LOS ANGELES : Council to Oppose Bill Barring Suits Against Fox

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to oppose a state bill designed to bar homeowner groups from suing to stop the proposed $200-million expansion of Fox Studio in Century City.

“While I have every confidence that the city’s actions are eminently defensible and airtight, the notion of denying somebody, frustrating somebody’s right to petition the court to redress their grievances, is alien to me,” Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky said.

Yaroslavsky, who represents Century City, introduced the emergency measure to oppose the bill a day after Fox won initial approval from a Senate committee. The project had won final approval from the city last month after nearly four years of hearings and haggling. But studio executives are worried that lawsuits by homeowners groups will derail it.

Fox’s sudden move angered city and state officials. Sen. Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), whose district comes near the studio, vowed to stop the special interest legislation. The bill would prevent lawsuits by declaring that the project complies with all local zoning and planning requirements. The bill also would exempt Fox from further review under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Fox Senior Vice President David Handelman said the company already must spend $35 million to comply with 700 government requirements.