Freeway Extension Foes Gain Seats : Transit: At least two new members will join a state mitigation panel. Proponents of 710 extension will still outnumber opponents, however.

A conflict over the composition of a state-appointed committee looking for ways to ease the impact of the Long Beach Freeway extension was resolved last week by the addition of two, and possibly three, new members, all opponents of the project.

Proponents of the extension of the 710 Freeway through South Pasadena still have a majority on the California Department of Transportation’s Mitigation Advisory Committee. However, the addition of the new voting members has given freeway opponents the belief that they have a chance to sway others to their views.

“Frankly, that puts us into a position where we do have a substantial minority position, even if our opinions don’t prevail,” said Kathryn Burns, a regional director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, an opponent of the extension.

The trust withdrew from the committee after its first meeting last month because of appointments that left freeway supporters in a decisive majority. South Pasadena also considered backing out of the committee but continued under protest.

In a concession to freeway opponents, Caltrans agreed last Thursday to add one member representing both the California Preservation Foundation and Los Angeles Conservacy, and readmit a representative from the National Trust for Historic Preservation who had withdrawn last month after complaining that the panel was stacked with supporters. The committee also tentatively agreed to admit a representative from the Sierra Club, pending Caltrans approval. Sierra Club member Stanley Hart said he is awaiting word from Caltrans on his admittance.

The addition of three members opposing the project means that freeway proponents would outnumber opponents 8 to 5. But Burns said supporters of the freeway extension might be willing to compromise on some issues.

“I’m not sure it’s so out of whack,” she said of the new committee makeup.

The advisory committee will make recommendations to Caltrans on ways to lessen the impact of the proposed 6.2-mile extension of the Long Beach Freeway through South Pasadena. The $660-million project would connect the San Bernardino Freeway (10) in Los Angeles with the Foothill Freeway (210) in Pasadena.

In a bitter, 30-year fight, opponents--led by the city of South Pasadena--have blasted the extension’s plan to displace 1,426 homes and destroy at least 51 historic properties. South Pasadena and other opponents have campaigned to expand the advisory committee, which has scheduled meetings through December and plans to make recommendations to highway officials in January. The committee’s recommendations to Caltrans are not binding, but highway officials say they will seriously consider the suggestions.

Caltrans spokesman Jim Drago said the advisory committee was expanded “to get that added viewpoint in there. People involved in the project felt from the beginning it was important to have all viewpoints represented.”

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Pasadena Hilton.