Isolating One Reason
With his controversial South Sepulveda Boulevard project wheezing and on life support, Mr. Champion attempted to finger the exact reason his proposal has been forced into hiatus.
Good policy in Culver City, he said, is being clouded by the political aspirations of certain people.
The developer declined to name names.
It appeared, however, Mr. Champion was referring to Dr. Loni Anderson, a member of the 9-person Citizens Advisory Committee.
Rumored for more than a year to be a candidate next spring for one of three available City Council seats, it was Dr. Anderson who suddenly offered an unanticipated motion at the last community meeting, June 27, that shut down the South Sepulveda project for months, if not permanently.
Standing Alone
Not only did she author the key procedural move, no one else on the Committee is considered a potential contender for the City Council.
Near the end of the evening when it seemed that Mr. Champion, his defenders and his critics all had wearied of picking apart the project, Dr. Anderson delivered a knockout blow.
Stepping in
With neighbors and merchants in the affected 12 1/2-acre section of South Sepulveda fuming over the general and specific dimensions as being supposedly outsized, Dr. Anderson spoke up.
She offered a motion that would direct City Hall to formulate a precise concept for South Sepulveda, called a Specific Plan, as an alternative to Mr. Champions proposed 4-part teardown/rebuild.
Support Was Incremental
Shakily and hesitatingly, Dr. Andersons eight colleagues extended their approval, immediately shutting down the remake of the west side of the street.
Mr. Champion did not say that Dr. Anderson made the move to bring attention to herself. But that was the implication.
Since the Citizens Committee only was empowered to make recommendations, not policy, the matter was deferred to the City Council.
Publicly, that is where the project has stood since three weeks ago tonight.
Which Way Will It Go?
The Council has not taken up the subject of whether to order development of a Specific Plan, nor has it indicated when it will.
Adding to a cluttered picture threatening to turn chaotic, the Council is in the midst of deciding two hot-button zoning criticisms of South Sepulveda:
To Change or Not to Change?
Whether to lower the present density level of 65 residential units per acre and whether to decrease the 56-foot height maximum, among other numbers.
If the City Council has been inactive on South Sepulveda, the staff of new Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld has been busy on the third floor of City Hall.
They have been developing alternative scaled-down remake designs for the west side of South Sepulveda.
Mr. Blumenfeld said 9 to 12 months would be needed to craft a Specific Plan, but it is understood that more modest approaches to updating South Sepulveda will be proposed.
Making a Decision
Two days ago, staffers met at 7 a.m. with Council subcommittee members Carol Gross, the Vice Mayor, and Gary Silbiger to thrash out the next moves.
Meanwhile, Mr. Champion, who already has invested a sizable amount of his own money in the stilled project, is tied to City Hall with a 420-day exclusive negotiation agreement. The pact is due to expire on Dec. 10.
Developers Future
While it also could be extended, it seems likelier City Hall will exercise its option and provide Mr. Champion with a 15-day written notice.
The developer, who said he wants and plans to remain on the job, said he has not heard of an intent to terminate.
