---
[ ARCHIVE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive)
# Opportunity for Eldercare in Woodland Hills Should Not be Squandered Based on False Fears
August 09 2012
Written by Dennis P. Zine.
[](https://www.addtoany.com/share)
TALK BACK - [***(Ed Note: This article is in response to Donna Schuele’s CityWatch piece “Superhero Zine has a Dark Side”.***](https://mail.citywatchla.com/lead-stories/3534-superhero-zine-has-a-dark-side)) In 2006, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance to facilitate the processing of applications of eldercare facilities and allow for these facilities to be developed in low density residential areas. I supported the Elder Care Act because I believe that with an older adult population in Los Angeles County that is projected to increase to approximately 2.2 million people by 2030 according to the California Department of Finance, these facilities provide much needed services and housing in the City to some of our most vulnerable residents.
At a meeting in late June, the South Valley Area Planning Commission acted to affirm an appeal and overturned the approval by the Zoning Administrator of a 60-room eldercare project located at 6221 North Fallbrook Avenue in Woodland Hills.
As the elected representative of this area for the last 11 years, I respectfully disagree with the Commission’s actions and believe that the Fallbrook address is an ideal location to serve our aging population.
That is why I asked the City Council to assert jurisdiction over this matter and had the issue referred back to the Planning & Land Use Management Committee for further vetting.
I have always put my constituents’ concerns first and I believe that this community would benefit greatly from this senior housing development.
During my term, I have fought to protect single family neighborhoods and this proposed project in no way endangers the single family character of Walnut Acres.
The Fallbrook location is conducive to such a project for several reasons. Namely, this portion of Fallbrook Avenue is classified as a Class II Highway and serves as a major thoroughfare. Within walking distance of the proposed site, there is a commercial corridor that includes a Fire Station, shopping center, medical building, grocery stores, childcare center, and, most notably, there is a Metro stop situated directly in front of this location.
Despite the passing of the Elder Care Act, no such facilities have been built in the Third Council District since 2006 and there is certainly not an over concentration of this type of development in this area.
I thoughtfully review each project on a case-by-case basis with the best interests of the community in mind to determine whether or not I believe that the proposed development will fit within the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
In fact, I recently opposed an eldercare facility that tried to open in a residential area of Tarzana. In that case, my efforts were successful and the facility did not open. This is not the same set of circumstances that exists at the Woodland Hills parcel.
The Zoning Administrator made extensive findings in support of this project. With conflicting opinions of the Zoning Administrator and the South Valley Area Planning Commission, I directed this matter to go before the Planning & Land Use Management Committee to review all sides and weigh in.
The close proximity to commercial uses, convenient access to public transit, and placement on a major thoroughfare, make this an ideal site for this much-needed eldercare facility.
This opportunity to bring eldercare services to this community should not be squandered based on the false fears generated by some. The property values will not drop, the tranquility of Walnut Acres will not be harmed, and we will provide desperately needed housing to our senior population.
*(Dennis P. Zine is Councilman for LA’s 3rd District. He can be reached at Dennis.Zine@lacity.org)* -cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 64
Pub: Aug 10, 2012
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/116 "USA Radio Museum - Wide")
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad")
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)")
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)")
## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays
Website
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know")
---
## Featured CityWatch Stories
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33727-nithya-raman-won-city-hall-but-is-she-already-failing-the-first-test-of-leadership)
### [Nithya Raman Won City Hall But Is She Already Failing The First Test Of Leadership](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33727-nithya-raman-won-city-hall-but-is-she-already-failing-the-first-test-of-leadership)
THE BOTTOM LINE - Los Angeles voted for change, not another administration consumed by political confrontation while th…
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/33723-how-stephen-miller-destroyed-trumps-second-administration)
### [How Stephen Miller Destroyed Trump’s Second Administration](https://mail.citywatchla.com/voices/33723-how-stephen-miller-destroyed-trumps-second-administration)
THE VIEW FROM HERE - On September 1, 2025, this column explained how the vile, anti-Mexican racist Stephen Miller was d…
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33704-nithyas-budget-buzz-saw)
### [Nithya’s Budget Buzz Saw](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33704-nithyas-budget-buzz-saw)
LA WATCHDOG - Nithya Raman, our new mayor, will inherit a budget that is a river of red ink. According to the First Fi…
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33733-congratulations-nithya-raman-as-our-new-olympics-pro-unity-mayor)
### [Congratulations, Nithya Raman, As Our New Olympics, Pro-Unity Mayor!](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33733-congratulations-nithya-raman-as-our-new-olympics-pro-unity-mayor)
ALPERN AT LARGE - The uncertainty is OVER. We now know who will be our next Mayor, and we need a Leader, and a Uniter…
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33726-can-raman-restore-and-repair-los-angeles-ten-challenges-that-face-the-la-mayor-elect)
### [Can Raman Restore and Repair Los Angeles? Ten Challenges That Face the LA Mayor-elect](https://mail.citywatchla.com/los-angeles/33726-can-raman-restore-and-repair-los-angeles-ten-challenges-that-face-the-la-mayor-elect)
WESTSIDE - Fresh off an impressive grass roots victory over Karen Bass, the first mayoral incumbent since James Hahn to…
---
## [ ARCHIVE ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive)
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)### [Early Intervention and Jobs are Key to Stemming Chronic Homelessness in Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/15339-early-intervention-and-jobs-are-key-to-stemming-chronic-homelessness-in-los-angeles)
### [Tucker Carlson and Gay Rightwinger Blame California Wildfires On Hiring LGBTQ People](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/18755-tucker-carlson-and-gay-rightwinger-blame-california-wildfires-on-hiring-lgbtq-people)
### [Anti-LGBTQ Veep Just Can’t Stop Talking about Mayor Pete](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/17690-anti-lgbtq-veep-just-can-t-stop-talking-about-mayor-pete)
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)### [NEWS PULSE: ‘Corrupt System’ Reason for Not Voting in 2018 … Majority Wants More Than Two Parties](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/15316-news-pulse-corrupt-system-reason-for-not-voting-in-2018-majority-wants-more-than-two-parties)
[  ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)### [Dead Dog Set on Fire … Sparks Fears for Strays in Los Angeles](https://mail.citywatchla.com/archive/10245-dead-dog-set-on-fire-sparks-fears-for-strays-in-los-angeles)