Playa Vista’s 111-acre second phase, known as the Village, won approval from a key panel Tuesday, clearing the way for a vote by the full Los Angeles City Council on March 26.
The council’s Planning and Land Use Management committee voted 2 to 0 to deny an appeal challenging planners’ approval of the final phase. The Village first won council approval in 2004, but longtime opponents of the giant development filed a lawsuit alleging that the environmental analysis was flawed. The state’s 2nd District Court of Appeal agreed that the city should revise portions of the environmental impact report. The Planning Commission approved the revised EIR last December.
Hundreds of Playa Vista residents and labor representatives turned out to show support for the Village, which will add 2,600 homes, a shopping center, office buildings and parks. Playa Vista President Steve Soboroff agreed to convert some units to senior housing to satisfy a request by Councilman Bill Rosendahl, who represents the area, which is between the Westchester bluffs and Marina del Rey.
At a meeting last week, Playa Vista residents pushed Rosendahl to pledge his full support for the Village, but he spoke of wanting changes in the plan. Residents said the project should proceed as planned.
Rex Frankel, a Playa Vista opponent, said Rosendahl "is still on the fence." He said the "showdown" will come at the March 26 council meeting.
— Martha Groves