An overflow crowd of Sherwood Forest residents jammed a zoning hearing Tuesday to protest plans for what has been described as a Costco-sized elder-care facility in the midst of their single-family Northridge residential neighborhood.
Their opposition movement was joined by Councilman Mitch Englander who sent a letter to associate zoning administrator Fernando Tovar saying:
"I would like to go on the record stating that after reviewing the scope of what is requested and listening to the community, I believe the project, as presented, is far too big, overly dense and intense for this neighborhood. I stand with the community and respectfully ask that [the Zoning Administrator] either deny this 140 unit big box elder-care project outright, or strongly urge the applicant to significantly reduce their project.”
Both the Sherwood Forest Homeowners Association and the Northridge South Neighborhood Council voted to oppose to the project. The homeowners' position was also endorsed by the land use committee of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council.
Until Tuesday, Englander had declined to take a position until the plan reached a zoning hearing.
The councilman earlier took a stand in opposition to a proposed elder-care facility in a horse-keeping area of Chatsworth. However, plans for that project have yet to be filed or face zoning scrutiny.
After hearing testimony and seeing a show of hands in opposition to the project, the zoning administrator said he will accept additional materials until March 20 after which time he will issue his ruling.
Read more about elder-care zoning issues:
- 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
