The DRRA's Land Use Committee recently sent the following letter to Culver City officials:
Dear Culver City planners:
Culver City abuts Del Rey on two sides, and your department is often the lead agency for
projects that straddle the city boundary. Currently, we are monitoring three such projects:
1. 2. 3. 12717- 12761 Washington Blvd. and 3984 and 3988 Meier Street -- six stories (67’ high),
mixed use with 104 residential units, 19,012 sf commercial;
11204-11310 & 11312-11314 Culver Blvd. – eight stories (85’ high), 143 residential
units, all “mid-level” affordable;
13474-13476 Washington Blvd. and 13477-13481 Beach Avenue – seven stories (77’
high), with 69 rental apartments (per August 22, 2024 application in Los Angeles).
On September 3, 2024, Culver City approved its General Plan 2045 and its updated Zoning Plan,
which allow administrative approval of all density bonus projects, i.e. the three projects above.
This process is unjust because there is no way to be sure that one developer does not benefit to
the detriment of everyone else. We must insist that Culver City calculate the value of all
special benefits granted so that they are granted uniformly and equitably. There should be no
“spot zoning,” i.e. all development must be in accordance with the approved General Plan
2045.
Further, all developments, regardless of affordability, must adhere to consistently applied
development standards so that residents will be protected from environmental pollution, beDocusign Envelope ID: A2B57148-2E7D-463F-8A9C-94954956F331
Culver City/LA Interface
October 7, 2024
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provided with sufficient open space and be ready if an emergency evacuation is needed.
Designating units as “affordable” does not eliminate the need for planning.
Notice
The new rules also require two community meetings to be held for housing and commercial
projects. On the Culver Blvd. project, the developer organized a “community meeting” on
November 30, 2023, but the seven immediate neighbors got no notice at all, and most people
learned about the project because of a community member’s post on nextdoor.com. Culver
City needs to be sure that all future community meetings are publicized in advance to all
property owners within half a mile radius of the project. At the meetings, Culver City must be
prepared to address how traffic, parking, sanitation, environmental protection and emergency
evacuations will be handled.
Our board of directors reviewed and approved this letter at the October 7, 2024 board meeting.
Very truly yours,
Elizabeth Campos Layne
President
Cc: Culver City City Council