1 Mitchell Kois
From: Elizabeth Van Denburgh <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 12, 2025 9:50 PM
To: councilmtgitems; Lana Negrete; Ellis Raskin; Barry Snell; Natalya Zernitskaya; Dan Hall; Jesse Zwick; Caroline Torosis
Cc: Oliver Chi
Subject: City Council Mtg. - 10/14/25 - Consent Calendar 4-O -- Stop Adoption of Ordinance Amending Districting Map for 1331 Wilshire (Encroachment into R2 neighborhood of Mixed Use Blvd. in Wilmont)
EXTERNAL
Mayor Negrete ad City Council members,
I am writing to you again requesting that you do not adopt an ordinance amending the districting map for 1331 Wilshire. The ordinance and resolution brought on May 15th to the City Council was regarding the proposed upzoning/rezoning from R2, the designation of the residential neighborhood in Wilmont, to Mixed Used Boulevard, which is what the Wilshire portion is zoned. This upzoning/rezoning of the back portion of the RiteAid lot at 1331 Wilshire is just that, a proposal. There is no record of law that requires it.
The Resolution - 1331 Wilshire LUCE Map Amendment 051325 states:
"WHEREAS, the "split designation" has presented issues in potential reuse of the property as commercial users are generally prohibited in the Low Density Housing designation and presents a constraint on potential redevelopment of the parcel as two incongruous sets of land use regulations and development standards would be applied to the parcel" The Ordinance - 1331 Wilshire-Zoning Map Amendment 051325 states:
"WHEREAS, the "split zoning" has presented issues in potential reuse of the property as commercial uses are generally prohibited in the R2 zoning district and 1 presents a constraint on potential development of the parcel as two incongruous sets of land use regulations and development standards would be applied to the parcel"
The 2010 LUCE focus was and continues to be preservation of the neighborhood characterized by the following LUCE statements:
"The highest priority of the community was the preservation of the existing character and scale of Santa Monica's neighborhoods." (LUCE - Page3)
The 2010 LUCE is different from the policy direction of the 1984 LUCE: It is a conservation plan that provides for an overall reduction in building height." (LUCE-Page 5) Land Use 2.2 - NEIGHBORHOOD CONSERVATION - "Renters and homeowners alike advocate for neighborhood conservation so that future generations may enjoy the same benefits and experiences." (LUCE - Page 2.2-3)
In 2015, the A lot scandal was exposed. Parking lots, called A lots and mostly at the back of commercial properties have a zoning designation of residential e.g., R2. They were changed to commercial in the Item 4-O
October 14, 2025
Item 4-O
October 14, 2025
2 LUCE without authorization, review or approval. Residents pushed back and demonstrated that the LUCE designation of commercial was inappropriate and must be reverted back to residential. A resolution at the May 5, 2015 City Council meeting confirmed the residents were correct. The city had unilaterally upzoned 115 parcels and almost all of them were reverted to residential. 1331 Wilshire was correctly designated residential and R2, consistent with the LUCE, the LUCE map and the Wilmont neighborhood it connects to.
I ask that you reject the proposal to upzone/rezone and in essence, spot zone, this change. While the owners of the property may request a zoning change, the LUCE and LUCE map is clear that 1331 Wilshire has always had a R2 portion, known as an A lot in its north end and so designated to the protect this R2 Wilmont neighborhood and the Mixed Use Boulevard parcel faces Wilshire. These A lots were ALWAYS planned to become residential if they were no longer being used as a parking lot. Please keep the residential in our Wilmont neighborhood.
In addition, it seems as discussed at the May 13, 2025 City Council meeting that the time staff has spent on this for the Planning Commission and the City Council meetings is not an appropriate issue for city staff to take on. The City Council clarified that the owner could apply for rezoning instead of staff working with the developer. Instead, it seems, staff was working for a year to spot zone the property in violation of the LUCE.
Thank-you for your consideration,
Elizabeth Van Denburgh
Wilmont Chair
Item 4-O
October 14, 2025
Item 4-O
October 14, 2025