Mini-Malls and Growth

Unfortunately, the public often is not given the full story by the news media on important and controversial city issues and legislation.

The mini-mall ordinance (Metro, June 25) is a prime example. It was billed as a panacea for our city’s planning and development problems. The fact is, however, the ordinance overzealously restricts the sort of small development that might be needed in some areas, and does nothing at all to curb our real problem, the major developments that threaten to strangle us in gridlock.

True, the ordinance would restrict the typical mini-mall, L-shaped arrangement of small stores that spring up, seemingly overnight, on a corner vacated by a gas station. Such developments frequently create serious traffic problems because they are not required to have enough off-street parking and because their in-out access driveways are poorly arranged.

A fact ignored by the news media is that the law would apply not only to mini developments planned for corners, but for mid-block as well.

Another fact that escaped notice is that the regulation exempts developments of more than 45,000 square feet in the 13th District and more than 65,000 square feet in the rest of the city.

This means that a property owner who wants to construct an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot building to accommodate two or three “mom and pop” stores will have to come begging to the mayor and City Council for approval or hire an expensive lobbyist to do it for him.

However, the ordinance would not restrict the developer who wants to build a 66,000-square-foot complex on a corner or mid-block.

It is ironic that the mini-mall ordinance drew support from the so-called “slow-growth” advocates, despite the fact that it continued “business as usual” for large developments. They have sought restrictions on 50,000 square foot and larger developments, yet applaud a measure that moves in the opposite direction.

Despite all the ballyhoo, the mini-mall ordinance represents a fly speck in the face of an overwhelming planning problem.

Our city currently is zoned to accommodate 6 million residents, almost double its population today.

The mayor, the City Council and the Planning Commission must realign their priorities and take immediate action to protect our city’s future.

We must place strict limitations on all development in the city, not just pint-sized malls.

It makes no sense for us to crack down on one-story mini-malls if we continue to permit 73-story buildings to go up downtown. Yet, despite the reports in the news media, that is just the path we’re on.

ERNANI BERNARDI

7th District Councilman

Los Angeles