Hundreds participate in development discussion
By CORTNEY FIELDING Special to the Daily Press
SUNSET PARK — The future of Santa Monica was in the hands of 200 people who participated in a planning meeting this past weekend, kicking off a two-year process that will include millions of dollars and thousands of hours of work.
Santa Monica residents had an opportunity Saturday to present City Hall officials with their visions for the future and express how the city should be developed for the next 20 years. City Hall has recently begun updating what’s known in the government textbooks as the “Land Use Element” and “Zoning Ordinance.” The documents govern development in Santa Monica and haven’t been updated since the 1980s.
About 200 residents gathered in the John Adams Middle School cafeteria to sound off on Santa Monica planning issues, such as building heights, the presence of “big-box” retailers, low-income housing, community gentrifica-tion, traffic and parking.
Hoping to gauge community opinion, members of the Planning Department started the event by passing out oversized post-it note pads to residents and asking them to write down their comments and stick them on poster boards at what were dubbed “issue discussion centers.”
Participants used the boards as personal wish lists by suggesting everything from more bike lanes and traffic lights at every intersection to luring more independent bookstores and sidewalk cafes to Santa Monica.
Most people asked for the same things: More affordable housing and better homeless services. However, not everyone agreed.
“Focus less on affordable housing and more on letting the market take care of prices,” one note read.
“This is democracy for all its pluses and minuses,” another resident said.
The workshop’s turnout was greater than anticipated, with some participants standing because seating had run out during the break-out group discussions.
“We didn’t know there would be this level of intensity,” said City Councilman Kevin McKeown, adding he credits the large turnout to the Macerich Co. and its proposal to build 21-story skyscrapers, which would replace the Santa Monica Place Mall.
“Macerich did us a big favor” by introducing its proposal while the city’s overall general plan is being updated, McKeown said. He called the project a catalyst for motivating people on both sides of the issue to get involved in the decision making process.
THE HIGH-RISE QUESTION Statements including “Not too tall, we are not New York” and “No high-rises” completely covered the “How should buildings look” poster boards. Many participants listed specific height restrictions, ranging from three to 11 stories, that they would like to see in place. Some people were more receptive to new buildings, as long as they are similar to existing buildings to “keep the flow and harmony” throughout town.
Others mentioned the Macerich project specifically. A few wrote “No mall development” on their pads.
Many residents said they weren’t opposed to overhauling Santa Monica Place, but they were concerned about large development.
Marilyn Korrade-Wilson, a 20-year resident, said she is opposed to approving the proposed tower heights. She fears that approving such a large project will make it easier for similar projects to be built.
“If they allow this, it opens up the possibility of many more,” she said. “Having 21-story buildings so close to the ocean is not advantageous.”
CONSIDERING BIG-BOX RETAILERS Allowing “big-box” retailers like Wal-Mart into Santa Monica also created a stir amongst the residents.
Most of the comments reflected keeping the bigger stores out of Santa Monica and supporting local businesses, although some residents thought a Target would be OK. The City Council a few years ago rejected a proposal from the retailer to develop an outlet in downtown Santa Monica.
“My favorite part was when I looked at the board and saw ‘No Target’ right next to a note that said ‘Target Yes,’ McKeown said.
Karen Miller said she might be one of the few residents who wouldn’t mind one of those retailers in Santa Monica.
“I feel like I have to pay more for things than people everywhere else do,” she said, adding Santa Monica has an image to maintain, but there are many low-income residents in the area who need more affordable shopping. “I rather Santa Monica’s image be more mixed and have a cheaper place to shop.”
OPEN FOR DISCUSSION After writing their comments, participants were sent to tables in small groups to discuss the directions they would like to see the city take in the next two decades.
Consultants Dyett & Bhatia, who served as facilitators for the meeting, asked participants what they thought about building heights and where they would support new development.
Santa Monica resident and community activist Brunia Finkel and her group decided that they would support high-rise buildings in an area away from the ocean, closer to “the Los Angeles side.”
The discussion soon turned back to Macerich and the effect such a large project will have on traffic.
“I’m not necessarily opposed to the height,” for aesthetic reasons, said Santa Monica resident Richard Dickinson. “I’m concerned about traffic.
“But the only way to limit the traffic is to limit the building,” he added. “Build it and they will come.”
Residents also worried about new development taking away from Santa Monica’s “beach-town feel.”
“These density and height concerns need to be balanced with a need for growth,” said six-year Santa Monica resident Kent Strumpell.
As the groups shared ideas with each other, common themes began to develop. Residents consistently talked about creating a “sustainable city,” one that does not over develop, recycles its resources and devises ways to limit pollution.
Andy Agle, assistant director of Planning and Community Development at City Hall, said a sustainable environment includes using less fossil fuels and building “green” buildings that have a minimal dependence on electricity.
To ease pollution associated with cars and buses, residents suggested everything from more electric cars to having residents drive around in electric golf carts. They also supported a light-rail system that would end in Santa Monica.
“If it can work it Catalina, it can work in Santa Monica,” said Josh Hamilton, a 30-year Santa Monica resident.
The community workshop was the first step in a six-month process to obtain comments from residents. The process will include phone surveys and Internet surveys. Information packets will be sent out to all residents, and city staff will interact with the community. All information regarding the process will be made public and can be seen on the city’s Web site, www.shapethefuture2025.com.
City Hall’s planning director Suzanne Frick urged all residents to participate in the process.
“Change is coming whether we like it or not,” she said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 24, 2005. Read the original PDF.