Major Marina Del Rey Coastal Developments Get Greenlight

MARINA DEL REY (CBS) —  The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a package of major developments in Marina del Rey Tuesday, but did not approve a 19-story hotel tower.

The board considered changes to the county's Coastal Development Plan that would enable the construction of the 19-story hotel tower, with 288 hotel rooms, 136 timeshare units, six levels of parking, a walkway and an emergency helipad.  The plans also included 526 new apartments, 81 of those being affordable units; 114 seniors units, retail space, amenities for boaters, parking spaces and open space.

The board unanimously approved changes for all but the hotel tower, which representatives for the district said would be scaled back to five stories.  It was referred to the Regional Planning Commission for further review.

Some in favor of the plans argued that the marina, which was created in the 1950s and developed in the 60s and 70s, is long overdue for redevelopment, and that the planned work would create jobs and affordable housing.

But others residents said the area was already too crowded.

County planners said they did "extensive public outreach" and that the revisions to the Local Coastal Plan did not increase the density of development allowed under a 1996 grant from the Coastal Commission, but simply reassigned permits and changed land-use rules on specific parcels.

Most of the renovations would be on the Venice-side of the marina, rather than on the side bordering Ballona Creek and the wetlands, and several public speakers said some of the development should be shifted to the south side.

The updated coastal development plan, which now goes to the state Coastal Commission for review, involves several developers.

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