Compromise LAX Plan Appears to Be Losing Altitude

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Compromise LAX Plan Appears to Be Losing Altitude

Council Vote Delayed Amid New Questions

By AMANDA BRONSTAD

Staff Reporter

Not long ago, September was the target date for the Los Angeles City Council approving a phased-in version of Mayor James Hahn’s renovation plan for Los Angeles International Airport.

Not any more.

What was considered growing momentum behind the compromise plan is losing some steam as political interests begin to pick apart the pieces of the $3 billion proposal. Last month’s ruling by an L.A. County commission that the plan was inconsistent with county land-use documents now requires the council to come up with a super-majority of 10 votes to approve the plan.

It also delays the final vote to at least December and, more importantly, raises new questions among City Council members.

“For those who have or are willing to look with an open mind, this is something that would be evaluated and cause them pause to look at all the circumstances,” said Councilman Bernard Parks, who expects to introduce his own alternative LAX plan to the council over the coming weeks.

Under the Hahn compromise plan, fashioned by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, only some of the original projects would be approved this year. Those include a consolidated rental car facility, reconfiguration of the southern runways and an inter-modal transportation center that connects passengers from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Green Line to the airport’s terminal via a tram-like “people mover.”

Controversy postponed

More controversial elements of Hahn’s plan, such as the Manchester Square check-in facility, the tearing down of Terminals 1, 2 and 3, and the closing off of the main parking garages, would be set aside for later approvals and environmental reviews.

Miscikowski said that with even a few changes, the plan might not reach a final vote for another three months.

“The best of plans in terms of how fast we can push this through have been delayed,” she said.

One of the first stops is the council’s Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources committee, which will make its recommendation on Oct. 7.

“It’s billions of dollars, no matter how you slice it, whether it’s a version that has only some components that go forward or all the components go forward,” said Councilman Tony Cardenas, chairman of the committee.

He has not yet endorsed the plan. “I need to see how they will finance it, what fees they’ll implement,” he said.

The committee must determine, he said, how much passengers could be charged in fees without discouraging them from using the airport. Also, he said he would like to see agreements with local businesses to encourage local employment.

Waiting for Rand

Council members are also waiting for a Rand Corp. study to be released this week that may reveal safety and security concerns involving Hahn’s plan, particularly the check-in site at Manchester Square.

Later this month, the council’s Planning and Land Use Management committee is expected to make its recommendations. Those may include zoning changes or creating cul-de-sacs or one-way entries to relieve traffic congestion or other impacts created by the plan.

Committee Chairman Ed Reyes said it’s all part of the “tension of this process.” But he stopped short of saying the plan is about to be sliced apart.

“This plan has been going on for years,” he said. “If the council decided to move on eliminating the projects of the plan, it has the discretion to do that. It would be the consequences of that gesture do we want to finish this project or don’t we? I don’t think anyone wants to see this dragged out anymore.”

Earlier this month, the county Board of Supervisors approved a motion to consider Parks’ proposal as an alternative. Under preliminary outlines of that plan, the council would need to reject the current LAX Master Plan and the environmental documents that support it.

Parks said non-controversial projects, such as the consolidated rental car facility or improvements at Tom Bradley International Terminal, would require site-specific environmental impact reports, a process he says “doesn’t take that long.”

Miscikowski called the council consideration “part of the process.”

“You’re going to hit actions and reactions,” she said. “But it causes you to redouble the effort, address the issues that an action raises, and move forward.”

Miscikowski has been negotiating with county officials and their consultants on how to fix some of the problems highlighted by the commission. While the council can ultimately override the commission’s decision, reducing problems in the plan would be beneficial in alleviating the concerns of some councilmembers.

El Segundo, too

She declined to say how much support she has on the plan, admitting only that some council members are gearing up for discussions.

“Within the next week, you’ll see the staff report of a new specific plan,” she said. “There’s new stuff that hopefully defines, refines, explicitly states what this is at this point at this time.”

Meanwhile, El Segundo Mayor Kelly McDowell said he is hammering out details of a legal agreement with L.A. city officials that would include alternatives to the centerline taxiway, which requires the southernmost runway to move 50 feet closer to El Segundo. He said the agreement also would prevent future council members from amending the plan to accommodate more than 78 million passengers per year.

A legal agreement would ensure the support of a future council, he said.

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