Planners to Consider Commercial Limits

Aproposal by Councilman Hal Bernson to cut nearly in half the amount of commercial growth permitted in Chatsworth and Porter Ranch by the existing community plan was quietly referred to the Los Angeles Planning Department on Tuesday.

If eventually enacted by the full council, Bernson’s recommendations would slash the commercial development potential in the Chatsworth-Porter Ranch District Plan area by 45%, Bernson has said.

Efforts to update the 1974 plan--crafted during an era less opposed to growth--have been under way for five years.

Both the 1974 plan and a proposed rewrite recommended by a citizens panel would permit up to 26 million square feet of commercial and retail space in the area. But Bernson has said this would be far too much.

Not affected by the proposed cutbacks would be the controversial Porter Ranch Specific Plan, now approved to include 6 million square feet of commercial-retail space.

Bernson’s support for large-scale residential and commercial development in that area of Porter Ranch generated a backlash of voter anger that became the central issue of the reelection campaign Bernson narrowly won last month.