Saturday, March 22, 2008

Horse First Then Barn Door


Very interesting and atypical LATimes Mar 20th:

L.A. City Council rejects massive Las Lomas development
In a split vote, the panel halts its review of the 5,553-home project near the 5 and 14 freeways. Some council members fear a lawsuit.
By David Zahniser
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

1:11 PM PDT, March 20, 2008

A divided Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to halt its review of the 5,553-home Las Lomas project, dealing what could well be a fatal blow to the mega-development planned for north Los Angeles County.

"This project would have put 15,000 cars a day in an already heavily impacted area," said City Councilman Greig Smith, who represents the northwest San Fernando Valley. "The people of L.A. said we can't take that anymore. We're tired of it."
...
The site, just north of where the Golden State Freeway intersects the 14, is in territory represented by Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who opposed the project. Much of it borders Santa Clarita, which also had fought the project.

That left Los Angeles, where Smith introduced a proposal last month to stop all work on the project, partly to avoid wasting the Planning Department's time over the next two years.

The city of round heels grows a backbone or something else? Ans; a little of both.

First, this was the correct decision. There is just no way this sub-region could accommodate this project.

Second, the project obligates the region to a provision of basic services with massive upfront costs with increasing risk of no supporting revenues.

Third, given the players I fully expect the CA Supreme Court to hear at least some parts of this disagreement.

Finally, the belated hypocrisy factor.

The scorpion stings the frog because it is the scorpion's nature. both drown.

6 comments:

Property Flopper said...

FIRST the developer has to survive going bankrupt... THEN they can sue the city.

Casey Serin said...

Damn, and I was planning to buy the entire 5,553-home Las Lomas project, with 100% financing and an additional $30 million cash-back-at-close. For any future repairs, of course, not to finance a lifestyle of sloth and luxury. No sirree. :-)

Guess I'll have to fund my lifestyle through legitimate means, like male prostitution and selling fake Viagra. Sweet!

Ken Deuel said...

A question on the political structure that provides the substrate for this sort of deal.

How easy/hard is it for unincorporated parts of LA county to 1) join the city LA willingly 2) be annexed by the city of LA unwilling 3) be annexed or join other incorporated cities (willingly or unwillingly) 4) form you own incorporated city?

Also, once you are in an incorporated city, what sort of relationship do you have with the county (for instance the two examples I am familiar with, in Virginia cities and counties are separate, independent and equal entities; in Hawaii the city and county is a unified singular political entity.)

Regards
Kenny

Centipede said...

Apparently this "Be Polite." billboard was spotted in Ventura county.

Rob Dawg said...

lol! destined to be an internet classic.

Just Askin' said...

Was this the land under Six Flags or was that another developer's brainchild? People in LA complaining about another 15K cars? Har har har.