Santa Monica : Two Options Suggested for Airport Land

The City Council received a preliminary report Tuesday on two alternatives for developing 39 acres of land at Santa Monica Airport, one of the largest development projects in the city’s history.

But council members said that more ideas and the views of the community should be considered in deciding what to do with the land.

The council voted to ask the Planning Commission to work with the staff to increase public input in drawing up a request for proposals from developers. The request, which is scheduled to be issued in October, would outline the requirements and limitations for developing the land.

In February, the council approved a schedule for deciding what to do with the land, which will be available for development as a result of the reorganization of the airport. The plan envisions beginning construction in two years.

One option presented in the staff report suggests an industrial park, with 14 single-story industrial buildings. It would provide $4.6 million in annual revenues to the city and 1,980 jobs, according to the report.

Another proposal calls for an office park with 12 three-story buildings. That would provide $5.9 million in annual revenues to the city and generate jobs for 2,420 people, according to the report.

Four people testified on other options, such as a research and development park tied in with UCLA, or allowing the public to help develop a “wish list” for the site.

A representative for Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica) encouraged the city to increase public input. “It seems odd that the process is being left to the imagination of developers rather than the community,” Charlotte Houghton said.