WARNER CENTER : Council Approves Expansion Blueprint

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday gave its final approval to the Warner Center Specific Plan, the blueprint for expanding the San Fernando Valley’s largest retail shopping and office complex.

Last week, the specific plan ordinance failed to win final council adoption because Councilman Ernani Bernardi voted against it, saying the plan permitted too much growth. Unless a measure is adopted unanimously on its first try, it must be voted on a second time when only a simple majority is needed for approval.

The specific plan, supported by Councilwoman Joy Picus, who represents the affected 1,100-acre area, would permit a doubling of the existing development at Warner Center up to a total of 35.7 million square feet.

But the plan--eight years in the making and at times highly controversial--also requires the developers to help finance the transportation infrastructure needed to accommodate the new growth. Under the plan, developers will pay $4,907 for each auto trip their new projects would generate on an average day.