Playa Vista Plan’s ‘Fallout’

In the article about the county’s agreement with developer Maguire Thomas for the Playa Vista marina (Times, Oct. 6), I was disturbed by the callous remarks from Maguire Thomas senior partner Nelson Rising. Mr. Rising boasts that the development, elephantine and worrisome in its impact on the already overdeveloped Westside, will improve the sight lines from what is now, supposedly, a bleak stretch of Lincoln Boulevard. That bleak stretch, should one take the time to inspect it, is the edge of a diverse and beautiful ecological area. Its naturalness is a welcome respite from miles of concrete and glass of the city, and in the spring, the wildflowers there are beautiful and refreshing.

I love the water, the ocean and sailing; but should Playa Vista become a reality with its mass of development, we will have plenty of opportunities to view the boats while we crawl in the increased traffic that surely must be the fallout of this grandiose scheme. Rising says that the county will receive a new marina and income from it at no cost. No cash, sure, but what about the cost to this city in the reduction of habitat, open space and the cost of the increase of congestion? Please, I am too worried about Playa Vista’s impact than to be seduced by songs of seeing boats on the water.

MATTHEW HETZ, Los Angeles