Land Use Panel Backs Neighbors' Fight to Limit Widening of Chatsworth St.

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee voted Thursday night to both support neighbors who want to limit the widening of Chatsworth Street at De Soto Avenue, and allow to use its new high school athletic fields before the roadwork is completed.

A Conditional Use Permit granted to the school requires it to provide specific public improvements before a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is approved for its athletic fields on the west side of De Soto Avenue at Rinaldi Street. The private school operates two campuses on Rinaldi on either side of De Soto.

The improvements include upgrading the intersection of Chatsworth Street west of De Soto, adding a left-turn light for eastbound traffic turning north. Residents on the north side of Chatsworth between De Soto and Independence Avenue recently learned that the city intended to take a 20-foot easement to widen the street. Previously, the property owners thought they would lose only 10 feet along the two-lane road. A group of about 10 property owners has hired an attorney to try to limit the widening. 

The committee agreed with a letter written by those property owners that asks City Councilman Mitch Englander to intervene and allow the school to start using the sports fields while the widening issue is settled. The school would still be responsible for all costs involved in the widening and installation of the turn signal.

After a lengthy and lively discussion, the committee voted to ask the city to separate the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy from the completion of the traffic improvements. However, the committee agreed that the road work needs to be done as soon as possible.

Work on the widening was scheduled to begin and the street has been staked out. The full widening would require removal of several large trees and an unpaved area now used for parking in front of the large equestrian properties. In the past, residents near Chatsworth Street have asked to preserve the smaller, more rural atmosphere of the narrow street, which is heavily used by commuters seeking shortcuts and parents driving students to Sierra Canyon and , both on Rinaldi. Only properties on the north side would be reduced.

School representatives have said that the sports fields on about 12 acres along De Soto will be used only for team practices and physical education classes.  Meanwhile, home football games have been played at John Elway stadium at Granada Hills High School. The school recently in its division.

A on the upper school campus. The lower school has separate athletic fields on the west side of De Soto.

The school also must upgrade the intersection of De Soto and Rinaldi, including widening De Soto to accommodate a right-turn lane onto a new driveway into the sports complex and parking for more than 80 vehicles on the south portion of the site. There are also improvements to the equestrian trail across the school’s property west of Rinaldi.

In other action, the committee:

• Approved a request by to expand into an empty storefront next to its current location, more than doubling the size of the restaurant at 10166 Mason Ave., in the Vons shopping center. The store needs a new permit to continue selling beer and wine in the larger space.
• Rejected a proposed replacement cell tower at 10239 Vassar Ave., just south of Hooper Camera on Devonshire Street. AT&T is seeking a higher tower with more antennae. The committee has discussed the issue twice but is not satisfied with the proposed design and size of the tower.

The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council is advisory to Councilman Englander. Actions of the Land Use Committee must be ratified by the full council board and are then sent to the city Planning Department, which holds public hearings on the requests.