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City Hall, 7th Floor
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Reference: Case No. ZA 2006-10405(ZV)
Dear Zoning Administrator:
The Los Feliz Improvement Association opposes the application of Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events, LLC for a Zoning Variance to serve alcoholic beverages at the Griffith Observatory for the following reasons:
1. The Operating Concession Agreement between the City and Wolfgang Puck was approved as to form on September 6, 2006 without any notification to adjacent property owners as required by the City. Since the property involved is Griffith Park, all adjacent property owners should have been notified. Failure to do so effectively denied the public its right to due process.
2. The Griffith Observatory is located in open space (OS-1XL), where serving alcoholic beverages is explicitly prohibited. The Observatory has never needed to serve alcohol in the past.
3. The primary mission of the Griffith Observatory is that of scientific education. The serving of alcoholic beverages at special events will not further that mission in any manner. Furthermore, special events may exclude legitimate Observatory visitors from all areas typically open to the public. In addition if alcohol is served, it may negatively impact the usually wholesome educational experience that patrons have come to expect. The variance requests “alcoholic beverages be permitted at special catered events between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. any day of the week” (P. 14, 1.). This means that alcohol could be served while bus loads of school children are visiting the Observatory.
4. The Observatory is within walking distance of many single-family
residences, and is located at the terminus of several winding, dangerous
roads. Contrary to the variance request statement that the Observatory
is “well bounded and easily secured” (p. 6), there are many
hiking trails leading to the Observatory which are not secured. There
is not “a single controlled access” (p. 7), there are two
roads in addition to the
trails. The Zoning Administrator should consider the impact of drunk
drivers on the neighborhood, especially when events may last until 1:00
AM.
5. The special events will bring added traffic, congestion, pollution, noise, and litter to the adjacent residential neighborhood which is already impacted by the operation of the Greek Theatre.
6. The concession agreement specifies that “CONCESSIONAIRE shall have the option to sell alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and spirits) at the CONCESSION... CITY/Observatory Management shall cooperate fully with CONCESSIONAIRE with regard to obtaining such license.” (p. 15, Section 16.A) The terms of the contract give the appearance that the open, public variance process has been circumvented by the City of Los Angeles.
The community strongly opposes the sale of alcohol at the Observatory
and we ask the Zoning Administrator to consider the negative impact that
the presence of alcohol may have on Observatory patrons, visiting school
children, nearby residents, and other citizens who may be affected. The
Observatory has not needed to sell alcohol in its 71 years of existence,
and we see no compelling reason to start now.
Sincerely,
Marian Dodge, President
cc: Tom LaBonge
A panel of mystery writers from L.A. Noir, L.A. Noir 2 and O.C. Noir will speak at the Los Feliz Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library. The event will be moderated by editors/authors Denise Hamilton and Gary Phillips.
The library is located at 1874 Hillhurst Ave. on the corner of Franklin Ave. For more information, please call the library at 323-913-4710 during regular business hours. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.
Skylight Books will have copies for purchase and signing. Event is sponsored by Merchants of the Los Feliz Village BID and the Friends of the Los Feliz Library.
1965 Hillhurst, Los Angeles CA 90027