Local News in Brief : Building Initiative Filed
Lawndale residents have gathered 1,094 signatures on a petition that, in effect, challenges the city’s $4.2-million Civic Center expansion plan.
The petition asks the city to put on the April ballot--or enact--an ordinance that would require voter approval of $1-million-plus public development or redevelopment projects.
City Clerk Neil Roth said the signatures, filed with the petition last week at City Hall, will be submitted to the county for verification. An initiative must have valid signatures of 10% of the city’s 8,410 registered voters to be on the ballot, he said.
Petition organizer Nancy Marthens said the drive does not specifically mention the City Hall expansion plan but is directly related to it.
Meanwhile, the Friends of Lawndale, a residents group, has filed suit to require the city to conduct an environmental-impact study on the project, which opponents said would create traffic and parking problems. Marthens is a member of that organization. A hearing is scheduled Nov. 16 in Los Angeles Superior Court.
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