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Issues Committee Report for January, 2005

Peck Park

LANI, in conjunction with the Department of Recreation and Parks, is planning to submit a proposal for a Stream Restoration Grant to provide water quality improvements and habitat restoration.  The proposed project includes the design and implementation of detention basins, bio-swales and other vegetative erosion control structures along a portion of the streambed.  Improvements would also include habitat restoration, trail restoration, bridge construction and interpretive signage.

The grant requires a 20% match.  LANI has asked that the NWSPNC assist in meeting this match by conducting another community clean up at Peck Park and pledging $5,000 in cash match.

MOTION:  That the NWSPNC agree to conduct a community clean up at Peck Park, commit $5,000 in cash match for the Stream Restoration Grant, and send the attached letter in support of LANI’s Urban Stream Restoration Proposal. (More Information)

JCC Homes

At the December meeting of the full Council, JCC Homes’ proposal to develop 135 detached homes (Highland Park Estates) on the Kinder Morgan site was referred to the Issues Committee for further discussion.  Many residents of the immediate community attended and participated in the Issues Committee meeting.  A number of those present had also visited the site on Normandie and expressed positive reactions to that development which is virtually the same as what is being proposed for this site.

JCC Homes shared with us the letter they sent to Kinder Morgan requesting a meeting to discuss a price adjustment that would allow them to lower the proposed density. The response from Kinder Morgan stated in part:

While we sympathize with the NWSPNC’s desire for a lower density project, please understand that several of the other developers with whom we spoke about this property planned to submit attached condominium projects of more than 200 units.  We chose to move forward with JCC based upon your rep0utation for construction of high quality, detached home projects.  We agreed to a lower price with your firm than what we could have achieved from another buyer proposing to build higher density condominiums.  We also considered a “big box retailer” …but feared that the resulting traffic would be a major concern to the neighborhood….In addition, since opening escrow with JCC we have obtained preliminary bids to demolish and clear our site and  to remediate any contamination to residential development standards.  The preliminary cost estimates associated with the work are above our original estimates….we can not justify any further price reduction.  If you are unable to remove your contingencies and release the deposit in the time frame currently proposed, we will proceed to make those expenditures necessary to allow a resumption of oil or chemical storage and other operations….

JCC Homes prepared a spread sheet showing how the density of this proposed project compared with 6 other developments.  For those in San Pedro, the units per acre were as follows: 

            The Gardens                                                             13.4 

            The Cape                                                    12.7

            The Enclave

                        Detached Townhomes                          10.2

                        Attached Townhomes                           12.6

                        Stacked Flats                                      16.9

                        Overall for Enclave                               12.2

            Highland Park Estates (Kinder Morgan)             11.7

Subsequent to our meeting in December, they developed a plan that would create a new street to access their property from Capitol Drive through the edge of Highlands Park, closing Gatun at N. Cabrillo, and augmenting the park by an equal amount of land.  For the most part, the area residents embraced the proposed street changes.  They asked, and JCC Homes, agreed, to develop a committee to work together on Park related issues.  After some lively discussion, the attached resolution was developed for consideration by the NC. (More Information)

Billboards

Proposed resolution related to the removal of billboards on N. Gaffey.

Whereas it is our understanding that  the commercial billboards on North Gaffey Street  between Channel Street and Westmont Avenue are on Port property, and

Whereas said billboards collectively add to the blight of the surrounding community and are frequently used to advertise alcohol and gambling interests, and

 Whereas said billboards are located directly adjacent to residential homes and a children’s sport facility,

Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the NWSPNC requests that the Port of Los Angeles remove these billboards to help reduce the blighted appearance of this area of North Gaffey Street.

Storm Drain Landscaping

The preliminary landscaping plan for Capitol Drive in front of the storm drain has been developed and will be shared at our meeting.   The next step is the development of an irrigation plan.

Council Workplan

Attached is the list of the issues that the Council is tracking along with a brief status and tentative follow-up dates. 

Next Meeting

Next Meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm January 26 at the San Pedro City Hall, 4th floor.  The two main agenda items will be a presentation by the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) with regard to N. Gaffey and the Recreation and Parks Department regarding how Quimby expenditures are determined.