King Harbor Inn Pact Delayed : Push Continues for Initiative on Development Limit

A development agreement to protect the proposed eight-story Inn at King Harbor from any zoning changes for three years was tabled for three weeks by the City Council on Monday.

The council voted 4 to 1 to postpone a decision on the agreement with Marina Cove Ltd.

Councilwoman Marcia Martin, in making the motion to table, said she wanted the developer’s proposed yacht club building included in the agreement. City Atty. Gordon Phillips told the council that two to three weeks would be needed to make the change.

“I’m definitely in favor of this project,” Martin said, adding, “I have a problem with the development agreement because of the impending initiative that would give people the right to say how they felt.”

An initiative being circulated would impose parking, height and setback requirements on structures in the harbor area. The initiative, backed by Mayor Barbara Doerr and Councilman Ray Amys, has been seen as a veiled attempt to block the 156-room hotel pro-ject--which does not meet the initiative’s two-story height limit or 15-foot setback requirement.

Denial by Mayor

Doerr, however, denied Monday that the initiative was aimed specifically at the Inn at King Harbor. “Nobody involved in the initiative is out to kill any project,” she said. “Many people have stated their concerns about development in the harbor area. Let the citizens decide.”

City Clerk John Oliver, also a vocal supporter of the initiative, said that 2,000 signatures have been collected so far. By April 5, petitioners must collect 4,900 valid signatures--15% of the city’s 36,000 registered voters--for a special election to be called.

Amys, complaining that the development agreement would be “a direct slap in the face of the people who signed the initiative,” called the project ill-conceived because it would cause further traffic congestion near the city’s waterfront.

City Treasurer Alice De Long, who is seeking a council seat in the March 5 municipal election, agreed. “We went to the Coastal Commission to oppose the project and they passed it because we have no limitations in the harbor,” she said. “And that’s exactly why we have the petition.”

Developer’s Objection

Developer Les Guthrie, whose firm seeks to build the inn, objected to “the negative environment created” by hotel opponents.

“This is a fine project and we’re not subsidized like the South Bay Galleria project--and that will generate 35 times more traffic than the Inn at King Harbor.”

Guthrie countered De Long’s contention that he had been given “preferential treatment” by saying that he had “gone through all the proper channels,” including eight public hearings and approval from several agencies, including the council itself.

Guthrie was supported by Councilman Jerry Goddard, who opposed the postponement. “If the project is revoked by the voters,” Goddard said, “they should pay for the losses involved. You may be costing someone $250,000. It’s a clear message to the business community that if you deal with Redondo Beach, you could have the rug jerked out from under you.”

New Provisions

Though the development agreement does not alter the approved project, it does add three new provisions, according to City Manager Tim Casey.

One requires a $25,000 contribution to the city that may be used for park improvements at Mole B at the harbor. Another calls for $25,000 to be used for the formation of a nonprofit corporation to promote water sports (the project includes an Olympic-size pool, which Guthrie says he hopes will be the home of the U. S. Olympic water polo team).

The third provision concerns the granting of easements by the developer for city construction of publicly owned docks at Guthrie’s King Harbor leasehold.

Major Issue

Development in the city has been a major issue for candidates in the upcoming municipal election. But while the agreement will not be brought back to the council until March 11, current council members will be voting on it, since any new members will not take office until April 1.