Planning Commission Chair Resigns

By Jorge Casuso

Planning Commission Chair Ken Breisch, who helped shape many of the city's planning polices during his seven years on the powerful board, confirmed widespread rumors by submitting his resignation Tuesday.

In a two-paragraph letter to Mayor Ken Genser, Breisch cited his new responsibilities as Director of Historic Preservation Programs at USC for stepping down on June 30, one year before his second four-year term expires.

The resignation gives the City Council three of the seven commission seats to fill. The terms of Commissioner Eric Parlee (who is not expected to be re-appointed) and Matthew Kanny (whose future on the board is uncertain) expire June 30.

If the two commissioners are not re-appointed, the board will likely have six members with less than one year experience, as it prepares to consider two major developments - a new headquarters for RAND and a Target store downtown.

In his letter of resignation, Breisch wrote, "I do this with much regret, but find that my new responsibilities.... make it impossible for me to continue to do the kind of job that this position entails. Between travel and meetings, I am also afraid that too many conflicts in scheduling are beginning to arise to make my regular attendance at the commission a guaranteed possibility."

"He's certainly been a thoughtful presence on the commission," said Mayor Ken Genser. "I wish him luck in the future."

Though not a surprise, Breisch's resignation disappointed his longtime colleagues on the board.

"He and I have not always seen eye to eye, but he's one guy I respect thoroughly," said Parlee, the commission's longest-serving member. "The happy thing for me is I won't be there to miss him."

"I feel that I'm losing a partner," said Commissioner John Zinner, who was appointed on the same night as Breisch. "Ken was a great commissioner and great leader and very respected. I feel potentially rather lonely. I don't want to become the one lone voice."

Zinner could become the only member not appointed by the Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights super-majority on the Council, which already has named Kelly Olsen, Darrell Clarke, Barbara Brown and Susan White - who resigned shortly after she was appointed.

"It's going to be a real challenge for the council to find three qualified candidates," said Zinner, who worked as a planning commission liaison for late Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley before being appointed to his post. "There's no institutional memory, and the people they're appointing don't have the professional experience."

A member of SMRR, Breisch has long been concerned with the city's rapid growth, which he considers the major issue facing the commission.

"The big issue is development and all the resulting problems in terms of traffic and parking," said Breisch. "Pedestrians and automobiles are becoming more and more of an issue we have to contend with. People are concerned about the way the city is changing."

Breisch noted that much of the recent and current development - particularly the massive projects along Colorado Avenue -- were green lighted more than 10 years ago. But the building slump that lingered during much of the 1990s, he said, gave the commission time to tackle major policy issues.

"I think I was fortunate to be there at a time when there wasn't much construction and staff had time to work on policy issues," Breisch said.

Breisch said he is most proud of the commission's work in helping to craft environmental initiatives and new sustainable city guidelines, as well as rewriting the open space element and the general plan, which sets guidelines for development citywide.

A former professor of architectural history at SciArc, Breisch said he took to the classroom much of what he learned on the dais.

"It was a second education to me," Breisch said. "It was very useful in my teaching giving students a look at the planning process in the real world. It's been really beneficial for me. I hope it's been good for the city."

In his letter, Breisch thanked the city's staff "for their wise counsel, many insights into the planning process and their willingness to put up with such a cantankerous group of commissioners."