Daily Breeze
Thursday August 19, 1999
DOWNSIZING DEVELOPMENT
Amid growth, 2 South Bay cities look at reining in plans
for high-profile projects (One is Manhattan Beach)
Council sends Metlox plans back to designer
By Gilien Silsby
STAFF WRITER
he Manhattan Beach City Council has rejected plans
for the long-awaited METLOX project and
instead ordered the developer to shrink proposals for the
outdoor mall and curtail attractions that draw people who
live outside the city.
The decision came just before midnight Tuesday after the
council heard from 54 residents, most of whom expressed
dissatisfaction in the downtown project and worried it
would create traffic.
Many of the 125 residents who stayed until the end cheered
when the unanimous vote was cast by the council.
"We do have an exclusive community," resident Neale
Redington told the council. "It may be politically
incorrect to say this, but we don't want out-of-towners to
come and interrupt our safe community."
Opponents of plans for the former Metlox Pottery site in
the heart of downtown took issue with the proposed movie
theater and the project's density. Many said they were
shocked at how large the shopping plaza had become since
the developer, the TOLKIN GROUP, was
selected in December. Many asked for more open space and
grassy areas.
"Until tonight, I had no idea how big the project is," Bob
Hammond said. "A project like this, as beautiful as it is,
belongs in Diamond Bar or Irvine or Orange -- not in a
small beach town like Manhattan Beach. This is a total
betrayal of what our downtown is."
As proposed Tuesday, the multilevel shopping center
included a two-screen movie theater, a specialty food
market, offices, restaurants, shops and a 65-room bed and
breakfast.
"I don't want it to be a little Westside down there,"
resident Chris Griffin told the council. "It's so cliche
to put a retail center in down there. Let's be unique;
let's take a stand."
Three blocks from the ocean on Manhattan Beach Boulevard,
the Metlox Pottery site was purchased by the city earlier
this year for $5 million, giving the City Council control
over the development.
Council members unanimously refused to move forward with
METLOX's environmental review until the
shopping center is scaled down.
"There is a lack of trust and a lack of confidence in the
community," Councilman Steve Napolitano said. "The
TOLKINs need to listen more closely to
the residents and come back with alternatives. I doubt a
theater will survive."
Mayor Linda Wilson also agrees the council must win back
the public's faith.
"We wanted to show the community that we are listening to
them," Wilson said Wednesday. "I think the project is
eventually going to happen. We need to rework it. The
developer is very cooperative. If we selected any other
developer, they would've taken a hike a long time ago."
The TOLKIN Group's chief executive
officer, Francine Tolkin, promised to make the project
smaller and return next month with revised plans.
"We're going back to the drawing board," Tolkin said
Wednesday. "It's always been our intention to make the
project best for the community. We feel criticism makes
for a better project."
Tolkin expected some dissention at the start of Tuesday's
hearing when she told the council and audience: "We look
forward to a lively meeting.
But it didn't appear anyone expected such widespread
opposition.
"I think going into the meeting we were inclined to move
forward with the EIR," Wilson said. "But after listening
to all the people, we realized we had to hold off."
As one resident after another spoke out against the
project, Francine and John Tolkin listened intently and
took notes.
The TOLKIN GROUP won an exclusive
contract in December to develop the property.
Development costs for the TOLKIN GROUP's
proposal are between $25 million and $30 million.
A handful of residents spoke in favor of the project,
especially praising its courtyards, paseos and town square.
"I like the idea of taking my daughter for a bagel without
getting clipped by a car," Eric Lastition said. "I like
the idea of a town square."
But even some original supporters had their doubts Tuesday.
"I was lulled into complacency because I liked the
Tolkins," Liza Levine said. "I missed a couple of meetings
and it's gotten huge. I'm worried it'll be like an Old
Pasadena or Third Street Promenade. It's too beautiful for
it not to be. There's no small park or green area I was
hoping for.
Added another original supporter, Stephanie Hubbard: "It's
getting a little bigger than I hoped. I don't want to see
chains come in. I don't want to go to Banana Republic.
I'll get in my car and drive there if I want."
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