Neighbors sue L.A. over approval of museum expansion

Homeowners Opposed to Museum Expansion, longtime opponents of the Museum of Tolerance's planned expansion, have filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court in an effort to force the city of Los Angeles to reverse its approval of the project.

In June, the City Council approved the construction of space for private functions and banquets that could accommodate hundreds of people. The plan would allow the museum to hold as many as 18 events per month, several of which could run as late as midnight. According to museum officials, the revenue from such private events would allow the museum to accommodate more visitors.

The homeowners group represents residents who live next to the museum in an area zoned for single-family residences.

The complaint, filed Thursday, alleged that the approval rescinded the protections of an existing conditional use permit under which the museum has operated. Opened in 1993 on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles, the museum is the educational arm of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and seeks to teach students, teachers, law enforcement officers and others about the evils of bigotry and hatred. Neighbors say they generally applaud the museum's mission but contend that the added activities would create crowds, traffic and noise.

The homeowners' complaint also challenges the approval of a so-called airspace subdivision that allowed the museum to formally annex a portion of the adjacent Yeshiva University of Los Angeles Boys High School. Opponents contend the museum's environmental impact report failed to include a review of the high school's own expansion project, leading to "a textbook case of piecemeal environmental review and the underestimation of cumulative environmental impacts."

According to the opponents group, representatives from the museum, the homeowners group and the office of Councilman Paul Koretz met early this week to discuss a compromise. A museum spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment.

--Martha Groves

Comments

[bob]

This project is already very significantly scaled down to meet the demands of these neighbors, has been years in the making, and this is just another stalling tactic by this group. They want to run up the developers' and city's costs to where they say forget it.

But that isn't going to happen, and I'm fed up with the rest of us taxpayers having to pay out for lawyers to defend the city from all these litigious groups in CD5. Virtually EVERY new building or project or traffic abatement is cause for them to sue, however speciously, because they figure it will mean a delay or a year or two and wear out everyone's patience.

Right now in our recession, we're lucky anyone wants to build in this city at all with all the hassles. While I'm all for taking the neighbors' concerns into account it's gotten so ridiculous in CD5 that even the most rundown areas on the eastern edge are suing over projects that would vastly improve the area. So business and development has gone to nearby cities from Santa Monica to Burbank, while we get the traffic anyway. Dumb, dumb, and shortsighted of them.

[John Bard]

The Museum of Tolerance should practice what it preaches.
The planned expansion, in order to hold extra events, will result in increased late-night noise and traffic, making life intolerable to local residents.

[Esther Lerner Brenner]

It is outrageous that homeowners must resort to expensive lawsuits to force their city to adhere to its zoning ordinances, as well as to legal agreements with developers that permitted them to construct their original projects.

Just because this institution proclaims itself to be an educational facility does not give it unlimited rights.

[m v]

conncil members are passing no questions ask any thing from any lobbys and special interest this has to stop
this is just the begining , city hall works for unions special interest yet they whant oure vote

[stewart]

One thing is for sure the presence of the facility does change the look of the area.
No less than the high rises already there both east and west?
But in that particular small glenn, it is a prominent presence, the question is should it be a dominant one as well.

[Joe]

Museum of Tolerance, my foot.

[Olden Atwoody]

How intolerant.

Maybe the museum, like any other growing business, should move itself to a more appropriate location. Ya think?

[boogedy]

bob obviously doesn't live next door to the museum and doesn't mind parties outside his bedroom window. instead of building this expansion the museum should just let the parties be held at his house till midnight. 18 times a month.

Yeah, those homeowners wanting a decent night's sleep are sure dumb and shortsighted.