ACE would use the Shell Station lot as a storage site for lumber and rebar. This photo was taken January 9 and the station has been cleared and is empty.
ACE Building Materials (a family-owned business based in Van Nuys, not the same as ACE Hardware) is applying under a relatively new Municipal Code Section for a “long-term temporary use permit” for storage and distribution of lumber, concrete, rebar and other heavy building materials at the burned-out former Shell Station Site on Sunset Boulevard, 15401 Sunset.
The L.A. City Planning Department hearing is scheduled for Monday, January 5.
“As a local builder, we don’t need a hardware supply yard,” said Reza Akef of Polaris Homes. “We need the AECOM report released so that the City can follow the actionable items before it’s too late.
“Six months ago, we advised AECOM that builders will need logistical help with employee parking close to job sites, safe locations for storage of materials and equipment, and a place for food trucks to congregate. The City should have rented this lot to help with one of these items, not have another hardware store.”
Kambiz Kamdar, a fourth-generation builder and the founder of Pali Builds echoed his remarks, “No, it doesn’t make sense to me. We have Anawalt if we need anything like that.”
Initially, the Pacific Palisades Community urged a postponement of the hearing so that the community could weigh in at the regularly scheduled January 8, PPCC meeting.
In a December 20 letter PPCC wrote, “We respectfully request that, in addition to postponing the hearing, and under these exceptional circumstances, notices be sent at least 21-28 days before the continued hearing date, to ensure receipt by persons entitled to notice sufficiently in advance of the hearing. PPCC also respectfully requests that we receive email notice of the hearing, so that we can notify the wider community of this important hearing (because of the fire, notices mailed to PPCC’s prior P.O. Box are often not received or are received weeks later at a different Post Office location).” The postponement was not granted.
In a December 26 follow up letter to City Planning LUC asked City Planning for the following conditions needed to be in place: 1) bi-monthly communications with the LUC,2) designation of an ACE point-of-contact with PPCC, 3) traffic monitoring and consideration of ingress & egress alternatives, and 4) appropriate site management).
It should be noted that Via de la Paz north of Sunset Boulevard is closed for repairs at the DWP building – so the only access to the Shell Station will be off Sunset, mostly likely until May or June 2026.
PPCC noted that additional conditions may be required after input from the public.
The virtual hearing is set for 11 a.m. on Monday, January 5. One can participate by phone (669) 900-9128 or (213) 338-8477. When prompted enter meeting ID 811 9726 0687#
By computer or iphone https://planning-lacity-org.zoom.us/j/81197260687 811 9726 0687 495323 The meeting ID is 811 9726 0687 and the passcode is 495323.