05 Feb FoLAR and Coalition Partners Request Comment Window Extension For Casitas Lofts
Last week the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) was released last week for the project known as Casitas Lofts. (You can view the lengthy DEIR document on the City’s planning department online here.) A part of our commitment to robust community participation in shaping this proposed luxury development, we’ve submitted a request for an extension of the comment period along with Clockshop, LA River State Park Partners, and NRDC. (You can read our letter in full as a pdf right here!)
Some backstory and resources for you to consider: FoLAR, along with our community partners, hosted a workshop in October to address the scale and impacts of the project (more reading available on our blog); and our partners at NRDC have been vocal, recently publishing, “Three Reasons Why the Casitas Lofts Project is a Bad Idea.”
Some excerpts from our letter:
We are writing on behalf of Clockshop, Friends of the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles River State Park Partners, and Natural Resources Defense Council. We submit this request for an extension in the provided 45-day public comment review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (“DEIR”) on the proposed mixed-use development at 2750-2800 West Casitas Avenue, Case No. ENV-2016-2862-EIR.
Our coalition encompasses community groups that have a strong standing within the communities this proposed project will be impacting.
The DEIR released [last week] is over 800 pages in length, not including the over 2,000 pages of appendices. To date, despite repeated and ongoing requests for more robust and regular communication and engagement with the community, the proposed project’s development team has failed to adequately respond to community requests and feedback. The surrounding community is diverse, speaking languages other than English and with a wide range of backgrounds in land use, planning, and real estate development. However, the community is clear in its interest in understanding all of the potential impacts this proposed project will have on their neighborhood and lives.
Therefore, the current allocated time period for public review and comment is insufficient to allow for adequate and meaningful public review, analysis, and preparation of comments on this proposed development of much concern to the community.
As such, we respectfully request that the public comment period be extended by an additional 45 days (new proposed deadline for public comments being May 1, 2020) to allow for a 90-day total public comment period.
FoLAR is calling on YOU to amplify our voices together
Send in your own Extension Request using our template below!
January 31, 2020
Erin Strelich
Major Projects Section
City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning
200 North Spring Street, Room 750
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Via Email erin.strelich@lacity.org
cc: Councilmember Gil Cedillo at councilmember.cedillo@lacity.org
RE: 2750 2800 W. Casitas Avenue Draft Environmental Impact Report (Case No. ENV-2016-2862-EIR) – Request for Extension of Comment Period
Dear Ms. Strelich,
I am writing on behalf of [organization, if any, and interest in the Casitas project].
We submit this request for an extension in the provided 45-day public comment review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) on the proposed mixed-use development at 2750-2800 West Casitas Avenue, Case No. ENV-2016-2862-EIR.
[Brief description of organization, including any specific interests connected with the neighborhood, LA River, Taylor Yard/G2, and/or proposed project]
The California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) requires a transparent and engaging public review process, and it strongly emphasizes the importance of public comments and participation. The proposed project is requesting significant discretionary approvals from the City and would dramatically alter the underlying General Plan land use designation and zoning of the site. Given its proximity to both the Los Angeles River and the Taylor Yard G2 River Park Project, these proposed changes and their potential impacts require the careful consideration by the public.
The DEIR released Jan 30, 2020 is over 800 pages in length, not including the over 2,000 pages of appendices. To date, despite repeated and ongoing requests for more robust and regular communication and engagement with the community, the proposed project’s development team has failed to adequately respond to community requests and feedback. The surrounding community is diverse, speaking languages other than English and with a wide range of backgrounds in land use, planning, and real estate development. However, the community is clear in its interest in understanding all of the potential impacts this proposed project will have on their neighborhood and lives.Therefore, the current allocated time period for public review and comment is insufficient to allow for adequate and meaningful public review, analysis, and preparation of comments on this proposed development of much concern to the community.
As such, we respectfully request that the public comment period be extended by an additional 45 days (new proposed deadline for public comments being May 1, 2020) to allow for a 90 day total public comment period.
Respectfully,
[Name]
[Title]
[Organization]
[Contact info – email or phone]