One month after its most recent meeting, the City Council returns to work at 7 o’clock in Council Chambers with three public hearings on the agenda:
• The private Willows School in the Hayden Tract is seeking clearance for physical expansion. Willows requires a Zoning Code amendment the City Council must approve.
• The Help Group has a different kind of growth in mind for its private school on Washington Boulevard. They want to considerably increase their enrollment – a scheme they admit to having in mind since opening – without enlarging facilities. They were turned down by the Planning Commission.
• Hoping to override residents’ resistance, owners are seeking permission for a 7-Eleven store at the long-vacant southeast corner of Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard. This case is being heard because neighbors appealed the Planning Commission’s approval.
Taking the topics in order, Councilman Jim Clarke, who has spoken with parties on both sides of all issues, assessed two of them:
• “Willows wants to expand its footprint,” he says. “Since they are a non-profit, the question is, is that the best use for that property? What is interesting about the Hayden Tract is that we feel, with the development of the Expo light rail, within the next five to 10 years, the Hayden Tract maybe much different than it is today. There will be more transit-oriented development.”
• As for the Help Group’s plea, Mr. Clarke toured the property and said “there are two questions: One was of noise, the other of traffic. These are special needs kids, generally brought in by taxi or bus. They all come in at the same time, and it creates traffic problems. They want to add 250 kids, and how much noise does that add to the community. The school has taken some mitigation measures. Finally, an overall debate is, how are we dealing with all the non-profits that come into Culver City, and what is the effect on revenues. I think we should have an overall policy while being able to look inside on a case-by-case basis.”
