The Pacific Palisades Design Review Board will not have a say in the design of Caruso Affiliated’s Palisades Village project due to improper communications on the part of four board members, according to Councilmember Mike Bonin.

The DRB was scheduled to hold a final design review with Caruso on Wednesday, March 2, but the meeting was canceled.

“Due to City laws specific to the Design Review Board, DRB members are subject to very strict rules regarding how they can discuss a project, and with whom,” Bonin said in a statement. 

“Four members of the DRB had ex parte communications regarding the project, which was scheduled for the DRB’s March 2nd agenda,” the Councilmember continued. “The City Attorney advised that those ex parte communications were in conflict with these rules, and the members’ recusal from considering the project. As a result, the seven-member body could not achieve a quorum, and the Planning Department cancelled the meeting. The DRB will not be able to hear and act on this matter.”

According to the Municipal Code, when the DRB cannot act, the Director of Planning will make the determination regarding project design, Bonin added.

Read the full story in the March 10 issue of the Palisadian-Post.

Photo caption: Barbara Kohn, chair of the Pacific Palisades Design Review Board

Photo: Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer