Revised plans for the long-awaited Melrose Triangle Project were approved by the West Hollywood Planning Commission. (photo by Gensler)

The West Hollywood Planning Commission unanimously approved new plans for the Melrose Triangle Project on Feb. 17.

Plans for the Melrose Triangle Project were originally approved by the City Council in October 2014, but had been placed on hold for years due to litigation. The developer, real estate development company Charles Company, introduced revisions to create a more resident and pedestrian-friendly destination.

The project will primarily consist of three mixed-use buildings: the Gateway Building at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and Doheny Drive; the Boulevard Building located on Santa Monica Boulevard; and the Avenue Building at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Almont Drive. The buildings will house residential units, office spaces and retail stores.

Differences in the newly approved project include an increase from 76 residential units to 80, which incorporates four additional moderate-income units and four additional low-income units. In total, there will be 12 moderate-income units, 12 low-income units and 56 market-price units. The inclusion of the lower income units, under an agreement with the city housing department, entitles the project to a density bonus. With the bonus, developers seek an increase in the overall height of the building from a maximum of 70 feet to 72 feet and the elevator overruns from 15 feet above the roofline to 21.5 feet for the Gateway Building, 23 feet for the Boulevard Building and 31 feet for the Avenue Building. The bonus also allows for an increased floor area ratio, which would expand the building’s density requirement, from 2.59 to 3.

Planning commissioner Marquita Thomas applauded the increase in the number of low-income residences.

Planning commissioner David Gregoire also voiced support for the addition of the affordable housing units, but was discontent with “the deduction of the square footage for each of those low-income units.”

Additional changes to the project include the removal of gallery and showroom space, an increase in available office spaces, a reduction in parking from 884 to 526 spaces and an increase in publicly accessible open space.

Ric Abramson, urban design and architecture studio manager for the city of West Hollywood, highlighted the project’s renewed emphasis in creating pedestrian-friendly entrances that allow for increased foot traffic and ease of access.

“This project, compared to the previously proposed project, at the urban design level, has integrated some very thoughtful components,” Abramson said. “It has thought about the public way in a very useful way.”

Associate planner Adrian Gallo, who presented the staff report findings, clarified that the Charles Company also drafted a resolution to address additional enhancements to the cul-de-sac and pedestrian area along Almont Drive between Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. The $250,000 enhancements will improve the almost 30-year-old configuration at the location, creating a gathering space.

In spite of the many measures to increase walkability, Thomas expressed concern regarding the potential for traffic congestion near the project.

“With the removal of the Santa Monica ingress and egress and the occasional closure of the Almont driveway for special events and programming, has our traffic specialist looked into what the traffic impact could be on a busy afternoon or evening when Melrose is the only exit for cars?” Thomas asked.

In response, Gallo noted that a traffic study was conducted for the project and it concluded the traffic impact would not be detrimental to the surrounding area.

The plans will now face an appeals process before being presented to City Council at a future date.