Culver City Mall Gets Judge’s Blessing

A Superior Court judge dealt the city of Los Angeles a major setback Thursday in its battle to stop construction of a massive shopping mall in neighboring Culver City.

In a six-page decision, Judge John Zebrowski rejected environmental arguments raised by Los Angeles and ruled that the Culver City City Council had complied with the California Environmental Quality Act in approving the $160-million Marina Place project last March.

Attorneys for Los Angeles and a Venice community group had argued that Culver City failed to adequately consider the impact of the 1-million-square-foot shopping mall, particularly on air quality and traffic in the heavily congested Lincoln Boulevard area where the mall would be located.

But the judge said Culver City’s decision to approve the project despite its environmental consequences was based on substantial evidence, and that Culver City officials had responded adequately to public comments on a lengthy environmental impact report.

“A reasonable effort to assemble and disclose information is required, not perfection,” the judge said.

While Culver City and the mall’s developers savored their courtroom victory, the project’s opponents contemplated their next move in what has become a pitched battle between the neighboring cities over development in the area.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, an ardent opponent of the mall, vowed to appeal the decision. “The project will have very severe effects on air quality, primarily through its traffic,” she said.

The shopping center--with two major department stores, 150 other shops, restaurants, a six-screen movie theater, and parking for 4,640 cars--would be built at the far western edge of Culver City and would be roughly 50% larger than the Westside Pavilion. The 18-acre site on Washington Boulevard, just east of Lincoln Boulevard, is surrounded on three sides by Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Galanter said the decision means “it’s OK to sell out the environment for sales tax revenue.”

In approving the development, Culver City officials cited economic and social benefits to that community. The project’s developers have pledged a multimillion-dollar effort to offset any negative impacts.

Kenneth Bley, attorney for the developers--Prudential Insurance Co. and Melvin Simon & Associates--said the decision was a “ringing endorsement” that “Culver City followed the law” in approving the project.