Planning & Land Use Committee Notes Sept 2008

Proposed 110 Freeway Congestion Reduction Plan

MTA has received a $210 million federal grant to conduct a one year demonstration of the “Fast Lanes” program. Original plans were to implement it on the 10 and 210 Freeways. Due to opposition, they switched from the 210 to the 110. The Los Angeles City Council has already passed a resolution in support of this substitution. The program is scheduled to begin in Dec 2010.

As proposed, Fast Lanes would be implemented in the carpool lanes from Artesia to Adams. Everyone who currently uses the carpool lanes would still have free access. Anyone else (except trucks) could pay a fee to use these lanes when space is available. Space is deemed to be available as long as the traffic is moving at least 45 MPH.

When the State Legislature approved the plan, they added requirements for a community outreach plan and that the MTA must assess and mitigate the impact on low income commuters. Cal Trans will be required to do some type of environmental review, probably a mitigated negative declaration.

MTA & Cal Trans are aware of the bottleneck problem at Adams and are trying to improve the off ramp situation there.

The $210 million will be used for transit improvements including increased buses from Artesia to downtown. There will not be direct busses to downtown from San Pedro because we do not have layover facilities. There was previously funding allocated for such facilities in San Pedro, but it was not spent and was lost. Our Council previously recommended to CRA and the Council office that the Park and Ride on Harbor Blvd be used for this purpose. Currently CRA and the Port are working on an MOU for this lot. They are discussing building a parking structure and other possible uses.

Need to get more information on what MTA plans to do with revenues from the project.

More information is available at www.mta.net/fastlanes

Action:

1. Sponsor a workshop in San Pedro on a weekday evening regarding the Fast Lanes proposal (Diana & Bonnie)
2. Investigate the possibility of declaring the 110 Freeway a Port Impact Zone (John to talk with Jackie)
   
   

Ponte Vista

Scheduled to be heard at the Area Planning Commission on Nov 18, 4:00 pm at the Port of LA Board Room and the City Planning Commission on Dec 11.

Action: NC sent letter to Jane Usher, Chair of the Planning Commission requesting 60 days between the time of the release of the staff report and the Planning Commission meeting and requesting that the meeting be held in the Harbor Area. Review report when released.

Immediate Care Center at First & Western

Little Company of Mary is renovating their building at First and Western. They plan to use it as an Immediate Care Center to take the pressure off of the emergency room at the hospital. The property is zoned residential but no special approvals are required beyond what they currently have.

Action: Consider recommending that it be changed to commercial in the community plan with a Q condition to keep it medical.

Housing Policy
Mayor’s Housing Policy Summit in San Pedro has been rescheduled to 6pm Nov 18. Location to be determined. A summary of the Mayor’s Mixed Income Housing Policy is attached. It will apply to all new residential projects with more than 20 units and/or land zoned or rezoned for larger housing projects. “The intent is to encourage mixed income housing near employment centers and transit hubs where current zoning can absorb new housing at greater densities.” The committee raised several questions: What is its relationship to SB1818? How is "employment center" defined? How is "transit hub" defined? Does "low scale single family" include R1.5 like the proposed JCC Homes project? How will "over concentration" of low income housing be dealt with?

Action: Send questions to Frank Hong and consider at next meeting

Amerigas
Reviewed and commented on draft statement of work for an RFQ to secure services of consultant to advise regarding safety of Amerigas Tanks. Draft attached.

Action: Request Neighborhood Council approve release of Request for Qualifications for consulting services with regard to safety of Amerigas operations.

Channel Street Cut Thru Alley
Committee members continue to be concerned about the proposed alley cut thru. There is already an alley connecting Miraflores to Gaffey which provides an emergency exit should one be needed. The developer has also applied for the vacation of Cabrillo Street. Committee also expressed concern about proposed cars exiting from their driveways onto Channel. Suggestions: widening Channel, inset for off street parking, requesting more set back from Channel. Look at how to make alley safer, perhaps ask developer to make improvements to alley.

Action: Requested speed study will review at next meeting then request motion be taken off table with recommendation to pass.

Increased Parking Fees
Councilwoman Hahn has introduced a motion requesting that a portion of the increased fees be returned to Enterprise Zone or Business Improvement District.

Action: None taken

Planning Department Recommendation regarding the EIR Process
It appears that the Planning Dept did not consider the process used by Port.

Action: Send letter asking them to consider this process (Pat to draft)

Other
Problem of trucks parking on Gaffey overnight. Action: Request appropriate signage and phone number to call to report problems

o VOA plans to convert the 76 units on their property (behind Ponte Vista) to a “Navy Village”, Section 8 housing for homeless veterans.

o Community Plan Workshop Wed Nov 12, 5-8 pm at Peck Park