Stakes Rise in Battle Over Playa Vista Development

With one of the nation’s most valuable pieces of undeveloped urban land at stake, and statewide and local political reputations on the line, a high-powered battle over the late Howard Hughes’ vast Santa Monica Bay-area property is entering a new phase.

Involved are open fields and wetlands, where wild birds nest, reaching 3 miles from Marina del Rey to the San Diego Freeway. It was purchased by Hughes decades ago, when land was relatively inexpensive. He built an aircraft factory and a small airfield on it, but most of the land has remained vacant, a piece of open space that comes as a striking change to motorists poking through the urban sprawl of the Lincoln Boulevard stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

Much of the land is under the jurisdiction of the city of Los Angeles. Part is under the jurisdiction of the county. For years, Hughes’ company, Summa Corp., has pushed ahead with plans for extensive office, residential, hotel and retail development of the area, to be called Playa Vista.

The proposal by Summa, a politically potent corporation that contributes generously to campaigns, was backed by the local county supervisor, Deane Dana, and endorsed by the Board of Supervisors. It was also pushed by the councilwoman then representing the area, Pat Russell, and supported by the Los Angeles City Council. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley personally appeared before the California Coastal Commission to express his and the council’s support of the Summa plan. The commission voted to approve it.

Political Fight

The Summa proposal has become a major part of Los Angeles’ political fight over controlling development, with opponents charging that it would wipe out the wildfowl refuge, take away needed open space from the public and clog the Marina del Rey and Los Angeles International Airport area with more traffic.

Russell’s loss to Ruth Galanter, who favors curbs on development and was highly critical of the Summa plans, changed the political equation, as is fast becoming more apparent.

State Controller Gray Davis and Galanter scheduled a press conference for today to disclose whether the state will take a portion of the property as payment for estate taxes owed by 22 of Hughes’ heirs.

If Davis assumes control over the land, and joins with Galanter in the effort to limit coastal area development, it would put him on the slow-growth side of the city political fight. That would give Davis valuable allies if he runs for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1990, as expected.

Davis’ upcoming decision has apparently prompted county officials to take a look at their long-standing arrangement with Summa over development of the portion of the old Hughes property that lies in unincorporated territory and is under the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County.

That land is across the entrance channel from Marina del Rey. But it is landlocked and Summa can get access to the channel, and Santa Monica Bay, only if the county permits it to cut through a narrow stretch of county-owned land.

The county Small Craft Harbors Commission has been urging the county to develop the land itself, lease it and bring in much-needed revenue to the county treasury. That is how the profitable Marina del Rey is operated. Joining the commission has been a Marina del Rey developer, Jerry Epstein, who has objected to the county giving access to Summa on terms he considers overly generous. Epstein, who has influence in county politics, asked the supervisors to take the land through condemnation proceedings.

In the past, Dana and other county officials have supported Summa and been cool to condemnation.

But on Monday, the county’s chief administrative officer, Richard Dixon, said: “We are taking a continuing look.”

He said that county officials must decide whether the Summa development would be good for county revenue and provide the best recreation facilities for county residents.

“There is a responsibility for us to think about what public service we must provide and we must assure ourselves of an ongoing revenue source,” he said. “The existing Marina has accomplished a reasonable balance between needed public service and reasonable revenue strength.”

The need for the county to decide would put Dana on the spot. While he is expected to face minimal opposition in his reelection bid this year, the supervisor has favored development in the past and if he continues to side with Summa in a political fight over growth, he could attract anti-development foes in his coastline district.

Summa officials, meanwhile, have been meeting with Galanter, trying to clear the way for the development and meet criticism of anti-growth forces. If Summa cannot meet her objections, the company could take its case to the City Council and the mayor.

While Bradley supported Summa in the past, the emergence of development as a citywide political issue could force him to reassess his position. Bradley’s expected opponent is City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky, who has been critical of the mayor as favoring too much development.

The company has worked hard to make friends on both the city and county levels. A Times poll study of Summa Corp.’s contributions since 1984 reveals these donations:

Los Angeles County supervisors: Dana, $15,000; Mike Antonovich, $17,250; Kenneth Hahn, $16,000; Pete Schabarum, $6,000, and Ed Edelman, $6,500.

Los Angeles City Council members: Richard Alatorre, $900; Ernani Bernardi, $900; Hal Bernson, $2,500; former Councilman Dave Cunningham, $4,500; Robert Farrell, $500; John Ferraro, $5,000; former Councilman Howard Finn, $2,500; Joan Milke Flores, $4,400; Nate Holden, $500; Gilbert Lindsay, $1,000; Joy Picus, $1,400; Russell, $3,500; former Councilwoman Peggy Stevenson, $2,100; Joel Wachs, $1,400, and Michael Woo, $2,500.

Bradley has received $24,000 in political contributions from Summa.

MAYOR TOM BRADLEY:

Decision on extent of project development may hit his desk at a time when development issues are dominating his reelection campaign.

CITY COUNCILWOMAN RUTH GALANTER:

Has been critical of Playa Vista and is allied with possible state plan to take over part of property for taxes.

STATE CONTROLLER GRAY DAVIS:

Author of possible move by state to take part of land that would put him on side of slow-growth advocates as he prepares possible campaign for governor.

SUPERVISOR DEANE DANA:

A Summa supporter all along, could be targeted in future elections by slow-growth forces if he dissents from possible county move to condemn part of site for county’s own uses.