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Some want golf property to be a nature sanctuary
By Dana Bartholomew, Daily News, May 10, 2010

STUDIO CITY — A creek winds through lush wetlands along a Los Angeles River walk surrounded by native plants and birds.

The natural setting is part of a 16-acre golf and tennis property that Studio City residents and some local politicians want to convert into the so-called Los Angeles River Natural Park.

But there's only one problem with their elaborate plan: The land isn't theirs.

"This is the craziest g*****n thing I've ever seen in my life," said Guy Weddington McCreary, whose family has owned the Weddington Golf & Tennis property for 55 years. "It's not their land. It's private property.

"This is a matter of private property rights."

Controversy over the formerly named Studio City Golf & Tennis club erupted a decade ago over a proposal by the Weddingtons to build 200 condominiums for seniors on the outdoor recreation complex at 4141 Whitsett Ave.

Residents worried its six, four-story condo towers would not only displace the 16 tennis courts used by private schools and for tournaments, but also disrupt a rustic paradise north of the Los Angeles River with unneeded traffic and congestion.

Backers of the nature park say the area is the last chunk of unprotected riverside property between Griffith Park and the Sepulveda Basin. A feasibility study for their plan to turn the land into a nature sanctuary and riverside park will be released next month.

To push the plan, the Studio City Residents Association created the nonprofit agency, Save LA River Open Space. The agency wants to scrap the senior condos for a natural wetland habitat that would help clean polluted neighborhood storm water.

The Los Angeles River Natural Park would also serve as a hub for an emerging Los Angeles River Greenway of parks and trails, while retaining the popular driving range and 12 tennis courts. The 9-hole golf course would go the way of new habitat for birds and wildlife.

The park proposal has won growing support from residents and elected officials, but opposition from local business groups.

A $50,000 feasibility study, funded by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, is slated to be released next month. Preliminary studies say the proposed creek bed would capture and treat 11-acre-feet of runoff from 200 surrounding acres.

"The plan is to keep this space open, to create an asset for the whole of the Valley and Los Angeles," said Alan Dymond, who chairs both the residents association and the Save LA River group. "It's part of the revitalization of the Los Angeles River.

"This will be one of the emeralds along the Los Angeles River to be enjoyed by all."

Proponents say they hope to tap into state and federal bond pools, and a consortium of private sources, to pay for the wetlands park.

They say if locals were able to save Ahmanson Ranch, as well as the more recent Hollywood sign, from development, they can save the historic Studio City Golf and Tennis.

State Sen. Fran Pavley, who heads a state water committee, said it's much cheaper to treat local run-off than to import water from 300 miles away.

"We need to do a better job of treating for re-use," said Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, who grew up near the shady golf and tennis mecca. "I think it could work.

"Anything will work as long as we have a willing seller. Otherwise it's moot."

A willing seller. And a pile of public cash, some say, that is not on the immediate horizon.

"How would they pay for it? That's the big question," said Jack McGrath, who does public relations for Studio City businesses, who supports the senior condo project.

"Very simply: the federal government is broke. The state's broke. The county is broke. The city is broke ... I can't believe people don't ask this basic question, when there is no money."

McCreary, meanwhile, said his development has been put on hold because of the recession and the forced sale of a piece of club land to make way for a city firehouse.

The developer of the condos has yet to complete a required Environmental Impact Report, he said. And the property would need a zoning variance from City Hall.

Because one acre of club land sold to the city for $5 million, he said the remaining land was worth up to $80 million.

As the sun broke through the clouds Monday, McCreary navigated the former sheep ranch bought by his forebears a century ago.

He said he and his seven relatives plan to develop 4.5 acres for condos, saving the historic clubhouse and driving range. The tennis courts will be moved to the west, he said, while the driving range will be cut in half, forcing duffers to go around twice.

"If you pay us for the value of the property, we'll go," said the white-clad heir to east Valley pioneers. "Otherwise, we like our development proposal, because everybody wins - the senior citizens, the golfers, the tennis players.

"Everybody wins with our proposal."

October 14, 2009 - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1.	What is the status of the proposed development at Weddington Golf & Tennis? The proposed development for Weddington Golf & Tennis will consume the last area of unprotected LA Riverfront open space with its plan to build six four-story buildings, each 45-feet high, for a total of 200 units plus 635 parking spaces.  The current proposal is going through an environmental review phase known as an EIR in which the proposed project is assessed for its potential impact on the environment.   We expect that there will be a draft EIR issued in the near future at which point there will be a call-to-action for the community to participate in the process.  Our no-development alternative vision is also undergoing a review called a feasibility study.  We expect to have the results of that study by the end of the fourth quarter of this year.
2.	What is the process for preserving this area as open space? While this area has always served specific recreational needs, the non-profit organization, Save LA River Open Space, has recognized the regional significance of the site and its potential for even broader benefits to the community and, in fact, the entire San Fernando Valley.  Given its proximity to the Los Angeles River, this beautiful 16-acre space has the potential to improve water quality by halting pollutants from entering the LA River, provide better access to the Los Angeles River Greenway, restore native habitats and preserve recreational uses. Those benefits are reflected in the Save LA River Open Space concept for the introduction of the Los Angeles River Natural Park Vision/Concept.  This concept is currently undergoing a feasibility study. This Los Angeles River Natural Park Vision/Concept provides the community with a powerful no-development alternative.  Save LA River Open Space continues to press forward with its plans to preserve this area as desperately needed open space.  Members of the community are encouraged to join the organization’s efforts in five specific ways: Get Updated Directly:  Ensure that Save LA River Open Space has your complete contact information, including your name, address, best phone number and email address. Join Our Committee of Dedicated Volunteers:  Be a part of the future of this region by lending a hand at events, promotions, Donate Any Amount, Large or Small: Your tax-deductible contributions support efforts to further investigate and             refine our concept for Los Angeles River Natural Park as well as our work to educate the community and other prospective supporters about our goals. Visit our web site at ww.SaveLARiverOpenSpace.org to make an online donation.  Or mail a check, payable to Save LA River Open Space, to: Save LA River Open Space, P.O.Box 1374, Studio City, CA 91614. Become an Ambassador for a No-Development Alternative: Learn more about our vision for Los Angeles River Natural Park and be sure to participate in future community meetings regarding the progress of the proposed development and this alternate vision to preserve open space. Join the Studio City Residents Association (SCRA):  Visit www.studiocityresidents.org and become a member so you will be sure to receive updates about our organization and our progress in the SCRA newsletter.
3.	What will it take to ensure the property is not developed as proposed? Save LA River Open Space continues to aggressively pursue an alternative to the proposed development at Weddington Golf & Tennis.  Its no-development alternative concept is currently going through a feasibility study funded by donors in the community, including individuals and organizations that support the idea this site must be preserved as open space. This concept has far-reaching and powerful benefits to the community, to the Los Angeles River, to the environment and the ability to restore native habitats and the opportunity to contribute directly to water quality improvements.  It is our goal to continue to educate the community and as many potential supporters as we can about the upside of preserving this area as open space. The current development proposal will have to go through a process that not only looks at the environmental impact of building on the property but at the legal ability for the developer to build there, including the need for a zoning change from agricultural to commercial.  That process includes multiple steps that would include a City Council vote, a possibility for a mayoral override and the opportunity for the developer to pursue legal filings to secure the zone change.  Save LA River Open Space continues to monitor any progress made by the developer and will ensure the community has updated information and the opportunity to weigh in during community meetings and other hearings.  Be sure to provide us with your complete contact information so we can keep you informed.  See our “Five Easy Ways You Can Play a Direct Role in Preserving Open Space in Our Community” handout for more information about how you can get involved in the fight.
4.	Who is funding this effort? Work on the Save LA River Open Space concept is being supported by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Studio City Residents Association; the US Tennis Association, the Studio City Neighborhood Council; and private donations.  Save LA River Space appreciates support from concerned members of the community.  All donations are tax deductible and support efforts to further investigate and refine our concept for Los Angeles River Natural Park as well as our work to educate the community and other prospective supporters about our goals.
5.	Which elected officials are in support of this plan? Save LA River Open Space is pleased to have attracted strong interest and support from elected officials up to the state level for its no-alternative concept.
6.	Will this park create more traffic challenges in the community? One of the goals of the Save LA River Open Space no-development alternative plan is to help further develop access for the region to the Los Angeles River Greenway.  This area is a prime location for that access, not only because it is immediately adjacent to the Los Angeles River and can connect to the 51-mile Los Angeles River Greenway and other river parks and trails, but because it is very close to both public parking and public transportation.  In fact, there is a 391-space public parking garage 500 yards from the site right along the Los Angeles River.  Public transit flows up and down both Whitsett Avenue, on the east end of the property, and along Ventura Blvd., immediately south, among other major thoroughfares.
7.	Will golf and tennis still be incorporated in the park? The current Save LA River Open Space concept includes 12 tennis courts, a driving range, golf practice area, and a putting green.
8.	But why is there no golf course? The choice is a simple one: open space or condos.  The Save LA River Open Space concept, currently undergoing a feasibility study, makes a no-development alternative possible.
9.	Where does the City of Los Angeles stand with this effort?  The County? Both are aware of the proposed no-development alternative, though, given the fact that the concept is undergoing a feasibility study, neither has made any official comments. However, since both the County and the City are eager to implement plans to clean up the water, called for in the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan developed for the City of Los Angeles and in the Los Angeles County LA River Master Plan, we expect both the City and County will back the benefits derived from creating Los Angeles River Natural Park on this site.
10.	Why did the organization change its name from Save Studio City Golf & Tennis to Save LA River Open Space? As we learned more about the prospects of preserving this area as open space, and the broader benefits to that effort – from water quality and the return of natural habitats to regional access to the Los Angeles River Greenway and the preservation of the recreational uses of the space – it made sense to broaden our plan. We changed our name to reinforce our focus on the regional significance of the area.
11.	Is it true the organization changed its name because the proposed plan will no longer preserve the golf and tennis recreational aspects of the site? The Save LA River Open Space plan includes 12 tennis courts and golf practice elements, including the highly-popular driving range and putting green.  The name change is purely related to the broadening of the goals and focus of our organization and the regional significance of this space.  Not only does preserving this area as open space fit into the plans outlined in the Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan by the City of Los Angeles and the L.A. County Los Angeles River Master Plan, its various uses as described in the Save LA River Open Space plan help meet regional water quality improvement goals.
12.	What are the next steps? Save LA River Open Space expects to get the results of the feasibility study currently underway for its no-development alternative by the end of the fourth quarter of this year.  In the near-term, we expect the property owners to issue a draft environmental impact report (DEIR), which would trigger a public comment period.  Be sure to provide Save LA River Open Space with your complete contact information so we can keep you informed.
13.	How does the LA River affect our environment?  Water usage? While the Save LA River Open Space plan aims to keep the traditional recreational uses of the site, the regional impact of the area is its proximity and relationship to the Los Angeles River.  The creation of Los Angeles River Natural Park Vision/Concept, proposed by Save LA River Open Space, includes a means to upgrade the contributions this open space can make to capturing storm water and storing it for re-use as well as creating a means to treat polluted water, with the goal of improving water quality in the River and coastal waters.
14.	How can this area transition to have regional impact without losing the integrity of the role it has played in the local community? The most viable approach to halting the development proposed for this site is to have a no-development alternative.  The concept proposed by Save LA River Open Space addresses the community’s first priority – preserving this area as open space – in a way that ensures the preservation of its historical recreational uses, while maximizing its environmental benefits to the region.

April 16, 2009 - Support from our local Neighborhood Councils
Members of Save LA River-Studio City Open Space (SLAROS) recently met with the Valley Alliance of Neighborhood Councils, the Studio City and Valley Village Neighborhood Councils, to present our no-development alternative concept design, to the development proposed for the property known as Weddington Golf and Tennis. All three Neighborhood Councils passed motions in support of SLAROS taking its vision through the feasibility study phase.   The Studio City Neighborhood Council approved a $5000 contribution to Save LA River Open Space towards the feasibility study.