AVNC & Glassell Park Joint Meeting
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council and Glassell Park Neighborhood Council
Invites you to a joint community forum with Home Depot representatives
Topic: Find out what plans Home Depot has for the vacant Kmart site
Place: Glassell Park Community/Senior Center
3700 Verdugo Road
Date: November 29, 2005
Time: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Let your voices be heard!
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ELU Committe October Report
MEMORANDUM
TO: AVNC Board
FROM: Dionisia Rodriguez
SUBJECT; Environmental and Land Use Committee October Report
DATE: November 9, 2005, 2005
The Environmental and Land Use Committee (ELU) had a meeting on, October 18, 2005 at Holy Trinity School. This report also includes notes on the L.A. River Master Plan Workshop held on October 22 and a meeting of the Coalition of Northeast Neighborhood Councils held on November 4, 2005
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ELU October Agenda Meeting 2005
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 6:30 to 8:00pm
Holy Trinity School
3716 Boyce Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90039
This is a Sub-Committee Meeting and not a full Board meeting.
For More information on the ELU please contact Dionisia Rodriguez at drodriguez@atwatervillage.org
1. Call to Order
2. Reading and approval of August minutes
3. Old Business
a) Home Depot Joint Meeting October 27, 2005
4. New Business
a) Ad Hoc Committee on Architectural Preservation – Mark Newman-Kuzel
5. General Comments - Comments from all present on non-agenda items within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction.
6. Adjournment (8:00 pm)
www.atwatervillage.org
(323) 634-AVNC
Note: This agenda is also posted at Bill’s Liquor on 3154 Glendale Boulevard.
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ELU Subcommittee August Meeting Minutes
Minutes of the Meeting
August 16, 2005
Christ Church in the city
3852 Edenhurst
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Present: Perla Miranda, Marie Conte, Mary Lou Watkins, Christina P. Eddie Hernandez, Alice Hernandez and Lorena R.
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Minutes of the June and July Meeting
Minutes for both months were approved were approved as submitted.
3. Old Business
· Update on Free Trees for the Community Program
All requests for trees were forwarded to the Environmental Affairs Department for their review. Trees were supposed to be planted in the fall or when Street Services gets caught up with its backlog.
· Update on Home Depot Strategy—Where do we go from the Public Hearing
A survey needs to be taken to better evaluate the community’s stand on the Home Depot issue. The survey template from Sunland/Tujunga and Glassell Park was rejected by the committee as being too wordy and cumbersome. Mary Lou Watkins drafted a survey form that is going to be presented to the Board for approval. It was also discussed that the survey should be taken at the Farmers Market, outside places of business, as in coffee shops and supermarket and walked door to door in the neighborhood
4. New Business
a) Presentation – Brief summary of Tentative Waste Discharge Requirement for the LAGlendale Water Reclamation Plant
Tentative Waste Discharge Requirements for the LA Glendale Waste Reclamation Plant went out for public comments. New standard were set to meet new requirements for better protection of the LA River and the groundwater when reclaimed water is used for irrigation. Final Order to be approved by the Board on Oct. 3.
5. Meeting adjourned at 8:30. p.m.
Minutes Submitted by: Dionisia Rodriguez
Sept.20, 2005
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HOME DEPOT SURVEY INFORMATION
Encourage your neighbors to fill out AVNC's survey in person or online at http://www.atwatervillage.org/Survey/HomeDepot.html
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ELU's September Meeting Agenda
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Environmental & Land Use (ELU) Sub-Committee Meeting
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 7:00 to 8:30pm
Christ Church in the City
3852 Edenhurst
Los Angeles, CA 90039
This is a Sub-Committee Meeting and not a full Board meeting.
For More information on the ELU please contact Dionisia Rodriguez at drodriguez@atwatervillage.org
1. Call to Order
2. Reading and approval of August minutes
3. Old Business
a) Home Depot Survey Strategy—Procedure to conduct the survey
4. General Comments - Comments from all present on non-agenda items within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction.
5. Adjournment (8:30 pm)
www.atwatervillage.org
(323) 634-AVNC
Note: This agenda is also posted at Bill’s Liquor on 3154 Glendale Boulevad
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ELU Meeting Minutes/Home Depot Presentation July 2005
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 7:00 to 8:30pm
Environmental & Land Use (ELU) Sub-Committee Meeting
New Hope Chapel, 2861 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039
Minutes taken by Pat Kramer, PDQ Personnel
1. 7:10 p.m. Call to Order and introduction of Committee members: Jean Gilbert, Emma ___, Rob Force, Mary Lou Watkins, Perla, Moises ______, Dionisia Rodriguez.
2. Tabled: Reading and approval of last meetings’ minutes.
3. Tabled: Old Business: Update on Free Trees for the Community Program.
4. New Business: Presentation and Discussion by Home Depot Team for K-Mart Site.
Chairperson Dionesia Rodriguez announced to stakeholders and the two representatives for Home Depot that no decision was going to be made that evening. The point of the meeting was to find out what plans Home Depot has for using the old K Mart site on San Fernando Road and conversely, to find out how stakeholders feel about use of that site. She commented that each person who filled out a speaker card would have two (2) minutes to speak. After one minute, they would be asked to conclude their thoughts.
Introduction and Initial Comments by The Home Depot representatives:
a) Richard Greene, Real Estate Manager for The Home Depot
b) Gary Morris, President of GLM Associates of Calabasas, a land use consultant for this project.
Gary started by saying that he had worked with The Home Depot chain over the years, helping them attain permits. He noted that this was a somewhat different situation in Atwater Village because, in this case, Home Depot bought the existing buildings when K Mart went bankrupt. He said they want to come in with a better building, get landscaping up to speed, and make other improvements. He said plans have been drawn and they’ve met with the City Councilor’s office. Right now, they are in “plan check” trying to identify and handle issues of concern.
Richard then corrected Gary saying that Home Depot is actually a tenant on the former K Mart property; they didn’t purchase the property.
Comments from Committee members on the plan.
1. Mary Lou Watkins asked why Home Depot wants to open a store on that location when there are two other HD stores close by.
Richard said that there’s actually a fourth, in Burbank, now under construction on Flower Street.
He said the locations came to them as part of a package. If they were going to acquire it, they couldn’t pick and choose where they wanted to locate the stores. He added that each of their existing stores is doing higher volumes [than national trends] so they have evidence that HD can support all four stores at those locations.
2. Gene Gilbert said that she shared Mary Lou’s concern asking Richard how they might alter the building for the San Fernando location.
Richard said they would be reducing the volume of stock to offer more attention to sales and service levels and make it a more enjoyable retail environment for customers. He said this would be done at all four stores in the area.
3. Rob Force asked whether there was any possibility that they would be subleasing the building to any other related company if they were unable to open it or changed their mind.
Richard said that while real estate always has options for another use, they are prepared to work long and hard and in the end, open a store on that location complete with refurbished parking, new landscaping, and new lighting to make it very attractive.
4. Katie Murphy asked if there was any option for the property to be sold and used for another development on that site.
Richard clarified that Home Depot is paying rent right now to the owner of the property. They also pay K Mart management a fee. He said, under the circumstances, they don’t have any interest in playing “landlord’ and making it available to other retailers.
Katie then stated that she imagined that HD would want to be welcomed by the neighbors. In doing so, would Richard want to say anything further on this issue?
Richard said that HD is interested in offering the neighborhood a good shopping environment, something that their stores at Cypress and in Glendale don’t presently offer because of their elevated sales levels.
5. Mary Lou then asked whether a traffic study has been done on San Fernando and Fletcher Roads. She said that the consensus was that a new Home Depot store would generate more traffic than K Mart had.
Gary responded to this question saying that they haven’t done an independent study but they have received information showing how many cars use that intersection during peak hours. He said the “impact hours” were more important figures and that they were “about the same” as K Mart. He then turned the conversation to the nature of the stores, themselves, and how the community dictates how the stores sell. He said that while all the stores start out the same, the stores tend to serve the community’s needs as they go along so that would affect the traffic too.
Gary then pointed out that Home Depot is trying to be a good corporate citizen but that everyone was going to “lose-lose” if they don’t open the store. If they didn’t open and continued to pay rent there, he said they would not be generating any sales tax, something that goes back to community, and there would not be several hundred jobs to offer members of the community.
Public Comments:
Chairperson Dionesia Rodriguez said that she has received eight e-mails – all opposed to having another Home Depot on that site. She stated that the reasons given included:
1. Increased traffic
2. Abandoned shopping carts
3. Concerns about day laborers who are known to hang around “home building” stores
4. Conflicts with a new L.A. City Community College opening near the location. She said that residents preferred to see businesses on that site that could service students. Most people felt Home Depot would not offer value to the Community College.
Chairperson Rodriguez then opened the floor to public comments:
1. Sandra Caravella said that she couldn’t imagine how a parking lot could be attractive. Referring to Gary’s comment, she said, “When you say it’s lose-lose, we’re not really losing. When another box goes up, that’s when we lose.” She added that the jobs HD would have, would not necessarily go to members in the community but rather to the most qualified candidates.
Richard asked stakeholders to reserve judgment until they could open the Burbank store and show them what they mean about an attractive store.
2. Marie Conte stated that she doesn’t feel HD is needed at that location. She said what was needed was a true discount store like K Mart. She then questioned Richard’s statement about purchasing the K Mart stores as a package saying that the San Fernando store was not one of the stores involved when K Mart went bankrupt. She also said she was concerned about traffic patterns at that intersection and that she feels the home laborers will bring in drug dealers.
Richard said that HD did not request specific locations; that K Mart had some reason for placing that store in the pool to generate revenue. He speculated that maybe that location had a long-term lease with the property owner. As far as contractors generating traffic, he said they were not a “predictable percentage.” On the subject of day laborers, he mentioned an upcoming ordinance before the L.A. City Council that would mandate how HD deals with the day laborer issue. With a new city ordinance, it would no longer be a discretionary issue handled on a store-by-store basis.
3. Laura Gutierrez of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council asked about their demographics information, which she said companies seldom share with the community. She asked what HD would do if there was overwhelming opposition to their plans for that site.
Richard said that once the four stores are opened, the company feels all four will be able to operate at a volume level that would allow them to be profitable. He said their demographic information was based on the number of homeowners verses renters. He said their plans are to demolish their Glendale store, shift those employees to the “new” store, then build another new store and either let the initial employees transfer back or hire new staff to the rebuilt store. He said that whole process would take about 18 months.
4. Luis Lopez, Atwater Village Chamber President said that the merchants on Fletcher were very concerned about day laborers and traffic concerns. He said that if HD moves in on that site, it would mean a loss to small businesses.
5. Joan Chin asked if plans were definite.
Richard said they fully intend to work through the city process and open four HD stores. He said he believed that if there are any specific concerns, they might be able to address “some” of them.
Joan asked whether the store would be open 24 hours.
Richard said that in L.A., HD stores are open from: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
6. Joe Ranieri, a local business owner dealing in home improvement supplies asked if there were any other Home Depots with colleges down the street, a Middle School down the street, and existing traffic problems.
Gary replied that their Warner Center store met some of those conditions.
Joe then said that HD represented the annihilation of small family owned businesses saying that his family store is one of the last standing. He asked the HD reps where their conscience was.
Richard told him that to stay in business, they would have to specialize. He mentioned his previous experience with Barnes and Noble bookstores who have been retailers in that category.
7. Jean Wisnieswki asked about day laborers and traffic concerns calling the four HD stores “overkill.”
Richard said that HD would commit to appearing at a second community meeting. If there was any feedback on an architectural theme, they would like to hear the community’s thoughts. On the subject of traffic, he said that it could be mitigated.
8. Annette Carr mentioned that the community fought this same issue six years ago when another home improvement store proposed coming into the community. She said that instead of another home improvement store, she felt something like student housing or senior housing would better serve the community.
9. Romi Rios from the Atwater Chamber said she is opposed to using the K Mart site for Home Depot. With the lack of available land in L.A. she felt better use could be made of it. She also commented on the day laborer problem that would be created.
10. Nancy Chun asked where the day laborers would go from their Glendale location.
11. Allison Becky from Council District 13 then addressed questions about the proposed ordinance dealing with day laborers. She said that the Planning and Land Use Management Committee has been working on a revision to a code section within the municipal code. She said that home improvement stores of a certain size would be required to provide a shelter and bathroom facilities for day laborers and a fund needed to be established to fund services to that shelter. At this time, she said it was going to another committee for review and was not scheduled to go before the City Council at any particular time, yet. With respect to this project, Allison said she would not presume that the ordinance would apply in time to make any decision.
12. James Mottera said he lives near an area where day laborers hang out. He said that there are two liquor stores near that site and by 4 p.m. each day, the day laborers present a safety concern to women and children pedestrians on Fletcher who are harassed. He then asked the HD reps, “If you know there is a day laborer issue and it’s hard to control, and you do set up a hut with the [required] facilities, would you accept liability if a crime is committed?” James also said he had problems with poor customer service at HD.
On the day laborer issue, Richard said their recommendation is not to have day laborers on site because of the liability issue pointing out that it’s hard to control day laborers. On the allegations of poor service at their stores, Richard said that stakeholders are ruling out that HD can give better customer service with a smaller volume. He said that the goal for having more stores in this area is to actually deliver better service to customers and while it may seem like overkill, there is actually a good reason for expanding their store base.
13. Helene Schpak suggested that the communities work together on this issue and look at what the communities need. She also said they need to be realistic about what they might have to accept. She pointed out that the community is supported by independently - owned business and they don’t want to lose that.
14. Louisa Ranieri mentioned the issue of increased traffic, day laborers, and trash. With a school across the street and the college about to go in she said San Fernando Road couldn’t handle the increased traffic on the two-lane road. She mentioned “corporate greed” as the motivating factor in putting in another store.
Gary responded to her statements saying it was not accurate to say HD doesn’t care or that it’s about corporate greed. He said they are, obviously, a “for profit” business but they also do some good things.
15. Charlotte Bocage talked about poor service on her recent trips to HD. She contested HD reps’ statements that they don’t have enough help in their stores saying it was more of an issue of the way they manage their stores.
Richard responded saying they were very proud of HD, that they have “too much business,” double the county averages in volume. He then mentioned that for HD’s 25th anniversary last year, they donated one million hours of free labor, which was used in building playground equipment for parks. He said they just announced that they would be donating another one million hours of free labor with 1,000 new parks as their goal. (See: www.homedepot.com and look for the Kaboom reference.
16. AVNC member Mary Lou Watkins then asked about how HD would deal with the traffic generated by contractors who would likely use the store during morning hours when San Fernando Road is at peak traffic levels. Stating that the community is strongly opposed to HD, she again asked whether HD would reconsider occupying the site and instead, open a general store that would satisfy the community’s needs.
Richard said they could not deliver on that request. On the issue of traffic he said the technical analysis showed traffic would not be significantly different from K Mart.
17. AVNC member Katie Murphy mentioned that she lives on a street that is affected by Costco’s parking lot and that the children in the neighborhood can’t play on their street. She said she was concerned that traffic would be greater than what is projected by their study. In keeping with their goal to be a “good corporate citizen,” she asked them to reconsider based on the public outcry against the store. She then asked whether they had any opposition anywhere else in L.A. which has caused them to reconsider.
18. Marie mentioned that HD employees don’t seem customer – oriented citing that she saw two employees walk away from her when she approached them. With all the negative feelings expressed, she asked them to abandon the project.
Richard restated that they would like to take the opportunity to get all four stores open. He added that a good store manager makes all the difference in how a store is run. Responding to Katie’s question, he said that the Sunland community has expressed similar views about their opening a store on Foothill Boulevard at the site of the former K Mart but they just completed their second meeting there.
19. Sandra said that, even if the day laborer ordinance were to pass, there would be nothing in place to enforce it. She pointed out that the community is fighting for its life and would not give up.
20. Annette again mentioned the community protesting a Home Base store six years ago and that the community prevailed.
21. Laura compared customer service at Loews to Home Depot saying the service was inferior at HD. She then mentioned that if day laborers became a problem on the HD proposed site, it would take the police presence away from other needs in the community.
22. Jean stated that Atwater Village is already short 27 police officers and with the day laborers, it would present a very serious problem, one that the community has been fighting for years and suffered from greatly. On the subject of the store’s affect on local businesses, she said it would take business away from locally owned stores, leaving empty storefronts, and that would lead to more crime.
23. Louisa reiterated that the San Fernando/Fletcher intersection couldn’t take any more traffic.
24. Charlotte asked Richard whether their employees were paid to volunteer man-hours or whether they did it on their own.
Richard said they were not paid.
Charlotte said that it could then, not be counted on. She asked HD to prove they are good corporate citizens by listening to the people and reversing their plans for the store.
25. Jean asked whether the lease allowed HD to sub lease?
Richard said he assumed it would.
26. Michael Giller of the Glassell Park Neighborhood Council stated that the availability of the lot was a true opportunity for a multi - retail complex and that what they need is a restaurant and a retail complex at that location. While he appreciates HD, he said it is the wrong place to have one. He suggested they be a good citizen and assist with another retail complex.
At this time, the public comment section of the meeting was closed by Chairperson Di Rodriguez.
She announced that the AVNC Special election for three vacant seats takes place on August 11 at the same location as the meeting.
At 8:50 p.m. the meeting was adjourned.
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ELU June Meeting Minutes
Environmental & Land Use Subcommittee
Minutes of the Meeting
June 21, 2005
Christ Church in the city
3852 Edenhurst
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Present: Jeff Gardner, Perla Miranda, Gene Gilbert, Sergio Belmonte, Marie Conte, and representing Dept. of Public Works: Bill Van Wagoner, Nick Demos, and Reina Perreira
1. Meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Jeff Gardner moved that the minutes be approved. Gene Gilbert seconded the motion.
Minutes were approved as submitted.
3. Old Business
Update on Free Trees
Marie Conte said that a neighbor asked about maintenance of trees. Dionisia Rodriguez said that the City will plant and maintain the trees; that is it will cut and trim the trees.
4. New Business
· Long term and short term Goals of the City of L.A. on Waste Water Treatment Plant
The staff from LA City Department of Public Works presented the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) which is the 20-year plan of the City for the management of wastewater and storm water run-off in the City. There are four alternatives to accomplish this mission. One of the alternatives will involve the expansion of the Los Angeles-Glendale Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Plant located in North Atwater Village. The treatment capacity of the plant will be increased without significant change in the plant layout. The recycled water produced in the plant is used to irrigate Griffith Park and its golf courses and the cemeteries in the area. Increased production of recycled water will mean decrease in demand of potable water used for irrigation. The IRP also includes also includes building newer and bigger sewer lines. The sewer lines will be built about eight to ten feet underground.
Discussion:
The biggest concern for the community during construction is he location of the sink shafts. The area around the sink shafts will be impacted with traffic congestion, noise and other safety issues associated with the big construction sites. The site selected for the sink shaft is at the corner of Verdant and Alger, a vacant lot owned by New Hope Chapel and intended to be their entrance to the proposed school.
The staff reminded everybody that all the concerns will be addressed during the public comments period of the Environmental Impact report. This period will begin in October 2005 and all those who signed in for the report will be included in the public comments.
5. Meeting adjourned at 9:00. p.m.
Minutes Submitted by: Dionisia Rodriguez
July 19, 2005
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ELU's August Meeting Agenda
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Environmental & Land Use (ELU) Sub-Committee Meeting
Tuesday, August 16, 2005 7:00 to 8:30pm
Christ Church in the City
3852 Edenhurst
Los Angeles, CA 90039
This is a Sub-Committee Meeting and not a full Board meeting.
For More information on the ELU please contact Dionisia Rodriguez at drodriguez@atwatervillage.org
1. Call to Order
2. Reading and approval of June and July minutes
3. Old Business
a) Update on Free Trees for the Community Program
b) Update on Home Depot Strategy—Where do we go from the Public Hearing
4. New Business
a) Presentation – Brief summary of Tentative Waste Discharge Requirement for the LAGlendale Water Reclamation Plant
5. General Comments - Comments from all present on non-agenda items within the Committee’s subject matter jurisdiction.
6. Adjournment (8:30 pm)
www.atwatervillage.org
(323) 634-AVNC
Note: This agenda is also posted at Bill’s Liquor on 3154 Glendale Boulevard.
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[0] comments (1110 views) |
ELU's July Monthly Meeting/Home Depot Presentation
Atwater Village Neighborhood Council
Environmental & Land Use (ELU) Sub-Committee Meeting
This is a Sub-Committee Meeting and not a full board meeting
Tuesday, July 19, 2005 7:00 to 8:30pm
New Hope Chapel
2861 Los Feliz Blvd. (Behind Best Buy)
Los Angeles, CA 90039
For More information on the ELU please contact Dionisia Rodriguez at drodriguez@atwatervillage.org
1. Call to Order and introduction of Committee members
2. Reading and approval of last meetings’ minutes
3. Old Business
a) Update on Free Trees for the Community Program
4. New Business
a) Presentation and Discussion by Home Depot Team about their plans at the K-Mart Site.
Committee Member Comment – Comments from Committee members on the plan
Public Comments - Comments from the public on the plan
5. Adjournment (8:30 pm)
www.atwatervillage.org
(323) 634-AVNC
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