| Del Aire housing debate
expands
El Segundo council hears from neighbors
trying to persuade officials not to back apartment plan.
By Kristin S. Agostoni - September 10, 2004
Daily Breeze
A handful of Del Aire residents opposed to a 450-unit apartment complex
near their homes took their fight to El Segundo on Tuesday, trying to
persuade City Council members not to support the plan for 5 acres of
unincorporated county land.
El Segundo city staff members had recommended the council send a letter
endorsing the project to the county Board of Supervisors and Planning
Commission, citing the region's housing shortage and the city's excess of
office space. The land in question -- a vacant tract southwest of Imperial
Highway and La Cienega Boulevard -- is zoned today for an office building.
Despite the arguments citing benefits of more residential housing in the
area, the City Council opted not to take sides.
"I don't appreciate if other cities stick their noses in our
business," Councilman John Gaines said afterward.
Trammell Crow Residential's plan to add apartments to the property has
irked area homeowners, many of whom have grumbled about density and a
strain on local schools. El Segundo's decision to discuss the matter led
to more questions, including Mayor Kelly McDowell's role in the process.
McDowell, who did not participate in Tuesday's deliberations, acknowledged
that Trammell Crow is a client of his law practice, and that he worked on
gathering public support for the project early on in the process. He said
he doesn't consider that work to be in conflict with his mayoral duties
because the city has no jurisdiction over the project on county land.
El Segundo resident Peggy Tyrell, who owns property in Del Aire, said she
would have objected to the city taking a side, in the same way she opposes
the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce's decision to back the project.
"We shouldn't be involved," Tyrell said. "Why wasn't the
Hawthorne Chamber involved? It's closer."
City officials said El Segundo was approached by the Los Angeles County
Economic Development Corp. to lend support, although LAEDC President Lee
Harrington said the developer made the request.
A public hearing held earlier this month before the Regional Planning
Commission was continued to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at Del Aire's Anza School.
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