Playa Vista II approved by L.A. planning commission – Fight goes
on
Few motorists sitting in a traffic jam in front
of Playa Vista would consider it a model of smart growth. But that's the way the
L.A. Planning Commission saw it, July 8, voting 5-0 in favor of more ugly
buildings and more traffic by rubber stamping Phase II of the giant
project.
The new city-sized development will go to
the L.A. City Council by this fall. Already signing on are Mayor Jimmie Hahn and
Dist. 11 Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski. Venetians speaking for the project
included Boys and Girls Club manager J.R. Dzubak and Oxford Triangle activist
Challis Macpherson.
Opposing the
project were approximately 500 people from Venice, Mar Vista, Santa Monica,
Westchester and surrounding communities who spent the day in the crowded city
council chambers waiting to speak. About 90 people ultimately got to the
microphone. Among them was John Tommy Rosas of the Tongva/ Gabrielino tribe
whose village and burial ground are being dug up by Playa Vista. Quite a few
other speakers also demanded a restoration of the cemetery. Rosas promised the
city officials that he would "see you in court," if they wouldn’t put a
stop to the excavation of the ancestral
remains.
Opponents say the new project
will account for 80,000 more car trips every day -- gridlock on Lincoln Blvd.,
local 405 freeways and neighborhood streets. It will also cause major Loss of
open space that could be used for a big public park, wildlife refuge and an area
to naturally cleanse Ballona Creek.
The
Mar Vista Community Council and the Venice Neighborhood Council have both voted
to appeal the decision of the planning commission. PV2 will next go to the City
Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee, and then to the Council itself.
Posted: Wed - September 1, 2004 at 03:40 PM