Beverly Hills Overdosing on Medical Offices?

• The commission is concerned with the amount of medical offices that comprise the city's commercial space, and they debated new information about regulation of medical land use in Beverly Hills' commercial buildings (an item continued from the June 10 meeting). 

Medical use currently makes up 21 percent of the city's commercial square footage. At the request of City Council, planning staff researched impacts of medical use on factors such as traffic, aesthetic compatibility, and retail vitality, and proposed possible regulations that would place limits on medical use in Beverly Hills' commercial buildings. 

Senior Planner Michele McGrath presented several regulatory options, including a cap on total medical floor area, a floating medical overlay zone with specific zoning restrictions and a conditional use permit, the limitations of which have yet to be decided. 

After lengthy debate over which regulation was most appropriate, the commission agreed to form a subcommittee, consisting of Chair Bosse and Vice Chair Yukelson, to study the implications further. Dr. Malek Masoud, who owns a practice on La Cienaga Boulevard, voiced concern over future plans for his office, given the possible new regulations.

• The commission approved a request by Applicant Mark Spiro to extend a Conditional Use Permit for his Sports Club LA location at 9601 Wilshire Blvd., but denied his request to modify parking rates for members and guests of the facility. Current parking rates allow for two hours free parking at the facility. In an effort to recover revenue for the exercise club, Spiro requested to change the rate to one hour free parking, with a $1 charge for each additional hour. The commission voiced concern that this change would put pressure on other public parking structures and street parking in the area. Resident Laurie Landy, a member of Sports Club LA, spoke in opposition to the parking fee change. Vice Chair Yukelson recused himself from the deliberation and vote due to conflict of interest as a member of Sports Club LA. Chair Bosse and Commissioner Furie, also members, claimed no conflict.
• An agenda item scheduled to discuss revised traffic thresholds of significance was continued to the upcoming meeting on September 8, as the commission agreed they did not have enough time to review pre-meeting information on the topic. They also requested additional projects to collect more conclusive data, establish greater consistency in "peak times," and measure the impact on residential streets, in advance of the next meeting.
• A draft Housing Element prepared by Associate Planner Peter Noonan was approved for submission to the State Department of Housing and Community Development, after small amendments to language concerning special needs and assisted housing. The state review process can take upwards of 60 days, and Murray Fischer, again on behalf of a client, expressed concern that certain assisted housing measures are incredibly urgent, such as providing for elderly residents with Alzheimer's Disease. Commissioner Furie agreed that accommodating these elderly residents is important and time sensitive, and suggested the commission adopt a minor text amendment if need be before the draft is approved by the State.
• There will be no Planning Commission meetings in August. The next meeting will be held on September 8.