Thanks to everyone who scrambled with us last week on short notice to support Traci Park’s Motion to the City Council’s Transportation Committee: https://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2015/15-1138-s42_misc_01-07-24.pdf
This is the natural next step after the City’s Board of Transportation Commissioners (BOTC) voted unanimously in December to further study the Dept. of Transportation’s (DOT) recommendation to expand parking and develop a transportation hub on Lot #731 (the location that had been proposed for the Venice Dell project, despite the significant inherent flaws of the site) and to evaluate the adjacent Lot #701 for affordable housing.
The Venice Dell developers tried to turn last Wednesday’s Transportation Committee hearing into an opportunity to resurrect their project (which was stopped by the BOTC’s December hearing). It didn’t work – the committee voted 2-1 to support the motion.
Quick recap-
The Coalition’s DDA lawsuit exposed a critical missed step in the approval of the Venice Dell project – – the BOTC’s approval. Their involvement is required by city code and is a logical land use guard rail as this commission analyzes and authorizes the need and the funding for all off street City parking. Both the attorneys for the City and the developers assured us, in front of a Superior Court judge, that this step would be taken.
DDA Lawsuit, Superior Court Transcript: 5-4-24, Judge Chalfant hears confirmation of the above from the developers’ attorney Ed Casey, and the City’s attorney Catherine Perry (Mr. Hall is our attorney):
At last week’s meeting, the City Attorney’s office assured the Transportation Committee the decision of the BOTC was indeed binding and the period for appeal to the City Council has expired. DOT officials answered questions as to why the BOTC decision had been done so late in the process. We agree, it should have been heard much sooner and that might have ended all our misery years ago, but it appears the powers that be at the time chose not to go there at a more appropriate time.
The second part of the motion (above) is to have the City Housing Dept. report back on the feasibility of Lot #701 for affordable housing. We will keep you posted as we learn more on that.
Again, thanks for jumping into action when needed! The letters sent to the Council File were fantastic and far outnumbered the opposition. We’re especially grateful for those who took the time to attend the early morning hearing with us at City Hall. That said, it’s clear that the “non-profit” developers, their lawyer and their supporters are not giving up on this.
Stay tuned for more info as we get it.
With Appreciation,
The Team at Safe Coastal Development
P.S. We still need to pay our legal bills and would so appreciate if you can help! Please donate here for the tremendous work of our legal team, which brought us to where we are today!