Supervisors OK Plan for Marina : Growth: Vote clears way for a new high-rise waterfront community. The state coastal panel must still give its approval.

Los Angeles County supervisors adopted a controversial coastal land use plan Thursday that could transform Marina del Rey into a high-rise enclave and set the stage for creation of a waterfront community on the edge of the existing marina.

After hearing sharply different views during a two-hour hearing, the supervisors voted 3 to 0 to endorse the plan, which could dramatically increase the height and density of residential, hotel, and commercial buildings surrounding the harbor.

Critics warned that the plan could create “Wilshire on the Water” and a “Century City by the Sea” by allowing buildings up to 225 feet high.

But supporters, including marina interests and Supervisor Deane Dana, who represents the area, said the plan will “spur redevelopment and rejuvenation” of the waterfront and is in the best interests of the county, its residents and businesses.

The proposal, which goes to the California Coastal Commission for final action, would also open the door to an entirely new marina that would become part of the planned Playa Vista project. The new waterfront community with residences, offices, shops, pedestrian walkways and boat slips would be carved out of open land next to the existing marina.

The changes in the county’s decade-old Marina del Rey Local Coastal Program were prompted by concerns that the harbor is showing signs of decay and needs to be revitalized.

Marina del Rey is owned by the county. Developers operate there on public land through long-term leases with the county. A primary goal of the plan is to increase the county’s income by changing marina zoning to substantially increase the amount of development that can occur.

Although leaseholders, developers and business interests generally endorsed the plan, some Marina residents and environmental activists were critical.

Marina del Rey boater Donald Klein said the intense development proposed in the plan is “preposterous.” He accused county officials of “being joined at the hip” with marina leaseholders. “If they have their way, we will have Century City by the Sea,” Klein said.

Venice activist Iylene Weiss warned that allowing such dense development would turn the harbor into “Wilshire on the Water.” Weiss noted the zoning changes would make the marina properties more valuable and urged the board to exercise care in granting extensions of marina leases.

But longtime marina leaseholder Jerry Epstein urged the supervisors to adopt the plan and move quickly to negotiate lease extensions so redevelopment can proceed. “We are not adversaries,” he told the board. “We are partners.”

The highly technical document would allow dramatically increased density and height limits, particularly on the periphery of the marina.

On the western flank, high-rise residential buildings up to a maximum of 225 feet could effectively wall off the waterfront from adjoining Venice neighborhoods.

Although the plan generally calls for building heights to taper down closer to the water, the proposed maximum height limits are significantly greater than the mostly three-story apartment buildings that line the marina today.

At the insistence of the county’s Small Craft Harbor Commission, the plan requires a wind tunnel analysis to gauge the potential effects of high-rise buildings on wind patterns needed by sailboats.

Supervisors Dana, Mike Antonovich and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke endorsed the plan. Supervisors Gloria Molina and Ed Edelman were absent.

The approach is a sharp departure from the county’s original marina plan certified by the Coastal Commission in 1984.

Altogether, the plan would allow 2,585 additional residential units in the existing marina, 905 new hotel rooms, 1,875 restaurant seats, 383 boat slips and a significant increase in retail and office space.

On the southern edge of the present marina, a new waterfront community would be carved from the unused land.

The new marina, a key element in the vast Playa Vista project planned by developer Maguire Thomas Partners, would include 2,576 residential units, 450 hotel rooms and 700 boat slips, plus office and retail space, a community center and a marine science museum.

The plan calls for 15% of the Playa Vista residences to be affordable units for people with low or moderate incomes. There is no requirement for low- or moderate-income housing within the marina.

The Playa Vista portion of the plan drew objections from two relatively new groups, Save Ballona Wetlands and the Ballona Wetlands Land Trust. Representatives warned of adverse environmental impacts and urged that the property be kept as open space or restored as a wetland.

Ruth Lansford, chairwoman of the long-established group Friends of Ballona Wetlands, praised Maguire Thomas Partners. She suggested that the harbor could offer some wetland areas, fish habitat, and opportunities for canoeing and sailing lessons rather than more boat slips.

Marina leaseholder Epstein pleaded with the supervisors to change the plan to separate redevelopment of the existing marina from the Playa Vista marina. Epstein warned that potential legal challenges to Playa Vista development could delay changes in the present marina.

In response, Dana offered a proposal intended to allow the marina projects to go forward even if the Playa Vista portion of the plan is challenged in court.

Playa Vista project manager Doug Gardner said Maguire Thomas intends to proceed with its development. He rejected suggestions that the degraded land is actually a wetland.

Traffic remains a major issue. A representative of Los Angeles Councilwoman Ruth Galanter expressed concern that the plan does not adequately provide for handling the additional traffic generated by the new development. County officials rejected that contention.

Marina del Rey-a New Vision Los Angeles County supervisors have adopted a revised Marina del Rey land use plan that would provide for intensive redevelopment of the harbor, including potential construction of new high-rise residental, office and hotel developments. In some areas, new high-rises could reach 225 feet. Height limits would taper off close to the water in most cases.

The plan also details an entirely new waterfront community, part of the Playa Vista project, that would be built next to the existing marina. A final decision on the land use plan rests with the California Coastal Commission. *

Legend High-rise residental, maximum height 225 feet. *

Hotel, maximum height of 225 feet. *

Office, maximum height of 225 feet. *

Remainder of Marina del Rey subject to redevelopment, with the exception of some park and beach area. *

Boundary of planned Playa Vista Marina *

Existing Marina Del Rey Development Residental: 5,885 units Hotel: 969 rooms Restaurants: 7,333 seats Retail space: 320,755 square feet. Offices: 399,727 square feet. Boat slips: 5,923 boat slips. *

Potential New Development Residental: 2,585 units, 75 senior care units. Hotel: 905 rooms. Restaurants: 1,875 seats Retail space: 206, 500 square feet. Offices: 58,000 square feet. Marine commercial: 3,000 square feet, including marine science center. Boat slips: 383 moorings. *

Planned Playa Vista Marina Residental: 2,576 units. Hotel: 450 rooms. Retail space: 75,000 square feet. Community center: 20,000 square feet. Offices: 125,000 square feet. Marine commercial: 30,000 square feet, including marine science center Boat slips: 700 moorings. Source: Los Angeles County