“At some point, we have to learn our lesson,” City Councilman Chris Armenta said this afternoon in response to the lawsuit Westchester area neighbors have filed over the size of the Entrada Office Tower project.
“We need to listen to the public.
“Residents have to have their say. They must have their input.”
It is the new Councilman’s conviction that if residents near the southern Culver City property had been given a wider berth by the previous City Council — a longer period to study and to react to the environmental impact report, for example — all parties might have been satisfied before the project was approved.
No Third Vote
In the volatile post-vote atmosphere in Council Chambers, Mr. Armenta remains frustrated that he was unable to attract the necessary third vote to bring Entrada back for further examination and discussion on the dais.
“I don’t know why that prospect should have been treated so fearfully,” he said. “We were not really voting, just discussing. I was looking for consensus.
“The idea that every time you ask for a discussion that you will be voting, is wrong. In some cities, you know, it takes only one Council member to get something agendized.
“I thought that we were on solid ground as long as were discussing the environmental impact report, and its inadequacies.”
Mr. Armenta perked to renewed attention late last month when a resident, presenting personal research, indicated the potential presence of methane gas near the building site. He was appalled this alleged threat was not acknowledged in the environmental impact report.
What’s Wrong with Slowing up?
“I wanted an expert to come before the City Council and tell us if he or she thinks this is an issue,” the Councilman said. “I thought having a discussion on this subject was a reasonable request.”
Mr. Armenta said several times that the City Council needed “to take a deep breath” before, in his judgment, “rushing” to a decision on Entrada. “This was not a time- sensitive subject.”
He was critical of a “consistent pattern of behavior” that the Councilman said has given residents the impression “when a project comes along, they will be on the losing end. I have always said, ‘Give the people ample time to have their say, and you won’t hear from me.’”
When it was pointed out that the opinions of more than 100 residents were voiced before the City Council cast a split vote , Mr. Armenta said that was not an example of the public having its say.
Cleaning up Details
Instead of focusing on the meat-and-potatoes issues of Entrada, he said, “they were asking for more time to understand the environmental impact report.
“We needed to take a deep breath,” Mr. Armenta said. “That is our building once it goes up. We need to make sure we get everything right. We want to be certain it is an asset, not a detriment.”
Wait until the next development comes before us, some Council members have warned their colleagues.
Because of the messy manner by which Entrada has played out, the next builder could face a veritable firing squad, they said.
The Good News
“I guarantee you will see a whole new approach from the way that Entrada was done,” Mr. Armenta said, adding that he was speaking from a positive perspective. “No one will be able to say the next time that we were out of control.
“I think we (the new majority on the City Council) are off to a good start. We are practicing civility and respect.
“You will get a better sense of the good chemistry we have.”
