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Del Aire project's
rejection requested
By Kristin S. Agostoni - DAILY BREEZE
September 22, 2004
Residents from Del Aire and neighboring Hawthorne have made a final round
of pleas to county planners to reject a proposal for a 450-unit apartment
complex near their homes.
The packed Monday night meeting before the Los Angeles County Regional
Planning Commission was the second public forum in recent weeks on
Trammell Crow's plans for an upscale apartment complex on 5 acres
southwest of La Cienega Boulevard and Imperial Highway.
A third hearing is set for Oct. 6, when the developer will be permitted to
make final comments and commissioners are expected to rule on the
proposal.
Donning stickers that read, "Just say no to Trammell Crow," more
than 200 homeowners filled the auditorium of Anza Elementary School in
Hawthorne, rattling off concerns about increased traffic, public safety,
school overcrowding and sagging property values.
During three hours of public testimony, some even argued the buildings
would overburden the sewage system and threaten a water shortage in the
area.
"We on the east side are not going to accept this, and we're going to
fight it," said Hawthorne Mayor Larry Guidi, whose City Council
rejected Trammell Crow's plans in March even before hearing a presentation
about them. "We're not farmers. We understand what's going on."
The forum quickly grew heated with loud cheers from the audience,
prompting commissioners to call a recess and then reiterate the rules of
order.
"It's a mutual respect that we look for you to recognize,"
Commissioner Esther Valadez told the crowd of senior citizens, young
parents, local leaders and others. "Other communities have been
respectful of us and our rules."
The land in question is zoned for a business park development, but the new
proposal requires a zoning change, general plan amendment and conditional
use approval for the addition of new studio and one- to three-unit
apartment homes.
The units would be spread throughout two four-story buildings and range
from 600 to 1,400 square feet.
Two driveways, one at La Cienega Boulevard and another at Pacific
Concourse Drive, would channel tenants into two underground parking
garages.
For weeks many residents of this small community on unincorporated county
land have been vocal opponents to the plan, despite the fact that it is
favored by business groups such as the Los Angeles County Economic
Development Corp., which owns the property, and the El Segundo Chamber of
Commerce.
A large-scale housing development will only exacerbate existing concerns
about cramped parking, overburdened public service agencies and increased
crime, many residents said.
"We're not incorporated. We're under-represented," said Del Aire
resident John Peterson. "What we are concerned about is
density."
Proponents counter the project will provide much-needed housing and boost
property values.
And the impact on local schools will be minimal, said Kim Paperin,
Trammell Crow's project manager. The company estimates only about 14 of
the 450 units, or roughly 3 percent, will house school-aged children.
"It's still a very insignificant number of the entire project,"
Paperin said.
With rent prices estimated from $1,411 to $3,285 per month, the complex is
designed to attract young professionals who may one day decide to purchase
property in Del Aire, said George Minter of Greer/Dailey/Minter, a public
affairs consulting firm working with Trammell Crow.
"That's what part of this is," Minter said, "so they can
move on and become single-family home buyers."
Many residents, nonetheless, said they were convinced the project doesn't
suit existing neighborhoods.
"You look at the people who talk and support this project, they're
here in a professional capacity," said Michael Dash of Del Aire.
"They're not here in support of the community."
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