San Gabriel Valley : MEETING CANCELED

The fire marshall and several police officers were clued in, but the Arcadia Planning Commission said it “did not anticipate” the enormous turnout that forced planners to cancel Wednesday night’s general plan meeting, officials said.

When residents showed up to the public hearing, several police and fire officials were present to make sure the 200-capacity planning room was not overcrowded, said resident Patricia Grannis. And when at least 300 people filled the room, fire officials advised the planners to cancel the meeting, said planner Silva Vergel.

Hoping to discuss the much-debated proposal to build a $100-million entertainment complex on Santa Anita racetrack property, residents said the planning commission should have foreseen a large turnout.

“I can’t believe that they planned a meeting in such a small venue,” said Grannis, who arrived at the meeting 25 minutes early to find the room already full. “We’ve had two to three meetings in the community center with enormous turnouts of people who are against [the proposed entertainment center].”