Hayden Denounces Universal Studios Expansion

In his campaign to become mayor of Los Angeles, state Sen. Tom Hayden drew a standing ovation from a group of homeowners Monday when he came out strongly against Universal Studios’ proposed $2-billion expansion, also hinting he suspects it may someday include gambling casinos.

The project as it now stands, Hayden said, is “not compatible with preserving [a decent] quality of life” in surrounding neighborhoods and would give Universal a 25-year blanket exemption from the state Environmental Quality Act.

He asked the company to “make a candid statement as to the future likelihood of card clubs, casinos or any other form of gambling” on its property.

The company did. “Gambling is not a proposed use . . . and we have no plans to add it,” said Universal’s vice president of master plan, Helen McCann.

Hayden appeared before the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission at Universal City in the second day of public testimony on Universal Studios’ grand expansion project. About 250 people showed up for the hearing, at which only opponents were allowed to address the commission.

Some supporters were heard at an earlier session and will be allowed to speak at a later session.

Universal’s proposed expansion would more than double its current building space in the next 25 years with another 5.9 million square feet of studios, offices, theme park attractions and hotels.

The company says the project would create 13,000 jobs at Universal and boost state and local tax revenues by $25 million a year.

Hayden said Universal had not come up with enough measures to mitigate environmental and traffic problems and called the company’s argument that a planned MTA subway stop could solve many traffic problems a “fanciful projection.”

He also called for Universal to contribute to the restoration of the Los Angeles River along the north side of its property.

“The expansion of an entertainment complex should not cause the downsizing and disappearance of the surrounding neighborhood culture,” Hayden said.

Other speakers were residents who complained that they are now subjected to incessant loud music, gunshots and dinosaur sounds from Universal’s studio and theme park, plus increasing crime and traffic congestion in the area. They predicted that any major expansion could lead to unmanageable problems.

Entertainer Rick Dees, a Toluca Lake resident, said that noise coming from Universal Studios was “50 times [louder than] the Bank of America holdup several days ago. The noise is like water torture. . . . It’s so invasive.”

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Dees wants Universal to be forced to follow the more stringent city noise ordinances, rather than a weaker county noise code, because “100% of the noise problems are affecting . . . L.A. city residents.”

Universal City covers 415 acres, with 296 acres in an unincorporated area of the county and the remainder overseen by the city. Both city and county planning departments are reviewing the project, although the county is the lead agency.

Dees set off laughter by recounting that when his mother visited him last summer, her reaction to the explosions that can go off every 40 seconds at Universal was: “We’re getting invaded! What’s going on?”

Polly Ward, of the Studio City Residents Assn., said she did not oppose Universal expanding its studio or office space, but “what we disapprove of is putting a [bigger] theme park in our neighborhood.”

Theresa Karam, a North Hollywood resident, said she was outraged by Universal’s proposal for up to 53 more liquor licenses. “Do we not have enough problems with gangs and violence?” she asked.

And Marie Thorpe, a real estate broker who has lived in her Toluca Lake home for 24 years, said that Universal “has turned what was once a studio lot into a theme park rivaling Disneyland or Magic Mountain. . . . If Universal wants a theme park, go out into the country and buy tracts of land like other developers.”

Because of the long list of people wishing to speak, another public hearing will be held next Monday, March 10 at 9 a.m. at 500 W. Temple St. at the Board of Supervisors hearing room.