Ponte Vista prepares to re-tool development

The Contra Costa Times reports:

With Bob Bisno out of the picture, developers of the proposed Ponte Vista housing project in San Pedro say they are ready to launch a new push to find community consensus on a revised plan.

The 1,950-home development has been in limbo since late last year when Bisno, the head of the development team, was asked to step down.

Ted Fentin of Credit Suisse, Bisno's largest investor, is taking the lead in a move to find a compromise the community will accept.

"(He) is committed to working with you in developing a revised plan," development spokeswoman Elise Swanson told members of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council on Monday night. "There is a spirit of cooperation. We are moving forward with community outreach."

The project, likely in a revised form, is tentatively scheduled to go before the Los Angeles Planning Commission on April 9.

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.

Ponte Vista Hearing Location Change

The November 18th public hearing before the Harbor Area Planning Commission will now be held at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731. You can also access an RPV City Staff report dated November 6, 2008 on Ponte Vista here.

Planners reject Ponte Vista map

Lost during yesterday's exciting and historic election news coverage was an important news story regarding the Ponte Vista development in San Pedro. I have pasted a story from the Daily Breeze below. I have deep concerns regarding this development and its impact on our city and I plan on watching the project closely.

Planners reject Ponte Vista map
By Donna Littlejohn, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 11/04/2008 09:01:42 PM PST

City planners on Tuesday denied the tract map plan for San Pedro's proposed Ponte Vista housing development, boosting opponents' hopes that the project itself will also be struck down later this month.

Two more recommendations are expected by the end of the month, including the most important one that considers the project itself.

The tract map - only a technical piece of the decision that allows the 61.5-acre property to be divided for multifamily homes - can later be approved should the city decide to greenlight the overall project.

"We still have a pending application for a plan amendment and the specific plan that will go to the (Los Angeles) Planning Commission in December," said senior planner Jim Tokunaga.

Although the denial doesn't necessarily forecast complete project rejection, Ponte Vista proponents said they are anticipating that developer Bob Bisno will ultimately downsize the project to about 1,700 units.

"We don't necessarily expect (the city) to approve the project as originally proposed," said Allan Abshez, Ponte Vista's land use attorney. "But what we're expecting is that the Planning Department will recognize the many benefits and the logic of the proposal we made."

Opponents, however, believe the tract map denial could signal the city's intent to turn down the proposal altogether when its subsequent recommendation is released, expected as early as next week. They cited sections in the opinion

that quoted from the community plan that restricts the property at 26900 S. Western Ave. to its current single-family zoning.

"No matter how you slice it, this isn't good for (Bob) Bisno," said Doug Epperhart of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council.

"The fight's not over," said Pat Nave of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council. "But this is good news. They found that it wasn't consistent with the general (community) plan."

Tokunaga said the tract map denial does not not necessarily mean the project will be turned down.

"If the specific plan (for Ponte Visa) is approved, then the (planning) commission could grant the appeal" of the rejection, he said.

"So there is some comfort in it (for opponents), but they shouldn't rule out" a project approval, he said.

The project is slated to go before the Harbor Area Planning Commission on Nov. 18 for comments only, although neighborhood council activists have asked the city attorney for a ruling on whether some members should recuse themselves. No decision will be made at that meeting.

The matter is then slated to go before the city's Planning Commission on Dec. 13.

Ponte Vista has been one of the most hotly debated issues in San Pedro. Originally proposed more than three years ago as a 2,300-home development, it quickly became a lightning rod for residents tired of increasing density and congestion along Western Avenue.

After a hearing in June, city planners have been preparing to make their formal staff recommendation.


What: The Harbor Area Planning Commission will hear a presentation on the Ponte Vista housing development.

When: 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18.

Where: Harbor Department Administration Building, 425 S. Palos Verdes St.

Information: 310-732-4515.