Council to vote on modified development plans
A massive Main Street development likely will be approved tonight, despite several expected pleas to the contrary from local residents who believe the planning process for the project was flawed.
“How can the city council rule on a project that had been originally denied by the planning commission, but drastically changed along the way” asked Stephanie Barbenall, a resident expected to speak out against the development. “This is a completely different project than what was originally before the planning commission.”
“This is a completely different project than what was originally before the planning commission.” — — STEPHANIE BARBENALL Resident
The Santa Monica Planning Commission denied the project Dec. 5. It said the development, which is about 170,000 square feet, would overwhelm the neighborhood and aesthetically ruin Main Street. They said the size of the building would be out of character with the residential neighborhood.
After the denial, developer Howard Jacobs made changes to his 133-unit housing and retail development proposed for the former Pioneer Boulangerie Bakery site and spent the interim weeks explaining them to council members in private meetings.
The buildings’ shape was reconfigured and the placement of some elements moved, he said. The modifications, some of which had not been seen by city officials, were based on concerns raised by the planning commission.
After Jacobs formally presented the changes Feb, 12, the Santa Monica City Council conditionally approved the development.
At that time, city staff suggested that because the project is inconsistent with the city’s goal of keeping commercial development compatible with residential neighborhoods, council should not approve the project.
However, the staff apparently have changed their tune. A recommendation this week states that the council should move forward with granting the final approval.
City planning officials said it is not unusual to take modified plans through the process of appealing a plan-ning commission decision.
“I would say there is no textbook standard for approving projects in Santa Monica,” said Suzanne Frick, director of the city’s planning department. “The project was modified between the time the planning commission denied it and the council approved it. But I don’t think that was unusual.”
Kelly Olsen, chairman of the planning commission, said that though the council has the right to rule on the project, he feels there should be more time taken to fully understand the changes Jacobs is proposing.
“They need to send it back to the planning staff, give the applicant the opportunity to formally update the changes, allow staff to find out if the changed plan is within code, and then hold another public hearing,” he said.
Kathleen Masser, an area resident, said that none of the concerns originally raised by city staff have changed.
“I believe the only change is the likelihood that the developer will now drop his lawsuit against the city,” she said.
Jacobs lawsuit argues that the city has dragged its feet in completing the environmental impact review on the project, a delay that has cost him millions of dollars because it is delaying him his right to get a return on his investment. Jacobs pays $82,000 a month in mortgage payments and maintenance.
Laurel Renau, another resident and a former traffic engineer, said she believes a traffic study commissioned by Jacobs for the project was flawed.
“I was really surprised the council approved (the project) over the objections of the planning commission,” Renau said.
The council will formally vote tonight on the project, which includes three-and four-story buildings on the west and east side of Main Street just south of Pico Boulevard.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 26, 2002. Read the original PDF.