Valley Vantage Editorial By Joyce Pearson Calls For Public Forum For Discussion of Costco, Village Project
From the August 26, 2010 issue of The Valley Vantage:
Editorial by Joyce Pearson
It’s Time for Councilman Zine to Provide a Forum to Discuss Costco!It’s time for the community to stand up for what’s right in Woodland Hills, and its time for Councilman Zine to provide a forum to discuss Costco!
LA’s Mayor says it’s a done deal. Westfield says it’s a done deal. Costco hasn’t even relocated yet, but it is already turning what Westfield once promised as an “upscale shop/dine/work destination” into a strip mall with a wholesale arm behind it, that is destined to hurt traffic, surrounding businesses and neighborhoods, not to mention leaving blight behind in Canoga Park, just blocks away.
With the threat of Los Angelinos voting with their feet as more Woodland Hills constituents vacate to Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks to maintain their quality of life, it’s time to reflect on what needs to be done to stem that tide.
What is being asked of Councilman Zine is that he commit to a series of three Town Hall meetings where the community can toss the hardball questions and voice legitimate concerns they have over this plan. Moreover, outreach for these open Town Halls must be paid for out of the Council District’s budget, along with a series of mailings to every address within 2 miles of the Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Victory Blvd. epicenter.
Calling the meetings will enable the Councilman to explain why he appears to be promoting Westside traffic congestion here in the West Valley; and to be scrapping pedestrian walkways, green belts, parking on the roof of Costco and many other key items that Westfield had proposed and promised the public in its original plans for The Village. The Councilman could even address disregarding the new Warner Center Specific Plan before it is even off the drafting table.
Most importantly, Councilman Zine can shed light on the “ proposed increases” in jobs and tax revenue; the traffic congestion that is destined to ensue; and any financial incentives that may have been advanced by relocating the Costco and its employees. In addition, it would be great to have Costco’s President at those meetings with him to tell us how the new Costco will bring value to our community.
What say you Woodland Hills, are you ready to meet your Councilman? If you want to know what is going on in your community and are interested in participating in Woodland Hills:
1. Sign one of the petitions (Just say NO) or (Here’s the way to go) on the Website at: www.CommunityRedevelopmentAdvocate.com;
2. Volunteer to walk your neighborhood to get petitions signed;
3. Volunteer to circulate information about the upcoming Town Hall meetings;
4. Write letters;
5. Ask for speakers to present information at your school or community organization;
6. Learn what you need to do to have your own impact when the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) is presented by Westfield;
7. Find out what the Warner Center Specific Plan is all about;
8. Review what the Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council says about the matter by going to their Website at: www.WHCouncil.org, as well as finding out about their upcoming meetings on this important topic.Look for the upcoming dates of the Town Hall meetings, and attend. You can send a clear message and help the Court of Public opinion weigh in on your community.
Joyce Pearson is Chair of the Greater West Valley Coalition and Chair Emeritus of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council She can be reached at 713-8600
Popularity: 100%
4 Responses to “Valley Vantage Editorial By Joyce Pearson Calls For Public Forum For Discussion of Costco, Village Project”
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Interesting her comment:
With the threat of Los Angelinos voting with their feet as more Woodland Hills constituents vacate to Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks to maintain their quality of life, it’s time to reflect on what needs to be done to stem that tide.
To the contrary, no one is moving these days in any significant numbers anywhere, and if they do leave, there will be someone(s) taking their place. Secondly, many locals today prefer to shop the Costco on Lindero Canyon than the one on Roscoe Blvd. due to the convenience, access, and better neighborhood.
Thus the city is losing tax revenue. By relocating to the Westfield site, the city will be retaining and increasing the revenue stream.
And anyone thinking the village plan as envisioned many years ago, or even the current “draft” plan will be implemented soon are just unaware of just how dire things are in the retailing sector of the economy. Everyone should be thankful Costco wants to move to this site and thus spur its further development. Controlling traffic, access, and similar matters are very doable, but you can’t get the job done with commentary like hers in the background.
This Nimbyism stuff is getting old and no progress occurs. People need to realize they are living in an area of nearly 2.0M people here in the valley, not a leafy glade of 20,000 out in rural Fillmore, or suburban Agoura Hills.
Where do I sign to support a new Costo?
I wish it would hurry up and open.
Anyone else notice the line “With the threat of Los Angelinos voting with their feet as more Woodland Hills constituents vacate to Westlake Village or Thousand Oaks to maintain their quality of life, it’s time to reflect on what needs to be done to stem that tide.” makes ZERO sense, because there is a COSTO in Westlake Village?
And another one in Simi Valley.
There is a serious lack of logic in the editorial.
Rather than blame COSTO, maybe blame the city’s high business taxes, that fact that the city’s red tape makes it unfriendly to small businesses. Or maybe that fact that Los Angeles residents, between state, county and city taxes, pay a rather large amount in taxes, yet our schools and police forces are consistently under funded.
Or at least find something to blame that makes some sense.
Those that wish to learn more about the COSTCO development should attend the Sept 15th Woodland Hills Warner Neighborhood Council Mtg. 6:30PM at the Woodland Hills Academy (Burbank/DeSoto) Councilman Zine, COSCTO’S developer and a rep from COSTCO will be there to discuss the matter.