Torrance : New Park Del Amo Hearing

The City Council on Tuesday again postponed a decision on four separate proposals for a total of more than 1,100 residential units at the Park Del Amo residential and commercial project.

The council will now hear the proposed plans on Friday at 7 p.m. City Atty. Stanley Remelmeyer, who asked for the delay to allow him to study the plans, said the unusual time was selected because it is the only time the entire council can meet.

Neither Remelmeyer nor the developers would say why the hearing could not wait until next week’s regularly scheduled meeting, raising speculation that the two sides may be near a settlement in a dispute over ownership of the Madrona Marsh, which is next to the project.

Although the council has denied that the marsh dispute has been a factor in delaying approval of the projects, the council has been updated on the matter in private session each time before the plans have been brought up for public discussion. At least one of the four projects has been before the council since April.

The council and residents have criticized the plans--three by Watt Homes Inc. and the other by Lincoln Property Co.--saying that not enough guest parking is provided and that too much traffic will be generated.

Additionally, residents are opposed to a plan by Lincoln that would allow it to convert its 416-unit condominium complex into apartments if it determines that the units would not sell well.

The developers argue that they have exceeded city building code requirements for parking, and that measures would be implemented to lessen the impact of traffic.