The Los Angeles city attorney's office filed legal papers today indicating that it agrees with the Venice Stakeholders Assn. in our claim that the city may establish restricted-parking districts in Venice with out obtaining permission from the California Coastal Commission.
The Venice Stakeholders Association is dedicated to civic improvement. The VSA supports slow growth, protection of the limits of the Venice Local Coastal Specific Plan, neighborhood safety, better traffic circulation, increased parking for residents, neighborhood beautification projects, historic preservation and protection of coastal waters.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
City of L.A. agrees with the VSA
The Los Angeles city attorney's office filed legal papers today indicating that it agrees with the Venice Stakeholders Assn. in our claim that the city may establish restricted-parking districts in Venice with out obtaining permission from the California Coastal Commission.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Contribute to the legal effort
Contributions to the legal effort to allow Overnight Parking Districts in Venice may be made by sending a check directly to our attorney:
John Henning, Attorney at Law
125 N. Sweetzer Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Please include the note: Venice Stakeholders Association / Venice OPD legal effort
Suggested amount: $100 to $250, though all contributions welcome. Contributions are unfortunately not tax deductible.
You may also use the Paypal button to contribute to this legal effort.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Argonaut article
Residents group sues Coastal Commission over denial of permits for overnight parking restrictions
Less than two months after the California Coastal Commission chose not to issue permits for overnight parking restrictions in five areas of Venice, a community residents group has filed a lawsuit challenging the state agency’s jurisdiction to approve such permits.
In its lawsuit filed against the Coastal Commission and City of Los Angeles in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, August 10th, the Venice Stakeholders Association alleges that the commission failed to follow the California Coastal Act when it voted in June to deny coastal development permits for overnight parking districts (OPDs) on Venice streets.
Read entire article here:
http://www.argonautnewspaper.com/articles/2009/08/13/news_-_features/top_stories/2v.txt
LA Times article
Coastal Commission is sued over Venice parking permits
Proponents of restricted overnight parking say the commission failed to 'protect coastal waters' by refusing to rule on the proposal. Street parking is not in their jurisdiction, commissioners say.
A Venice group on Monday sued the California Coastal Commission over the group's request to limit overnight parking in five areas near Venice Beach where residents have complained for years about the growing number of people living in cars and campers.The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, raises a fundamental issue: Does the state coastal panel have the legal authority to determine where people can and cannot park in coastal areas?
Full Story: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-venice-parking11-2009aug11,0,686516.story
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lawsuit Press Release
Venice Stakeholders Association Files Lawsuit to Allow Overnight Parking Districts in Venice
(Venice, CA/August 10, 2009) The Venice Stakeholders Association (VSA) will today file a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court to remove the California Coastal Commission from jurisdiction over overnight parking districts (OPDs) in Venice or, alternatively, compel approval of coastal development permits (CDPs) for such districts, to allow Venice residents to establish restricted parking on their streets from 2 AM to 6 AM by petition.
The suit identifies several instances when the Coastal Commission failed to follow the Coastal Act in its June denial of permits for overnight parking districts (OPDs) in Venice.
“The Coastal Commission has a legal mandate to protect coastal waters,” said Mark Ryavec, an officer of the VSA and 25-year coastal activist. “However, despite hearing of repeated instances of the owners of recreational vehicles leaking and/or dumping their sewage directly into yards, streets and storm drains, which drain directly to the ocean, the Commission failed to act to protect the coastal water.”
Noting that these vehicles should be in proper campgrounds with sewer connections, not on residential streets, Ryavec explained that the Commission would not allow apartment units to discharge sewage directly to the ocean. “Bizarrely, the Commission looked the other way when the issue of illegal discharges from RVs and campers was presented to them.”
The Coastal Act also requires the Commission to balance beach visitor needs with the quality of life of coastal residents. Ryavec said, “During its discussion of the matter, none of the Commission members made any effort to find that balance, even though its own staff had presented a balanced recommendation that significantly increased overnight parking for visitors.” The Commission rejected the staff recommendation out-right.
The most significant issue raised by the lawsuit is its conclusion that the Commission does not have legal authority over the OPDs in the first place and that no coastal development permits are required for overnight restricted parking.
“Santa Barbara, for example, bans RVs in the coastal zone and has never applied for a coastal development permit,” Ryavec said. “The key word here is ‘development.’ Parking restrictions and a few signs are not ‘development’ under the Coastal Act and they are not what the public thought it was adopting when we voted for the California Coastal Conservation Initiative in 1972.”
Ryavec noted that if CDPs are required for parking restrictions and street signs, then cities all along the coast are in violation of the Coastal Act for unpermitted signs that restrict parking for street sweeping and set time limits for parking in commercial areas, to name a few examples.
“Since the Commission did not follow the law and recommendations of its own staff, the residents of Venice have no choice but to ask the court to correct the situation,” Ryavec said.
(Venice, CA/August 10, 2009) The Venice Stakeholders Association (VSA) will today file a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court to remove the California Coastal Commission from jurisdiction over overnight parking districts (OPDs) in Venice or, alternatively, compel approval of coastal development permits (CDPs) for such districts, to allow Venice residents to establish restricted parking on their streets from 2 AM to 6 AM by petition.
The suit identifies several instances when the Coastal Commission failed to follow the Coastal Act in its June denial of permits for overnight parking districts (OPDs) in Venice.
“The Coastal Commission has a legal mandate to protect coastal waters,” said Mark Ryavec, an officer of the VSA and 25-year coastal activist. “However, despite hearing of repeated instances of the owners of recreational vehicles leaking and/or dumping their sewage directly into yards, streets and storm drains, which drain directly to the ocean, the Commission failed to act to protect the coastal water.”
Noting that these vehicles should be in proper campgrounds with sewer connections, not on residential streets, Ryavec explained that the Commission would not allow apartment units to discharge sewage directly to the ocean. “Bizarrely, the Commission looked the other way when the issue of illegal discharges from RVs and campers was presented to them.”
The Coastal Act also requires the Commission to balance beach visitor needs with the quality of life of coastal residents. Ryavec said, “During its discussion of the matter, none of the Commission members made any effort to find that balance, even though its own staff had presented a balanced recommendation that significantly increased overnight parking for visitors.” The Commission rejected the staff recommendation out-right.
The most significant issue raised by the lawsuit is its conclusion that the Commission does not have legal authority over the OPDs in the first place and that no coastal development permits are required for overnight restricted parking.
“Santa Barbara, for example, bans RVs in the coastal zone and has never applied for a coastal development permit,” Ryavec said. “The key word here is ‘development.’ Parking restrictions and a few signs are not ‘development’ under the Coastal Act and they are not what the public thought it was adopting when we voted for the California Coastal Conservation Initiative in 1972.”
Ryavec noted that if CDPs are required for parking restrictions and street signs, then cities all along the coast are in violation of the Coastal Act for unpermitted signs that restrict parking for street sweeping and set time limits for parking in commercial areas, to name a few examples.
“Since the Commission did not follow the law and recommendations of its own staff, the residents of Venice have no choice but to ask the court to correct the situation,” Ryavec said.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Support OPD Flyer
Flyers have circulated in Venice that are full of lies and distortions about overnight parking permits. Here are the facts:
• Overnight parking restrictions are entirely voluntary. If residents of your block sign up by a two-thirds majority, then the parking on your block will be restricted to just residents (and your guests) from 2 AM to 6 AM. If two-thirds don’t sign up, there will be no restrictions.
• Annual permits are $15 PER YEAR. Visitor permits, for four months, are $10. Overnight guest permits are $1. You can confirm the fees at: http://ladot.lacity.org/tf_overnight_parking_passes.htm
• Mr. Yadi Yashemi, the head of the Dept. of Transportation (DOT) Parking Permit Division, wrote to the Venice Stakeholders Assoc. on May 6th:
“There are no plans to increase or change the fee structure.”*
You can confirm this yourself by calling him at 213-978-3140.
• The City of L. A. has already approved Coastal Development Permits for the five overnight parking districts in the coastal zone. This means the City has established a process for setting up restrictions on your block – if you and your neighbors want them. The hearing on June 11th before the Coastal Commission is only about assuring there is adequate parking near the beach from 2 AM to 6 AM for surfers, fishers, joggers, etc.
• Night-time restrictions will produce extra parking for residents. Over-night restrictions - if adopted by residents - will keep many vehicles off our residential streets: tourists’ rental cars, abandoned and commercial vehicles, and other nonresident vehicles of all kinds, including RVs and vans. Night-time restrictions also make our neighborhoods safer.
• Walk street and Boardwalk residents can get permits if they want them. The City has formally amended its application to the Coastal Commission to extend the boundary for the two districts nearest the shore all the way to the Boardwalk. Residents on the inland walk streets are also eligible for permits to park on any street near them.
The entire Coastal Commission flyer distributed to neighborhoods in Venice can be found here:
CC Flyer.pdf
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