By Ivonne Guzman
On April 14, 758 Sunset Ave., a Small Lot Subdivision that was DENIED by the West Los Angeles Area Planning Commission (WLAAPC) was heard by Los Angeles, PLUM (Planning Land Use and Management) Committee. Councilperson Mike Bonin took jurisdiction over the project at the request of the applicant and Planning Department. The room was packed with standing room only, with many left outside the hearing doors. When the appellant representative arrived she was rushed to the podium, as the item had been moved up on the agenda. The appellant himself had a heart attack just one hour prior to the hearing due to the emotional distress caused by the case, and was rushed by ambulance to Santa Monica Hospital.
Testimony was heard by some of the public for and against the project. Halfway through the hearing quorum was lost, according to Chair Councilperson Jose Huizar. Councilpersons Mitchell Englander and Gilbert Cedillo would be attending the State of the City Address by Mayor Eric Garcetti, and therefore quorum was lost. It was announced by the Chair Jose Huizar that he would be making a recommendation to the full council and those who were not able to speak could attend the full City Council meeting the following day. Many in the audience had taken the day off on that day, and were not able to attend the following day.
There was NO due process for 758 Sunset once it got to the PLUM Committee. The full merits of the project that took 4.5 hours in WLAAPC were not discussed at ALL! Once Councilperson Mike Bonin took jurisdiction via the 245 Rule, the entirety of the WLAAPC decision was null and void and was to be heard in its entirety by PLUM. This in fact did not happen either in the PLUM Committee or the full City Council. The item passed unanimously at Council Chambers on April 15. The project can be further appealed to the City, CEQA and The California Coastal Commission.
Categories: Development/Gentrification
MY NAME IS GABRIEL MARTINEZ. I AM THE YOUNGEST SON OF THE COUPLE THAT OWNED 758 BEFORE THE GENTRIFICATION, AND WHEN VENICE WASN’T PERFECT, BUT IT WAS HOME. MY MOM AND DAD WOULD BE HAPPY KNOWING THE COMMUNITY IS FIGHTING THIS WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION AND DIRTY DEALS. TAKE MY WAR I FOUGHT ALONGSIDE STOPCOMMUTERSCHOOL. WE NEVER GAVE UP, AND WE NEVER GAVE IN. WE CONTINUED TO PUT PRESSURE ON STEVE ZIMMER, AND THE ELITE PARENTS WHO WANTED $30 MILLION AND GOT IT IN A BLINK OF AN EYE. AND WE OVERTURNED IT THANKS TO CORTINES. THE SAME SHOULD BE SAID IN THE CASE OF 758. DON’T STOP FIGHTING. THIS IS THE FIGHT WE WILL WIN. ALWAYS THINK POSITIVE, AND NEVER GIVE UP. YOU HAVE MADE THE SPIRITS OF VENICE HAPPY. THE SPIRITS ARE ON OUR SIDE. AND THEY WILL DEAL WITH THE CORRUPT AND DIRTY AND THERE IS NO MOTION TO STOP IT.