SYLMAR : Hearing Officer Rejects Zoning Plans

Equestrians won a major battle against a developer this week, after a hearing officer rejected two proposed zoning changes that would have allowed condominium-style complexes in residential and ranch areas.

Concerns over vehicular traffic across horse trails, inconsistencies with the community plan for the area and potential negative impacts on equestrian businesses swayed Los Angeles Planning Commission Hearing Officer Pat Brown to reject proposals by Mark Armbruster, a Santa Monica developer and attorney.

The proposed developments would have been located on Dronfield Avenue between Bledsoe and Tyler streets and at the former site of Cacho’s Nursery, on Foothill Boulevard just east of Glenoaks Boulevard.

Both would have been relatively high-density developments requiring condominium zoning, even though Armbruster said he wants to build single-family townhomes, duplexes or triplexes at the sites.

Brown’s report, issued Wednesday, goes to the Planning Commission, which then will issue its recommendation to the City Council on Nov. 18. Armbruster said Thursday he will try to persuade the panel to overrule the report.

“It’s totally unworkable,” Armbruster said. “I think it’s not consistent with the market or the surroundings.”

Horse owners used the same arguments against the projects, saying they clash with ranches and equestrian centers nearby and don’t fit into the predominantly single-family suburban atmosphere of Sylmar.

“We’re overjoyed,” said Nancy Giacomi, a horse owner who lives 500 feet away from the Armbruster property on Dronfield Avenue. “It would’ve led to problems sooner or later. Pretty much all the properties around it are horse properties.”

More than 50 residents flooded an Oct. 5 hearing on the Armbruster proposals, and at least double that number have signed petitions against the projects.