In view of last nights developments, said Mr. Netzel, this is an opportune time to eliminate the Citizens Advisory Committee. This would pave the way for the city to get all stakeholders fully and equally involved in the planning process.
We could go back to the way we have done before on redevelopments, create a visioning workshop process.
New Territory
Here is where Mr. Netzel daring to go where virtually no others have tread becomes inconoclastic.
When City Hall studies the so-called Sepulveda Corridor the 12 1/2 acres from Sawtelle to Jefferson he says that both sides of Sepulveda Boulevard, east and west, should be analyzed.
Some persons involved in the South Sepulveda teardown/rebuild regard this idea as revolutionary and radioactive.
The Winner
It is generally agreed that in a beauty contest, the tidy east side where the influential former City Councilman Albert Vera is the dominant landowner would win every time.
Why not both sides? Mr. Netzel asks.
Cynics contend that tidiness is only part of the explanation. They claim that Mr. Veras perceived power has kept him out of the project on the grounds that he did not want to be included.
Equal Treatment?
Mr. Netzel urged City Hall to undertake a stringent economic analysis of both sides of the Sepulveda Corridor, including Mr. Veras holdings.
This project just has not been thought through, Mr. Netzel said, repeating a mantra he has raised at each Citizens Advisory Committee meeting. Instead of doing this the right way, the city told (the developer) Bob Champion, We want this area redeveloped. Now go build something.
Behind the Motion
Nevertheless, he is as baffled this afternoon as other activists about the exact intention of the pivotal motion that derailed the redevelopment project.
Everybody is questioning what was really meant by the motion, Mr. Netzel said. My hope is that this stops the CAC process, as I said. Then the city can do the economic analysis that it should have done in the beginning.
About Time
He welcomed the news that the Redevelopment Agency, at Monday nights 7 oclock meeting in City Hall will scrutinize the zoning issues to which Sepulveda project critics objected, traffic, density and height.
Land use regulations are the real key, Mr. Netzel said.
Council Approval Needed
None of these events can happen this summer or autumn unless or until the City Council embraces the recommendation to step back and draw up a city-generated plan for the Sepulveda Corridor.
Only then could the city hand the project over to or back to a developer.
I dont have any idea how the Council vote will come out, Mr. Netzel said.
