Proposed 7-Eleven Sparks Anger
Dozens of residents attend Monday's City Council meeting to express their concern about a convenience store at Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard.
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Concerned residents told the City Council on Monday night that a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store will lead to more noise, more traffic and the sale of alcohol and cigarettes near three Culver City schools.
The convenience store is proposed for the site of a former gas station on the southeast corner of Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard, one of six vacant gas stations that the City Council is targeting for redevelopment.
Although the council was not scheduled to discuss the 7-Eleven at the meeting, residents packed Council Chambers to show their opposition to the proposal. In addition to seven speakers, 10 comment cards were received.
All 10 were from residents expressing disdain for the convenience store as an option for the site.
Many residents, who said they live close to the proposed location, cited its proximity to Culver City High School, Culver City Middle School and Farragut Elementary School. The store, they said, would be selling alcohol and be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Early morning deliveries were also a concern.
Richard Rownak, one of the speakers at Monday's meeting, suggested alternative uses for the former gas station site, including affordable housing and a park and ride.
"A 7-Eleven at another location would be fine," Rownak said. "Do we really want alcohol, cigarettes and junk food for the kids in the neighborhood?"
Amy Dedeaux, a teacher with the Los Angeles Unified School District and a Culver City resident, also spoke at the meeting.
"The 7-Eleven is blocks from the high school and middle school. Put something there, just not a 7-Eleven," she said. She noted the convenience store offers unhealthy food choices at a time when childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise.
Other concerns were the existing number of 7-Eleven stores in the city, with two on Washington Boulevard not far from the proposed location. A Google search shows five such stores in Culver City.
Rick Hodges, owner of Tub's Fine Chili on Overland Avenue, said he has mixed emotions about the 7-Eleven. As a resident, he too was concerned about the sale of alcohol near schools and also wondered "how many liquor stores were enough."
But, he said, "As a business owner, I don't like people telling me, 'Don't have a business at this location.' "
The city's Planning Division will make a decision on the project once the developer submits an application, which hasn't happened yet, Thomas Gorham, Culver City's deputy community development director/planning manager, said in an e-mail to Patch.
Gorham also said 7-Eleven developers would need to hold at least two more outreach meetings to get community feedback. If the Planning Division then approves the project, residents would have 15 days to file an appeal with the Planning Division or the City Clerk's office, he said.
If an appeal is filed, the City Council would then review the project, Gorham said.
"The City Council could vote to either uphold the administrative decision approving the project; approve the decision in part by allowing the 7-Eleven project and denying the alcohol sales; or deny both the [project] and the [sale of alcohol]," he added in the e-mail.
Residents at Monday's meeting also mentioned concerns about an "off-sale alcohol permit," which allows alcohol to be consumed off the premises from where it was purchased.
"An off-sale alcohol permit is issued separately by the State Department of Alcohol Beverage Control and is required for any establishment selling alcohol for off-site consumption," Gorham said.
The permit would not be issued by the state unless the city approved the sale of alcohol for the development.
Do you think a 7-Eleven should be built on that vacant gas lot? Comment below or post it on our Facebook or Twitter page.
Brian Addie
12:06 pm on Wednesday, October 27, 2010
I live 1 block from the HS/MS/Elementary School. The proposed site for the 7-11 is nearly 4 blocks from the main entrances to the schools. This article neglects to mention there is a Mini-Mart/Liquor Store... 2 stores down from Tubs Chili on Overland - which is only 2 blocks from the HS/MS/ES (closer than the proposed 7-11). The owner of the Mini-mart is a respectable man, who does not sell alcohol or tobacco to children. Why would a worker form 7-11? The article neglects to mention the proposed site is across from a Taco Bell, which already gets a lot of pedestrian traffic. I don't think it's the 7-11 that's bothering residents... just the idea of a commercially industrialized corner which brings more potential for bad elements passing thru the community. Note, in the past 2 years, since the new 405 offramp at Culver Blvd, there has been a significant reduction in traffic on Braddock Dr. Another place of congregation will just add more potential for problems in the community. If 7-11 corporate IS going to build on the site, do something special with the building, make it a green building... do something unique... not just cookie cutter.
Ben Jones
8:28 am on Sunday, June 19, 2011
I live near Sawtelle and Braddock at Huntley. Stand on the SW corner near the traffic circle and you will notice the following: In order to avoid the speed bumps and congestion at Braddock at Sepulveda, (the proposed 7-11 site) drivers will whip S around the corner at Huntley and head towards Franklin where they will whip E on Franklin and then turn S on Sepulveda. Children are playing, people walk their dogs, parents are entering and exiting the Culver-Palms YMCA (three doors away from the proposed site) and the Culver Ice Rink across the street. Also S (located on the same block as the proposed 7-11) are the AAA and Pep Boys. With the addition of several great restaurants and small businesses, there is more foot traffic and parking and has been affected in the neighborhood. Stand on the corner of Braddock and Sepulveda (at the proposed site) and you will see people of all ages exiting buses, students riding bikes and skateboards and neighbors walking with dogs and children. A 24-hour convenience store? Who will be convenienced? It's a hazard waiting to happen.
Marie Malahi
2:01 am on Thursday, June 23, 2011
COMMUNITY MEETING 6/30, 6:30PM CCMS Multipurpose Room. I live on Braddock. What needs to be taken into account is the revitalization of Sepulveda will change traffic flow. Cars will no longer be able to turn left onto Barman nor left onto Sepulveda. Taco Bell is expanding! Those 2 alone will increase traffic onto Braddock. Now think of cars pulling in & out of Taco Bell & 7-11 on & off Braddock. The main bus stop for students is on the same corner as the proposed 7-11, Culver Palms United Methodist Church 2 doors down has a daycare on the property & AA meetings. CCUSD & CC want to apply for "Safe Routes to Schools" grant. With a 7-11 on the corner of major walking, driving and bus intersection makes the grant approval highly unlikely. The Mini Mart/ Liquor store on the other end closer to school is employed by the owners and 1 employee. They have a lot to loose and have been there for years. They card everyone and watch what is going on around the store. THREE 7-11's less than a mile away along with other stores is enough. The Schools, church, Y & others haven't been notified of the proposal. CCHS has open campus. Where are the kids at lunch? Taco Bell. Give some guy a couple bucks & they have booze. Then they return to school. The city needs better planners. The 405 exit was moved t & added the traffic circle on Braddock for what? Now think Noise, traffic, vagrancy, 24hrs, trash, ALCOHOL need I say more. Want to be involved or more info? email: no711here at gmail.com
BRYAN
1:02 am on Saturday, January 21, 2012
I agree. No 7-Eleven at this site. We must stop this project February 8, 2012, 7PM in the City Council Chambers. The vote of the Planning Commission is happening on that date. Be there.
http://bryansanders.com/4436.html
Bryan Sanders
Culver City