The October SCRA meeting was the forum for the unveiling of a no-development “alternate vision” to the proposed development on the Studio City Golf and Tennis site. Our consultants, Esther Feldman of Community Conservancy International, and Lynne Dwyer and Martin Kamerer of BlueGreen Consulting, presented the green, L.A. River-focused, conceptual vision for the site. It features 12 tennis courts, a golf facility ( driving range, putting green, practice area), and an L.A. River-friendly park, which would provide open space protection, natural habitat, and water quality improvements.
This new vision represents a paradigm shift in the way we have thought about protecting as much of this property as possible as permanent, open, recreational space, which is summarized in the change of the name of our organization from “Save Studio City Golf and Tennis” to “Save L.A.River-Studio City Open Space.”
Since this property is for many reasons of regional significance, including its adjacency to the LA River, we believe that this conceptual plan could qualify for public funding, due to its potential to assist the City and County in meeting water quality improvement goals in the LA River, at beaches and in San Pedro Bay – goals set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to comply with the United States Clean Water Act.
We developed this concept with the support of Congressman Howard Berman, Assemblymember Mike Feuer, Senator Sheila Kuehl and Councilmember Wendy Greuel, as well as candidates for State Senate, Fran Pavley, and for State Assembly, Bob Blumenfield, and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.
The new concept was well received by the large crowd in attendance.
Now our fundraising challenge continues. Please remember, every donation, large or small, helps us continue our efforts to preserve this precious open space. Please send checks payable to Save L.A.River-Studio City Open Space, c/o SCRA, P.O.Box 1374, Studio City, CA 91614.
Owner's Revised Development Proposal:
200 full-service senior condos in six four-story buildings
635 parking spaces
REMOVES ALL TENNIS COURTS
LOSS of CRITICAL LA RIVER LINK on last remaining unprotected open space
along LA River in the Valley
The new development proposal includes:
200 full service senior residences
six four-story buildings 45 feet high
dining room
exercise, craft and other program facilities
health center
REMOVAL of all tennis courts
NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO L.A. RIVER – LOSS of CRITICAL RIVERFRONT LINK on last remaining unprotected LA River open space for 22 miles
Although the golf course and driving range would remain, any potential broad public access to the L.A. River, restored river habitat or connections to the regional L.A. River Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail might be lost – permanently.
To view actual site plan, click below:
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BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!
In our work with saving Studio City Golf and Tennis from development, we set up this program where you enter your Ralphs Club Card number online, then every time you swipe your Club Card at Ralphs, a portion of your purchase will benefit Save Studio City Golf and Tennis, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.
To use the Ralphs Community Program:
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Have your Ralphs Club card available.
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Browse to Ralphs Community Contribution Participants Enrollment Form.
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In the first box (“NPO Number”), enter our number 84572.
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Enter remaining information, then click Submit.
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NPO number is 94572.
Every little bit helps. Thank you!
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MEMORANDUM
Date: June 10, 2008
To: Studio City Residents Association (SCRA)
From: SCRA Studio City Golf & Tennis Committee (SCG&T Committee)
Re: Studio City Golf & Tennis Committee Activities Update ________________________________________________________________________
The following will provide a topline summary of the Studio City Golf & Tennis Committee’s activities over the past year since our last update, in which we covered our efforts in preserving as much of SCG&T as possible as permanent, open, recreational space.
Over the past eight years, the SCRA Golf & Tennis Committee, which in an extremely active group of twenty four people, led by five co-chairs, SCRA President Alan Dymond, and past-SCRA Presidents Art Howard and Tony Lucente, David Burg, Laurie Cohn, and Kathy Hassett. Our activities are consistent with the wishes of the SCRA membership, who we polled during the Winter of 2006-2007, whose priorities for this property are abundantly clear: Open space is the members’ priority.
Over time, we have found that the most effective way to battle potential development of this precious site was to hire professionals specializing in the area of land preservation. They are providing invaluable guidance and expertise as we strategize on, and actively pursue, a lasting solution to the preservation of this “crown jewel” of Studio City.
Most notably, Esther Feldman of Community Conservancy International (CCI), and Jan Chatten-Brown, our land use attorney, have advised and executed the proper steps at all appropriate turns, in order to set the stage for possible legal proceedings with regard to this property.
You may be aware that in the past months the property owners and their development partners, submitted a new proposal for a senior residence community consisting of (200) units housed in (6) four-story buildings and (635) parking spaces, which preserves the driving range and golf course, but eliminates all tennis courts. They have entered this proposal into the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process, the comment submission period for which concludes on June 18th, thanks to an extension the Planning Commission granted on the request of Councilmember Wendy Greuel. She wanted to be sure that since this is a public process, all stakeholders would have the opportunity to weigh in on the decision-making process.
You see, we continue to look toward Wendy Greuel’s leadership, because she has heard from the Studio City community loud and clear that SCG&T is valued recreational space that needs to be preserved.
To be clear, the development of this property in the manner proposed, would require a zone change, and a general plan amendment. The owner cannot build a housing development on this site without the City Council approving these two major land use changes, or a potentially lengthy, arduous, and costly legal battle. At this time, there is nothing before the City Council for consideration. That would come after a Draft EIR is circulated, which we estimate to be at least several months from now. In fact, the entire process the owner/ developer must follow, is a public process by law. This entire process could take as much as a year-and-a half after the Draft EIR is submitted, with public hearings along the way.
Perhaps the biggest change that has occurred over the past five years with regard to this property is that it has gone from being a neighborhood issue to an area of regional significance, beyond even the City of LA. We have been able to gain a great amount of traction with County and State politicians, who are helping us to form an alternative vision for this property that could potentially address County and State water catchment purification issues, while preserving open recreation space on the street level. Their interest is a direct result of Regional Water Quality Control Board changes, which have prompted a closer look at the opportunities this site represents.
This property is the last contiguous undeveloped sixteen acre parcel of land on the LA River between Canoga Park and the 170 freeway. As such, this site is gaining significant interest relating to the objectives of The LA River Revitalization Master Plan (LARRMP). This property is considered an “opportunity site” for “additional water quality treatments, such as bioinfiltration swales and detention basins.”
These represent important turns for our community, and to our efforts to preserve it, considering that after the EIR scoping meeting on this potential development of this property, our attorney requested that the EIR comprehensively analyze alternatives to the project, including a multi-use project that combines a multi-acre LA Riverfront park as part of the regional LA River Greenway with on-site water catchment and filtration to address the inflow of contaminated waters into the LA River and the need for open space and recreation in the San Fernando Valley. The SCG&T Committee continues to believe that this property has the potential not only to be preserved, but to enrich our community.
We are currently engaged in planning a design session scheduled to take place next month, involving a broad range of experts whose experience in “green” planning and execution, can provide us the vision as to what a multi-use alternative plan could look like for this property.
To commission a design such as this is a lengthy and costly project. So last Summer our committee held a formal fundraiser. Councilmember Greuel and Assemblymember Mike Feuer were the Co-Hosts of this event and attendees were able to pose questions to a specialist in Landscape Architecture and Hydrology and give their input as to what should be included in the forthcoming alternative design. It is noteworthy that also in attendance were Fran Pavley, who many say will be our next State Senator, especially given her primary victory last week, LA County Supervisor, Zev Yaroslavsky, Assembly Members Lloyd Levine, and Mike Feuer. It occurred to us that at that fundraiser were the people who could together impact this community in such a positive way through preservation and environmental enhancement of this open space.
Subsequent to this fundraiser, CCI received a grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC), that we were able to match, in order to create such a vision.
As you can well imagine, one of our biggest challenges is a financial one. Our fundraising efforts have been extremely successful to date. Many thanks to all who have contributed in the past. In the July SCRA monthly newsletter, we will be soliciting additional contributions, which will be tax deductible, due to our 501c3 tax-exempt status.
We are very grateful for any contributions that we receive, because they fund the continued professional and meaningful activities. Even donations some might consider “small,” in aggregate, also help us to find bigger dollars that match them. We fundraise at the grass roots level, so that we may continue to work with professionals to counter the owners’ attempts at a massive development.
Our committee will remain buoyed by the strength of the community’s opposition to massive development on this property, that would result in the loss of open space at this site. It has not gone unnoticed by our elected officials that our community response to this issue has been sustained and consistent. We have no reason to believe it will not continue. There are few things that endure as people evolve and change. On the rare occasions when people remain true to an issue over the long term, it is noteworthy.
Thank you for your continued support as we work our way through the next level of our preservation efforts.
Sincerely,
SCRA SCG&T Committee
Co-Chairs:
Art Howard
David Burg
Laurie Cohn
Kathy Hassett
Tony Lucente
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Survey Results
The results of the December 2006 SCRA Member Survey, which was completed by nearly 700members (a whopping 40% of recipients!), were announced at the SCRA June meeting.
Overwhelmingly, the membership responded that they are familiar with the history of the Studio City Golf and Tennis (SCG&T) site (93%), that the future of the site is a very/ somewhat important issue (92%), more important to them than air quality, schools, parks and recreation, transportation, noise, the LA River, and flooding. When asked to state their top (2) issues of importance, 25% listed the site as their first or second choice, under only the issues of traffic and public safety.
The vast majority of completed surveys also demonstrated that the membership agrees that that any development on the property should protect LA River water quality (91%), and that any proposal for the site should be consistent with the city’s plans for revitalizing the LA River (89%).
The top four components of a development proposed for this property the members listed as important were open space (86%), trees/ foliage (88%), setback (72%), and a 9 hole golf course (61%).
When asked if housing must be built on the site, the majority of respondents (55%) said that the maximum unit density they would support was the lowest option offered in the survey-(50) units.
The SCRA Board was happy to learn that more than two-thirds (66%) of the completed surveys sited that the work the SCRA does to represent them and community’s needs, wants and interests was “excellent.”
Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete a survey! The SCRA SCG&T Committee will use these results directionally, moving forward with their efforts to preserve as much of the site as possible as permanent open recreational space.
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Thank You Studio City Golf & Tennis Committee!
SCRA cannot thank this committee enough for their tireless efforts so, THANK YOU THANK YOU to our Co-chairs Art Howard, Laurie Cohn, David Burg, Kathy Hassett, and Tony Lucente. Special thanks to sub-committee/activity leaders Barbara Monahan Burke, our LA River Liason/Chair, Dave Bate, our legal consultant, Patty Kirby-Fundraising Chair. The standing committee includes Andrea Sher, Anita Hirsh, Alan and Beth Dymond, Barbara Kantro, Bruce & Renne Bilson, Carrie Henderson, Helen Giroux, Mary Margaret Fekete, Mikie Di Matteo, Nick & Loretta Parrillo, Olimpia Feig, and Steve Hirsh. Special thanks to Anita Hirsh for the Save Studio City Golf & Tennis signs.
Moving Forward: New Vision for Protecting Studio City’s Precious Open Space” (formerly known as Studio City Golf and Tennis)
Since its formation eight years ago, the Studio City Golf and Tennis committee has warded off 5 previous development plans for this “crown jewel” of Studio City. The fight is far from over. The owners are working to get city permits to build 200 condo units in six four-story buildings.
This is the only unprotected open space along the Los Angeles River for 22 miles in the San Fernando Valley. We have been working with professionals to help us permanently protect this special site and to develop a forward-thinking vision for it. The site is vital to carrying out the City’s LA River Revitalization Mater Plan, which describes it as an “opportunity site” for “additional water quality treatments. This property has the potential to assist the city and county in meeting water quality improvement goals in the LA River, at beaches and in San Pedro Bay .
With the help of Assemblymember Mike Feuer, Senator Sheila Kuehl and Councilmember Wendy Greuel, and with matching funds raised by our non-profit Save Studio City Golf and Tennis, Community Conservancy International (CCI) secured a grant from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to develop a L.A. River-focused conceptual vision for the site.
After months of analysis, and with the input of local and regional community, conservation, water quality, Los Angeles River and elected leaders, we are proud to present a contemporary vision for this site that addresses critical L.A. River, open space protection, natural habitat, and water quality improvement issues. We believe that this conceptual plan could qualify for public funding.
At our October 14 SCRA meeting, there will be a presentation of this NO DEVELOPMENT vision for the property by CCI and BlueGreen Consulting. We are also announcing the new name of our non-profit organization and our volunteer group… “Save LA River-Studio City Open Space”(formerly called Save Studio City Golf and Tennis).
