City Planners Reject Ponte Vista Plan

The Daily Breeze reports:

Los Angeles city planners late Friday denied the proposed 1,950-home Ponte Vista project in San Pedro, easily the most divisive issue in town since it was first proposed three years ago.

The much-anticipated recommendation came in a draft report that sidestepped a single reason for rejecting the residential community planned for former Navy housing land on Western Avenue.

However, the report did cite the project's density, lack of a transit center within walking distance and "the prevailing scale and character" of the neighborhood.

Developer Bob Bisno could not be reached for comment Friday night.

News of the findings was hailed among the project's opponents, who insist the property's zoning should not be changed from single-family residential, which would allow about 430 homes.

"I'm amazed and stunned," said Mark Wells, the local resident who launched a blog and petition drives to oppose Ponte Vista. "I think it's time for Bob to put his land into hibernation and wait for things to change."

Doug Epperhart of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council called the decision "a grand-slam home run" for opponents of the 61-acre project.

The next move is up to Bisno. He could continue to pursue the project as proposed, asking the Planning Commission to overrule its staff recommendations. He could negotiate a compromise in the number of housing units. Or he could bow out altogether.

The project is scheduled to go before the city's Planning Commission on Dec. 11 and, at this point, Bisno is expected to follow through with the process.