By Jonathan Friedman
Staff Writer
October 27, 2009 --
An organized neighborhood opposition was not strong enough to persuade the Planning Commission last week to halt the permitting process for two senior housing facilities proposed for the Pico Neighborhood.
The Planning Commission had limited authority over the two projects -- a 24-unit facility at 1924-30 Euclid St. and an 18-unit facility at 1753 18th St. -- because it was hearing an appeal of the Architectural Review Board’s (ARB) approval. Therefore its focus was limited to architectural and aesthetic issues.
Often projects of this size must go before the Planning Commission for complete review, and the commission’s decision could be appealed to the City Council. But because the City considers these projects to be “affordable” and “senior group” housing, they are only required review from the ARB for architectural and aesthetic issues and City staff for all other features in what is called the plan check process.
The project opponents, the Pico Euclid Neighborhood Coalition, challenged City staff’s designation of these projects as senior group housing, arguing that the facilities’ common kitchens were inadequate. A common kitchen is a major feature of senior group housing.
Opponents also argued that the proposed projects were “out of character with the neighborhood” and demanded that they get full Planning Commission reviews.
“There are some elements here that are not right and never will be right,” said local resident Beverly Collins. “And it’s going to be an embarrassment to the City of Santa Monica to have allowed this to take place.”
Referring to the Euclid Street project, Collins said, “It is out of character with Euclid Street. It is too big and it’s not something that you’d put in a residential area.”
Planning Commissioner Jay Johnson said he sympathized with the neighbors’ skepticism of the development process. But he said he has trust in these projects.
Speaking on the Euclid project, Johnson said, “I firmly feel that I can easily support this project.
"I think the project as we see it before us at this time is definitely something to move forward with as is subject to the guarantees that we have and have consistently relied on; that any kind of issues that would not be quote--quite right-- would be resolved in the plan check and with staff coordination,” Johnson said.
Deputy City Attorney Barry Rosenbaum said if it is discovered through the plan check process that the projects do not meet the affordable and senior housing standards, they will be sent back to the Planning Commission for further review.
