"Eagle Rock: Where land
use planning is a contact sport"
THE EAGLE ROCK ASSOCIATION
January 23, 2003
"Thanks for the TERA weekly update. I am continually amazed
by the level of professionalism and technical detail
your group is able to provide to your ever-increasing constituency.
What an asset to a community buried in the LA bureaucratic shuffle.
I've only seen such vigor and intelligence in Larchmont and Brentwood in LA,
and even they don't compare. Keep up the fine work -- while frustrating
--
very rewarding for the betterment of the community."
-- Tom Eidem, noted economic development advisor, San Clemente
In this issue:
1. WALGREEN-EYED MONSTER DEVOURS TOWN AND DESTROYS LAW IN ITS PATH
2. WALGREENS PLUM HEARING AND A BEFORE-THE-FACT PRESS RELEASE
3. COUNCIL CANDIDATE DEBATE -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS! -- FEBRUARY 25
4. POETRY IN MOTION FROM "READ MY LIPS" II
5. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
6. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
1. WALGREEN-EYED MONSTER DEVOURS TOWN AND DESTROYS LAW IN ITS PATH
Well, on Tuesday at the PLUM hearing, the pharmacy Goliath just about killed
our David (he's currently on life-support), and our Council member was there to
help wield the sword, or . . . uh . . . oh. Pardon me. They used
drugs for this slow death instead.
Over the last 18 or more months, Mr. Pacheco's never made any bones about the
fact that he thinks the original Walgreens project was a good one, even though
we were correct in reminding him and the Planning Department that as proposed
it was ILLEGAL (and he's a lawyer!).
Regardless of some squeak-by revisions suddenly foisted on the community at the
last minute at the PLUM hearing, outside of a proper public process (yet
again), we pointed out with clear visual aids provided by the developer himself
that it still does not comply with Sections 7.A.1 and 13.F of the Specific
Plan. And, not one of our elected representatives at the hearing seemed
to care. Remember whose tax dollars pay their salaries.
Laws are the backbone of our society, and they must not be tampered with.
In this egregious case, ours were shredded. This travesty comes
before the full City Council on Friday, tomorrow. Contact them.
pacheco@council.lacity.org
reyes@council.lacity.org
greuel@council.lacity.org
bernson@council.lacity.org
zine@council.lacity.org
labonge@council.lacity.org
weiss@council.lacity.org
galanter@council.lacity.org
padilla@council.lacity.org
thomas@council.lacity.org
perry@council.lacity.org
holden@council.lacity.org
miscikow@council.lacity.org
garcetti@council.lacity.org
hahn@council.lacity.org
2. WALGREENS PLUM HEARING AND A BEFORE-THE-FACT PRESS RELEASE
GET THIS -- We received a call just before noon on Tuesday, January 21,
informing us that a press release from Council member Pacheco's office regarding
the PLUM (Planning and Land Use Management) Committee hearing, which was to
take place more than two hours later, was already written and ready to go.
Hmmm. What does this mean?
This press release was read to us over the phone, but we thought, nah, this
can't be, because the hearing hadn't yet occurred. Still, it immediately
raised our curiosity, and we wondered, "what does this mean?"
So, we walked into the PLUM hearing strongly suspecting this issue already was
decided. We figured it was just another exercise in futility, as this
entire matter has been, but we stuck around anyway for the entertainment value,
fought the good fight, and bore witness to just how our laws, our civil rights,
and the public trust are being completely and blatantly abused by those in
charge of seeing to it that our laws, our civil rights, and the public trust
are to be protected.
When we received the official press release later in the afternoon, long after
the PLUM hearing had concluded, it was confirmed (gee whiz!) that the words in
it were verbatim to what we had heard earlier. Now, what does this mean?
Apparently, someone on Mr. Pacheco's staff has the amazing ability to foresee
the future! We immediately wondered why this person is working at the
Council office instead of handily making gazillions of dollars predicting what
lies ahead.
We wish we had sold tickets to what would have been a sold-out performance by
our elected representatives, kind of like the satirical "Springtime for
Hitler" play in the hilarious film "The Producers" -- so bogus
and tasteless, it can't not be funny.
This also brings to mind the "Philippine Village" matter several
weeks ago, when it was voted on in the full City Council and less than a minute
later the congratulatory certificate and official city-designation sign
appeared and were presented for all in the Council chambers and Channel 35
viewers to see. Wow -- now that was quick work indeed. If the
artisans of the "Philippine Village Community Center" sign and
certificate were being paid by the hour, then they must have worked for free
since they were able to produce these items in no time at all.
What does this mean?
Getting back to that Walgreens press release, dated January 20 [whoops!
Tuesday was, in fact, January 21!], it is below:
For Immediate Release
January 20, 2003
PRESS RELEASE
PACHECO ACHIEVES COMPLIANCE
Developer Changes Site Plan
Tuesday, January 20, 2003, City Hall --- Councilmember Nick Pacheco was pleased
to see the new plan from Rich Development in Eagle Rock. The Planning and Land
Use Management Committee, otherwise known as PLUM, met today approving the new
site plan. After the developer's presentation, Councilmember Pacheco's
prior concern about the full development moving forward was put to rest by conditioning
the approval. PLUM, in a unanimous vote, approved the Councilmember's
recommendation to require that all three buildings be built prior to the
issuance of certificates of occupancy.
'I was pleased to see the developer understand the true meaning of a wall,'
stated Pacheco. 'Building C is now a traditional building fronting
Colorado Boulevard and meets all the requirements of the specific plan.
The economic development of Eagle Rock while enhancing both the Eagle Rock and
Colorado Boulevard corridors is very important to Councilmember Pacheco.
'I want to thank everyone who felt so passionate to take the time to
voice their opinions in PLUM.'
'The new design plan complies with the Colorado Specific Plan, which was very
important to our community. It's a bittersweet victory, but the community will
reap the economic benefits,' stated Pacheco.
Gee, neither the Council member nor anyone in Planning seemed to understand the
meaning of a "wall" before a few days ago, and now Mr. Pacheco is
"pleased" that everyone at last knows what a "wall" is.
He must have walked head-on into one and been blind-sided at the same time,
because it's more than evident his foresight is still deeply impaired. He
should have long before imposed upon that very talented future-predicting staff
member to clue him in on what is to come.
3. COUNCIL CANDIDATE DEBATE -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS! -- FEBRUARY 25
TERA and the Eagle Rock Neighborhood Council are sponsoring a 14th District
City Council candidate debate on Tuesday, February 25. It will take place
at the Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, 2225 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle
Rock, at 7:00 p.m.
Candidates are Paul Gonzalez, Nick Pacheco, and Antonio Villaraigosa. Please
plan to join us -- we look forward to seeing you there.
4. POETRY IN MOTION FROM "READ MY LIPS" II
One of the great American pastimes is poking fun at our politicians of every
party and position. They all make it so easy! But, regardless of
one's political affiliation, it isn't possible not to chuckle at what lies
ahead.
The following short poem is made up entirely of actual quotes from George W.
Bush. The quotes have been arranged only for aesthetic purposes by
Washington Post writer Richard Thompson. It's too good not to share.
MAKE THE PIE HIGHER
by George W. Bush
I think we all agree, the past is over.
This is still a dangerous world.
It's a world of madmen and uncertainty and potential mental losses.
Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
Will the highways of the internet become more few?
How many hands have I shaked?
They misunderestimate me.
I am a pitbull on the pantleg of opportunity.
I know that the human being and the fish can coexist.
Families is where our nation finds hope, where our wings take dream.
Put food on your family!
Knock down the tollbooth!
Vulcanize society!
Make the pie higher! Make the pie higher!
5. LETTERS AND E.MAILS
"This is the third time that you have stated (erroneously) that
the site plan complies with the Specific Plan. Each time you have said
that the previous one didn't, contradicting your earlier emphatic statements
that it did. (See page of the the Colorado Boulevard Specific Plan,
Section 3C, PURPOSES, which states 'To the extent feasible, parking should be
provided in the rear of commercial lots . . . ,' and good old Section 13.F,
which flanks it by stating, 'No parking shall be permitted on that portion of a
lot located between the front lot line and any portion of a building which
faces Colorado Boulevard . . .')
Approval of this plan is a step back for Eagle Rock's economic development.
We are not a blighted community which must embrace any old project that
comes our way. We are experiencing a cultural and economic resurgence in
Eagle Rock. Any resurgence should be strengthened by doing more of those
things which created it. I am curious to know, what does your analysis of
our recent revitalization show?
Many communities have blocked Walgreens and other corporate giants, who refuse
to adhere to the rules of proper planning, from building in their communities.
They understand that short-term greed does not result in long-term
affluence. In our case, neither the developer nor Walgreens presented us
with any studies which showed that the presence of a Walgreens caused a
community to 'reap the economic benefits.' I offered you materials which
featured case studies demonstrating just the opposite. You expressed
little interest, telling me that you would 'skim them.'
Communities all over the country are blocking big-box design for the same
reason. Our neighbors, Glendale and Pasadena, are shining examples of the
economic viability of good planning. I showed the site plan to a Glendale
planner, and she was shocked that it would even be considered, both because it
is in such obvious violation of our land-use laws and absolutely contrary to
good planning principles.
Like the mini-malls that those before you encouraged, this project will further
degrade our main commercial boulevard, and 20 years from now Eagle Rock
citizens will speak of you, and them, in the same breath."
-- Suzanne Prieur, Eagle Rock resident and TERA Board member
"Friends,
Most of you know that I was involved in the 'Save the Shopping Bag Building'
team effort last year. Hey, some of you receiving this were in that
effort too. Well, it looks like we are at the 11:59 mark. Not only does
it seem saving the building is not gonna happen, but it looks like Walgreens is
gonna get to build their atrocious box structure despite the fact that it goes
against the Colorado Blvd. Specific Plan. (i.e. the supposed law of the
land!!!)
Why is this? Well, it seems from my perspective that our Councilman Nick
Pacheco, has failed us miserably. I got to see his forked tongue in
action first hand yesterday at the PLUM meeting. He again supported the
plan as proposed by the developers and the PLUM committee went with his
recommendations.
In a move that did surprise me, Candidate for Pacheco's 14th District seat,
Antonio Villariagosa, sent a staff member to read a statement in the public
response time. Mr. AV is apparently completely against the plan as
proposed by the developers and implored the PLUM committee to act in accordance
with the wishes of the Specific Plan authors.
Well, that did it for me. I knew he was a good guy, and I knew that he
had formerly worked for the ACLU, but he stuck his neck out for my little
corner of the world.
I went and got a lawn sign yesterday. Lawn signs, specifically the
residential ones, are supposedly a major player in getting out the vote for
your candidate.
So please call the Villaraigosa headquarters at (323) 254-6024 and request a
lawn sign be delivered to your home.
Here's hoping for a Councilman who believes in historic preservation in the
coming term."
-- Rebecca Niederlander, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
"I understand that the city council yesterday refused to overturn the
Planning Commission's stunningly misguided and uninformed approval of the
proposed Walgreen's store in Eagle Rock that violates the Colorado Specific
Plan -- a proposal in other words that VIOLATES EXISTING ZONING LAW.
Incredible. The word in Eagle Rock is that you were really on board this
cynical development from the beginning, and I can't see that you have done
anything to indicate otherwise. All that remains is for you to discover that
you failed to appreciate the significance of this issue and how it will have
defined your term of office. You may not give a damn about the rule of
law or the meaning of democracy but there are a lot of voters who still do.
Soon enough you will be able to count them."
-- Sean Mitchell, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
""Driving down to City Hall to attend the City Council Planning and
Land Use committee's long-awaited review of the Walgreens decision this past
Tuesday afternoon, I found myself feeling inordinately optimistic. After
all, this eleventh hour review of the Walgreens decision had been brought to
Council by Nick Pacheco, whose impending re-election bid seemed to have ignited
a new sense of civic responsibility in our Council representative.
Suddenly, the man who only a year earlier had announced that
it was not his job to dictate what kinds of businesses could and could not set
up shop in Eagle Rock -- and that to do so would be, to use his phrase,
'un-American' -- was now spouting off to the Los Angeles Times how he felt
'deceived' by Walgreens. Perhaps there was a chance that our elected
representative had finally decided to...well, represent us.
Alas, my hopes of witnessing a new pro-community, and against
development-at-any-cost stance from Nick Pacheco were dashed as soon as our
Councilman took his seat before the Council Tuesday. In the days leading
up to the meeting, Walgreens had submitted yet another revision of their plan,
one that -- like each of the company's previous revisions -- altered the
'street wall' canopy building on Colorado, while leaving the site's central
building untouched behind a proposed three rows wide by about 200 feet deep of
parked cars. And yet, even after at least two community speakers pointed
out how this revised plan still left the project's main building in violation of
the Colorado Specific Plan's section 13.F -- which states, simply and clearly,
that 'no parking shall be permitted on that portion of a lot located between
the front lot line and any portion of a building which faces Colorado
Boulevard' -- Mr. Pacheco told his fellow Council members that it was his
intention to once again support the Walgreens plan.
In describing his reasoning for this latest about-face, Mr. Pacheco essentially
suggested that nothing Walgreens could propose would appease those who want to
see the existing Shopping Bag building reused; and that, furthermore, no plan
presented by the retailer was likely to quiet those 'anti-corporate' people who
want to keep corporate America out of Eagle Rock at any cost. This was a
curious rationale for Mr. Pacheco to employ, especially since the idea of
refurbishing the Shopping Bag building had scarcely been mentioned by any of
the community members who spoke against the Walgreens project that day.
And if there was anyone in the Council chambers who was determined
to keep Eagle Rock free from corporate influence, he or she failed to fill out
a speaker's card at Tuesday's meeting, which was, in fact, suffused with
supportive statements of welcome for Walgreens, so long as they agree to abide
by our community's laws. Clearly, these anti-corporate, Shopping Bag
Building-huggers that Mr. Pacheco conjured up were no more than straw men
invoked to justify a stance that takes little heed of the true breadth and
variety of voices that oppose the construction of this illegal and unwanted
development in our community.
After Mr. Pacheco finished his statement, at least one member of the Council's
land use committee expressed concerns about the Walgreens project and the
process by which it was approved. But finally, the Council subcommittee
voted to uphold the planning department's approval of the project, citing their
trust in Councilman Pacheco's judgment as a key factor in their decision.
Their recommendation now goes before the full Council on Friday, where
its passage is a pretty much a foregone conclusion.
No matter. The voices that Mr. Pacheco seems so determined to ignore will
no doubt speak loud and clear come election day this March.
Speaking of which, it should be noted that Antonio Villaraigosa, Mr. Pacheco's
opponent in the City Council race, addressed his own feelings on the Walgreens
issue in a letter he submitted to Council on Tuesday. In his note, Mr.
Villaraigosa stated his unequivocal opposition to the kind of unchecked sprawl
that the current Walgreens project typifies, and voiced his support of the kind
of democratic participation that would make it difficult for developers like
Walgreens to move into our community without respecting the rights, wishes and
laws of those of us who live and work here.
Inspired by these words, I stopped by Mr. Villaraigosa's Eagle Rock campaign
office at 2004 Colorado Boulevard on the way home. The volunteers
who greeted me were energetic and friendly, and they tell me they'll be more
than happy to give anyone who asks a sturdy campaign sign that reads
'Villaraigosa for City Council,' -- just like the two that went up in my
front yard Wednesday night, right after I got home from my eye-opening
afternoon at City Hall."
-- Vince Waldron, Eagle Rock resident and TERA member
6. QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Let me be clear, no commission or board can ignore the
community, and Tuesday's council vote reaffirmed the City Council's commitment
to the people of Los Angeles."
--
Council member Janice Hahn
We welcome your comments. Please include
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Please encourage interested friends to send their e.mail addresses to us at artburn@earthlink.net so we can keep them
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TERA -- The Eagle Rock Association -- YOUR COMMUNITY IN ACTION -- http://www.TERA90041.org --
P. O. Box 41453, Eagle Rock, CA 90041 -- (323) 259-TERA -- a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit public benefit corporation
Joanne Turner <artburn@earthlink.net>
President, The Eagle Rock Association (TERA)