Is 55 stories too high for a building in Hollywood? Neighbors think so -- especially when it will dwarf the iconic Capitol Records building next door. Opponents recently circulated an online petition called "Stop the Millennium Hollywood Project", which calls for the project to be modified "to a reasonable scale". You can also hear a debate about the project -- featuring CP&DR publisher Bill Fulton -- on a recent episode of Which Way LA?
San Diego Mayor Plans to Separate Planning Department From Development Services
New San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is appears ready to pull the planning department out from under the development services department -- four years after they were merged.Last week, Kelly Broughton, director, of the city's planning department and development services, department announced that he was stepping down to take a similar position with the city of Chula Vista. Director Broughton's vacancy has created an opportunity for the mayor to reshape San Diego's planning and development services and fulfill his initial goals for separating the two departments. This separation will allow the planning department to focus on neighborhood-level decisions and prioritize for a more efficient community plan update process. Director Broughton will stay on for another month while the mayor looks for an interim director and works out the details for the departments' new arrangement.
Alhambra Says...It's Time to Complete the 710 Freeway!
Los Angeles Times
Last week, the city of Alhambra voiced its support to complete the 710 Freeway via a tunnel that would connect the 710 Freeway and the 210 Freeway. To raise awareness, Alhambra's mayor has proclaimed July 10th as "710 Day" in the city with a possible streetfair and other public outreach efforts. The controversial tunnel has resisted by its surrounding communities for years, arguing that the extension would bring negative traffic impacts into their neighborhood. The MTA is currently undergoing an environmental study that options different strategies for completing the freeway with a final draft of the study due next year.
Fresno City Council Supports Health-Sciences Campus Outside City Limits
The Fresno Bee
Despite support for the proposed health campus to be located in downtown Fresno, City Council supported the developer's plans to build outside the city's limits at Millerton Lake. According to the project developer, the space needed for the campus is larger than any downtown site can provide. Council's support for the project (location) also added to the divide between Council Members and the Mayor's efforts to focus new development in Downtown Fresno. The new university will open next year and the city will still be able to weigh in on the project during the planning process. Millerton Lake was one possible site for the the campus that eventually became UC Merced.
