|
Growth pressures in Del
Aire
Daily Breeze - September 20, 2004
The latest flash point over residential construction in the South Bay is a
proposal to build a 450-unit rental housing project in Del Aire, where
some current residents worry about the project's effect on traffic,
schools and their quality of life.
Similar concerns led the city of Torrance to pass a temporary moratorium
on new housing projects until city officials re-examine the general plan.
In Del Aire, however, the details are different, even as residents'
concerns are similar.
The 5-acre site's owner, the Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corp., already has approval to build a 20-story office building. That
would amount to 720,000 square feet of commercial space -- a project that
would, according an environmental analysis, create a much greater impact
on traffic and air quality than the proposed new housing.
Developer Trammell Crow's community outreach director, Kimberly Paperin,
said the housing project would not exceed five stories and would be
self-contained, providing adequate parking, security and amenities for new
residents. The market-rate apartments, she said, would attract
professionals as well as empty-nesters.
In addition, contrary to some misinformation that has been circulating,
the existing berm wall that separates the single-family homes of Del Aire
from the County Courthouse area and neighboring offices would remain
intact, protecting existing cul-de-sacs.
Supporters of the project also point to an analysis that says only 3
percent of the new households would have school-age children, which would
soften the effect of the project on the Wiseburn School District. In
addition, developer fees would help local schools and libraries.
The site's proximity to the San Diego and Century freeways, as well as the
Green Line and major employment centers, make it the type of project that
appeals to urban planners who favor "smart growth."
A Regional Planning Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Del Aire's Anza
School will give all sides another chance to discuss their concerns. One
legitimate concern of residents involves courthouse visitors parking in
their neighborhood. Finding a solution to that problem ought to be a
by-product of the housing debate.
The give-and-take could end up resembling last year's debate in Torrance
when residents and city officials decided a housing development on the
former Magnavox site was preferable to a "megachurch" with a
2,000-seat auditorium. Considering the value of this parcel, the relevant
question may not be whether something will be built on the Del Aire site,
but what type of development will be the least intrusive to residents'
quality of life. |