Universal Expansion Changes Are Aired

The Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission heard several proposed alterations to the Universal Studios expansion plan, including one that changes a land-use designation to further restrict sites that can be developed for entertainment.

The commission did not take action on the items discussed--which included height restrictions, as well as permitted and prohibited uses--but continued the discussion to Feb. 11.

The Universal City Specific Plan includes four land-use districts for the studio: the business center district, the studio district, the entertainment district and the greenscape district.

The change would take much of the eastern portion of the entertainment district and add it to the studio district, which is zoned for the development of a hotel.

The move would permit the studio to use that area for studio production, a hotel, office or some retail, and substantially reduce the amount of future CityWalk-like entertainment development there.

Although two primary concerns for area residents who oppose the project have been impacts of increased traffic and noise, the commission was not scheduled to hear updates on those issues Wednesday.

Planning commissioners said noise impacts will be the subject of the next hearing on Feb. 11, when an update on a report on the subject by Fred Greve, an outside consultant, will be heard.

The public-comment period on the issues in Greve’s report--which called for stricter noise standards--will close on Dec. 31.

Commissioner Donald Toy said he wanted a follow-up report by Greve before the December deadline so that residents would be able to comment on it, but county planning staff said it would not ready.

The $1-billion expansion project proposes an additional 3.3 million square feet of studio, office and retail space. The studio downscaled the plan from the original by 44% to appease public opposition to the expansion.