In a 50-page ruling issued Wednesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant found the environmental impact report (EIR) faulty in 11 areas ranging from traffic to air quality. This means Caruso's mall project is stalled until changes are made to the EIR.
Gail Marshall, former City Council member, was hired by Caruso Affiliated to consult on The Shops at Santa Anita mall project. The revised plan and environmental impact report (EIR) is now available to the public at the Arcadia Public Library in hardcopy and a CD-ROM is available for a fee at City Hall.
As ordered by the Los Angeles Superior Court, Arcadia city officials were expected to finalize the repeal of all approvals related to the Shops at Santa Anita mall project and the decertification of the environmental impact report (EIR). Jason Kruckeberg, Development Services Director for the City of Arcadia, said city officials are just starting the potentially year-long process of fixing the 11 faulty areas of the EIR. City officials have begun talks with CalTrans and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts asking for their cooperation in fleshing out traffic and sewage studies.
Developer Caruso Affiliated has submitted a revised plan and environmental impact report (EIR) for review for the proposed development on the parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track, called The Shops at Santa Anita.
Rick Caruso has agreed to pay for a revision of the environmental impact report for the Shops at Santa Anita, the proposed mall development on the parking lot of the Santa Anita Park race track. The original environmental impact report cost almost $1 million. The new revision will require new studies and new public meetings and could cost another 6-figure amount.
Judge James C. Chalfant stands by his July decision that the environmental impact report (EIR) that Arcadia officials relied upon in approving the mall was faulty in 11 areas and that it would have to be revised before the Caruso mall project, proposed for the Santa Anita Park race track parking lot, known as the Shops at Santa Anita, can move forward.
The city has extended the comment period for the Shops at Santa Anita environmental impact report. The public will have until February 27 to file questions and observations.
A court hearing today will provide clarification on Judge James Chalfant's July ruling that stopped progress on an upscale mall proposed by developer Rick Caruso at the Santa Anita Park parking lot. The proposed mall is known as the Shops at Santa Anita. In July, Judge Chalfant ruled that the environmental impact report (EIR) that Arcadia officials relied upon in approving the mall was faulty in 11 areas and would have to be revised before the project can move forward. Chalfant could modify his ruling today, or allow the existing ruling to become final judgment.
Judge James A. Chalfant heard arguments yesterday on two petitions challenging the adequacy of an environmental impact study done for a proposed upscale Arcadia mall, known as The Shops at Santa Anita, developed by Rick Caruso of Caruso Affiliated. The complicated nature of the case could delay a ruling.
A draft report on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension proposes stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa, Glendora, San Dimas, LaVerne, Pomona and Claremont. City hearing will be held at Arcadia City Hall on June 14.
1. Northern San Gabriel-San Bernardino Valley Rail Transit Corridor, September 1993: Summary. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Cultural and Historical Resources Survey Report. Noise and Vibration Analysis. Fleet Requirements and yard Location Analysis. Engineering Plan and Profile Drawings. 2. Do…
1. Northern San Gabriel-San Bernardino Valley Rail Transit Corridor, September 1993: Summary. Draft Environmental Impact Report. Cultural and Historical Resources Survey Report. Noise and Vibration Analysis. Fleet Requirements and yard Location Analysis. Engineering Plan and Profile Drawings.
2. Downtown 2000 Streetscape and Public Facilities Improvement Program--Expanded initial study and draft mitigated negative declaration, February 7, 1995.
3. Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita Expansion-December 1999-Initial Study. Memo subject: Consideration of the Final Environmental Impact Report and Project Description. Westfield Planning submittal-Proposed Santa Anita Expansion February 2002.
A crowd of people showed up at the Planning Commission meeting to show their support of and opposition to the proposed Shops at Santa Anita mall project.
Westfield Shoppingtown has withdrawn its request to expand restaurant space at its new Promenade wing, following a legal challenge by rival mall developer Caruso Affiliated. In August, Caruso sued to stop the expansion, demanding a new environmental impact report. Westfield has decided not to fight this lawsuit.
Arcadia City Council has voted to impose fees on developers to pay for intersection-widening projects. A chart shows the traffic count at developments, at intersections, and the fee structure.
Arcadia's neighboring cities of San Marino and Pasadena are worried about the impact of mall traffic. Caruso spokesperson Julie Wong says the developer is listening and will respond to all concerns as part of the environmental review process.
Westfield Group, owner of Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita, plans to sue the City of Arcadia and developer Caruso Affiliated to prevent The Shops at Santa Anita, the outdoor mall, from being built.
Developer Rick Caruso's $400 million open-air mall at the Santa Anita Park race track may be stiff competition for retailers at Westfield Shoppingtown. City leaders hope the two malls can coexist.
Rick Caruso faces off with Westfield Group's Kenneth Wong at a City Council meeting. Some 350 Arcadia residents came to hear about the proposed expansion of Westfield Shoppingtown and Caruso's outdoor lifestyle center.
The City Council will likely approve Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita's mall expansion for the outdoor section known as The Promenade if Westfield can resolve parking issues that will arise during construction.