Approval of Development

I wish to respond to The Times’ coverage of the L.A. City Council meeting during which the council debated and then approved my Wilshire Boulevard development by a vote of 9 to 4 (“Family Ties Are Glaring as Council OKs High Rise,” news analysis, Jan. 21). Beth Shuster’s mean-spirited piece was, in my view, little more than biased tabloid fare.

I’d like to redirect the focus back to the issues. My team and I worked diligently to understand the needs, nature and culture of this special community. We studied the Westwood Specific Plan, to meet the complex and stringent requirements for development in this area. We created what we feel is an exceptional project--one that fits the community and is financially viable.

We set about the task of submitting the plans for review and public presentation through the labyrinth of committees and required processes. We made many modifications. We received the enthusiastic and unanimous support and approval of the city’s planning staff, the Planning Commission and the Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

There was absolutely nothing unusual about the way in which we educated and informed members of the City Council about the project. This was necessary due to the many technical, regulatory, building and zoning issues involved. Each council member that I met with gave the project time and careful consideration. The project stands on its merits.

RICHARD E. WEINTRAUB

Malibu