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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

PLUM to Hear Temple Case

PLUM to Hear Temple Case By SHELLY GARCIA Senior Reporter A long-running neighborhood scuffle involving an Orthodox Jewish synagogue and some local residents and business owners will come back to the front burner this week. The city’s Planning and Land Use Committee on Wednesday will consider a specific plan exception that would limit the number of parking spaces required at a planned new facility for Beith David Educational Center in Tarzana. The center’s request had earlier been approved by the Area Planning Commission over the objections of some community groups who believe that the reduced number of parking spots would pose a hardship the community. Their appeal was denied. The Beith David congregation had requested the exception saying that most of its members walk to the synagogue for services as proscribed by Orthodox Jewish law and, as a result, would not need to make 150 parking spaces available as directed by the specific plan. “We have 37 parking spaces on the site,” said Parviz Hakimi, treasurer for Beith David and a spokesman for the temple. “Eighty five percent of the congregation lives in the Tarzana area around us and they walk.” Hakimi added that the temple has leased an additional 40 parking spaces nearby. Local residents say they are worried about possible spillover from congregants attending services at Beith David because the area already has a shortage of parking. Wayne Avrashow, a Tarzana attorney who represents one of the opponents, building owner, Arnold Dubin, said his client is now agreeing to the a “potential compromise” of 71 spaces, but would like assurance that those additional parking spaces will be available.

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