October 17, 2011 Thank you for sharing your concerns with me regarding the apartment building project

that has been proposed for 10056 North Samoa Avenue in Tujunga. With regard to this project, like every other land use proposal, I very much value your input as we collectively contemplate the best plan for the neighborhood. As you may know, the developers plans for this project include a 44-foot, affordable 64-unit apartment building, including 81 onsite parking spaces. As with every project, my office is closely monitoring this proposed development as it works its way through the public process, and we are carefully considering potential impacts and how they may be addressed. Unfortunately, I must note that much of the public discussion about this project in recent days has been based on incorrect information. First, this project is not being rushed through the planning approval procedure -- and I will not allow it to be rushed through. Contrary to false reports that have been circulated, I have verified with the Citys Housing Department that there is no action being taken on the financing portion of this proposal on Tuesday, October 18, either by the City Council or the Housing Department. In fact, as the project is currently proposed, the developer cannot receive funds until all the necessary paperwork has been submitted and a thorough series of public meetings has been conducted, and I will not accept anything less than this process. As you may know, the City Planning Department has deemed the developers application complete. This is an administrative decision that is just the first step in the process, and it was done (as it must be) solely because the developer has filed all the necessary paperwork. This completion does not mean the entire project has been approved or has been given the green light Page 1 of 3

to begin construction. Quite to the contrary, an extensive public process still lies ahead. After the application was deemed complete, a proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was filed by the Planning Department. The filing of the MND ensures that anyone who wants to submit comments about what effects they feel this project may have on the community is free to do so. Everyone is welcome to submit comments by November 2, and in fact, I encourage the community to raise all concerns during this period so that those concerns can be thoroughly considered and addressed, if possible. When that public comment period ends, the Planning Department will have 75 days to summarize the opinions and prepare their response. Before the 75-day window closes on Jan. 28, 2012, the Planning Department will need to make its determination regarding the application, and at that time, the community will have two weeks to appeal the determination if it chooses to do so. If appeals are filed, they will be heard by the City Planning Commission during an open and public hearing at which anyone will be free to speak. The Planning Commission will then make its decision about whether to grant final approval and full entitlement. No bond financing will be made available for this project until such time as it has received approval and entitlement. There are, of course, many issues that are appropriate to question and challenge, and I am eager to hear every legitimate argument for and against this project. I will always insist upon a thorough and open discussion among community stakeholders, the developer and my office in order to identify real concerns and address them. If changes are appropriate regarding available parking, infrastructure, or neighborhood or environmental impacts, my staff and I will (as we always do) work hard with the community and the developer to explore specific alternatives. [[[LIMITED TO THOSE WHO BROACHED THIS ISSUE: As much as I will insist upon this kind of thorough discussion about real impacts, however, I want to be very clear that I will never consider purported concerns about the likely income level or ethnic makeup of the residents of this or any other proposed building to be appropriate or legitimate factors in evaluating a proposal.]]] Openness, transparency and community engagement have been at the heart of my service in this office. There should be no question about my commitment to this philosophy, as has been repeatedly exemplified by the many projects that have been completed, significantly changed or scrapped altogether because of my close partnership with the communities I represent. In my office, the communitys considerations have never taken a Page 2 of 3

back seat to a developers interest, and any insinuations to the contrary are flatly false. Again, thank you for your thoughtful input, which I value. Please never hesitate to contact me or my office if you have any further concerns or questions on this or any other matter. Very truly yours, PAUL KREKORIAN Councilmember, Second District

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