UPDATE: Petition for Studio City Pedestrian Zone Is Pet Project for Songwriter

A petition is being passed around via Twitter that is asking people to sign to approve or look into a Studio City Pedestrian Zone that is similar to the Third Street Promenade.

The petition hit the tweet world Wednesday and is a passion project for noted record producer Toby Gad who has worked with Fergie, Shakira and produced and co-wrote Beyonce's #1 Grammy winning hit-single "If I Were a Boy." He also worked with other Studio City locals Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

Lisa Sarkin, the Land Use Committee chairperson of the , said the idea has been floated around as a potential solution to the complex and hazardous five-way intersection at the intesection of the parking lot, Ventura Boulevard, Ventura Place and Radford Avenue.

Sarkin and Studio City Neighborhood Council President John Walker said they were aware of the petition. Studio City Residents Association Alan Dymond said he wasn't aware of the petition being circulated.

Sarkin said the idea will be presented by Gad at the next Lmeeting which is schedule for Wednesday, April 11 at the .

Josh Cumbee, an assistant for Gad, said he has been helping him spread the word about the petition and called it a "pet project."

"Right now we're just gathering signatures and mostly ideas," Cumbee said. "We're really keen to see what people want to see in a PED zone and what their concerns would be. So far we've gotten a great and very positive response, but it has also been very valuable to understand what people perceive as downsides to the project that would need to be addressed (parking, traffic, etc)."

Click on the video above in the Gallery to see "Who is Toby Gad?"

The mock-up drawing on the petition shows a closing-off of Ventura Place where the is located every Sunday.

The petition says: "Give Studio City a Heart."

In an ongoing poll, asking Patch readers what they thought about closing off the road, most thought that it would "create a nightmare on Ventura Boulevard" and voted against the idea, although many also thought it was a good idea.

The Studio City Pedestrian Zone Petition is at: www.studiocitypedestrianzone.org. It is impossible to see how many people signed the petition.

Add your thoughts to COMMENTS below and the poll.

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