Get Involved With YOUR Neighborhood Council > Coastal San Pedro | Central San Pedro | Harbor City | Wilmington

October 8, 2007 - Motion Re: DWP Notification of Proposed Infrastructure Changes

Whereas, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power recently installed new transmission lines to serve the new Mary Star High School at the north end of Taper Ave. in San Pedro, and also to serve a proposed future residential development on the former Naval property on Western Ave., and

Whereas, lines were run underground along Westmont Ave. until reaching Taper Ave., at which point the lines run aboveground along Taper Ave. to an easement on the south side of the high school campus property, and

Whereas, the service requirements for these two new developments required additional power lines, necessitating power poles up to 65 feet high and 48 inches in diameter, dimensions for which the adjective “colossal” would seem to apply, when compared to the size of the replaced existing poles, and

Whereas, the visual scale and appearance of the community has been substantially and detrimentally altered by this construction project, and

Whereas, the neighborhood was not informed in any manner of the commencement of this project, and the nature of the project was only learned through the questioning of the contractor by a local citizen, and

Whereas, the community had no opportunity to review or comment on this project before its commencement, thereby eliminating any possibility of mitigation for the community by requiring, through the city permit process or a specific plan process, installing these new service lines underground, to be paid by the developers of the properties, and

Whereas, the two above-named developments have gained a substantial utility benefit to the permanent visual detriment of the adjacent neighborhood, now

Therefore, the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council urges the City Council to require the Department of Water and Power to notify the appropriate Neighborhood Council and impacted residents and businesses (those occupying properties directly adjacent to the work) of all plans to upgrade, modernize or create visual infrastructure to serve new development or rezoned properties requiring additional service.  Such notification should occur during the planning process, at a point that would allow sufficient time for those impacted by the project as mentioned above to review the plan, consider negative impacts resulting from the planned project, and provide input in the process.

The motion was seconded by Jody James which was followed by discussion on the aspects of the motion.  14 yes votes, 0 no votes.  The motion was passed unanimously.