Universal Expansion Plan Drags On

As the county’s Regional Planning Commission nears completion of the first major phase of hearings on the proposed expansion of Universal Studios, opponents are rejoicing in the smallest of victories.

Take Wednesday’s meeting, during which the commission took several small steps forward, but failed to wrap up the first level of hearings--begun more than a year ago--on the unprecedented, 15-year expansion of the Universal theme park and movie studio in Universal City.

Neighbors who oppose the expansion were thrilled, with the simple fact that the commission ran out of time and put off finishing its discussion until March 23.

“We did it! We did it!” cried a jubiliant Paul Haje, a neighborhood activist who opposes the expansion. “The whole point is to keep them from moving forward.”

The commission did agree to allow several aspects of the plan--including height limits, restrictions on signs and limits on construction noise--to be included in a proposed zoning document, known as a specific plan, for the Universal property.

At its March 23 meeting, the commission is expected to discuss ways to limit noise from film production on the property. At that meeting, the board is expected to close its hearing and order county planners to draft a proposed specific plan, or set of zoning rules, for the area. The commission is also expected to ask planners to prepare a final environmental impact report on the plan.

Both documents would require the approval of the commission, as well as the board of supervisors, for the project to go forward. The approval process could take another year or more.