A Politically Incorrect Blog About Living in Woodland Hills, California

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%

Local Blogger Forces LA Councilmember Zine To End Week Backpedaling

From the Valley Vantage:

It seems that many people’s mastery of the English language has been called into question by Zine.  Apparently, “it’s a done deal,” actually means “don’t worry, it hasn’t been fully decided yet and there will be plenty of time for public comment.”  I am quite pleased that I called out Mr. Zine publicly on his comments to Karen Koe, and he has been forced to engage his constituency.

I find it interesting that in the article Zine remarks that the Costco may not even end up at the The Village site at Owensmouth & Victory.  (As a side note, I wonder if Zine picked up a backwards pedaling bicycle at the new Performance Bicycles store?) However, since that is the only proposal anyone is putting forward, you can pretty much be assured that’s where it will be going.  Zine is clearly working closely with Costco, as he has said repeatedly, and obviously also Westfield, since they have put forth a proposal for it.

So, Mr. Zine, where is the alternate proposal that doesn’t involve The Village?  Unfortunately, for everyone, this proposal is going to be put forward as, “If you want a Costco, if you want these jobs and development in Woodland Hills, it has to be at this site.”  You can already tell where that’s going.  Unless alternatives, and “plan Bs” are developed, this will come to a simple “yes” and “no” decision, which as Zine decrees, “the decision comes out of my office.”  We already know what that decision will be if it comes down to Costco at The Village or no Costco at all.

This article is also quite interesting that it reveals that Costco plans to abandon it’s Canoga Park Costco location that has been a cancer on that community for a number of years.  No matter how much you love Costco, you must admit that is true.  They are not a very good corporate neigbhor for that community.  I don’t personally think that would be the case for a higher end store in Woodland Hills, but no one should ignore the obvious fact that even the parking lot at the Canoga Park location is a sewer, last I looked.

Thanks to Tanya Peel for the heads up on the Valley Vantage article.

Popularity: 7%

Mayor Sam Picks Up On Dennis Zine Post

Mayor Sam’s Sister City writes on Friday’s Hotsheet:

Councilman Dennis Zine has earned the ire of some of his constituents who are opposed to the opening of a new Costco store in his District in Woodland Hills. At a community meeting, Zine said to a Neighborhood Council member speaking up against the big-box retailer ““Let me stop you right there. Costco is a done deal. There’s no way I am going to refuse a huge tax base like that for the city.”

For a lively conversation and interesting comments on both sides of the issue visit their site.

With regard to Zine’s comment to Karen Koe, this commenter make a point which closely resembles my own:

Words matter. They are the means we use to communicate. If Zine meant something else, he should have said something else. We have to assume he meant what he said and said what he meant.

Goals matter, too. If a politician’s state goal is to maximize tax revenues, he may create or destroy jobs. He may, for example, decide to raise taxes to raise revenues, and thereby drive employers out of town.

I think it’s fair and reasonable to expect elected officials to whom we pay six-figure salaries to listen to people’s concerns, and to explain the reasons for their decisions.

Zine could have said, for example, that, while he understoond and sympathized with the increased traffic the project would create, he believes that the jobs the project would create make it good for the city as a whole, especially in a recession.

That’s a far cry from “mo money, case closed.”

Popularity: 4%

Dennis Zine Writes In With Comments Regarding Costco

Dennis Zine writes in a comment to the “Done Deal” post:

Recent reports in the media have raised some issues over the proposed Westfield Village Project. Let me clarify a few things; while the prospect of a Costco coming to the Westfield development is pending, the deal has not been finalized. Westfield, the owner of the property has proposed several development concepts from residential to commercial for the parcel of land stretching from Victory Blvd. to the Promenade. Having said that, I have been working with Costco for a few years to determine a suitable location for a store to be established in the West San Fernando Valley to make it convenient for residents in the area to shop. Costco ultimately determines the demand for one of their stores at a particular location. It is also my understanding that the current Costco in my district is anticipated to close and that will leave the Southwest Valley without any Costco. This development is in the very early stages and all of the specifics including the architectural details, a traffic plan, and environmental impacts are to be determined. Nothing will be set in stone without an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in addition to a full review by the relevant City Departments, the City Planning Commission, the Planning & Land Use Management Committee, and the full City Council. When a draft EIR is released, a public comment period follows, and subsequently, every single concern is addressed. I am supportive of the concept of a Costco because of the job creation and much-needed tax dollars it will bring to the area, but there will be several opportunities for residents to voice their opinions on this matter so we can ensure a sound plan for the community. As the Councilman for the district, my obligation is to provide economic vitality, and in that endeavor, I will continue to promote opportunities for job creation and a robust economy for residents in my district.

Mr. Zine, so the question I pose to you, is what sites in Woodland Hills and the west SFV were considered and why were those rejected?  What about sites just for the Costco that are not Westfield owned?  How much empty office space is already in Warner Center?  Does it need more?  Why do we care if Westfield develops that site at all costs?  Wasn’t Catalina Yacht’s property a consideration?  Seems like a Costco would be better suited there?  I’d like to see more real discussion involving the community on this.  That’s my goal, I am not even anti-Costco, I just feel consideration needs to be made to the long term interest and not the rush to develop anything at all just so something is developed.

Note: It appears Zine’s comment is a cut-and-paste of a retort from his weekly newsletter.

Popularity: 4%

Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council Meeting Tonight @ 6:30pm

For those of you interested in such things, there is a Neighborhood Council meeting tonight.  Hors d’oeuvres will not be served and evening wear is optional.  See the links in the quotes text for agendas and such.  I believe the highlight of the evening will be something related to 20600 Ventura Blvd.

WHWCNC Board Meeting
Notice of Public Event

The regular monthly meeting of the WHWCNC Board will be held at:

Prince of Peace Episcopal Church
Youth Auditorium
5700 Rudnick Avenue
Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Meeting Agenda: July 14th Board Agenda

PLUM Report for 20600 Ventura Blvd
PLUM Report – Project Site Plan
PLUM Report – Partial Elevations

Popularity: 4%

Westfield To Hold Workshop For The Village Changes, Community Urged To Attend

If you care about Woodland Hills, you should download this PDF to read about Westfield’s proposed changes for The Village.  Then, you should come to their workshop and voice your opinions and concerns on Wednesday July 28th.  See my annotated illustration above for a diagram of the proposed project.

Popularity: 7%

Filming Today & Tomorrow At Bank On Corner Of Erwin & Owensmouth Involves Gunfire, Helicopter

I drove by here this morning and you could tell they were gearing up old vacant bank for action.

LAPD writes:

Filming at the 21700 block of Erwin St, Woodland Hills with helicopter and simulated gunfire Mon 7/12 and Tues 7/13.

Filming at the 21700 block of Erwin St, Woodland Hills with helicopter and simulated gunfire Mon 7/12 and Tues 7/13 from 7:00am to 10:00pm. The filming scenes will involve a low flying helicopter and simulated automatic weapon gunfire. Also, make-up will simulate bullet wounds on actors. The low flying helicopter will fly in the areas surrounding the 21700 block of Erwin St.

Popularity: 4%

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