March 30, 2011 - Representatives for Snowball West Investments recently met with the Los Angeles City Planning Department. They indicated they expect to deliver something to the planning department sometime "in the near future".
Last year David Somers, the project manager for the VHGC Final EIR, was transfered to another division within city planning. We were told at that time a new project manager would not be selected until the department had received follow up paperwork from the developer's consultants.
In anticipation of receiving that paper work a new project manager has been assigned.
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"The purpose of an environmental impact report is to provide public
agencies and the public in general with detailed information about the effect which a proposed project is likely to have on the environment; to list ways in which the significant effects of such a project might be minimized; and to indicate alternatives to such a project."
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~ California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
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Once the FEIR is released and available to the public we must quickly review the document to determine if the responses are sufficient. If not, then anyone objecting must file an appeal to the City on the FEIR.
The FEIR will accompany the developer's actual tract map and zone change applications. Anyone objecting to those must be prepared to present their objections at the hearings conducted by various decision-makers - including the Advisory Agency, the North Valley Planning Commission, the Los Angeles City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee, and ultimately, the City Council.
A much larger battle lies ahead. When the FEIR is released, we will be calling upon community members and organizations to contact the decision-makers and to show up in force at the various hearings. Each of you continue to have a pivotal role in this process.
As we learned with the DEIR process it is imperative that we have the funds available to hire experts to defend the VHGC and the community. With this in mind we need to rev up our fundraising and begin building a war chest. We ask for your continued support to pay for the costs of the fight so far and for the fight undoubtedly to come.
We thank all of the consultants who contributed to the VOICE comment letter. Drawing from a variety of fields their help was invaluable. Special thanks to the community for the donations that have been helping us pay off these expenses. Some consultants donated their time, or portions of their time.
We appreciate your generosity!
Doug Carstens
Project Description, Alternatives, Biology, Climate Change
Claudia Culling
General Comments
Bill Dvorak
Traffic
Tomi Lyn Bowling
Housing
Michael Cornish
Biology
Steve Goldsworthy
Public Safety/Emergency Services
Sandra Hamlat
Housing
Stephanie Landregan
Recreation
Richard Ramirez
Geology and Soils
Marc Stirdivant
Recreation
Richard Toyon
Aesthetics
Brenda Wadsworth
Biology
Bill Weisman/Peter Fuad
Traffic
Dean Wiberg
Air Quality, Hydrology, Water Supply
Dr. C. Thomas Williams
Biology, Geology, Hazardous Materials, Hydrology, Utilities
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Helpful Links
Use the links below to locate
the entire DEIR, the
Summary document, and
specific Elements.
Scroll to bottom of the DEIR
page to select
Sections and Appendices.
Provides an overview
of the DEIR
DEIR Elements
See below for brief descriptions
of the 4 alternative plans.
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As part of the DEIR the developer must present alternatives to the proposed 229 unit housing development. They are as follows:
Plan #1: No Project
(No construction)
Plan #2: All Residential Townhomes
336 townhome units (apartments) would be developed in 14 stand-alone buildings of 24 units each. The development would be built on the driving range. The golf course would remain.
Plan #3: Mixed Use Residential and Retail
Total of 334 residential units, primarily apartments built on driving range. Majority of apartments would be built on the second and third floors. Commercial businesses would occupy the first floor. Remainder of golf course (11.9 acres) would become a community park.
Plan #4: Mixed Use Residential/Retail/Office
209 apartments units built on second and third floors above a partially subterranean parking structure. Plan would also include 257,135 square feet of commercial space, both retail and office. Remainder of the golf course (11.9 acres) would become a community park.
For more detail visit the Alternative section of the DEIR.
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