Homeowners Welcome ‘Conciliator’ Named to Planning Commission

In a move praised by homeowner leaders across Los Angeles, Mayor Tom Bradley this week appointed Bill Christopher, president of the Westside Civic Federation, to the city’s powerful Planning Commission.

Christopher, 36, has headed the coalition of 13 homeowner organizations for three years and also serves as vice president of the Miracle Mile Residential Assn. He has served on various panels and organizations, including a residents advisory committee on the proposed Metro Rail station at Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Southern California Planning Congress.

“We are very excited about it,” said Sandy Brown of Holmby-Westwood Property Owners. “He understands the problems of homeowners and residents. He will be knowledgeable and have some background when we go before the commission.”

Added Brian Moore, chairman of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Assns.: “That is good news. Oh, yes! Thank you for making my day.”

A Moderate on Issues

Christopher works as an architect and planner in Santa Monica for Arechaederra/Hong/Treiman Architects. While active in homeowner and slow-growth causes, his job has given him broad contact with the building industry. He is generally regarded as a moderate on development issues--with a reputation for fairness--who often does not side with the more radical and visible anti-growth homeowners.

“My role within the federation and within homeowner politics has always been one of conciliator,” said Christopher, who moved to Los Angeles from Chicago 10 years ago. “I look at issues from both sides--and I apply my professional outlook to the problems.”

In a recent clash between homeowners and developers over the nearly completed Ma Maison Sofitel Hotel, for example, Christopher was far less bellicose than other homeowner leaders opposed to the project. In public hearings, Christopher conveyed--but was careful not to endorse--homeowner demands that the hotel build a second parking garage or be denied a permit to serve alcohol. In the end, Christopher quietly supported a compromise proposal approved by the City Council.

“I wouldn’t ever assume that he is in anyone’s camp,” said Laura Lake, president of Friends of Westwood, who is running for City Council as a leader of the slow-growth movement. “He is a homeowner, but he also brings a development perspective.”

Moore, of the hillside federation, said Christopher’s strength on the commission will come from his experience on both sides of the slow-growth controversy.

“I have gone to a lot of hearings with Bill where he wasn’t ready to get swept away by homeowners’ emotions,” Moore said. “He listens. He knows the whole perspective.”

Sets Goals

As a commissioner, Christopher said he would work to attract attention to urban design issues--including such things as providing more open space between buildings. He said he also hopes to strengthen the role of community plan advisory committees, which are being set up across the city to give residents a voice in revising the city’s 35 community plans.

“I bring a sense of neighborhood” to the commission, said Christopher, who lives with his wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Megan, in a condominium near Hancock Park. “Right now we are fighting a whole bunch of little fires all over the city. Hopefully we can take control of the planning process over the next few years so we can deal with them in a more sane setting.”

Christopher replaces Commissioner Sam Botwin, a retired San Pedro liquor store owner, who asked to leave the panel because of the heavy workload. The five-member commission has broad authority to review development proposals, community plans, zoning changes and other planning matters before they are considered by the City Council. It takes 10 votes--rather than the simple eight-vote majority--for the council to overturn commission rulings.

Christopher, who will be paid $50 per meeting, must be interviewed by the council’s Planning and Environment Committee and confirmed by the full City Council before beginning his new job--which should take about two weeks, city officials said.