Probably one of the year’s most closely watched appointments will be Kelly Olsen’s reappointment to the Planning Commission.
His reappointment by City Council, Tuesday evening, July 8, is anything but a slam-dunk. The acerbic Mr. Olsen has ruffled feathers for the last four years. By being critical of many of the city’s policies — especially in relation to code enforcement — he has locked horns many times with Suzanne Frick, the city’s powerful Planning Director.
He’s clearly on the side of the common folk and continually supports neighbors by protecting their interests and supporting community livability issues.
Eighteen unpermitted signs plastered on Cellular Fantasy’s “landmark” building at 26th Street and Wilshire Boulevard last year particularly offended Olsen. He said the Planning Department was, “looking the other way and endorsing this kind of behavior.” He accused the city of “political spinelessness” and “economic backlash because City Hall doesn’t want to harass businesses who have lawyers...”
Railing at the special business interests and favored individuals who seem to get away with everything is a favorite Olsen theme.
I got a kick out of Olsen’s reaction two years ago when the Gaucho Grill, on the Third Street Promenade, requested an amended Conditional Use Permit to include sidewalk dining and alcohol service.
The Gaucho Grill already had tables and chairs on the sidewalk and their recently renovated interior sat 131 persons, not the 91 capacity the city had approved. Suzanne Frick suggested “remedying the situation by modifying the CUP.” I remember Olsen shaking his head and saying that it was wrong to keep amending CUPs in order to make gross violations legal and conforming.
Olsen believes excessive noise complaints and other nuisance violations are a reason to not amend or extend alcohol CUPs or continue granting permits to those who don’t play by the rules.
This flies in the face of the pro-business Frick who is often quoted as saying that alcohol drives the city’s economic engine. Santa Monica has the third highest concentration of alcohol licensees in the state. Her department recently supported administrative or in-house approval of downtown alcohol CUPs which eliminate public forums such as the Planning Commission.
Olsen recommended last year that the city explore and adopt a citywide alcohol policy. The City Council put his suggestion at No. 35 on a list of 36 priorities.
Olsen also angered staff last year when he discovered that a proposed Trader Joe’s at Wilshire Boulevard and Euclid Street was too big for the property — part of which was zoned residential and couldn’t be utilized for commercial purposes.
It was a stupid staff error. If Olsen had-n’t called it to the attention of the Planning Department, the project would have been administratively approved and likely built as proposed. Such a mistake makes the city liable, permits a project in violation of the city’s own codes and places undo parking and traffic pressures on the entire neighborhood.
The preverbal “crap hit the fan” when city officials found out that Olsen was cooperating with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office in their current investigation of possible criminal conduct in the Planning Department.
The Planning Commission’s recent request for an outside independent audit of the department was the capper.
I’ve heard rumors for years about vanishing complaints, ongoing violations ignored and certain businesses and friends of the department who are beyond scrutiny and whose backs are protected. Maybe that’s why, in researching this piece, I was told that Olsen will be ousted — because of the opposition led by higher ups on staff are determined to get a big thorn out of their paw.
Most of his fellow commissioners and Santa Monicans for Renters Rights leaders seem to be behind him although there is no love lost between Olsen and architect and SMRR steering committee member Ralph Mechur — a recipient of some classic Olsen criticisms.
So how’s the City Council going to vote? Councilman Mike Feinstein seems to be the swing vote but is leaning negative. Councilpersons Ken Genser and Kevin McKeown and Mayor Richard Bloom are reportedly for Olsen with Councilpersons Bob Holbrook, Herb Katz and Pam O’Connor against him.
I don’t always agree with Olsen, however, I respect his standing up for the “little guy” — a rare quality in a city-appointed commissioner.
Failure to re-appoint Kelly Olsen would be a great disservice to the community and raises the specter of a cover-up. (Bill Bauer is a longtime Santa Monica resident and a freelance writer.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2003. Read the original PDF.