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By Jason Dietrich
Plans to streamline the approval process for the construction of small condominium projects threatened to hang up the approval of the first draft of the planning department's analysis of how to best manage housing growth in Redondo Beach.
Program A.2 of the planning department's Draft 1998-2005 Housing Element drew fire from councilmen Mike Gin (District 3) and Kevin Sullivan (District 2) for potentially speeding up the construction of contentious construction projects.
The document, which is the first look at section of the city's housing plan for the next five years, was passed 3 - 2 with councilmen Sullivan and Gin opposed.
The proposed modifications could cut as much as two months from the permitting process on construction projects that aren't challenged said planning department officials. Projects wouldn't go before the planning commission unless neighbors complained. If neighbors were concerned a full hearing before the planning commission would be required.
The expedited process would cut down the chances that neighbors would oppose a project before construction starts and force them into a more confrontational arena if they did choose to oppose it, said Sullivan. Sullivan pointed to an increase in the number of appeals to the City Council by neighbors opposing multi-unit projects as evidence that more needs to be done to keep the permitting process in the public eye.
"They're streamlining the process for contractors, not for the people that live here," he said.
A motion to approve the document without the streamlining program supported by Gin and Sullivan failed, 2-3.
Other councilmen said the issue wasn't important enough to warrant dismissing the entire document, and that the problems could be addressed within the planning department through better publicizing proposed construction plans.
"Notification is key here," said Councilman Gerard Bisignano (District 1). "We want to set up a forum for a people that is non-threatening but deals with the issues in a proper methodical manner." ER