his plans after the period for public comment closed.

Instead of what neighbors had called a "Costco-sized" building, a "large Vons" is planned.

An editorial in the Los Angeles Times revealed:

"Attorney Fred Selan and his development partner, Ted Stein, want to take a 2.3-acre lot where Selan's home now sits and demolish it to build a 65,797-square-foot, two-story facility in which 75% of the units would be devoted to assisted living care and the remainder to people suffering from Alzheimer's or other kinds of dementia. That's the downsized version. In the wake of the community uproar, the developers recently scaled back the project." 

In fact, "They filed on what was essentially the last hour of the last day -- and public comments are no longer being received," Irene Boyd of the Sherwood Forest Homeowners Association (SHFOA) told Patch in an email. 

A public hearing has already been held and Zoning Administrator Fernando Tovar is expected to rule on the developers' application in about two weeks.

"While the time for public comment has passed, the SFHOA has lodged a protest with the zoning administrator pointing out that the applicant had over two months to change his plans but refused to do so until such time he could be certain that the community would have no opportunity to respond," the homeowners association said in an email blast.

Attempts by Patch to reach the Zoning Administrator Tovar on Sunday were unsuccessful.

In a letter to Tovar, Boyd wrote, "... An article appeared in the L.A. Times today which states that the new plans -- which I have not yet seen -- call for 112 units and 65,797 square feet. The fact that the project apparently has been 'downsized' from a small Costco to a large Vons does not change this or any other of the SFHOA's previously filed objections..."

The original plans called for a two-story 83,026-square-foot commercial building with a three-story wing in the central courtyard, at the corner of Parthenia Street and Shoshone Avenue. Of the 140 residences, 105 were to be for assisted living and 35 for memory care.

The development in the single-family neighborhood is opposed by the Sherwood Forest Homeowners Association, the Northridge South Neighborhood Council, and City Councilman Mitch Englander. The Homeowners Association's position was also endorsed by the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.

Read more about elder-care zoning issues:

• Elder-Care Facility Planned for Tarzana; Local Residents Concerned About Loss of Bucolic Neighborhood
• Woodland Hills Residents Battle Zine Over Proposed Elder-Care Facility
• Council Approves Woodland Hills Elder-Care Facility
• Neighbors Protest Proposed 99-Bed Elder-Care Facility in Chatsworth
• Sherwood Forest Homeowners Vote Down Plans for Elder-Care Facility
• Englander Joins Neighbors to Oppose DeSoto Ave. Elder-Care Facility [Video]
• Sherwood Forest Elder-Care Facility Fails to Win Support of Land Use Committee
• Why Englander Declines to Take a Stand on Sherwood Forest Elder-Care Proposal
• Elder-Care on Northridge South Agenda Thursday
• Sherwood Forest Residents Armed to Oppose Elder-Care Facility at Hearing
• Englander Joins with Sherwood Forest Residents to Oppose Elder-Care Facility
• Wednesday Is the Deadline to Comment on Sherwood Forest Elder-Care Facility