A shopping mall and “eco-friendly” carwash proposed at 901 N. Catalina Avenue was approved unanimously by the City Council on Tuesday night, denying an appeal of the project by a neighboring business.
Metropolitan Investments, the owners of the of the Redondo Beach Informational Technology Center filed a formal notice of appeal that argued that the project’s environmental impacts- including drainage, traffic, and noise issues – had not been appropriately studied. Another issue emphasized in the appeal was what is believed to be a century-old eucalyptus tree possibly endangered by the project.
According to city planning director Aaron Jones, the site has been fully engineered to avoid the discharge water on the adjacent business owners. “They are handling water onsite and in fact this project generates 60% less runoff than the prior project,” Jones said. “This is all moving in the right direction.”
“I can’t guarantee nothing will be discharged indirectly onto their property – if we have a 100 year storm,” said Bill Kahale, Greenstreet’s director of development.
The question of the environmental review’s adequacy was addressed as well. Staff concluded that the review was adequate and addressed all issues, including the preservation of the tree.
The new design also dedicates six feet of land on Catalina Avenue to widen the street and increase pedestrian traffic.
“There’s been nothing there for 20 years,” Aust said. “As long as they meet the city standard I don’t see why we should stand in the way. They want to develop it they want to make it look good and we’re going to nit-pick them on how much noise they are going to make during construction. We’ll monitor that and make sure they are in keeping with the city standard.”
All of the adjacent property owners who spoke at the meeting were for the project, but they were concerned about the level of enforcement the city will take on the property regarding code violations.
“We’re happy with what you just said,” said Bob Abernethy from Metropolitan Investments. “We’re really just after that they comply with the city ordinances and would like to see those points on noise be in accordance with the city standards and city ordinances. That’s our big concern.”
Council members agreed that the property’s past was a sensitive issue.
“There is a long history with the property that you are bearing some of the burden unfortunately,” said Councilman Matt Kilroy. “We’re glad to see you putting out the effort and bringing the project forward to us. I think it’s great.”
Mayor Mike Gin explained that there was a past issue of compliance issues and code enforcement issues that had to be held in a public hearing before they were resolved. “I want to express some confidence that there is going to be enforcement of these things as appropriate like any other construction site in town.”
The well-being of the tree was discussed. Nobody who voiced their concerns at the meeting, besides Councilman Bill Brand, was particularly keen on including extreme measures to save a non-native species that, as Councilman Aust suggested, many not in fact be 100 years old. However, sensitive to community concerns voiced at a Planning Commission public hearing, council members decided it was important to do everything in the developer’s power to keep the tree. In the end, the elimination of the extension of Franscisca Ave.made the matter moot.
“There are a lot of people who are almost in love with the tree,” said Abernethy. “That’s what they want and what they have been lobbying for. It doesn’t matter whether the tree is there or not, except that we like to have our neighbors happy.”
Brand was the only councilman intent on saving the tree. “There will be so many very angry people if we cut the tree down,” he said. “Thank you for coming forward with this project and whosever putting up the capital for it and taking a risk and going out on a limb. It’s been a hole for a long time.”
