June 25, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Board of Supervisors approves modified zoning plan to protect Santa Monica Mountains

 

Courtesy Photo
The modifications made to the zoning plan was supported by environmentalists and equestrians, but protested by vineyard owners. Courtesy Photo

The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 Tuesday to approve modifications to a zoning plan aimed at protecting the Santa Monica Mountains, drawing praise from environmentalists and equestrians but protests from vineyard owners.

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who championed the plan, urged his colleagues to act, saying the Local Coastal Program is “designed to protect one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in all of California … it’s a remarkable place.”

Seventy-odd modifications were proposed to the plan by the Coastal Commission after public hearings in April and July. Most of the changes focused on equestrian uses, according to a county planner, and the commission unanimously approved the plan as modified.

Though horse owners and trail riders are now satisfied, vineyard owners contend the plan is unfair.

The LCP allows existing vineyards to remain in the mountains, but prohibits permits for expansions or new vineyards.

“I feel that grapevines are being discriminated against,” said grower David Gomez, who noted that other agricultural uses are not banned under the LCP.

Gomez’s wife Ruth said she was worried about how the plan would affect the couple’s plans for retirement.

Yaroslavsky countered that “nobody’s ripping out anyone’s vineyard,” adding that environmentalists weren’t worried about boutique vineyards, but rather larger operations that would rip out chaparral and destroy ridgeline views.

If vineyards are operating without a permit, they would be forced out under the LCP, but the same would be true under current Coastal Commission rules. The Coastal Commission has not issued a permit for a new vineyard in the last five years, according to Yaroslavsky.

Growers said grapevines use less water than other crops and traditional landscaping. However, some of their neighbors said vineyards were endangering local water sources and wine growers were using chemical pesticides that damage native habitat.

Leah Culberg said one vineyard owner had dammed up a creek, causing Culberg’s own well to drop more than 100 feet in one year, while another dug a 2,000-foot well to service vines.

“That’s like putting a pair of straws down to the bottom of our canyon to suck everything out,” Culberg said.

Dozens of environmentalists offered their support for the plan to ban ridgeline development, protect oak groves and local wildlife. Several local politicians did, as well, including Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, and both
candidates for Yaroslavsky’s seat — former Santa Monica mayor Bobby Shriver and ex-Sen. Sheila Kuehl.

Elliott Dolin, who has 900 vines on a three-quarter acre site, urged the board to regulate and monitor new vineyards rather than prohibiting them altogether.

Supervisor Michael Antonovich said the LCP would deny some residents their property rights and cost the county millions of dollars in fighting legal challenges.

“If an individual wants to plant a vineyard on their property, that’s a decision that they should be able to (make),” Antonovich said. Existing vineyards provide tens of thousands of dollars of revenue and hundreds of jobs, he said.

Antonovich proposed that vineyards be permitted, drawing a second from Supervisor Don Knabe, but that motion failed on a 2-2 vote. Three votes are required for passage. Yaroslavsky and Supervisor Gloria Molina dissented and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas did not attend today’s meeting.

Antonovich dissented when the LCP itself went to a vote.

The plan, which still needs an administrative sign-off from the Coastal Commission’s executive director, will allow the county to directly issue land use permits in an area covering about 80 square miles in the Santa Monica Mountains. As it currently stands, applicants must follow a two-step process,seeking approval from the county and the Coastal Commission.

At least one lawsuit has already been filed against the Local Coastal Program, according to Yaroslavsky.

Related Posts

Brentwood Home by Landry Design Group Wins Top National Architecture Award

June 25, 2025

June 25, 2025

Landry Design Group Wins Gold Nugget Awards for Brentwood, Crestwood Projects Landry Design Group (LDG) earned two top honors at...

(Video) WISE & Healthy Aging Helps Loved Ones Boost Their Quality of Life

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs Advance the Dignity of Life for Older Adults See How the Nonprofit’s Innovative Programs...

Masked Federal Agents Detain Iranian Asylum Seeker and Wife in Westwood

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

31-Year-Old Woman was Hospitalized After Possible Medical Emergency On Tuesday, June 24, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., near the...

Los Angeles Leaders Push to Ban Masks for Federal Agents Amid Immigration Raids

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Concerns Grow Over Anonymous ICE and CBP Officers in Los Angeles   A growing coalition of California lawmakers and local leaders...

(Video) Food Fight: Chefs Join Forces to Raise Money to Protect Immigrant Families in Venice

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Estrano, Little Dynamite, Sunday Gravy, Kabob Senpai Answer the Call From Turk’s Pizza Party. Dave Turkel Put This Food Resistance...

Squatter-Plagued Beverly Grove Buildings Could Be Razed After Hazard Cleanup

June 24, 2025

June 24, 2025

Demolition of Three Abandoned Apartments May Begin in Two Weeks Three abandoned apartment buildings in Beverly Grove may soon be...

From Westwood to DTLA, Angelenos March Against Military Escalation in Iran

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Protestors Rally at the Westwood Federal Building This Weekend Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear-related...

LAPD Sergeant Killed Assisting Crash Victims on 405 Freeway in Brentwood

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Tragic Early-Morning Collision Claims Two Lives, Including Veteran Sergeant Two people, including an LAPD sergeant, were killed early Monday in...

Recent Homebuyer Down Payments Slip for First Time in Nearly Two Years

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

April’s Median Down Payment Fell as Buyers Lean Toward Lower-Cost Homes The median down payment made by U.S. homebuyers dropped...

Del Rey Affordable Housing Project to Rise on Former Charter School Site

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

Community Corp., Local Faith Group Team Up to Build 122 New Apartments Plans are moving forward for a new residential...

Paris Hilton Buys Mark Wahlberg’s Beverly Park Mansion for $63.1M

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

The Heiress and Media Mogul Joins a Star-Studded Neighborhood Paris Hilton and husband Carter Reum have purchased a high-profile estate...

A.O.C. Brentwood to Close After 16 Years on San Vicente Boulevard

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Chef Goin and Styne Cite Unsustainably High Rent in Decision to Close  A.O.C. Brentwood, the acclaimed Westside outpost from James...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...