Betty Way is lined with vintage 1920s and 1930s bungalows. (photo by Rance Collins)

Recently, the West Hollywood Planning Commission has considered opening the city’s few remaining cul-de-sacs with single-family homes for development, which has caused concern amongst community residents. Greenacre Avenue and Betty Way are two streets under review. According to Greenacre resident Michael S. Poles, the two streets are “the last remaining [in West Hollywood] zoned solely for single-family homes.”

The home Poles resides in has been in his wife’s family since it was built in 1940. Like many of the houses on the street, it has a style that is a precursor to the tract-home suburban dwellings that became popular after World War II.

“Eighty years of history … is about to be eradicated with new zoning and the splitting of single-family homes where families thrived for more than eight decades,” Poles said.

The considerations have come as a result of California Senate Bill 9, which effectively eliminates R1 single-family zoning in the state. The city of West Hollywood has also been mandated by the state to add an additional 4,000 residential units within its borders by 2029. With space at a premium, communities made up of single-family homes are in a precarious position.

Residents of Greenacre Avenue and Betty Way were unaware of the plans for their neighborhoods until the consideration appeared on the City Council’s Feb. 7 agenda.

“I’m familiar with zoning codes, and alerted Michael Poles, who along with his Greenacre neighbors, had not received public notice … not even for the original Planning Commission hearing at which the changes were discussed on Jan. 20 and recommended to the City Council,” Victor Omelczenko, board president of the West Hollywood Preservation Alliance, said.

The WHPA and residents of both streets have come together to try and make sure that their homes are spared. A March 3 Zoom meeting was attended by many of the homeowners, including Andrea Rufe, who has resided on Betty Way with her husband since 2014.

“It’s this little street that’s just tucked away,” Rufe said. “We saw the listing online, and we thought, ‘This can’t be real.’ We had never seen the street even though we lived [nearby] on Cynthia. We walked by it a million times and never noticed.”

The hidden-away homes on Betty Way were all built between the late-1920s and 1930s.

“It’s just been preserved in its own charming, wonderous way,” Rufe added. “Every time I get to my street, I smile.”

In addition to the history that might be lost, Poles pointed out how building a large number of units on the land could potentially present utility issues.

“Do not forget that we are now living in a declared drought and our electrical grid is, at best, very fragile,” Poles said. “California simply cannot support the mandated increases of population without first providing all required infrastructure needed to support such planned and mandated population growth.”

Poles worked as a construction consultant for decades.

“I have dedicated 60 years of my life to the business of building homes, schools, hospitals, police and fire stations, commercial and industrial projects throughout Los Angeles and California. I truly believe in the dream of home ownership and that many people that now live in rental dwellings aspire to one-day live in their own single-family home. We cannot destroy that reality,” Poles said.

“[Greenacre Avenue and Betty Way] retain an architectural integrity worthy of protection and historic designation,” Omelczenko added. “West Hollywood prides itself on its diversity and should retain at least some semblance of its evolution and cultural history, and these two rare cul-de-sacs with their single-family homes do just that.”

Omelczenko said that the WHPA is working with both neighborhoods on the potential of receiving protected historic district status.

West Hollywood senior planner Rachel Dimond explained why the city is considering the change. 

“The purpose of the zone text amendment is to align city regulations with recent changes to state law,” Dimond said. “This law, commonly referred to as SB9, is already in effect. It allows properties that are zoned single-family to subdivide each lot equal or greater than 2,400 square feet into two lots. Each lot, either existing lots or future resulting lots after subdivision, can then have two dwelling units on each site. Lots that have not been subdivided can also have accessory dwelling units on site as well in accordance with state law.” 

Residents who would like to voice their concerns can call or participate in the March 17 Planning Commission meeting.

More information can be found at weho.org/city-government/weho-tv/planning-commission.