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LA supervisors approve rules for hearings on Universal Studios

By Troy Anderson, Staff Writer

Posted: 05/11/2010 09:30:53 PM PDT
Updated: 05/11/2010 09:35:49 PM PDT

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve an agreement with the city of Los Angeles that clarifies details about upcoming public hearings regarding the $3 billion makeover of Universal Studios.

The move will help determine how the hearings will be held, such as whether the county and city will hold separate or joint hearings, and who will conduct them, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said.

The action comes as city and county officials are preparing the environmental impact report for the project.

"I continue to have serious concerns about the scope of the project, both the one on the campus of Universal Studios, as well as the project related to the studio on the MTA site across the street," Yaroslavsky said.

Over the next two decades, the studio plans to redevelop its 391-acre property into an environmentally sustainable theme park, business and entertainment industry hub with more than 2,900 new apartments and condos, 35 acres of open space, a 500-room hotel and a refurbished amphitheater, said Sorin Alexanrian, a deputy director with the county Department of Regional Planning.

The new Universal complex will include expanded studio production facilities, new office space, shops and a renovated Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios Hollywood theme park.

The project application includes a request that the city annex about 76 acres of the property in order to build the new residential development. In unincorporated parts of the county, the project includes a request for a new hotel and a plan to govern the operations of the existing studio, theme park and Universal City Walk.

Executives at the San Fernando Valley's largest employer expect the project to create 12,000 new jobs, $2 billion in local spending and $26 million in new tax revenues each year for the city and county.

The project calls for roads to ferry traffic off congested Barham Boulevard and other traffic improvements, but some residents fear the project will increase congestion in the area.

Universal Studios spokeswoman Cindy Gardner said the studio is investing $100 million to improve traffic flow and "serve as a catalyst to accelerate local, regional and freeway improvements in the Valley."

"It also includes new shuttle services targeted to 50 percent of the trips by studio and business employees and residents within a five-mile radius of our property," Gardner said.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_15065702?source=email