Miramar Opponents Riled

Opponents of plans to overhaul and expand the in downtown Santa Monica say the city has blocked an opportunity to have "meaningful conversations" about the project.

It denied the coalition's request that it change the venue of the April 24 City Council meeting to a larger meeting space, such as the The council is slated to meet in City Hall, its regular meeting space, to discuss the project, among a number of other items.

"We looked at other venues but couldn't find a space that could accommodate the meeting and have it televised. It's not just a matter of having a meeting space," said David Martin, the city's Director of Planning and Community Development.

The City Council meetings are broadcast live on city TV, and that requires a lot of special equipment and other accommodations, Martin said.

But coalition leaders believe that and that hundreds are expected to turn out to speak and listen to the meeting, a bigger space is needed for full public vetting.

"The float-up process is designed for community input. By denying this request, the city is simply turning its back on people who want to be involved in the public process," the group said in a statement earlier this week.

When the Planning Commission discussed the plans Feb. 9, many coalition members—and also those in favor of the project—were placed in an overflow room where they watched the meeting from a live video feed.

"Approximately 170 SMAME members attended the hearing but most of them could not get into the City Council chambers and were forced to sit in the hall because of the chambers' limited capacity," Robert Gurfield and Ellen Hannan, of the coalition's steering committee, wrote to the City Counci March 29.

Planning Director Martin said an overflow area on the first floor of City Hall (the council meets on the second floor) is large enough to acommodate the group, who can still speak to the council even if they have to sit outside.

"We do not share the same concern," he said.

Plans to overhaul the Miramar include the construction of up 120 condominiums, new retail outlets and restaurants, three times as many parking spaces, a one-acre public garden and plaza at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Ocean Avenue and up to 40 low-income-housing units on hotel-owned property on Second Street.

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