Land Use Committee Votes to Support Il Villaggio Toscano

The Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council Land Use Committee gave its support Thursday night to the Il Villaggio Toscano residential and retail project by a vote of 5-4.

The project, in its current form, would incorporate 399 dwelling units and 52,000-square-feet of commercial use, including a 13,000-square-foot public plaza that will run the length of Sepulveda Boulevard. The plaza, according to a presentation by Paul Krueger on behalf of developer M. David Paul, would include plentiful tables, chairs, benches, trees and grass.

The project would also begin with four-story buildings at Sepulveda Boulevard, which would increase to eight-story buildings closer to the freeway. 

More than 40 people addressed the Land Use Committee during the public hearing, a majority of whom appeared to be in favor of the project.

“I was really heartened to see how many people came out to express their true feelings on this," said Land Use Committee Chairma Ron Ziff. "I didn’t hear emotional arguments; I heard logical arguments. That’s important.”

Several concerns have emerged within the community regarding the size of the project, as well as the extra traffic that the residential units and retail space would create. 

“I am for progress but not at the expense of our neighborhood and the safety of our families," said one speaker. "We are not opposed to Toscano, we just want a project that is the right size.” 

“I want something nice there, but it’s just way too large and is going to bring in too many people and too much traffic," said another speaker. "It’s already pretty bad with the [Sherman Oaks] Galleria.”

In recent months, the Land Use Committee has stalled on taking a position on the proposed development, seemingly unable to reach consensus. However, at Thursday's meeting, the committee agreed that a stance had to be taken.

After eight votes the committee was locked at 4-4, meaning Ziff would have to contribute his vote for the first time in over two years, according to the committee chair. He voted in favor of the project.

“I feel this project is something that should go forward," Ziff said. "I recognize the problems but I don’t think the problems come from this developer. They’re problems that the city needs to solve that aren’t his.”

Now that the Land Use Committee has expressed its support of the project, the full Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council will consider it. The neighborhood council is an advisory body, whose position will be on record when the project is considered for approval at Los Angeles City Hall.

“Our voice means a great deal, but this is just the first step," Ziff said. "There are other places that this has to go.”