Macerich won’t get a ‘freebie’ with traffic study
CITY HALL — Elected officials last week made last-minute changes to the proposed Civic Center plan, a downtown complex of parks and buildings some say will serve as the hub of Santa Monica for hundreds of years when complete.
The Santa Monica City Council hashed out key issues related to proposed updates to the Civic Center specific plan, a $120 million project, which in coming years will reshape the future of Santa Monica’s government complex. The plans call for the creation of parks, fountains, pathways, housing, and city service and cultural buildings to serve as the focal point of the city’s public space.
The City Council approved updates to the Civic Center plan recommended by an ad hoc committee and some members of the planning commission. The council also came to consensus on four key issues about the project presented, in part, by 15 speakers concerned about one of City Hall’s biggest public undertakings in recent history.
Key issues about the plan that came up during the June 28 council meeting had to do with its environmental impact report as it related to Santa Monica Place; Olympic Drive accessibility concerns; the height of housing buildings and the number of units to be offered; and the status of the old RAND Corp. building.
Following hours of discussion, the council approved the environmental impact report, which includes Santa Monica Place and any future re-development associated with it. In addition, the City Council indicated the mall’s owners would have to agree to a separate traffic study before City Hall signs any agreement once a new project is presented.
The City Council also decided to go ahead with allowing vehicular access on the extension of Olympic Drive from Fourth Street to Ocean Avenue.
The number of housing units architects will be asked to create, which at one time was to exceed 500, will be set at approximately 325, a number the council agreed may minimize building heights while maximizing the kinds of housing options available for residents.
The old RAND Corp. building, which sits across the street from City Hall, is still scheduled to be razed. It will then be turned into a park providing excellent ocean views, officials say.
SM PLACE CONCERNS COME OUT Debate stirred between two camps about how the Civic Center plan’s environmental impact report ought to be managed.
One group, led by Councilman Herb Katz, who has a planning and architecture background, argued it was important to consider the entire traffic flow of the downtown area. Supporters said using the same EIR for both the Civic Center and Santa Monica Place would allow planners to take all of downtown Santa Monica into consideration.
“Let me ask you this, from a planning perspective, isn’t it better to look at the whole (than just the parts)?” Katz asked interim city planner Andy Agle, who concurred.
The other camp, led by Councilmen Kevin McKeown and Ken Genser, focused on separating the EIR so it did not give a “freebie” to Macerich, Inc., the owner of Santa Monica Place. Some people were concerned that approval of the EIR, which included Santa Monica Place, may prevent Macerich from addressing traffic and parking issues associated with re-development. A plan to overhaul the mall is scheduled to come before the council this fall.
City Attorney Marsha Moutrie advised the council it could accept the whole EIR, while requiring Macerich to conduct a separate traffic study as a condition for any new project’s approval.
Part of the controversy regarding the Civic Center plan update revolved around extending Olympic Drive. The plan calls for connecting Olympic Drive from Fourth Street to Ocean Avenue and opening it up to vehicular traffic.
Some councilmembers and speakers at the meeting said the extension would relieve downtown congestion, while others, such as Katz, said it would only make the problem worse.
“Ocean Avenue will be overloaded,” Katz said. “We don’t need Olympic to go through.
“We need to have pedestrians, buses and bikes take over.”
Those who favored using the extension for vehicles included Genser, who said it would reduce traffic.
“This will be a traffic ‘pressure-reliever,’” Genser said. “Right now, people have to drive around a monolithic block (to navigate around City Hall). This gives them another option.”
Genser also noted that residents and visitors within the area’s housing units also should have vehicular access.
The extension, with vehicle traffic allowed, was approved.
Some of the council and members of the public want to make sure there will be a good mix of affordable housing units made available from the Civic Center project, while maintaining building heights close to 56 feet high.
The number of affordable housing units in Santa Monica is subsidized by the number of market-value residences in a development.
The council agreed to shoot for 325 total units to be created at three building sites near the future intersection of Ocean Avenue and Olympic Drive. Of those, 30 percent, or approximately 110 units, would most likely be affordable.
Some speakers asked that the old RAND Corp. building on Main Street be evaluated as a historical landmark, and made available for housing or offices.
It was a point shot down by Mayor Pam O’Connor, who has a background in architectural refurbishing of historical landmarks. O’Connor said prior city councils, along with RAND leadership, had decided the building best be torn down and replaced.
“A decision has been made, and I think it would set a poor precedent if it were re-thought,” O’Connor said.
RAND’s new headquarters are just south of the old facility at 1776 Main Street.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 7, 2005. Read the original PDF.