Protect Our Coastal Zone

WHERE WE ARE WITH THE VENICE MEDIAN PROJECT:

The project is now called the “Venice Dell Project” (after Sonya Reese insisted the developers remove her legendary grandfather’s name from the project- it is no longer the “Reese Davidson Project”). The project is often referred to as “The Monster” because of its behemoth size and the ill intent and misrepresentation of facts manipulated by a Councilman intent on desecrating our community in order to push through his political agenda.

Important to know, the Coalition for Safe Coastal Development is the only organization supporting the legal effort to stop this ill-conceived monstrosity from ever breaking ground.

We have worked diligently for the last 6 years to fight this (initially with the help of Fight Back Venice, now all legal action is being handled exclusively through the Coalition). We are well positioned to respond with all the information gathered meticulously throughout this process.

LATEST NEWS:
COASTAL COMMISSION TAKES A STRONG STAND!

Council approved the project in late June. Fortunately, being in the Dual Coastal Zone, the project must also obtain approval from the Coastal Commission. This will be a serious challenge for Coastal as we’ve called out the many factors that are in direct conflict with everything the Coastal Act was created to protect.

When the Coastal Commission received the dual zone application, our Coalition immediately pointed out the shortcomings of the project. We are thrilled to finally be heard! Coastal has issued a “notice of incomplete application to the applicants”. (Full notice in document library). Also, the Coalition had pointed out to Coastal Staff the incomplete file submitted by City Planning for the City Coastal Development Permit. For example, the file lacked the approved/stamped “Exhibit A” plans that should have been provided by the City. We also called attention to the plans for the public beach parking structure, as it is clear the City submitted plans they have no intention of using, meaning the plans the City submitted are knowingly inaccurate and incomplete.

Here are developers’ latest parking plans as we know them. Note – this is only half the project, east of Grand Canal:

August 16th was the deadline to file an appeal opposing the project. Our Coalition filed a thorough, detailed appeal as did several other groups and individuals in the community. Biggest surprise was the Coastal Commission Director himself filing an appeal!
(See Coastal appeal in document library)

Coastal Commission added a motion on their September 8th agenda to extend time for consideration of the Land Use Plan amendments from 90 days to up to a year. With overwhelming support from the community, and 114 people writing in to support the motion to give Coastal proper time to evaluate the innumerable risks of the project, the vote to extend was unanimous. Coastal has up until November 23, 2023 to review the Land Use Plan amendments.

Now we wait to see how the developers respond to Coastal’s demands to address their major concerns about the project.

We are optimistic but fully on guard to prepare for the developers’ next move.

NEXT UP – LEGAL ACTIONS:

We continue to challenge the project on many legal levels. Of heightened concern is that the 2.64 acre site was leased away to developers through a “Disbursement and Development Agreement” (DDA). For one dollar a year, for the next 99 years, our last open space in Venice has been leased to the new “Venice Dell, GP LLC” (a new corporate entity comprised of Venice Community Housing Corp. and Hollywood Community Housing Corp.) The new LLC takes over the lease of the land and all the entitlements. The catch here- this new LLC will turn around and sell ownership to another new entity (yet to be named) who will then own 99.99% of the project with investors benefitting from lucrative tax credits.

This was pushed through the Homelessness and Poverty Committee in May and then rushed through City Council just in time to meet funding application deadlines. We have challenged this action in Court. We do not believe the DDA was legally executed and are also asking for an injunction re: the use of taxpayer funds to further this project.

(Full lawsuit in Library of Documents)

We’ve amended the original complaint to include the latest issues and our legal team is organizing the administrative record due for submission in November. This will require continued legal costs.

The causes of action in this lawsuit cover:

1. Violation of CEQA (environmental review)
2. Violation of Subdivision Map Act (requiring independent CEQA Review when joining 40 lots)
3. Unlawful Spot Zoning
4. Violation of Coastal Act and Certified Land Use Plan.
5. Violation of Mello Act and other affordable housing requirements.
6. Violation of Fair Hearing Constitutional Due Process Requirements
7. Violation of 1st Amendment Rights
8. Failure to Conduct required AB 52 review consultation, Los Indios de San Gabriel
9. Failure to proceed in accordance with law in adoption of the June 2022 general plan amendment, Land Use Plan Amendment and Venice Coastal Zone Specific Plan Amendment

(Full lawsuit in Library of Documents)

PREVIOUS CITY ACTIONS & COALITION RESPONSES:

6/22/22 – City Council approved the Project for a 2nd time (after being tied up for 6 months correcting errors in land use plan and from a faulty hearing process). Council blindly followed Mike Bonin’s lead and voted 10-2 to approve his Venice Median Project, even with extensive evidence presented by Safe Coastal’s legal team showing Mike Bonin and the developers are hiding costs and misrepresenting facts about the project. Disappointing, but completely expected.

6/17/22 – Full Council hearing vote to approve the PLUM Vote. Coalition legal team filed a letter objecting to the item filed as “already heard” with no opportunity for public comment. The project was brought up quickly with Councilman Joe Buscaino as the only “no” in the 9-1 vote. In a stunning turn of events- after general comment when several of our supporters drew attention back to the project, Paul Koretz surprised us by asking to change his vote to a “No”. With less than a 3/4 majority of full council (4 absent, 1 recused, 2 no’s) the item was ordered to be reheard on 6/22/22.

6/15/22 – Full council approved the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA). Even with the Coalition filing a damning analysis in an expert study pointing out serious geotechnical issues that have been ignored for years by the developer. The report showed there is not substantial evidence the Project is feasible on the ground or economically with this revelation of deficient health and safety reviews of the project.

6/14/22 – The PLUM committee didn’t seem interested in responding to our submission of a new geotechnical expert’s damning soils report.

Through a report we recently obtained in public records, we found a 4 ½ year old (2017) Soils Report relied on by Mike Bonin and others last December when the project was approved. Funny thing–the City’s consultant states in the report that it is not to be relied on after 3 years and yet Council relied on the outdated report. Our experts called out the liquefaction risks due to sea level/ground water rise and the pesky fact that the project may not survive even the first 55 years of its 99-year lease.

Still, PLUM ignored all this and, with no questions or deliberation, voted to move the project forward.

6/9/22 – Homelessness & Poverty, by a vote of 3-1, approved a Disposition and Development Agreement prematurely without approved entitlements or Coastal permits. Joe Buscaino was the only Councilmember opposing on our behalf. The Coalition’s legal team wrote a robust letter pointing out the City had no intention of building the parking plans that were on file along with several other legal flaws. Councilman Blumenfield questioned the City Attorney about these issues during the hearing and was told they would not be discussed in a public forum. Blumenfield shockingly went ahead with an “aye” vote trusting he would be filled in later on why he shouldn’t be troubled by our legal concerns.

3/3/22 – Coalition filed amended complaint w/ Native Americans Los Indios de San Gabriel added as petitioners (Their rights to environmental review also stripped by new state law AB1197 targeting only LA and this project).

2/28/22 – Coalition filed “Brown Act Cure and Correct” for City’s lack of due process for hearing and called attention to back dating documents in the council file documents.

2/28/22 – Coalition wrote complaint to City Planning Commission

JANUARY 13, 2022 – The Coalition for Safe Coastal Development formed to file legal action to stop the insanity. We now look to the Courts for justice to put order back into this reckless plan for coastal development.

DECEMBER 1, 2021 – LA City Council voted to follow Mike Bonin’s lead and approve the Venice Median Project (previously the “Reese Davidson Community”, otherwise known as “The Monster”), bypassing all environmental and zoning laws, with incomplete information and without proper review by City Planning.