This just in...comprehensive update: EIR and new plans

It has been a while since we have checked in with the neighborhood, and there are some new developments on the proposed Walgreens project at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights.

DEVELOPER SIGNS EIR CONTRACT

On March 11, the developer finally signed the contract with the City of West Hollywood to fund the environmental impact report (EIR).

DEVELOPER MISSES MULTIPLE DEADLINES

Perhaps someone on our mailing list might be able to help answer this question. We are wondering at what point the developer’s application must be withdrawn and a new application submitted? Clearly laws and regulations change (e.g. the new green building ordinance.) How many times can Walgreens miss deadlines legally without having to start over? Here’s a timeline:

JULY 2008 – City mandates an EIR on the project
JAN 2009 – After seven months of inaction on the part of the developer, the City gives developer a deadline of February 6 to contract for the EIR or the application will be withdrawn.
FEB 3, 2009 – Developer seeks an extension of the deadline through February 20.
FEB 9, 2009 – The City extends the deadline to March 6, giving the developer even more time than they requested
MAR 11, 2009 – Developer submits signed agreement and a check to the City, but it includes a clause that delays execution of the Contract to as late as May 29, 2009.

Is this legal?

NEW PLANS SUBMITTED

Perhaps you may have heard recently some rumors that the development was going to be considerably scaled back to fit within the existing footprint of the buildings on the site. We were excited about the possibility – and thought it might be turning into a project the neighborhood could get behind.

Unfortunately, those rumors were false.

On May 6 the developer did submit a revised plan for the project. It is in fact smaller, but not by a lot. They made the Walgreens store 4% smaller. More substantive is a reduction in the number of apartments from 28 to 20.

The developer does get props for listening to the neighborhood by reducing the height of the landscape towers. In addition, they’ve brought back the previously promised but then eliminated ancillary retail space.

In sum, this is still a very large project for the site, with considerable concerns regarding traffic, parking, the chemical spills and so forth.

NEXT STEPS

• The City will be scheduling a scoping meeting where neighbors can come give their input on what they feel should be looked at in the environmental impact report. We will let you know when that is scheduled.
• Anyone can go to the Planning Department on the second floor of City Hall during regular business hours to review the revised plans.
• We need to raise additional funds for the fight ahead. Let us know if you’d be willing to contribute cash (even a few dollars helps) or perhaps items for another neighborhood garage sale. Let us also know if you have any other thoughts or ideas.

Without your participation, this project would not be getting the scrutiny it needs with the EIR. You are making a difference! Our voices are being heard! Hopefully in the end this will result in a development of a size that fits with the character of the neighborhood.