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KMART PROPERTY / HOME
DEPOT — INFORMATION PAGE
Posted December 20, 2008
Friday, December 5,2008, the L.A. Department of City Planning announced their determination that "a categorical exemption is not appropriate" for the Home Depot Project in Sunland.
Click here to see document
Posted Sept. 5, 2008
On 8/25/08 the Dispute Resolution Program (DRP) held a meeting with DRP selected participants at North Valley Neighborhood City Hall. The purpose to schedule the next meeting. There were 12 participants. The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16, 2008. Neighbors and the public are not invited to participate in these meetings.
Documents about the Home Depot Project
Project Application
Home Depot's Environmental Reports
STA/NHDC Analysis of Home Depot's Environmental Reports dated 8-8-08
Response to STA/NHDC Analysis dated 8-28-08
8/11/2008
IMPORTANT - Proposed Home Depot Update: Received - July 15, 2008 - Letter from the City Attorney's Dispute Resolution Program Director, Avis Ridley-Thomas asking for stakeholder groups which should be represented at an initial meeting to begin the process of achieving some understanding of the issues in the matter. Reply to her office by July 21, 2008 to mediate@lacity.org - see letter here
The dispute Resolution Program has extended the date for replies to Aug 4th.
Posted 7/8/2008
The Stipulation and (Proposed) Order Staying Litigation While Permit Application is processed" is still ongoing. The Home Depot filed their Permit Application in May and then revised it on June 19, 2008. They are applying for a "Categorical Exemption" which is the least amount of environmental review possible. Click here to read it. In addition, The Home Depot submitted a set of environmental reports (863 pages) that have been prepared by Christopher A. Joseph & Associates. Currently the City Planning Department is reviewing the 863 page document. All stakeholders are encouraged to review this document and send any comments to the City as soon as possible.
Please address your comments to:
Maya Zaitzevsky
Zoning Administration
200 N. Spring St., Room 721,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
with a copy to Councilwoman Wendy Greuel and the Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council (STNC) at 7747 Foothill Blvd., Rm. 101, Tujunga, CA 91042. Important: submit your comments today as the City will soon determine the next step of environmental review.
To date, the City has held a community dialogue (April 26 at Mt. Gleason). The reports from that dialogue event have not yet been released.
Next, a meeting with Home Depot representatives, the City of Los Angeles and Sunland-Tujunga community leaders is expected to be arranged as part of the "stay" agreement.
Posted 5/2/2008
Home Depot filed their Project application with the city. Click here to read it.
Posted 4-22-2008
Home Depot filed their Project application with the city today.
Click here to read it. (Really big)
Posted 4-18-08
The City Attorney Dispute Resolution program will host a community event "Sunland-Tujunga Dialogue" regarding a proposed Home Depot in Sunland at Mt. Gleason Middle School on Saturday, April 26, 2008 1-4 p.m.
Hopefully you received a copy of the letter in the mail but if not, here is a copy. We look forward to seeing you there!
Posted 4/17/08
The City Attorney has mailed out a letter regarding an April 26 Sunland-Tujunga Dialogue. This dialogue is being convened as a part of the Stay Agreement signed by the City Attorney and The Home Depot. It will be held at
Mt. Gleason Middle School
10965 Mt. Gleason Avenue
Sunland, CA 91040
1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Click here for a copy of the letter.
Outreach to your neighbors to participate in this discussion which will surely effect the future of our quality of life.
Attend upcoming STNC meetings and other meetings on this subject that may be held in the community. We look forward to seeing you!
Posted 4/10/2008
On Tuesday, March 4, 2008, the STNC learned from the Daily News that our City Attorney and Home Depot signed a "Stipulation and (Proposed) Order Staying Litigation While Permit Application is processed." It is our understanding that Home Depot will file a "Master Plan Application for Project Permit Compliance Review" for a proposed store at the site of the former K-Mart in Sunland. The "Stipulation Order" indicates that their "Project Permit Compliance" will include a thorough review by the Department of City Planning, including review of CEQA environmental requirements and community involvement. As of now, the STNC has not received any of The Home Depot's plans or their application with the Department of City Planning. It is therefore assumed that it has not been submitted. (Note: The Home Depot did originally submit a Master Plan Application for an entire new store at the beginning of their process three years ago, but they pulled it because they did not want to go through a required full Project Permit Compliance Review which provides for thorough community involvement in the process and environmental review.)
According to the "Stipulation Order" the City is to facilitate discussions between Home Depot and our Sunland-Tujunga community leaders under the auspices of the City Attorney's Community Mediation Program who will act as a forum for constructive discussion in hope that the settlement process will move forward.
I immediately contacted Tayo Popoola, the City Attorney handling the Home Depot case, as to how this would be organized. He says the mediation proposed will involve everyone, the lawsuit is not settled and the City is not prejudging. CEQA will be involved and the City remains firm that the City's laws and processes will be followed. Avis Ridley-Thomas (wife of former City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas) runs the City's mediation program.
"In 1999, voters in the City of Los Angeles approved a charter reform measure that included a provision requiring the creation of a citywide system of neighborhood councils. Intended to promote greater citizen participation in government and make government more responsive to local needs, neighborhood councils have established an officially recognized role for local groups in the governance process.
The adoption of the charter amendment was the result of protracted public debate, in which the growing secessionist movements in the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, and harbor areas of the city were frequently invoked as a gauge of citizens' growing disaffection for the status quo in city politics." (excerpt from USC Neighborhood Participation Process Conference Proceedings, April 2000).
As always, the STNC expects the City to follow our laws and procedures thoroughly. We also expect to participate in every aspect of this process, in an open and transparent format.
Please visit the STNC web site for updates at www.stnc.org. We also look forward to seeing you at the monthly STNC meetings. Join us on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 for dinner at 6 p.m. and meeting at 7 p.m.
Click here to see the "stay agreement".
Posted 11/18/2007
Home Depot and Latham and Watkins has decided that it is in their best interests to sue the City of Los Angeles. The following links are documents submitted by Latham & Watkins pertaining to their lawsuit.
Complaint
Complaint Summary
Chronology
Frequently asked Questions
LA Fact Sheet
Posted 8/21/2007
For the most up-to-date information please click on the Chairman's Page link available in the column to the left .
Posted August 19, 2007
August 15, 2007 - City Council votes 12-1 to uphold PLUM and City Planning Director's "project" determination
August 7, 2007 - PLUM votes 2-0 to uphold City Planning Director's "project" determination
July 31, 2007 - City Council votes unanimously to assert jurisdiction over the July 19, 2007 action taken by the NVAPC to grant Home Depot's Appeal, overturning the action by the Director of City Planning --
Posted 7/ 19/2007
At the North Valley Area Planning Commission (NVAPC) hearing at Mt. Gleason resulted in 3-2 vote granting Home Depot's appeal.
Posted 6/30/2007
Due to an over crowded room, the June 7 NVAPC Public Hearing was postponed. New hearing date is Thursday, July 19, 2007, 4:30pm and will be held at Mt. Gleason Middle School, 10964 Mt. Gleason Ave, Sunland. Agenda & any other details e receive will be posted here the week of July 9th.
Posted 5/9/2007
June 7th, 2007 - 4:30pm -- Public Hearing Notice
Home Depot Appeals Zoning Administrator's Decision
Posted 3/9/2007
Zoning Administrator Grants Appeal
No 2 Home depot Website: Link
- http://www.no2homedepot.com
Posted 2/13/07
STNC's
letter in support of NHDC regarding safety issues at 8040 Foothill
dated 2-7-07
Posted 1/28/07
Councilmember
Wendy Greuel Letter to Gary Booher, Associate Zoning Administrator
dated 1/17/07
Councilmember
Wendy Greuel Letter to STNC dated 12/22/06
STNC
Letter to Wendy Greuel dated 12/14/06
Letter
to Councilmember Wendy Greuel from City of LA Engineering Dept.
dated 12/13/06
STNC DAC Meeting
in December with Councilmember Wendy Greuel saw a huge turnout for
an important meeting with the community regarding the proposed Home
Depot in Sunland. Thank you to the DAC, STNC Board and stakeholders
for participating and spreading the word to get people out to attend.
Councilmember Wendy Greuel has sent the attached letter to City
Planning Director Gail Goldberg addressing major issues which have
a bearing on the referenced appeal by the No2Home Depot Campaign.
See Wendy's
November 8, 2006 letter here (PDF format) Thank you Wendy for
all you do!
STNC
DAC Letter to Councilmember Wendy Greuel RE: Proposed
Home Depot in Sunland, dated August 21, 2006.
Posted 8-5-06
On July 24, 2006, the Department of Building and
Safety issued permits so Home Depot can proceed with their tenant
improvement plans. This action has been questioned by the No
Home Depot Campaign and the STNC. Councilmember Wendy Greuel
immediately sent a letter to the City Attorney requesting their
review. Click
here to download a PDf of Wendy's letter.
We encourage you to attend future STNC meetings for the latest
info.
Copies of all plans submitted by Home Depot to
the City are available at the STNC office. The plans for a complete
tear down and building of a new Home Depot store as well as
tenant improvements to the existing K-Mart building are available.
For now Home Depot has chosen the tenant improvements route
so they can move in more easily. The other route involves major
environmental reviews that Home Depot is not willing to do.
The STNC thanks the following neighborhood councils
for their support to the Sunland-Tujunga community in our quest
to stop Home Depot and get a general merchandise store at this
site instead:
Pacoima Neighborhood Council
Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council
Foothill Trails District Neighborhood Council
Northridge West Neighborhood Council
A copy of the third set of plans
for a proposed Home Depot on the former K-Mart site has been received
by the STNC. Home Depot is proposing to Reuse the Existing Structure
at 8040 Foothill Blvd. To view a copy of the plans, please contact
the STNC office 9 a.m. - 12 noon, Monday - Friday. Click
here to download a PDF version of the letter from Home Depot's
representative, Latham & Watkins. We encourage you to attend
the DAC meeting next Monday, June 5th , 2006 at 7 p.m. for further
updates.
As of the April 3, 2006 DAC meeting,
Home Depot representatives had submitted two
sets of plans to L.A. City Planning: 1) Tear down the existing
site and build a new site and 2) Modify the existing site. Both
sets of plans would require the City to declare it a "project"
under the guidelines of the Foothill Blvd. Corridor Specific
Plan review process. The No2Home Depot Campaign in Sunland-Tujunga
has thoroughly reviewed the plans and the DAC and STNC have
supported their findings. The STNC has learned that
just today a third set of plans have been submitted to L.A.
City Planning. We are working with Wendy Greuel's office
to obtain a copy. You are encouraged to attend the upcoming
DAC meeting on Monday, June 5th for further updates.
Posted 1/22/2006 ===============================
Wendy Greuel has sent a
letter to Ms. Jeri Burge, at the City Attorney's office requesting
guidance as to whether the City's actions in the Northridge
Wal-Mart case are applicable to the Sunland Home Depot situation.
In her letter, Wendy supports the STNC/DAC and the community
that a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR), an Economic
Impact Study (EIS) and a more precise traffic study than has
already been submitted are needed before Home Depot can proceed
with their plans. Click
here to download a PDF version of the Wendy Greuel letter
At the STNC/DAC Education
& Outreach meeting held on 1/21/06 the traffic impacts
of Home Depot's latest plans were presented. The plans show
the Woodward side will be closed from entry or exit. In addition,
all traffic exiting Home Depot onto Foothilll Blvd. would
be required to turn right and travel east. The STNC/DAC
sees these impacts on our only main boulevard in town and
on the side streets have not been thoroughly researched.
The Traffic Study provided by Home Depot does not give a full
picture of the extent of the traffic that would be created
by a Home Depot store. The Traffic Study was done after K-Mart
had closed so does not reflect the traffic created by K-Mart
customers. Additionally, they have not factored into the traffic
study the extent of large trucks that will be supplying Home
Depot as well as trucks picking up materials for delivery
to building sites in the area and surrounding communities.
There is also concern about the increased traffic in close
proximity to our schools.
Also, Home Depot's new
plans show they intend to build a store 23,687 square feet
larger than the existing K-Mart store AND a Garden Center
15,774 square feet larger than the existing K-mart Garden
Center.
At the STNC's meeting
held on 1/11/06 the full board voted unanimous to request
Wendy Greuel require an EIR, including realistic traffic
count, economic study and air quality study for 8040 Foothill
Blvd. (former K-Mart site now proposed Home Depot site).
Check the web site often
for new updates. The STNC/DAC thanks Wendy Greuel and her
staff for her continued interest in the welfare of the Sunland-Tujunga
community and their quick action.
Write to support an EIR,
including EIS and thorough Traffic Study:
Anna M. Vidal
City Planning Associate
Community Planning Bureau
6262 Van Nuys Blvd. # 351
Van Nuys, CA 91401-2709
Reference: 8040
Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA
ENV2005-319 and DOT Case No. SVF 01-025
and DIR-2005-319-SPP
with
copy to:
Councilmember Wendy
Greuel
City Hall Office
200 N. Spring Street, Room 475
L os Angeles, CA 90012
You may also wish to send
letters to:
Hadar Plafkin, Environmental
Review
Ref: ENV2005-319
Sergio D. Valdez, Transportation
Engineer, Department of Transportation
Reference DOT Case No. SFV 01-025
Emily Gabel-Luddy, Associate Zoning
Administrator
Reference ENV2005-319
Posted 1/3/2006
NEW! STNC received
a copy of Home
Depot's latest plans for building a Home Depot store on
the existing K-Mart property. Plans indicate the store
will be 24,000 + square feet larger than the existing building.
Also received is Overland Consulting's Traffic
Impact Analysis and LADOT's Traffic
Assessment. The DAC will be reviewing these plans and
discussion will be held at a meeting to be scheduled soon.
You should read these documents
and compile data to support your response to these documents.
Get more information from the No
to Home Depot website.
Posted 11/25/05
Crown Books is now occupying
the site on a month-to-month basis.
Posted 11/17/05
There was a posting here from Don Breding, STNC-DAC
Home Depot Committee Team Leader, about a meeting to be held
on November 19, 2005. The meeting was cancelled and this posting
was taken down as soon as we were informed of the cancellation.
When we receive new information, that information
will be posted.
Posted 10/30/05
Home Depot Update – October 15, 2005
There has been a lot of activity recently
regarding the possible opening of a Home Depot on the former
K-Mart property.
A Strategy Team which consists of some members
from the S-T Neighborhood Council Design Advisory Committee,
the No Home Depot Campaign, and representatives from Councilmember
Greuel's office, have met with Home Depot representatives
on 3 occasions to find out what Home Depot's plans are for
the property and to inform them of the community opposition
to their project.
After the most recent meeting on August 22,
The Home Depot representatives have continued to say they
would open a Home Depot on the former K-Mart property.
On September 27, Home Depot submitted new
site plans, a tree report and grading plans, to fill in
the blanks on the original application which had been suspended
on May 24, 2005 by the Planning Department.
Councilmember Wendy Greuel has been 100% in
support of the community in opposition to a Home Depot at
this location and there have been some new and exciting
developments just in the past few days. After renewed requests
by Councilmember Greuel, we understand that Home Depot has
agreed to take "a fresh look" at some options other than
the opening of a Home Depot store. These suggestions include
the possibility of Home Depot selling their interest
in the property, or developing the property in a way that
does not include a Home Depot store. We are looking forward
to more on this in the next couple of weeks!
If you would like more information about the "No to
Home Depot Campaign" please check at www.no2homedepot.com.
If you wish to sign one of the "Pledge
to Boycott Home Depot" rosters, they are available at
the following locations: FOOTHILL HARDWARE, C&M PRINTING,
MARISOLS, and IMAGE WEST SALON.
If you have any questions, please contact DAC chairman Richard
Pozzo
Posted 7/11/05
Click here for Results of 2005 Community Home Depot Survey
Posted 6/30/05
No
Home Depot letter to Mayor Elect Villaraigosa dated June 24, 2005
in PDF format.
Posted 6/27/05
Home
Depot letter to Dale Thrush dated June 16, 2005 in PDF format.
Posted 6/20/05
If you want to influence the outcome of what will be built on the site, then you need to take positive
action. For example, you can...
As announced and handed out
at the 5/11/05 STNC meeting, Mayor Hahn supports STNC and
joins the opposition to Home Depot in Sunland Tujunga –
Thank you Mayor Hahn! Download
Copy of Mayor's Letter in PDF Format.
STNC received copies of updated
items Home Depot has turned into City Planning regarding
their plans for the former K-Mart site:
From the Town Hall meeting:
- 51 letters to Wendy Greuel were collected
- 228 questionnaires were collected
-
226 out of 228 say "NO!"
Home Depot in S-T
-
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The #1 reason people say
"NO" is that "We need a general merchandise
store"
Among the 6 possible options:
-
The #1 choice is option
3 - No Home Depot. A Gen'l merchandise store AND others
shops, a movie theater, restaurants, etc.
-
The #2 choice is option
2 - No Home Depot. Only one Gen'l merchandise store.
No other shops
-
The #3 choice is option
4 - Home Expo AND other shops, a movie theater, restaurants,
etc.
STNC
& The No Home Depot in Sunland Tujunga Campaign
Town
Hall Meeting:
Huge Turnout
– over 400 people!
Neighbors came out to
voice their concerns, opinions and re-confirm their
desire that Home Depot is not wanted in this community.
Application
Process Suspension Dated 2/22/05 - PDF Format *
Notice that additional items need submission for application
process.
Link to webpage dedicated to stopping the
proposed Home Depot center from opening at the former
site of Kmart. www.no2homedepot.com
Wendy Supports the
Neighborhood Council's Position on Proposed Home Depot
in Sunland
In September 2004 the STNC took a position
to oppose a home improvement type business on the former
K-Mart site after receiving an outpouring of concern from
neighbors that Home Depot had purchased the site. Those
concerns are, but not limited to: the horrendous traffic
problems for the surrounding residences, as well as Foothill
Blvd, which is not engineered for industrial type traffic.
Also, other quality of life issues such as the day laborer
problem currently in Tujunga, along with concern for the
lack of a general store in our community. Neighbors feel
the community already has enough hardware-type stores
that fit within our "small town" community that
would likely be forced out of business by Home Depot if
they follow through with their plans.
Initially, the rumors around town were that
Home Depot did not plan on using the K-Mart store for
themselves since there is already one in San Fernando
only 7 minutes away. They were possibly going to put in
a Sears type store. No updates came from Planning Deputy,
Dale Thrush or City Hall contrary to that rumor. However,
on February 8, 2005, the STNC received a copy of Home
Depot's plans for the site which they had submitted to
the City on January 26, 2005 completely bypassing the
STNC, as they were were advised to do by Councilmember
Wendy Greuel. The plans show that Home Depot wants to
increase the building size and add parking spaces.
On February 15, in a letter to Home Depot,
Councilmember Wendy Greuel took a official position opposing
a Home Depot at the old K-Mart site. Her letter cited:
"Several months ago, my staff advised your consultants
that a free-standing Home Depot on the K-Mart site was
unacceptable and that the zone changes needed for a new
building would be vigorously opposed." Wendy's stand
on this issue, in support of the community at large and
the STNC, is welcome news. The STNC is appreciative of
Councilmember Wendy Greuel's support of the the Neighborhood
Council's position in opposing the proposed Home Depot.
The STNC expects to hold meetings with City
Planning and Home Depot in the future and everyone will
be invited to participate. A Home Depot on this site is
a gross under use of this property. Whether you are in
favor of or are opposed to a Home Depot, now is the time
to step forward and let your STNC board and Councilmember
Wendy Greuel know. You are encouraged to submit letters
to her and the STNC with your comments and/or suggestions.
Visit the STNC web site for a copy of Wendy's letter and
check back often for updates at www.sunlandtujunga.org/council
- HOME DEPOT wants the former K-MART
SITE at 8040 Foothill Blvd., Sunland
The STNC has received a copy
of the plans dated 1-21-2005 that were submitted to L.A. City
Planning for the old K-Mart site to become a Home Depot. Copy
of plans follow in PDF format:
The plans state: "Conversion of
a Kmart retail store with indoor/outdoor garden center
into a Home Depot retail store with garden center."
The STNC took a position last September
2004 opposing a Home Depot on this site as follows:
"Inasmuch as the KMart store in Sunland
has been sold to Home Depot, it is the position of the
community at large and the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood
Council, as their representatives, that the community
neither wants or needs Home Depot or any such home improvement
like business.
The Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council
looks forward to working with the owners of the K-Mart
site to provide businesses which respond to the needs
and wants of the community."
STNC / DAC point of contact for
Home Depot is Richard Pozzo, DAC Vice Chairman and Commercial
Land Use Team Leader at E-mail: empco@worldnet.att.net OR
Debby Beck, STNC Board Member at E-mail: happytiki@yahoo.com
Posted 10/2004
Click here for results of Kmart Property Survey
-
K-MART IN SUNLAND —
August 2004 Post
Two Local Stores to Close
By Daily News
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Kmart will close its stores
in Sunland and Atwater Village as a result of its sale
of 18 locations to The Home Depot for $271 million in
cash.
Stephen Pagnani of Kmart
said Wednesday the stores that will be closed are at 840
Foothill Blvd. in Sunland and 3150 San Fernando Road in
Atwater Village. Kmart said about 230 workers or 41 percent
of the full-time and management associates affected by
the deal, will be offered jobs elsewhere within the company.
No closing date was announced. — Daily News
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