4436 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City -- Project: Sustainable Communities
January 29, 2012 UPDATE -- Please continue to scroll down and click links for emailing your City Officials. Also, phone numbers are there for each individual. Call them.
The following documents about Overlay Zones and Specific Use Plans are now the Language We Must Learn.
Please click and download the following official City Documents. More eyes on this the better. I am a trained High School English teacher, but Municipal Code is a new text for me.
READ: CC Municipal Code re: Specific Use Plans, Chapter 17.260
READ: CC Municipal Code Amendment, February 2009 for Downtown Commercial Zone -- in other words, a Specific Use Plan model we can use to discuss
READ: CC Municipal Code re: Site Plan Review Findings and Decision, Chapter 17.540.020
READ: CC Zoning Map -- zoom in to see Sepulveda Commercial Corridor in RED zoned as Commercial General (CG)
READ: Search the entire Culver City Municipal Code
READ: CC Resident, Marie Malahi's Email to Mayor O'Leary, January 23, 2012
READ: CC Resident, Marie Malahi's Speech to Public Meeting, June 30, 2011
READ: CC Residents, Pam and Richard Rownak's Letter to School Board, October 21, 2010
READ: CC Residents' Comments from to Public Meeting, June 30, 2011
January 25, 2012 UPDATE -- I spoke with Joshua Williams in the Culver City Planning Commission. We discussed a new approach to our 4436 7-Eleven issue: Sepulveda Corridor needs a Specific Plan. This would require significant studies of the area, however in the long term this would be beneficial to the Residents and Business Owners. The time is NOW to push the Planning Commission and City Council to consider engaging in the process that would generate a Specific Use Plan to restrict the types of land usage in the Sepulveda Commercial Corridor. Residents have the right to request this change to the Municipal Code. There is a long and thoughtful process that will ensue. With this additional time, we can work more closely as Residents, Business Owners and City Officials form an alliance and create a healthy, vibrant sustainable Culver City for years to come.
Contact your Elected Representatives and discuss your interest in the creation of a Specific Use Plan for the Sepulveda Commercial Corridor.
Bryan Sanders' Statement:
What does our community need to sustain itself for years to come? 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard is a nice corner property in Culver City, California that has sat vacant for many years after once housing a gas station. Current leaseholder, Aaron Swerdlow of Hermosa Beach, California, in conjunction with Lend Lease Manager, David Sabin, proposed in 2010 a new 7-Eleven franchise. Culver City currently has five (5) 7-Eleven locations nearby.
I do not believe that a 7-Eleven is an appropriate choice for our neighborhood. I do not support a 7-Eleven in my neighborhood, and if the Planning Commission approves it in spite of overwhelming community disapproval, I intend to file an appeal within the alloted 15 days. I have many questions and I have many ideas, and we all have many ideas. Now is the time to bring together our vibrant community and brainstorm a new usage of that nice corner property. I agree that it shouldn't remain 'as is' for much longer.
What are your thoughts? What would you want on that corner? What do you see as its best use? Consider the proximity to the schools, the character and quality of the neighborhood, the existing businesses, and healthy sustainable choices for the physical and financial well-being of the residents in the area.
Please get involved by sharing your opinions in an open and active way.
Many Culver City Residents have shared their discontent and disapproval of this 7-Eleven Project and it is time to squash it. Call, email, write, tweet and facebook every single day until we squash this. Each day that the citizens remain silent, this project takes one step closer to completion. BE NOISY!
It is very important to email and call the Planning Commission every day until Feburary 8th
Joshua Williams -- 1-310-253-5706 -- joshua.williams@culvercity.org
Thomas Gorham -- 1-310-253-5710 -- thomas.gorham@culvercity.org
Map to City Council Chambers
ATTEND: PLANNING COMMISSION January 25, 2012 -- 7PM meeting in City Council Chambers-- use Public Comments to discuss 4436 Sepulveda: Fill out public comment card and speak
ATTEND: CITY COUNCIL and REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY February 3, 2012 -- 7PM meeting in City Council Chambers -- use Public Comments to discuss 4436 Sepulveda: Fill out public comment card and speak
ATTEND: PLANNING COMMISSION VOTE February 8, 2012 -- 7PM meeting in City Council Chambers --
*** VERY IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP IN PERSON ***
WRITE: City Manager, John Nachbar
WRITE: City Assistant Manager, Martin Cole
WRITE: Culver City Redevelopment Department
WRITE: City Council as a body
WRITE: Mayor Michael O'Leary
WRITE: Councilmember Christopher Armenta
WRITE: Councilmember Andrew Weissman
WRITE: Councilmember Jeffrey Cooper
WRITE: Planning Commission Member John Kuechle -- so far this is the only email I have found for him -- on his MS&K Law firm website
WRITE: Planning Commission Member Linda Smith Frost -- need an email address, anyone have one?
WRITE: Planning Commission Member Scott Wyant -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Planning Commission Member Marcus Tiggs -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Planning Commission Member Anthony Pleskow -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Culver City Unified District, School Board Members -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Culver City High School PTSA -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Culver City Middle School PTSA -- this email link that will open your email program so you can compose
WRITE: Online Culver City Government Service Request and Contact -- Free account, easy-to-use, also available in AppStore as "GORequest"
WRITE: Meghan Sahli-Wells -- she is running for City Council 2012
CALL: Culver City Planning Commission -- 1-310-253-5710
CALL: Culver City Planning Commission Member, Joshua Williams -- 1-310-253-5706
CALL: Culver City City Manager, JOHN NACHBAR -- 1-310-253-6000
CALL: Culver City City Redevelopment Commission, -- 1-310-253-5760
CALL: Culver City Mayor, MICHAEL O'LEARY -- 1-310-754-9787
CALL: Culver City Councilmember, CHRISTOPHER ARMENTA -- 1-310-384-1490
CALL: Culver City Councilmember, ANDREW WEISSMAN -- 1-310-839-5217
CALL: Culver City Councilmember, JEFFREY COOPER -- 1-310-344-8033
READ: 4436 Sepulveda Delinquent Tax Payment for 12/12/2011 -- as of January 23,2012
READ: Culver City Business Webpage -- notice all the Sustainable, Green and Local
READ: Who is Aaron Swerdlow? -- Blog I wrote at CulverCityTimes.com -- Add comments online regarding 4436 Sepulveda
READ: Aaron Swerdlow's Company -- Equitas Investments
READ: Aaron Swerdlow Specializes in Developing Vacant Gas Stations -- Let's get him to bring a project that we really want!!
READ: Culver City Times Blog -- Add comments online regarding 4436 Sepulveda
READ: City Council of Culver City
READ: Culver City Planning Commission
READ: 7-11 webpage notification of May 2012 opening date
READ: 01/20/12 Email from David Sabin, Zoning Manager of Lend Lease
READ: Official 7-Eleven Image of their 'Prepared Fresh Daily Foods'
READ: 01/20/12 Email to Michael O'Leary, Mayor of Culver City
READ: 01/21/12 Email to Redevelopment Agency, which consists of the Mayor and the Councilmembers
READ: Advisory Committee on Redevelopment (ACOR)
READ: 09/02/10 ACOR Meeting Minutes, Discussion of Sepulveda Boulevard Revitalization from Franklin Avenue to Culver Boulevard
READ: Sign up for Email Updates from Culver City -- Necessary updates of official City meetings and discussions
READ: Culver City Sustainable Community Plan (SCP)
READ: 07/01/11 Article about Community Disapproval of 7-Eleven Project
READ: 10/26/11 Article about Community Disapproval of 7-Eleven Project
READ: 11/10/11 Article about Community Disapproval of 7-Eleven Project
READ: Festival Development Partners, Aaron Swerdlow's other company
TWEET: My TwitterFeed @nayrbgo -- I'll be networking to enlist support and hopefully find another business for that property
TWEET: Tweets organized under the hashtag #4436cc
TWEET: CulverCityGov on Twitter -- Follow them and tweet at them. Use hashtag #4436cc
NEEDS
We need another flyer made, copied and distributed to all surrounding residents and businesses.
We need to make lawn signs again.
We need continued contacts made with City Council, Mayor, Planning Commission, Business Organizations, School District and Parents Groups.
We need contacts made with local health food advocates and potential new businesses.
We need local news coverage of this project to organize together for a sustainable community.
Please contact me to join forces and stop this 7-Eleven project at 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard.
Let's organize together and be creative as we solve our neighborhood problems.
email me: bryan@bryansanders.com