Panel Backs Plan for Air Force Housing at Angels Gate Park

A San Pedro citizens panel has endorsed a controversial plan to earmark 20 acres at Angels Gate Park for Air Force housing, deciding the project is needed to retain a local Air Force installation that is considered crucial to aerospace business.

The 10-3 decision Tuesday by the Angels Gate Citizens Advisory Committee sends the proposal to the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles school board. The two panels have sponsored the plan to set aside the parkland for up to 250 Air Force homes.

For months, officials at the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center in El Segundo have warned that the facility might relocate to another state unless additional local housing can be found for its officers. If the center leaves the South Bay, officials warn it could mean the loss of 3,200 Air Force employees and thousands of aerospace jobs that depend on space and missile systems contracts.

Last week, more than 250 Harbor area residents attended a public hearing to debate the Air Force housing proposal. The majority of speakers endorsed the plan, but many others argued that San Pedro should not give up its parkland for more military housing.

The citizen’s advisory panel, appointed by Harbor area Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, decided that the certain loss of parkland was not as pivotal as the potential loss of local aerospace jobs.

“I think this sends a green light to the councilwoman to try and work out something” with the city, school district and Air Force, said Ann D’Amato, a field deputy to Flores.

D’Amato said the committee’s recommendation will come before the City Council and school board within the next two months.