K-Mart Site Update

On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the STNC learned from the Daily News that our City Attorney and Home Depot signed a “Stipulation and (Proposed) Order Staying Litigation While Permit Application is processed.” It is our understanding that Home Depot will file a “Master Plan Application for Project Permit Compliance Review” for a proposed store at the site of the former K-Mart in Sunland. The “Stipulation Order” indicates that their “Project Permit Compliance” will include a thorough review by the Department of City Planning, including review of CEQA environmental requirements. As of now, the STNC has not seen any of The Home Depot's plans or their application with the Department of City Planning or the Department of Building & Safety. It is therefore assumed that it has not been submitted. (Note: The Home Depot did originally submit a Master Plan Application for an entire new store at the beginning of their process three years ago, but they pulled it because they did not want to go through a required full Project Permit Compliance Review which provides for thorough community involvement in the process and environmental review.)

According to the “Stipulation Order” the City is to facilitate discussions between Home Depot and our Sunland-Tujunga community leaders under the auspices of the City Attorney's Community Mediation Program who will act as a forum for constructive discussion in hope that the settlement process will move forward.

I immediately contacted Tayo Popoola, the City Attorney handling the Home Depot case, as to how this would be organized. He says the mediation proposed will involve everyone, the lawsuit is not settled and the City is not prejudging. CEQA will be involved and the City remains firm that the City's laws and processes will be followed. Avis Ridley-Thomas (wife of former City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas) runs the City's mediation program.

"In 1999, voters in the City of Los Angeles approved a charter reform measure that included a provision requiring the creation of a citywide system of neighborhood councils. Intended to promote greater citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs, neighborhood councils have established an officially recognized role for local groups in the governance process.
The adoption of the charter amendment was the result of protracted public debate, in which the growing secessionist movements in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, and harbor areas of the city were frequently invoked as a gauge of citizens' growing disaffection for the status quo in city politics." (excerpt from USC Neighborhood Participation Process Conference Proceedings, April 2000).

As always, the STNC expects the City to follow our laws and procedures thoroughly. We also expect to participate in every aspect of this process, in an open and transparent format.

The STNC looks forward to being included in consultation and participation as the “Stipulation Order” moves forward.

Please visit the STNC web site for updates at www.stnc.org. We also look forward to seeing you at the monthly STNC meetings. Join us this coming Wednesday, March 12, 2008 for dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.

Cindy Cleghorn, President
Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council