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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