Protest At The B.H. Planning Commission

At high noon, on Feb. 8, 2001, the B.H. Planning Commission was convened 
to consider a Draft Environmental Impact Report

It was for what is euphemistically called the Triangle Gateway Project. This tremendously dense complex is proposed to be built at the NW corner of N. Crescent Dr. and Wilshire Bl.

This is just west of the about-to-be-constructed Hotel Jardin at the SW corner of Wilshire Bl. and Maple Dr. It is also in close proximity to the city's own, huge, T-Lot near Wilshire Bl. between N. Beverly Dr. and N. Canon Dr., for which development plans are also being proposed.

The Triangle Gateway over-development scheme consists of nearly 40,000 square feet for a Gelson's Market, almost 110,000 square feet of office space and close to 4,000 square feet for retail space. To squeeze all of this into this part of B.H. would require the following:

A development plan review permit (DPR), a zone change, a general plan amendment, an amendment to the city's master plan of streets to reverse the direction of an alley, encroachment permits and a dedication of property adjacent to Crescent Dr., an extended hours permit, amendments to existing covenants that restrict the property use to public parking and a "minor accommodation permit." Might this be to receive deliveries from 60' trucks before 7 AM?

Planning In A Vacuum?

The anticipated, cumulative impact of all of the resulting traffic, has caused one member of the Traffic & Parking Commission to make an observation: " Beverly Hills will have to become entirely self-sufficient, as soon we won't be able to get into or out town."

At the hearing, the city's staff, the applicant, his consultants and colleagues were allowed to go on and on. Video and computer presentations, became a distraction. They should have been pre-tested so all the technical glitches were dealt with before the hearing began.

And, the city should have videotaped the proceedings, as they were requested to do, by the commission itself.

Meanwhile the affected residents in the audience were getting restless. Many of them had taken off from work to attend on empty stomachs, They felt they were being subjected to a filibuster.

At 1 PM, with about 60 in attendance, one young woman with long blonde hair and a distinctive British accent stood up. She shouted her distress at the commission.

She was told she was out of order and she departed in disgust. The planning director and her deputy chased after her into the hallway and threatened that security would be called. Several others left soon afterwards.

Forty minutes later, Artie Stone of the Beverly Hills South Homeowners Assn. rose to protest that many of the people who had come to testify had to go back to work without being called on, as the developer was still at the podium. It was agreed that in twenty more minutes the public would be heard.

At 2 PM, resident Joe Hirt noted that the draft EIR anticipated 70 trucks per day, while the developer had just said 30. Carol Marks said she feared for the safety of the children going to and from Beverly Vista Elementary School. A woman who owns an apartment building, near the proposed project, told how hard it is to deal with the existing traffic on Crescent, much less the proposed additional traffic.

Dr. Steven S. Galen of S. Crescent Dr. sent a letter saying that during a neighborhood meeting, "The developers admitted that no significant plans for mitigating traffic congestion have even been considered." He closed with, "I strongly encourage the commission and the city council to unanimously deny the proposal in its current form."

Sandra Gendel, a resident of Crescent Dr., north of Santa Monica Bl. , asked, "Why not put this project on the ballot? We voted on how furriers should tag their furs. We weren't even allowed to vote on keeping our (Crescent Station) Post Office."

I am a great fan of developer Jerry Snyder's handsome, landmark Wilshire Bl. project in the Miracle Mile. The plazas and step-backs are a model of excellent urban development. Unfortunately, this is not. As proposed, this project must not be allowed to be built.

It is far too dense, it desperately needs to be scaled way back, step-backs are needed and street-level gardens or plazas are essential.

The long lineup of trucks and their noxious diesel emissions are detrimental to public health, esp. in a residential area.

A comprehensive cumulative traffic and circulation plan is essential. I do not believe that sufficient mitigation is possible. It's a matter of scale.

How can the commission require the developer to compensate for the deterioration of the quality of life of the adjacent residents? Can the commission order compensation for this project's devaluing the adjacent residential neighborhood?

I urge this talented developer to return to the drawing board. I'd like a nearby Gelson's, but not at the expense of the residents.

Copies of the EIR may be obtained in the Planning Dept. on the ground floor of City Hall. The deadline for comments to be received on the draft EIR is Monday, Feb. 19.