Walgreens = Overdevelopment = Bad For WeHo

City Council Approved Walgreens Project 6-1

2012-01-20T21:11:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone for their support to try and stop this project, but unfortunately West Hollywood City Council approved the project 6-1 last night. Again, we're not against development on that corner, believe me, we just feel that many things were overlooked such as large trucks going up and down Havenhurst, loading and unloading, noise, traffic and the fact that this project pretty much backs up to residences with no plans of a wall to help block noise and diesel fumes.

This is it. This is your final chance to stop Walgreens!

2012-01-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

So many of you have been such a great support to stop Walgreens' build of their large, mixed-use complex at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights and, believe us, it's made an impact.

Thursday, January 19, this project goes before the Planning Commission for approval. If they approve this project, that's it; unless the decision is appealed. Walgreens could get a green light to start demolition and start building in less than two weeks!

This is where you come in. We strongly encourage you to attend the meeting so we can be on the record and let the City know how we feel. This could help appeal the decision and that would be a big win for us, the people - on which this country was built; now let's fix this and protect our community, ensure our safety and continue to live and thrive in our great city.

I'm sure you're probably not surprised to hear that Walgreens has largely dismissed the concerns of the neighborhood and the community after receiving the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR). If you think we have a traffic problem now, wait till Walgreens builds their big-box drug store PLUS other retail PLUS 20 apartments on top of that. You don't have to be a traffic engineer to know that this is going to have a major impact on our community.

Again, we appreciate your support and ask you to give it one last push. It ain't over till it's over.

Click here for the meeting details.

Things to think about.

2011-06-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

West Hollywood is prime real estate and we definitely pay our portion. I don't think it's just me when I say that I truly enjoy my view of the Hollywood Hills while sipping my coffee in the morning.

Well, apparently, I shouldn't get too used to it because Walgreens is proposing 50k+ square foot project on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights. They keep telling us that it will not impact our views but I'm pretty sure it will if they move forward with a second and third story of apartment buildings on top of the proposed Walgreens, and oh yes, that overlook your backyard.

Ok, so perhaps this may not be a big deal to you. How 'bout Walgreens' failure to submit copies of the EIR findings? No big deal right? Wrong. It was discovered by us that there is multiple commingled toxic contamination. Shouldn't this discovery be reported by Walgreens? You would think, but nope. Shouldn't they be held accountable?

I think the biggest issue that will impact EVERYONE is increased traffic, congestion and noise.

I want to make my voice heard. Do you? If so, we encourage you to do the following:

Email, mail or call:
Jennifer Alkire
West Hollywood City Hall
323 848 6487
jnoel@weho.org
8300 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Join us at our upcoming community meeting Tuesday June 21, 2011 at 6:30 at Kings Road Park in WeHo. Click here for info.

This will be your last chance to provide public comments on the draft EIR.

Sign our petition and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Hello stranger...new developments on Walgreens project: City fails to notify State regarding toxic chemicals

2011-05-18T17:06:00.001-07:00

The city recently published the draft Environmental Impact Report we as a community fought so hard to win. One thing that is interesting...the developer had to make many changes (including a new exit onto Santa Monica Blvd.) in order to 'pass' the traffic report. Not surprisingly, the report found that the project is OK to proceed with some mitigation.

The report raises many concerns, but standing out is a stunning omission by the City of West Hollywood. As you recall, the biggest reason the city finally agreed to conduct the EIR is that the community discovered the toxic chemical problem at the site - information either ignored by the City or kept from the City by the project developers. the State Water Quality Control Board has reams of documents and studies about this very problem.

Well, the City did not notify the Water Board - as mandated by law - of the EIR and the 45-day comment period. Essentially, they failed go give a copy of the document to the most relevant government agency and the one whose oversight led to the EIR.

Unbelievable.

We have reached out to the City asking whether the extension will be granted. While the City has not responded yet to our email, we read this afternoon in Weho News that the public comment period has been extended to the middle of July.

Stay tuned...

Environmental scoping meeting this Wednesday...

2009-12-13T22:48:00.000-08:00

After a very long and unexplained delay, the City of West Hollywood has scheduled a meeting regarding the proposed Walgreens + retail + apartment complex. It's a scoping meeting for the Environmental Impact Report, and it will take place this Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Plummer Park.

In short, there will be a description of the project, and then the public will have an opportunity to comment on the scope, or what should be included in the contents of the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR.)

According to the public notice: "Potential significant environmental impacts have been identified in the following issue areas: Air Quality, Geology/Soils, Hazards and Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality, Land Use/Planning, Noise, Pollution/Housing, Public Services, Transportation/Traffic, Utilities/Service Systems, and Green House Gases.

As you may recall, last year the Planning Commission was poised to consider and potentially give the final green light to the project when it was discovered there is a long history of toxic chemicals under the site - problems the developer failed to disclose to the City or the community.

The project has been revised by the developers, but unfortunately we don't really fully understand the changes. The developer has not communicated with the neighborhood. The project was presented to the Planning Commission design review subcommittee, but unfortunately there is no public notice of such meetings. We weren't aware of it. We did go to City Hall to get copies of the revised plans, but we're not architects or engineers, so it is difficult to really understand the scope of the changes.

But we will certainly be there, especially to hear the update on what the proposed project now looks like! And fortunately, there will be other opportunities in the future to make public comment on the new plan when the draft EIR is completed in 2010.

Come out this Wednesday night and see for yourself what is proposed!

The details:

Walgreens Project - Public Scoping Meeting
Wednesday, December 16
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Plummer Park Community Center
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.
Art Room #2

Save the date: 12/16 EIR scoping meeting

2009-12-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

The City of West Hollywood has issued a public notice in regards to the Walgreens project. In essence, it is the start of the preparation of the Environmental Impact Report, which assesses "the proposed project's effects on the environment, to identify significant impacts, and to identify feasible mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate potentially significant environmental impacts."

As part of the process, there is a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 pm at Plummer Park Community Center. Here the public will have an opportunity to comment on what should be looked at in preparing the Environmental Impact Report.

The notice says the project will also be described at the meeting. This is a good thing, because it appears the project has changes some, but the neighborhood hasn't been informed of squat! We're trying to get information from the City of West Hollywood on any project revisions.

Stay tuned...and PLEASE SHOW UP ON DECEMBER 16. DETAILS TO COME...

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

2009-05-18T20:44:00.000-07:00

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.

Be engaged. Come hear your City Council candidates Wednesday

2009-02-22T23:47:00.000-08:00

Dear West Hollywood residents:

We are pleased to announce a Candidates Forum hosted by a coalition of neighborhood associations. The Forum is open to all interested in attending and will be taped for rebroadcast on the City Channel prior to the election on March 3rd.

West Hollywood Neighborhood Associations’ Candidate Forum
Wednesday, February 25th
West Hollywood Elementary School (970 Hammond St.)
7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Forum Moderator: Larry Carroll, Broadcast Journalist and President of Diversified Entertainment Group
Forum Assistance: League of Women Voters – Los Angeles

Parking: Entrance on Harratt St.
Auditorium Entrance: As you approach the school from the parking lot, entrance is on the left at the top of the ramp.
Please note: At this time the auditorium is not accessible by wheelchairs. Seating with be on a first to arrive basis.

Format: Each candidate will give a 2 minute opening statement. Questions on a variety of subjects will be asked with 1 minute answers per candidate. Written questions from the audience will also be included. A 1½ minute closing statement from each candidate will be the final segment.

Hosted by:
WEHO Neighbors
West Hollywood Heights Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood North Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood South Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood West Residents Association

REMEMBER to VOTE on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Weho Neighbors co-sponsors City Council Candidates Forum on Feb. 25

2009-02-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

Dear West Hollywood residents:

We are pleased to announce that a coalition of neighborhood associations has joined together to host a Candidates Forum for the upcoming City Council elections. The Forum is open to all interested in attending. While we hope to have the forum televised on the City Channel, as of this time we have been unable to reach anyone at the city to make arrangements. This may be the only opportunity for city residents to see this Forum.

Please save the date. We will send you a reminder as the date approaches with further details.

West Hollywood Neighborhood Associations’ Candidate Forum
Wednesday, February 25th
West Hollywood Elementary School (970 Hammond St.)
7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Forum Moderator: Larry Carroll, Broadcast Journalist and President of Diversified Entertainment Group
Forum Assistance: League of Women Voters – Los Angeles

Hosted by:
WEHO Neighbors
West Hollywood Heights Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood North Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood South Neighborhood Association
West Hollywood West Residents Association

REMEMBER to VOTE on Tuesday, March 3rd.

City gives Walgreens 30-day deadline: fund EIR or project will be withdrawn; developer to meet with City about project changes

2009-02-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

For months the City of West Hollywood has been waiting for the developer of the embattled Walgreens mixed-use project to sign the contract for the Environmental Impact Report and to fund the effort. It recently sent a letter to the developer giving them a February 6, 2009, deadline.

The developer requested an extension and a meeting with City officials to discuss anticipated project revisions. The City granted that request and extended the deadline to March 6, 2009. If the developer does not sign the contract and fund the EIR by that date, the project will be withdrawn by the City of West Hollywood.

We hope upon hope these ‘anticipated project revisions’ are good news. The community has met with the developers and with City officials. We spent a lot of time, money and effort in preparing comprehensive documentation of neighborhood and community concerns. It is our hope that the developers and the City will keep that community feedback in mind as they meet in the coming days.

We are ready and willing to meet further with the developer or the City at anytime. If there is new information or developments to be shared, we’d be more than happy to call a community meeting. In short, we hope there is a solution that works for the developers, the neighbors and the City.

We will keep you posted on developments – and we’ll certainly know more by March 6.

Keep an eye on nowalgreens.blogspot.com for the latest information. Please tell your interested friends and neighbors about the website and the new details.

Update: no news is the news

2008-10-01T19:39:00.001-07:00

We thought it was time to dust off the ol' Walgreens/West Hollywood blog. Things have been quiet around here mainly because there has been no news to report.

The latest is that the City of West Hollywood has put together a contract with a consultant to conduct the Environmental Impact Report. Before the EIR can start, the developer has to sign the contract. They haven't done so - and it's been ready for more than a month.

What does this mean? Who knows??!!!

When the contract is signed, the next step will be for the consultant to organize a scoping meeting, where the community will be invited to give feedback on what it feels should be studied and analyzed in the EIR, e.g. traffic, noise, etc.

Stay tuned for details.

Walgreens sues to make sure they can keep pushing cigarettes in San Francisco

2008-10-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

Are you kidding me?

Walgreens has sued to stop a new law in San Francisco that would ban the massive drug chain from selling tobacco products in the city by the bay.

Quoting an article in the Sacramento Bee: "Mayor Gavin Newsom says he hopes Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen will reconsider its appeal, saying people should use pharmacies to improve their health and not to buy cancer-causing cigarettes."

It is pretty ironic that a drugstore insists on selling cigarettes. But also noteworthy to the folks in West Hollywood , where Walgreens wants to build: they are not respectful of the city's choice. If San Francisco's elected leaders don't want tobacco sold, why can't they respect the city's wishes?

Fire up a Newport and read the article here: www.sacbee.com/114/story/1278669.html

BREAKING: Hold the bulldozer ... City mandates EIR for project. (Thank goodness!)

2008-07-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

CONGRATULATIONS! As a result of our collective efforts, we have won a major victory. The City of West Hollywood announced at Thursday's Planning Commission meeting that an Environmental Impact Report will be required before the Walgreens mixed-use development can proceed.

This is EXACTLY what we have been fighting for and it's exactly the way it should be. There are MAJOR concerns and problems with the project, from traffic to toxic chemicals under and around the site. An EIR is a much more in-depth study of the project and how it will affect the neighborhood and the community.

As citizens we should have a say as to what happens in our neighborhood and our community. On this matter we stood up...together - we wrote letters ... attended neighborhood meetings ... donated garage sale items ... attended Planning Commission meetings ... attended a protest rally.

And tonight, our community is better off because of our efforts. Thank you. More details and next steps to come.

P.S. You'll soon be seeing flyers about a neighborhood gathering in the 1000 block of Havenhurst Drive for National Night Out on August 5th from 6 - 8 pm. We are closing down the street from Santa Monica to the Alley. The new Marco's Caffe will have a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 6:30 with Abbe Land doing the honors. We will also be visited by Sheriff, Fire Department and other members of West Hollywood City Council. There will be free food and drink...we hope to see you there!

Walgreens, developer forced to come clean on dirty toxics

2008-07-16T20:57:00.001-07:00

Here's an update on the project: at this point, everything is still in the hands of the City's Planning Department and its environmental consultant. They are reviewing all the documents and evidence regarding the toxic chemicals under and around the site. They will then decide whether to mandate the Environmental Impact Report or to send the matter back to the Planning Commission for approval of the project.

We have spoken with both attorneys and environmental consultants - they are UNANIMOUS that under state law an Environmental Impact Report is CLEARLY MANDATED given all the facts and public outcry. But other people in West Hollywood tell us not to hold our breath!!

We are keeping a close watch on the documents on this project. As you know, the developer did not disclose the toxic chemicals under their property despite having knowledge about it. Weho Neighbors discovered the issue and brought it to the attention of the City and the community in the first week of June. Once after their secret was no longer a secret did they finally came clean with the City by providing at least 2,000 - 3,000 pages of reports, documents and correspondence regarding the toxins.

So, to summarize:

Number of pages about toxins submitted by developer before neighbors discovered it and brought it to the attention to City: 0
Number of pages submitted by developer after toxin issue became public: 2,000+

Below are three posts with the three pages of the developer's letter....

Developer letter regarding toxins - page 1

2008-07-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

Click on letter to enlarge

Developer letter regarding toxins - page 2

2008-07-16T20:43:00.001-07:00

Developer letter regarding toxins - page 3

2008-07-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

Sign of the times???

2008-06-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Article in Weho News

2008-06-12T22:28:00.001-07:00

Headlining this week's Weho News is this article on the Walgreens development and the delay.

What's interesting is that the developer is saying the City DID know about the toxic chemicals under the site. Was it fully disclosed? Did the developer provide the clean-up plan or other documentation to the City? It's hard to imagine how such information and documentation would not be included in the staff report, and it's hard to imagine that the Planning Department would not have ordered and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the project.

Who knew what and when did they know it?

Article in Beverly Press

2008-06-12T22:22:00.001-07:00

A page one article in the June 5 issue of the Beverly Press covered the rally and neighborhood concerns about the project.

The paper can be downloaded from this page. (It's the 6/5/08 issue.)

One note - from environmental consultant Terry Leftgoff about the apparent source of the toxics...

The source does NOT appear to be Top Hat Cleaners. The toxics originate from sites located a block east and upslope, transported by groundwater to commingle on the project site. Test results on file with the Regional Water Quality Control Board document at least 2 overlapping toxic zones that underlay the project site affecting groundwater, subsurface soil and soil gases. These toxic contamination zones involve documented levels of PCE (a solvent used in dry cleaning processes), petroleum hydrocarbons, BTEX and possibly other volatile organic and inorganic compounds.

Walgreens and discrimination

2008-06-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

While researching the Medicaid overcharging settlement, it looks like Walgreens has also settled the discrimination charges against it as filed by the federal government.

The lawsuits alleged Walgreen assigns black managers, management trainees and pharmacists to low-performing stores and to stores in black communities, and denied them promotions based on race.

This progressive community needs to take a closer look at Walgreens' human rights record.

Here's the story...

Walgreens and the Medicaid scam

2008-06-07T23:27:00.000-07:00

Walgreens has agreed to pay $35 million to settle allegations it substituted more expensive versions of prescribed drugs in an effort to fatten its Medicaid receipts.

Stay classy, Walgreens...

Here's the article from the Chicago Tribune.

Delayed! Community speaks, City delays project approval, calls for further study

2008-06-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Good news, folks. Last night we were facing the potential greenlighting of this project by the City. Instead the Planning Commission did not even consider the application. In response to the many pages of concerns submitted by citizens, City staff requested a continuance 'to a date uncertain.' In other words, they want more time to study the toxic chemicals, traffic and other major concerns.

Thanks to everyone who turned out - and a lot of people did. The Planning Commission still allowed the community to speak, even though they were not obligated to do so....a genuinely classy move.

Fifteen or more West Hollywood residents (did anyone count?) spoke passionately against the project, expressing concerns ranging from size and traffic to neighborhood livability, compatibility and the environmental concerns.

Oh...and remember how the developer keeps saying they've been working closely with the neighborhood, and that the neighbors have really embraced the changes and the project overall? Well, exactly ONE person stood up last night to speak in favor of the project -- a Wells Fargo banker who finances - wait for it - Walgreens' projects. (We couldn't make this stuff up, people!)

Kudos to the letter writers, the protest sign painters, the rally chanters, the meeting attendees, the passionate speakers and everyone else who has gotten involved. YOUR participation is making a difference.

It's a go: Planning Commission tonight is ON!

2008-06-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

The Walgreens mixed use project HAS NOT been removed from the Planning Commission agenda tonight. However, City staff is going to recommend to the Commission tonight that the item be postponed so the City can have more time to review the PCE issue and other comments submitted by neighbors. This is good news! This means the City, if allowed by the Planning Commission, is going to take a closer look at the project and its impacts.

However, IT IS STILL IMPORTANT WE TURN OUT IN FORCE TONIGHT. The Planning Commission could decide to move forward, and they may very well want to hear comments from the public before making a decision. It's important that they know we call for a full Environmental Impact Report on the project.

Planning Commission Meeting - TONIGHT 6:30 pm
Plummer Park Community Center - Rooms 5 & 6
7377 Santa Monica Blvd. (at Martel)

SEE YOU TONIGHT!!!!!

Editorial photo submission...

2008-06-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Michael Poles created this...the photo was taken between 7 and 7:30 last night - the view is looking south at Crescent Heights Boulevard - just south of Santa Monica.

When you stand out there for a couple of hours, you do get a better appreciation of how heavy traffic is on Crescent Heights during rush hour. Even with a turn lane, how are cars exiting the Walgreens complex going to cross those lanes to go north on Crescent Heights?

More rally photos

2008-06-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Someone is spreading a rumor that just seven people showed up at the rally last night. Who would spread such misinformation? Maybe it's the same people who say most of the neighborhood LOVES the project... :-)

Here are some more pics...when we ran out of posters, people started walking around with the event flyer!

Thank you, Michael Poles, for sharing your photos...

Beep beep. Neighbors' rush-hour rally draws attention, support from motorists

2008-06-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

A large group of neighbors held a rally Monday night to draw attention to community concerns about the proposed Walgreens mixed-use development. The group is advocating for an Environmental Impact Report for the project. In all, more than 40 people turned out to participate, including a core group of 20 or so sign holders and chanters! The crowd was pumped up by an INCREDIBLE number of supportive thumbs up and horn honking from passing motorists. (Of course some of those honks were probably about the traffic...it was gridlocked, if you can believe it.) :-) Many motorists pulled over to ask questions, receive flyers and sign the petition, which has more than 1,100 signatures. The event was covered by Fox News and local print publications.

Most photos courtesy of Michael Poles (www.michaelpolesphotography.com)

Rally tonight

2008-06-02T07:07:00.001-07:00

Stop Overdevelopment-Stop Walgreens Rally
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights
See you there!!!!

View the staff report and agenda...

2008-05-29T23:12:00.000-07:00

To download the staff report, plans and all the documents related to the project application, click here... Demolition Permit 2005-040, Development Permit 2005-052, Lot Line Adjustment 2005-003.

Warning...it's a big document, like 50MB and hundreds of pages.

BREAKING: Look at this scary map: toxic chemicals under the site!!!

2008-05-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

SCARY news, folks...we have discovered there are toxic chemicals (perchloroethylene, or PCE) under the proposed Walgreens site, as well as the surrounding area. The map above (from 2007) tells the tale: the red indicates where the PCE concentration is greatest, followed by the blue, the white and the yellow bands.

The developers plan to excavate a large, two-level underground parking garage. What affect will this have on the chemicals? What about the area surrounding the site? Is excavating going to make the chemical problem better or worse?

A couple of quotes from Wikipedia...

It "is a central nervous system depressant, and inhaling its vapors (particularly in closed, poorly ventilated areas) can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking and walking, unconsciousness, and death."
"Because of the mobility of PCE in groundwater, its toxicity at low levels, and its density (which causes it to sink below the water table), cleanup activities tend to be especially problematic compared to cleanups of oil spills."

Yet there is very little mention of this in the City's report on this project - and Planning staff has officially recommended the project be approved without conducting an Environmental Impact Report. It is Weho Neighbors' position that an EIR is critical, especially in light of this new information.

The City did research to determine whether the site has been declared a problem. But here's something else that is scary: the developers have been aware of this problem for a long time. How much did they disclose (or hide) from the City and the community?

There are thousands of pages of documentation about this problem at this site at the Regional Water Quality Control Board. This needs a lot more study. How dangerous is this? And what is the plan at and around the site to make sure this is not a health hazard to residents?

Correction: 1,132 petition signatures to be precise

2008-05-29T20:55:00.001-07:00

We apologize for misstating the number of signatures on our petition. We collected signatures through November and collected and turned into the City a total of 1,132 signatures. We have a link to the on-line petition on this blog, so that number is increasing. But we want to be very clear and transparent. The number submitted is 1,132. That's a lot, don't you think?

More looming - the five landscape towers...

2008-05-26T11:55:00.001-07:00

The project includes five massive landscape towers on the roof that bring the height of the project is some places to 61 feet - much taller than anything around the project.

To get an idea of how large these things are, take a look at the architect's drawing above. Note the outline of the person standing in front of the tower. THAT is how big these things are.

Looming over the neighborhood...

2008-05-26T11:35:00.001-07:00

Take a look at these views of the project from the west/Havenhurst Drive (top) and from the south/looking north to the development from the neighborhood. (Click on an image to view a larger version.)

HOLY COW!

The yellow indicates the the placement and size of the two-story house immediately adjacent to the development as proposed. Note the white rectangular boxes on the top of each drawing represent the landscape towers.

These drawings really help show just how large and tall the proposed development is - particularly in proportion to the adjacent neighborhood. (Does it really look like a 'three-story development' as it is being promoted?)

Incidentally, the block immediately behind the development as been designated by the City of West Hollywood as a 'Conservation Overlay District.'

Fact Checker

2008-05-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

The developer describes the Walgreens mixed-use complex as three stories and a level of subterranean parking.

BUZZ!

There are in fact TWO levels of subterranean parking, making the project five stories (two subterranean and three above ground.) And this does not include the five massive landscape towers on the roof. Each is 15 - 20 feet tall and perhaps 20 - 30 feet wide.

For the site and the surrounding area, this is a VERY large complex.

Public comment period extended - let your voice be heard!

2008-05-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

The City of West Hollywood has EXTENDED THE DEADLINE for public comment on the Walgreens development to Monday, June 2 at 5:00 pm. Let your voice be heard! The more people who speak up, the more officials will pay attention.

You should e-mail your letter to:

FCONTRERAS (AT) WEHO.ORG

Or drop it off or mail it to City Hall:

Francisco Contreras

City of West Hollywood – Planning Department

8300 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood , CA 90069

Please also send a copy to WEHONEIGHBORS (AT) YAHOO.COM

Stop Overdevelopment-Stop Walgreens Rally!

2008-05-24T16:16:00.001-07:00

If you have some concerns about overdevelopment in West Hollywood and the proposed Walgreens mixed-use development, come join your neighbors and other members of the community...

Monday, June 2 - 6:00 - 7:30 pm
8100-8120 Santa Monica Boulevard
(corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights)
West Hollywood 90046

On the same evening, the developer is hosting a Community Workshop, where the will show the designs and answer questions of the develop, the architect and a traffic specialist. It starts at 5:00, so there's plenty of time to go there and learn more about the project and then come over to the rally. Their event will be held at Ramada West Hollywood, 1st Floor Conference Room, 8585 Santa Monica Blvd. RSVP to 818-450-2776.

Traffic. Ugh!

2008-05-24T15:48:00.000-07:00

The traffic impact report studied 11 intersections near the development. It found that 6 of 11 of those intersections rated an E or F (fail) rating. Yet there are a lot of areas not studied by the report. One is the alley across the street from the project that runs between LaJolla and Havenhurst. Since left turns will be prohibited from northbound Havenhurst onto westbound Santa Monica, this already-busy alley is sure to face a lot of increased traffic - you can go through the alley and then turn from LaJolla onto westbound Santa Monica - an intersection with a traffic light.

There is also a new alley created by the project running from Havenhurst to Crescent Heights.

And there are a couple of real eye rollers. You don't have to be traffic engineer to know these are going to be problems...

To keep northbound traffic on Havenhurst to enter the project and to keep project traffic exiting to turn left onto Havenhurst, it appears on the plans the developer plans to do this with angled concrete curbs. It appears these are similar to the ones used right across the street at the busy public metered parking lot. Despite a similar curb and no right turn signs, cars turn right onto Havenhurst all the time.
To mitigate the severe impacts on traffic at Havenhurst and Santa Monica, the developer is planning to allow vehicles exiting the project to turn left onto Crescent Heights. Anyone who lives in the area knows that will be EXTREMELY dangerous, especially as close as the exit is to Santa Monica Boulevard.

Walgreens and safety

2008-05-24T15:46:00.000-07:00

As Walgreens expands rapidly (opening a new store every 18 hours on average), concerns have been raised about community health and safety. An ABC News investigation of major chain pharmacies, with special focus on Walgreens, found:

An error rate of 22% in filled prescriptions during a four-month investigation.
In one case Walgreens had to pay $21 million in damages when a prescription error caused massive brain damage in a young child.
A 40-year Walgreens employee (and president of the Pharmacists Union) was fired for being too slow. Pharmacists are expected to fill 350 prescriptions per shift. In an eight-hour shift that is one prescription every 104 seconds.
In a survey of 300 Walgreens pharmacists in Chicago, 90 percent said they always or often believe work overload is compromising patient safety. (Chicago Sun-Times, January 12, 2006).
A simple on-line search reveals many other complaints about Walgreens safety and pharmacy practices and lawsuits about discrimination and segregation.

What kind of neighbor would Walgreens be?

2008-05-24T15:31:00.000-07:00

When Walgreens purchased the property nearly 10 years ago, apparently one of their first actions was to remove racks with gay and lesbian publications. The City apparently intervened and the publications were allowed to remain.

Last year Walgreens was upset that some of the merchants at the complex allowed petitions about the development to be placed on their counters. Walgreens responded by evicting the businesses with just 60 days notice. This would have required these small, locally owned, neighborhood-serving businesses to move out with little notice and more than a year before the project was even submitted for final approval. Again, community and City intervention was required to get the developer to back down.

How about their values? Without a doubt, Walgreens deserves big kudos for earning a perfect 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. But at the same time, the company is facing charges by the federal government alleging widespread discrimination against African American employees. And for a company with $50 billion in annual sales, they tout just $15.5 million in charity and education investments in a brochure distributed in West Hollywood. Prominent is mention of their $100,000 sponsorship of the 2006 Gay Games. $50 billion in sales and they supported a gay cause two years ago? Presumably if they'd done something more recently they would have promoted it.

VarianceFest '08

2008-05-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

A big misconception is that the Walgreens development conforms to the Zoning Code and seeks no variances. Is that really accurate? Some facts:

The project uses a mixed-use bonus to increase the height of the building.
The project used a mixes-use floor area ratio bonus.
The project seeks a concession that reduces the required setback from 15 feet to just 5 feet.
The project seeks relief from the requirement that all inclusionary (lower income and senior) units be reasonably dispersed throughout the project and contain the same number of bedrooms.

On that last point, the developer is seeking to segregate the six low income and sneior units from the market rate units. And that leads to another rumor that has been circulating that the developer plans to sell the units as condos rather than rent them as apartments.

And it appears they could make that switch pretty easily. Despite the City advocating for more rental units and allowing mixed-use bonuses, there is apparently NOTHING that keeps the developer from seeking to change from apartments to condos AT ANY TIME!

There is also nothing that keeps prevents the developers from seeking a change to remain open 24 hours a day - and that application does not even have to go before the Planning Commission. (It's interesting to note that the project's impact report compared the project to three other LA area Walgreens locations. One of the selection criteria was "24 hour - similar to the proposed project"!!)

Why doesn't the City and the community seek a written promise/pledge to not convert to condos, seek a 24 hour operating license or a license to sell liquor on a long-term basis?

Just how big is this thing?

2008-05-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

The area is zoned for buildings no higher than 35 feet. The proposed Walgreens structure is at points 61 feet tall, when you include the five massive landscape towers on the roof.

What gives?

The developers are applying for a 'mixed use bonus' which allows them to go up an extra 10 feet. And they somehow are not counting the landscape towers as part of the height. We asked the developers to consider getting rid of them. They kept them - and did not even offer to make them less tall.

Commitment checker - #2

2008-05-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

The developer has made many commitments and promises to the community. Let's follow up n one of them...

COMMITMENT MADE: The developer committed to using "smaller delivery vehicles in order to be sensitive to the needs of our neighbors."

STATUS: RENEGED? The plans submitted to the City of West Hollywood show two of the trucks to be used are semi-type trucks that are 38' long and 40.5' long. These trucks would enter the site from the narrow residential street, Havenhurst Drive.

Commitment checker - #1

2008-05-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

The developer has made many commitments and promises to the community. Let's follow up n one of them...

COMMITMENT MADE: The developer committed space in the project for small, locally owned, neighborhood serving businesses?

STATUS: RENEGED. The developer eliminated space for the Tasty Donut shop to return and eliminated space for all other small businesses. They spin this as a plus - it reduces traffic. And in fact they did need to reduce traffic because of traffic impacts. Instead of making Walgreens smaller, they eliminated the local retail space which was promised to and was an important issue for the communty.

Misinformation? Let's just call it misinformation.

2008-05-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

The traffic impact study declared 6 of the 11 intersections studies to be at level E or F (failing grade.) Yikes! It also determined that the development would severely impact the intersection of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights. Double yikes! Thus, it mandated a mitigation - a dedicated left-turn lane from Crescent Heights onto Santa Monica.

The developer is saying that the left turn lane has been added in response to a request from neighbors. Quoting a May 20, 2008, letter to neighbors from the developer: "The left turn lane was by far the most requested change form the community." If so, it was not raised in the neighborhood meeting we had with the project architect. It was not raised in any of our community meetings and thus was not included in the November 2007 letter of neighborhood feedback to the developer. (Printed below in an earlier post.)

Several assertions made by the developer have come under scrutiny by the press and are the subject of a recent article in Weho News - http://wehonews.com/z/wehonews/archive/page.php?articleID=2297

Misinformation? Let's just call it information.

2008-05-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

The developer's lobbyist/community representative has accused Weho Neighbors of making false assertions about the project. This same community representative even refused to meet with one of the project's neighbors unless he sent "...a follow-up email to the city and community retracting your previous mailings."

So we thought it would be a good idea to publish those mailings here. Below is, word-for-word, absolutely every e-mail (beyond simple meeting invitations) that has gone out from WeHo neighbors to the thousands of people on our mailing list from November 2007 to today.

Judge for yourself...

SENT ON NOVEMBER 27, 2007

Dear Neighbors,

Though we have not had sent any updates via email, we've been busy meeting and talking with some city officials, the developer's representatives, and others who are involved with the Walgreens' project on the corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights.

Please remember to pass the ePetition, http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/452980157, on and get others involved! (email wehoneighbors (at) yahoo.com to see what you can do!)

Here is the latest communication in form of a letter: (please pass it on!)

A COMMUNITY LETTER REGARDING

THE PROPOSED WALGREENS-RETAIL-RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX

IN WEST HOLLYWOOD ON SANTA MONICA BLVD. BETWEEN

CRESCENT HEIGHTS BLVD. AND HAVENHURST DRIVE

TO: All Concerned Residents and Interested Parties

City of West Hollywood : Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore, City Council Members, City Manager, Planning Department and Planning Commission

Via Francisco Contreras, Associate Planner, City of West Hollywood

Pacific Development Partners

Walgreens Corporation

Via Robert Kalonian, Vice President, Afriat Consulting Group, Inc.

FROM: West Hollywood Neighbors

DATE: November 27, 2007

INTRODUCTION

“Weho Neighbors” is a group of concerned citizens, and this document is a compilation of concerns about the 59,000 square-foot Walgreens-retail-residential complex proposed for the southwest corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights boulevards in West Hollywood . These concerns have been voiced at various community meetings and on line.

Additionally, approximately 2,000 people have signed a petition opposing the project (1,500 signatures gathered at local businesses and an additional 500 on line). These petitions are being delivered to the City of West Hollywood (attention Francisco Contreras).

One note about the petition and this combined letter to the City and to the developer: we recognize that not all points and issues are relevant to both parties. For instance, the City cannot reject the project because there are a lot of other pharmacies in the area. Conversely, the developer does not decide how much traffic is too much traffic for the area to handle. Still we felt it most fair, productive and transparent for all issues to be voiced in one document.

IS THERE A SOLUTION?

Pro-neighborhood is not anti-development. Change and growth are a key part of a vibrant community. We feel that growth should be well planned and managed, and that the community should be fully engaged in the process. Hence this open community letter.

It would certainly not be easy to come up with a solution everyone likes, with the community expressing opposition to a big-box chain retailer and bemoaning the loss of more than 10 local (and functional) businesses at the site.

But one idea would be a significantly scaled down 2,000 – 3,000 square feet “junior” Walgreens. This would give Walgreens the presence they want in West Hollywood with much less negative community-neighborhood impact. This could also potentially create room for a few local businesses, making for a more functional, dynamic, “walkable” block. Another idea would be a scaled-back retail site plus just the proposed affordable housing units.

We do feel the project does need to be scaled back. There are a wide range of concerns and questions about its current scope and scale. Those are outlined here…

CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT SIZE AND IMPACTS

At 59,000 square feet – 15,000 square feet of Walgreens and other retail, 28 apartments and 123 parking spaces – this is a big development – and one that seems too large for the site. There are concerns about design, traffic, noise, neighborhood and other long-term impacts.

DESIGN

At a neighborhood meeting attended by more than 40 concerned residents, many praised project architect Lorcan O’Herlihy’s design, but most felt it was too large for the site and not in harmony with the neighborhood behind it. “Great building…wrong location” seemed to be the consensus. Other concerns:

Great all-glass front on Santa Monica Blvd. , but when one looks at a typical Walgreens, there is concern about a “junky” appearance along the Boulevard.
With one large drug store taking most of the entire block, and with the likely orientation of the store to the parking garage in the rear, the block becomes ‘dead’ from a walking / activity standpoint.
The major “grand” feature along Santa Monica Blvd. is a staircase that is superfluous to the public and useful just for residents of some of the project’s apartments.
It appears there are no major green aspects to the design/project – or at least none has been touted by the architect or developer.

TRAFFIC AND PARKING

Impacts on the flow of traffic on busy Santa Monica Blvd. , amplified when coupled with other new, planned projects along the 2.7-mile strip of Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood .
Impacts on the flow of traffic on Crescent Heights Blvd. , with vehicles entering and exiting this very busy street that narrows considerably at Santa Monica Boulevard .
Impacts on emergency vehicle access on the main east-west artery through West Hollywood .
Impacts of increased traffic (both passenger and commercial vehicles) on narrow, residential Havenhurst Drive . Loading and unloading of commercial trucks is already an issue at the site. Even relatively short delivery vehicles require nearly the entire width of the street to turn onto Havenhurst. Plus, there is a very busy alley to the west and the exit of a very busy public parking lot. With the two entry/exit points planned for this development, there will be SIX ingress-egress lanes/points plus three residential driveways within a 50 – 100 foot stretch just off Santa Monica Boulevard .
Potential increased traffic in the alley south of Santa Monica Blvd. between LaJolla and Havenhurst, which will be a natural shortcut for eastbound traffic on SM Blvd. to access the development without having to go to Crescent Heights .
Concern whether street parking on Crescent Heights and Havenhurst will be lost to accommodate the increased vehicle traffic.

NOISE, OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

Impacts of noise from commercial, residential and traffic activity, as well as loading and unloading of vehicles and trash collection, which will take place 20 feet from a residence.
Impacts of nighttime noise from air conditioning, elevators and other potential motors, engines and mechanical devices on a property immediately adjacent to a residential areas.
Impacts of nighttime noise of these devices on the proposed residences within the proposed development. In a mixed-use development, how are residents protected from noise from the on-site commercial uses?
Nighttime-late night impacts of the project’s exterior and parking lighting on the adjacent neighborhood and the house that abuts the development.
With previous uses at the location including a gas station and a dry cleaners, has the site been thoroughly checked for safety?

NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT

Visual impact on the neighborhood. While the project is 35’ tall along Santa Monica Boulevard, with the sloping grade, multiple stories and tall ‘topiary towers’, the project’s visual impact from the neighborhood to the south is massive. In the meeting with the architect, it was determined that it could be as high as 65’ from the neighborhood view. (We would encourage city staff, Planning Commission members and other concerned parties to actually walk the site and the neighborhood to see how impactful the proposed structure would be. One does NOT AT ALL get a sense of the visual impact in the developer’s model and drawings.)
Impact on a block right behind the project that has been designated by the City of West Hollywood as part of the “Conservation Overlay.”
Increased traffic impact on Havenhurst Drive , Romaine Avenue , LaJolla Avenue and potentially other neighborhood streets.
Impact on parking on Havenhurst, Crescent Heights and LaJolla in residential areas.
Noise impacts (see above).
Design compatibility – tall/big/modern building is certainly not very compatible with the one and two story homes-duplexes right behind it.

LONGER-TERM IMPACT

Walgreens says they will not operate 24 hours a day. Are there any long-term guarantees Walgreens won’t seek to operate around the clock, as most of its locations do?
What is Walgreens proposed operating hours? Many non 24-hour locations stay open until 10 pm, 11 pm and midnight.
Walgreens says they will not sell liquor. Are they willing to commit to not applying for a liquor license long term?
Walgreens says the housing units will be apartments, not condominiums. Can they later be sold at condominiums? Is Walgreens willing to commit to keeping them apartments long term?
What requirements are in place to ensure the six low and moderate income households will remain below market rate units long term?
There are further traffic concerns about this project combined with several other major developments underway and planned along Santa Monica Blvd.

CONCERNS ABOUT WALGREENS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH/SAFETY

By far the most passionate concerns expressed at various meetings centers on Walgreens itself.

Many people simply wish Walgreens would choose to not come to West Hollywood and question the need for another major chain pharmacy, when there are two others within blocks, and an abundance of other pharmacies in the area.

Further questions have been raised regarding various actions of the retailer, calling into question whether Walgreens’ philosophies and practices of fit in well with our creative, progressive community?

This spring the federal government filed suit against Walgreens alleging widespread discrimination against African American workers.
Customers have filed lawsuits stating pharmacists were placing inappropriate comments about customers in their computer database – like “crazy!! she’s really a psycho”; “watch controls, she seems shady”; and “bitch.”
When Walgreens first purchased the West Hollywood property, gay and lesbian publications were banned from the property.
This spring Walgreens decided to evict the local small business tenants at Crescent Square with just 60 days notice. Only after a major public outcry did they relent.

As Walgreens expands rapidly (opening a new store every 18 hours on average), concerns have been raised about community health and safety. An ABC News investigation of major chain pharmacies, with special focus on Walgreens, found:

An error rate of 22% in filled prescriptions during a four-month investigation.
In one case Walgreens had to pay $21 million in damages when a prescription error caused massive brain damage in a young child.
A 40-year Walgreens employee (and president of the Pharmacists Union) was fired for being too slow. Pharmacists are expected to fill 350 prescriptions per shift. In an eight-hour shift that is one prescription every 104 seconds.
In a survey of 300 Walgreens pharmacists in Chicago , 90 percent said they always or often believe work overload is compromising patient safety. ( Chicago Sun-Times, January 12, 2006).
A simple on-line search reveals many other complaints about Walgreens safety and pharmacy practices and lawsuits about discrimination and segregation.

CONCLUSION

We know the City of West Hollywood looks at proposed developments very carefully, and we thank the people involved with that. We thank architect Lorcan O’Herlihy for accepting the neighborhood’s invitation to him (and the developer) to answer questions. We thank the developer’s lobbyist, Robert Kalonian, for the information he has provided.

We hope Walgreens will reconsider its interest in locating a store in the geographical center of a city that is ambivalent at best and strongly opposed at worst to its presence.

We hope the elected and appointed leaders of the City of West Hollywood will hear and strongly consider the neighborhood concerns (as applicable to their function) and address the community’s questions.

In the end, we hope a reasonably sized development at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights will enhance the neighborhood and the overall community, and provide reasonable additional tax revenues for the City of West Hollywood .

SENT ON MARCH 24, 2008

*****IMPORTANT WALGREENS DEVELOPMENT UPDATE******

Walgreens and Pacific Development Partners have revised and resubmitted to the City of West Hollywood their plans for the 59,000 square-foot Walgreens-retail-residential complex proposed for the southwest corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights boulevards in West Hollywood.

While they have made some changes required by the City of West Hollywood regarding traffic flow on Crescent Heights, it appears they have turned a deaf ear to the neighborhood and community concerns that were outlined in a letter late last year. The only major change? They have ELIMINATED the retail space for the donut shop and other small businesses. Yes...it's just a big Walgreens and apartments.

Come see for yourself as the developers present their plans to the Planning Commission Design Review Subcommittee

This Thursday, March 27

5:30 pm

Plummer Park, Art Room #6

7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

At this meeting you will have a chance to give the subcommittee your feedback. It is important that this group hear community opinions on the project.

Please also mark your calendar for a

Neighborhood Meeting

Monday, April 14

6:30 pm

Location in West Hollywood to be announced

Here we will discuss next steps in advance of the full Planning Commission hearing (likely in May) where the project will come up for a final vote. We'll also have a 'visioneering' session and give input regarding the city's updating of the West Hollywood General Plan.

ONLY IF WE AS A COMMUNITY STAND UP AND EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS CAN WE HAVE A POSITIVE AFFECT ON THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD!

SENT ON APRIL 21, 2008

Dear Neighbors:

With 35 people in attendance, a very productive community meeting was held last week at Kings Road Park to discuss concerns with the proposed 57,000 square feet Walgreens + apartment complex at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood. With the project's public hearing at the Planning Commission approaching (likely next month), there was a 'get down to business' attitude at the meeting. Thanks to everyone in attendance. For those who could not make it, here is a brief update.

We expect the City's official position on the project to come out within the next couple of weeks - they will give a 'negative declaration', which is basically a green light from City staff, or recommend an environmental impact report be completed. The latter is what we are advocating and feel is called for. There are significant potential traffic and environmental issues at hand that need greater study.

That City staff recommendation then goes before the Planning Commission - likely in May. So the big next steps are really triggered once the City's position comes out, and we'll let you know when that is. Key tasks coming up soon:

1) Sending letters to the City giving feedback.

2) Attending the Planning Commission public hearing where the project will be discussed.

3) Volunteering to help with flyer distribution, research, communication, at future fundraising garage sales and so forth.

4) Engaging environmental-planning consultant to help argue our case.

Also, a lot of people at the meeting expressed concern about the multiple big projects planned and proposed along Santa Monica Boulevard and whether sufficient study has been completed on their cumulative effects. Many participants also stayed for a 'visioneering' session, where input was giving on visions for the future of West Hollywood. These are being compiled as part of the City's update of the General Plan.

Special thanks to Bryeon for facilitating the visioneering session, and thanks to Pizza Rustica for the delicious pizza and soft drinks at the meeting.

So stay tuned for for details. In the meantime, if you want to see the newest plans, they are available at City Hall at the Planning Department on the second floor. You'll see that the project is still too big for the crowded intersection; increased traffic concerns have not sufficiently addressed; and the space promised to the community for small locally owned retail businesses has been completely eliminated.

We need to let our voices and our concerns be heard. Can we have a concrete, meaningful say in what our neighborhoods and community look like? Let's find out together...

SENT ON MAY 7, 2008

RE: IMPORTANT UPDATE - WEHO/WALGREENS OVERDEVELOPMENT

If you have concerns about overdevelopment in West Hollywood or about the proposed Walgreens + 28 unit apartment mixed use complex, please read this important update and take action – there are 3 things you can do to help stop the overdevelopment madness.

The City of West Hollywood has prepared a “Mitigated Negative Declaration” on the 59,000 square foot complex proposed for Santa Monica and Crescent Heights . This means that even though the City agrees the project could have significant negative environmental impacts, it feels the developer has made changes sufficient to mitigate the impact.

While we’re still reviewing the City document, in a nutshell, the traffic study states that traffic at key intersections will be severely impacted. To mitigate problems at the intersection of Santa Monica and Havenhurst, they are proposing to prohibit all left turns from Havenhurst onto westbound Santa Monica . In another mitigation, a proposed left turn lane out of the development will allow traffic to turn left/ north onto Crescent Heights . (Imagine the insanity of traffic pulling out across southbound traffic and turning left onto Crescent Heights , especially during rush hour!)

We are now in a 20-day public comment period on the Negative Declaration. We as individuals and collectively need to SPEAK UP NOW and let our voices be heard. This project is not good for West Hollywood and is contributing to the overdevelopment that will choke Santa Monica Boulevard and a number of our small side streets, as well as our quality of life.

If you have concerns, don’t expect someone else speak up. Only if we all speak up will we slow this process down. Our immediate goal is to demand the City require an Environmental Impact Report, which is a much more comprehensive study of the possible consequences of a large development on a small site at the busy intersection. THERE IS GREAT POWER IN NUMBERS…

There are 3 ways you can take action….

NUMBER 1. WRITE A LETTER TO THE CITY BY MAY 20

Write or e-mail a letter addressed to the Planning Commission of the City of West Hollywood expressing your concerns. Be as specific as possible. While it’s best for you to use your own words to express your thoughts, the attached document has some helpful bullet points. All public comments must be in by 5:00 pm on May 20. If received by this time, your comments will be included in the packet that is submitted to the Planning Commission.

You should e-mail your letter to:

FCONTRERAS (AT) WEHO.ORG

Or drop it off or mail it to City Hall:

Francisco Contreras

City of West Hollywood – Planning Department

8300 Santa Monica Blvd.

West Hollywood , CA 90069

We also want to gather copies of all letters written. Please send a copy of your letter to:

WEHONEIGHBORS (AT) YAHOO.COM

NUMBER 2. ATTEND A ‘STOP THE OVERDEVELOPMENT’ RALLY

Plan to attend a special Stop Overdevelopment in West Hollywood Rally to be held during rush hour at the proposed Walgreens mixed use development site. Meet your neighbors and show your support.

Date: TBD – Stay Tuned

6:30 PM

8100 SANTA MONICA BLVD. (corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights )

NUMBER 3. ATTEND THE JUNE 5 PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

Plant to attend the project’s public hearing before the City Planning Commission. We need to be there in force and express our opinions. At this meeting, the project could be given the green light and the demolition of the existing building started. The Planning Commission’s decision is final but is subject to appeal. This will only go before the City Council IF there is an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision

PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

6:30 PM

WEST HOLLYWOOD PARK AUDITORIUM

647 NORTH SAN VICENTE BLVD.

If you would like to receive a copy of the negative declaration, which includes the architectural drawings and the complete traffic study, e-mail a request to WEHONEIGHBORS (AT) YAHOO.COM. You may also inspect the documents at City Hall. Contact Francisco Contreras, Associate Planner, 323-848-6874.

Again, this development and other oversized developments will be built unless each and all of us speak up and let our voices be heard. Please write your letter today and put these two events on your calendar.

SENT ON MAY 10, 2008

Hi Weho Neighbors,

With only a few more weeks before the June 5th Planning Commission meeting, we've planned a couple rallies to help raise awareness of the horrible traffic situation the Walgreens project will create (along with all the other concerns about the project!) and also to inform the community about the June 5th meeting and the importance of attending. This is an awareness rally, so yelling, chanting, singing are encouraged but if you are shy just simply hold a sign!

Rally #1 is Saturday May 31st from 2-4pm on the sidewalk in front of the proposed project (southwest corner of Santa Monica Blvd and Crescent Heights). We will gather in the alley behind Marco's Restaurant about 1:30pm the day of the event.

Rally #2 is Monday June 2nd from 6-8pm..same location...this way we capture peak weekend traffic and also commuter traffic.

These events will be promoted as much as possible to the press/local media so we can send a strong message to the planning and city council teams!

It would be great if you can RSVP so we know whether you can attend one or both events...even if you can come for 30 minutes or an hour that would be great! Also please bring a friend! For anyone interested we'll have a sign making pizza party on Thursday May 29th from 7-8pm., so RSVP for that as well and we'll share the location details.

Also, the developer this week sent a letter to neighbors. In it they talk about the many changes they've made to the project in response, they say, to neighborhood feedback. Is that really true?

They talk about a how they re-did the design. This was because the City of West Hollywood told them the original block design would not be approved.
They say they've added a left turn lane because neighbors requested it. The TRUTHFUL reason is that the City essentially mandated it based on the severe traffic impacts found in the traffic impact report. The change is to try to avoid an Environmental Impact Report and to get the project approved - not out of concern for the community.

One thing is true...they state that they allowed the current small businesses "to stay and continue serving the community." What they don't mention is that in fact they decided to throw out the tenants last year with 30 days notice. They relented only after major neighborhood and community protest.

Also, they are missing a key point - we are gaining one big box chain drugstore (that we don't need) and losing space for 10 or more small businesses. One point cannot be argued - with this project as proposed, we are losing a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly block lined with neighborhood-serving small businesses.

Walgreens promised the community - twice, in writing - that their development would have space for local small businesses. They've gone back on that promise. The only retail space in their plan is for their own big Walgreens store.

Their letter also pronounces that "left turns from Havenhurst onto Santa Monica Boulevard will be prohibited." Is that their decision to make and announce? Is this their decision? Has the City approved this? No public notice? No seeking input from the West Hollywood residents inconvenienced by this?

These are troubling questions - and hopefully we will all get some answers at the June 5 Planning Commission meeting. In the meantime, get your e-mails or letters to the City - and we'll see you at the rallies!

SENT ON MAY 15, 2008

Hi Neighbors,

We are holding the rally on Monday June 2nd at the corner of Santa Monica and Crescent Heights, we will not be holding a rally on Saturday May 31st...

Most of us prefer the Monday date, so we'll focus our efforts on one big rally and then on to the June 5th City Planning Meeting!

See you soon and don't forget to RSVP if you can help make signs/prepare for the rally!

Welcome aboard!

2008-05-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Things are happening quickly on this project, as the development is about to go before the Planning Commission for its public hearing. We thought it would be a good idea to start a blog to keep everyone informed of what was happening.

We invite you to get involved with this cause.

Learn more about the project. The plans can be viewed at West Hollywood City Hall.
Let the City know about what you think about the project.
Attend a Community Rally on Monday evening, June 2, at Santa Monica and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood.
Attend the project's public hearing before the Planning Commission. This will take place on Thursday evening, June 5 or later.
Let us know your thoughts and opinions - email wehoneighbors (at) yahoo.com

Thanks for stopping by!