This morning Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff indicated that
he had drafted a tentative ruling that would throw out the City of Los
Angeles' environmental review of the Bridge Housing project proposed for
the former MTA bus lot in Venice.
Beckloff
told the parties that under his tentative ruling, the city would be
denied a categorical exemption and would have to conduct further
environmental studies. In particular, he noted that the city's review
of noise impacts of the project on surrounding residents was inadequate.
The
judge held up issuing his ruling to allow time for the city, MTA and the VSA
to prepare briefings on the implications of recently passed AB 1197,
which removed environmental review requirements in the future for
projects similar to the Venice project. AB 1197 was not retroactive,
though the judge conjectured that it might have some implications for
the Venice Bridge Housing project and asked for written presentations by all sides.
A new hearing is scheduled in the case on December 11th.
The Venice Stakeholders Association is dedicated to civic improvement. The VSA supports slow growth, protection of the limits of the Venice Local Coastal Specific Plan, neighborhood safety, better traffic circulation, increased parking for residents, neighborhood beautification projects, historic preservation and protection of coastal waters.
