Judge to Rule on Clearing of Land at Playa Vista

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew said he will decide Thursday whether to issue an injunction preventing the clearing of vegetation on a site of the Playa Vista development that environmentalists want to protect.

Members of the Wetlands Action Network, Ballona Wetlands Land Trust and CalPIRG claimed that developers Playa Capital bulldozed a five- to 10-acre parcel of land, endangering the habitat of the rare southwestern willow flycatcher.

Steve Crandall, the attorney for the groups, said the bulldozing was “an act of bad faith.” He asked the court to bar further clearing and grading pending a trial Nov. 18 on a prior lawsuit filed by the environmentalists.

Attorneys representing Playa Capital said the clearing work done last month was a continuation of work begun a year ago that had been suspended because of lack of funds.