Community Meeting on Orthdox Church Development Tuesday Evening

Highland Park residents who want to sound-off about Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church's plan to build a 62-unit senior living facility will have two opportunities to do so in the coming weeks. The first will come Tuesday at 7 p.m., when the developers will hold a community meeting regarding their plans inside the church's sanctuary on 4900 Cleland Avenue.

A letter mailed by the church to neighborhood residents reads as follows:

The Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church has been a part of and served our community for many decades. As a neighboring property owner, you have probably received a notice of public hearing to discuss our plans to develop our property referenced above, and it is our intent to develop our vacant site with a 62-unit senior housing campus.

A pending application is currently before the City, requesting the necessary approvals to allow this new residence. A hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. This hearing will take place at the Los Angeles City Hall, Room 1020, at which time you will be able to offer your thoughts. Due to other commitments, we know some of you may not be able to attend the City's hearing. We wish to invite you to attend a presentation of this development, at The Holy Virgin Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, 4900 Cleland Ave. We have set April 2, 2013 at 7 p.m. for this neighbor's meeting.

lf you should have any questions or wish additional information, please call our representative, Lee Ambers, California Property Consultants at [818] 996-0204. ln the event he is not in, please leave a voice message and he will contact you shortly thereafter.

According to a notice distributed to nearby property owners last month, the church is seeking a zone variance to build a 62-unit development on a 26,922-sq. ft. piece of property located within a RD2 Zone. Current zoning law does not allow more than 13 dwelling units of that size.

The proposed development also includes parking and a recreational facility.

A site plan can be seen above.

The Office Of Zoning Administration will hold their public hearing on the development on Thursday, April 11 at 9 a.m. in room 1020 of City Hall, located at 200 N. Spring St. in Downtown Los Angeles.