RESEDA : Religious School Construction OKd

Construction of a proposed private school connected to the Valley Iranian Jewish Center has won approval from a city zoning administrator.

Jewish center leaders have proposed construction of a 12,300-square-foot religious school for 150 children just north of the synagogue at 6170 Wilbur Ave., which is also called the Eretz Cultural Center. The addition was strongly opposed by neighbors, who contended that the synagogue traffic had created a traffic hazard in the neighborhood.

However, Zoning Administrator Albert Landini said that because the application dealt solely with the school there was little he could do to address the existing traffic problem alleged by neighbors.

In a decision that becomes effective Tuesday, Landini approved construction of the school on the condition that the Jewish Center add 55 parking spaces on the property.

Neighbors had raised concerns that synagogue members were parking on the street.

Landini also denied a request by the synagogue to have bingo nights for members.

Lee Ambers, a consultant for the synagogue, called the ruling “a reasonable decision. Both sides compromised . . . we gave, and they gave.”

One neighbor, Plato Robeson, said opponents probably won’t try to overturn the decision.

“My only feeling is that we are just banging our heads against the wall. To continue to fight would be a waste of time and effort,” Robeson said. Nonetheless, he said the neighbors are less than pleased with the outcome of the dispute.