Renewed Threat to the Montebello Hills

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More information at our website: http://www.saveourmontebellohills.com and Angeles Chapter site

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To: Save the Montebello Hills Supporters

 

    Since June 2009 the threat to the last remaining open space Montebello Hills appeared to have stalled. Various bureaucratic processes were ongoing but immediate, aggressive threats to our hills did not occur. That has changed.

 

    On the Montebello City Council meeting agenda for Jan. 9, 2013, under the heading "Item 19: Staff Communications on Items of Community Interest" was listed: Economic Development Update- Larry Kosmont-Kosmont Companies.

 

    Normally staff communications consist of brief comments. This time was different. Larry Kosmont, the city's economic development outside consultant, presented a lengthy report on three projects. He provided a thirty page handout. The lion's share of the presentation and the handout was devoted to the proposed development of the Montebello Hills (the Montebello Hills Specific Plan or MHSP). It was hardly a fair representation of the proposed project. He described the would-be developer's proposal. He did not describe alternatives to this proposal that are provided in the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)., one of which is to have no project.

 

    Mr. Kosmont advised that three new alternatives to the developer's proposal will be added to the DEIR. These would only change a small percentage of the current proposal. Mr.Kosmont briefly mentioned that there would be evaluation of certain environmental issues. He did not go into detail regarding the serious environmental, health and safety concerns that exist regarding this proposed project.

 

    Particularly egregious in my opinion was the inclusion in the report and handout of figures claiming to represent monies the city would receive from

the proposed project. These figures had been provided entirely by the would-be developer. They had not undergone any city sponsored analysis or vetting.  They also left out any mention of the significant expenses the city would incur from having to provide services to the proposed development or the city's future liability to project residents in case of oil spills, fire and other hazards that exist in active oil fields.

 

    Although the community at large and our task force had not been notified that this lengthy presentation would take place, this was not the case for the Montebello Chamber of Commerce and various supporters of the proposed project. From 14 to 18 project supporters spoke. They included Chamber members, developer employees, members of local groups that have received donations from the developer as well as members of the real estate sales and mortgage processing community.

 

    Mayor Christina Cortez was kind enough to allow three of our task force members to speak even though we had not submitted cards in advance. I protested the lack of notification to the community. Councilmember Molinari stated that this presentation should have been a separate agenda item specifically stating that it was about the MHSP.

 

    Councilmember Jack Hadjinian disagreed with myself and Councilmember Molinari. He thought the agenda was just fine. This seemed odd to me. In the recent past one councilmember has been repeatedly chastised by other councilmembers for not being specific in her listing of her comments. Why is this to be expected of a councilperson but not a city consultant? 

 

    Mr. Kosmont reported that some sections of the DEIR would be re-circulated. Residents and others will have the opportunity to submit comments. He anticipates that public hearings will begin and the matter come before the city council in the fall.

 

    Lets stand together and SAVE THE MONTEBELLO HILLS.

                                                                                                     

Linda Strong, Chair, Save the Montebello Hills Sierra Club Task Force

 

P.S. See Vice-Chair Mike Popoff's note below

 

    I did not attend the Jan. 9, 2013 city council meeting due to work obligations. I am self-employed and a rush job had come in at the last minute. However, if I had know this presentation was to take place, I would have attended and returned to work even though I would then have had to work very late. I am extremely concerned about what took place last Wednesday. I had thought that the time when city government lacked transparency and only certain people (well connected people) were provided with access to the workings of city government, was over. I guess I was wrong. Please let your councilmembers know that you don't appreciate this example of what looks like favoritism.

 

Sincerely, Mike Popoff, Vice-Chair, Save the Montebello Hills Sierra Club Task Force

    

P.S. For an additional report on the council meeting check out the Jan. 9, 2013 entry on themontebellohillsblog.blogspot.com.