WLAC Update

June 1, 2008

West Los Angeles College is moving full speed ahead toward completion of their new parking structure atop the southeast corner of the campus.  A new bus route was established up Stocker Road that caused a significant increase in the noise level for the bordering Culver Crest homes and after much discussion, a second temporary 20- foot sound wall was constructed to partially abate the noise.  

Regarding the Stocker strip of land, it has come to the attention of all parties involved, after much coaxing by your C.C.N.A. Board to further look into this matter, that Southern California Edison has now acknowledged that the College owns the Stocker Road property plus an additional 10 to 13 feet of dirt on the Culver Crest side of Stocker.  This means that the College will, if we request it, be able to build a permanent sound wall adjoining Stocker.  

Additionally, Mark Rocha, President of the College, is hoping that the $3.5 billion bond issue on the November ballot will pass.  This would provide $300 million for his College, which would enable it to construct new technology, cinema production, science and sport entertainment buildings, as well as a new physical education and fitness center.  It would also allow them to build a second new parking structure and free up the land near the Overland entrance for other development.  As neighbors of the College, we have to determine whether this is a good thing or not.  While we all encourage furthering education, the question here remains at what expense?  Will the added traffic and noise in our neighborhood be worth the gain?  Your C.C.N.A. Board has and will continue to follow these developments closely to assure that we benefit from and are not victims of this major expansion program.

Posted by Antoine Durr
Filed in West L.A. College
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College Update

March 15, 2008


Late last year the College began work on the construction project that will affect Culver Crest, the new parking structure near the top of Stocker.  The College has agreed to post updated construction information about this and other projects, on their web site at: 

http://www.wlac.edu/events/West%20Week%20Back.html

 (Unfortunately, as of the date we go to press, they are a little behind on their updates.)  The updates include the name and telephone number of the College’s ombudsperson (Bob Miller - 310-678-6917) who should be contacted with any complaints, comments or questions.  They also provide a link to a site that gives sound volume readings from the three sound monitors that have been installed in Culver Crest. (http://www.atsconsulting.com/WLAC_Data/).  


The temporary sound blanket that has been promised for months has not yet been completely installed, although the College’s latest promise is that it will be finished by the end of this week.  The College’s failure in this area only increases the importance of reporting any noise problems.  If you are experiencing too much noise from the campus, please call the ombudsperson at the number listed above.

The reason the College is constructing a sound wall is that they have asserted that Southern California Edison, who have the property use rights there, will not allow the College to use any of the dirt to build an earth berm along the strip of land between Stocker Road and Culver Crest, as required by the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The MOU states that the berm was to be built concurrently with both the new parking structure and the second access road connecting the College to Jefferson, of which both projects are almost ready to commence.

The College also reports that their new recycling center should be finished and operational in a couple of weeks. As you may recall, CCNA was successful in getting the College to relocate this center from the top of Stocker to an area that is built into a hillside to the north of Stocker. It is everyone’s hope that this will prevent noises and odors from reaching Culver Crest.  However, if you notice any sound or odor problems, please contact their ombudsperson.

A brand new development now in the thinking stage is to develop the land near the bottom of Stocker, at the Overland entrance.  The C.C.N.A. Board will set up a meeting with the College’s consultant to review the tentative development options for this site, which is adjacent to Culver Crest.  There have been several thoughts thrown around about what will eventually be there, including an elementary and/or high school.  The C.C.N.A. Board is keeping a close eye on the planning process of this area and will report the progress as it unfolds, as it will surely affect us in many ways.

     Because of construction work on campus, the route of the Culver City bus on campus will be changed in a couple of weeks.  For the next 18 months.  the new route will turn up Stocker, and then immediately travel over the new cut-through that has been constructed near the Turner trailers.  It will proceed up that road and then head down Albert Vera Way and back to Overland.  Hopefully this will not add to the noise problems we have endured with the College.

Our W.L.A. College Subcommittee will closely monitor all construction activities by the College plus review alternate mitigation measures that the College has advised it is in the process of preparing.

Posted by Antoine Durr
Filed in West L.A. College
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West Los Angeles College

September 10, 2007

The College notified your Board that they will not pursue obtaining rights to the dirt portion of Stocker Road and therefore have the right to construct what they want on that property.  This is, so the College says, due to the lack of cooperation they received from Edison who obtained ownership of this parcel when the Stocker Street expansion (over the hill to La Cienega) was scaled back and removed from the Los Angeles Master Plan.  Too bad we didn’t know about that because our ironclad (or what we thought was ironclad) written agreement with the College called for an earthen berm, which was to have been landscaped and managed by the College, was a pre-condition to the construction that the College so far has not been able to get started.  Without the consent of Edison, the College says no place to put the dirt from their excavations so no berm.  Your Board heavily contested the College’s position.  While we are looking at alternatives, see below, the College is poised to start construction on its new parking lot anyway.

In addition, the College recently announced their next phase of expansion including an expanded football stadium and a new baseball stadium.  They also want to expand into the 10100 Jefferson site that they acquired from the City to be developed in a public/private for profit partnership.  This portion of the campus will be within the confines of the City of Culver City.  They also want to enlarge the access and entrance on Overland.  This plan includes a second multi-story parking lot.

As an alternative to the berm, the College is proposing various forms of both temporary and permanent sound walls. While placement of these walls is problematic, the walls ignore other goals sought when the berm was proposed by the College.  These include neighborhood beautification, reduction of intrusions into the Crest from the College grounds along Stocker, noise and dust reduction and an open green space which could continue to be utilized by the neighbors.  Alternately, the College proposed to close Stocker permanently and turn it all, including the asphalt portion, into a green belt, to erect a few minor small sound walls and to place some signage there.  So right now discussions are being held with no really good alternatives in sight. Could litigation be a possibility?  Come to the General Meeting on Wednesday, September 19th and have your say.

Posted by Antoine Durr
Filed in West L.A. College
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Significant Change in Plans

July 28, 2007

There has been a significant change in the plans of the College.  Its agreement to build a berm to shield our neighborhood, both during and after the College’s construction projects, have been stymied by Southern California Edison, which will not allow the College to use any portion of the dirt area between Stocker Road and Culver Crest. This means the College may not be able to construct the berm which, pursuant to the terms of our 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), must be built concurrently with both the new parking structure at the top of Stocker and the second access road connecting the College to Jefferson, of which both projects are almost ready to begin.
 
A new subcommittee consisting of Board Members Mark Salkin, Howard Lichtman and Marlene Rose will review alternate mitigation measures that the College has advised it is in the process of preparing.
Posted by Antoine Durr
Filed in West L.A. College
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WLAC Track

April 28, 2007

There are some hiccups that have occurred recently with regard to the use of the West Los Angeles College track.  The basic problem is that the track is being damaged by heavy use from a number of groups who train with their coaches.  The College wants to require these groups to obtain permits before using the track, which has been the district’s policy for many years.  Apparently the College is unable to get the sheriff to remove these people from the track unless they post a sign that clearly requires a permit for any outsiders to use the track.  We, however, negotiated in connection with the EIR that neighborhood residents should be able to use the track (and other facilities) so long as this use does not interfere with College activities.  Our current proposal to the College specifically states that neighborhood residents will have approval to use the track, but goes on to agree that “coached training” will require a permit.  Since we don’t believe anyone from Culver Crest employs a coach to help them with their morning walks or jogs, this proposal should be acceptable to all.

Posted by Antoine Durr
Filed in West L.A. College
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