Politics & Government

Homeowners Win Battle Against West LA College Development

But they haven't won the war. Despite the City Council's disapproval of the proposed development, the measure can still be passed by the community college's board of trustees.

Homeowners clapped and cheered late Monday night as the City Council rejected an amendment allowing West Los Angeles College to proceed with upwards of 350,000 sq. feet of new development--without including guidelines set forth by the surrounding community in 2005.

The proposed development--consisting of six new campus buildings in addition to renovations of existing structures--has created an uproar amongst homeowners associations due to changes to an earlier plan for the project. Many say the changes--outlined in the 2009 Master Plan and 2010 Supplemental Environmental Impact Report--disregard a 2005 memorandum of understanding that limited construction hours, gave stipulations regarding on-campus parking and addressed construction-related noise and pollution.  

It was a full house in Council Chambers on Monday as 13 individuals from West Los Angeles College's surrounding neighborhood came forward and adamantly spoke against the development. Members from the Culver Crest Neighborhood Association, the Raintree Condominiums Association and other neighbors stated that their concerns did not make it into the new draft SEIR.

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Steven Gourley, Board of Education president, was the ringleader of the night—demanding that city staff give a report of the proposed amendment before the public hearing and commenting on more than one occasion at the podium.

"This is what West Los Angeles College is worth. West Los Angeles College and the Community College District have never kept their word," Gourley said. "The council knows it. Everyone behind me knows it. There is no enforcement in this agreement."

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"I don't believe the college should have the right to amend a memorandum of understanding that was hammered out in public discussion," Mark Salkin, a direct neighbor to the college, said when addressing the council. "You're being buffaloed. The agreement should be denied. They have done everything that they could do to make our lives miserable. They are a bully on the block. The college should be sued by you."

Since April, city and district staff, representatives from the various homeowners associations and Interim City Manager Lamont Ewell have met to address the concerns set forth by the community, forming the amendment that was on the table last night.

However, according to many community members and the council itself, not enough progress has been made. 

Councilman Scott Malsin addressed Ewell: "Despite some of the criticism that was raised here, I know you worked very hard to put us in a better place than we were approximately one month ago. Frankly, I don't think we have got anywhere."

Kate Barlow, a representative of the Raintree Condominium Association acknowledged the work put in by Ewell, which "resulted in progress for a number of the issues that have been discussed this evening. Unfortunately, we weren't able to finish. There are issues that still need discussion."

Many residents also expressed frustration that students choose to park in the surrounding neighborhoods versus pay a $20 per semester parking permit.

"The residents want parking to go back to the college," said Culver Crest resident Wena Dows. "It worked until those curbs were painted red. Why don't we paint them gray again?"

After the public hearing, Councilman Jeffrey Cooper prompted West Los Angeles College President Betsy Regalado to respond and "to negotiate right here with the residents and become a good neighbor." 

But because Betsy Regalado has only held the position of acting president since July 2, she was advised by community college district attorney Camille Goulet to not respond to the allegations from the public hearing and allowed another attorney, Gavin Wasserman, to answer questions set forth by the council.

Councilmember Micheal O'Leary in particular asked Wasserman several questions about construction activity hours, traffic cutting through the campus to the surrounding neighborhood, parking and student population projections.

"This is has been part of considerable negotiation and discussion and considerable effort by the Culver City staff and a lot of fine tuning," said Wasserman of the amendment, during a back-and-forth session between himself and O'Leary.  "We continue to receive comments and changes and attempt to address issues."

Without the council's blessing, the school district board of trustees can still approve the much-contested SEIR. But Councilman Malsin hopes that West Los Angeles will take the community's wishes under consideration and "act in good faith with Culver City and the community."

After all of the statements, Mayor Christopher Armenta gave his assessment of the situation:  

"I continue to urge you to press the elected officials on the other side, the community college trustees," said Mayor Armenta to the crowd.  "You can read the tea leaves here.  When I look out into the audience and I see a lot of community leaders here, neighbors, I know that there is a serious problem."

The Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees will make the final decision on the 2010 Supplemental Environmental Impact Report on August 11. A public hearing on the SEIR will be held on July 14 at the Los Angeles Community College District Board Meeting. 


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