Bryan and Tongo's Posts - Culver City Times2024-03-29T13:45:22ZBryan and Tongohttp://culvercitytimes.com/profile/BryanandTongohttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/372692006?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://culvercitytimes.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=2jzard1969qxc&xn_auth=noThe Rubber Stamp::: without properly studying the data, Culver City Planning Commission approves the 7-Eleven project at 4436 Sepulveda Boulevardtag:culvercitytimes.com,2012-05-25:6303163:BlogPost:252422012-05-25T06:30:00.000ZBryan and Tongohttp://culvercitytimes.com/profile/BryanandTongo
<p>Surprisingly, the Planning Commission has approved the Swerdlow 7-Eleven project at 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard. In spite of efforts by local residents over a period of years to raise the consciousness of government and committee members who decide these things, it now feels very possible that we will have our sixth 7-Eleven within city boundaries and a third one located on Sepulveda for those who enjoy stopping their cars at short intervals to refill their soda cups.</p>
<p>Imagine that. Three…</p>
<p>Surprisingly, the Planning Commission has approved the Swerdlow 7-Eleven project at 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard. In spite of efforts by local residents over a period of years to raise the consciousness of government and committee members who decide these things, it now feels very possible that we will have our sixth 7-Eleven within city boundaries and a third one located on Sepulveda for those who enjoy stopping their cars at short intervals to refill their soda cups.</p>
<p>Imagine that. Three on one street from Jefferson Boulevard to Venice Boulevard. Even though the property has stood vacant for more than a decade, must we be out of our skulls to think it's possible that our community really needs three 7-Eleven shops in such a short space?!</p>
<p>Blight. Bad. Graffiti. Bad. Trash. Bad. Congestion. Bad. Eyesore. Bad.</p>
<p>We all agree that the undeveloped property is overdue for a new commercial inhabitant. That abandoned gas station needs to go bye-bye. Come walk around the area and see for yourself if you think a 7-Eleven fits with what already exists. If you don't come hang out for at least 25 minutes a day over a period of days in this area, then what gives you the right to decide what happens there?</p>
<p>No joke. The Planning Commission approved a project for an area that they do not fully understand. They have not viewed the traffic study video. They have not viewed the resident-created traffic videos. Four of the committee members admitted to having never seen the intersection to watch traffic. Again, I ask, what gives these people the right to decide what happens at 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard? This is a bad movie script that I do not want to see produced.</p>
<p><strong>I am personally calling out</strong> each and every member of the Planning Commission, the City Council, and every person who serves the City in an official capacity to spend some time at Braddock and Sepulveda. Tweet at me when you're there. Go get something eat, walk around a bit on up to Culver Boulevard, get a feel for the place. Understand the patterns. I hope Aaron Swerdlow will join us, too. He might get some other ideas for what to develop on the property.</p>
<p>We are overdue for some food truck fun. I'll start calling a few and we'll have an event to help everyone remember that this is our City and 7-Eleven is not welcome.</p>
<p>-------------->Stay Tuned for the #CountdownToAppeal ###June 8###<--------------------</p>
<p>If you're interested in working with a small cadre of concerned residents who are officially filing an appeal to the Planning Commission's decision, please contact me via email: <a href="mailto:bryan@bryansanders.com" target="_blank">bryan@bryansanders.com</a> because the more the merrier and we have only 15 days! Whose city? OUR city! #Occupy #4436cc</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yours,</p>
<p>Bryan Sanders</p>
<p><a href="http://bryansanders.com/4436.html" target="_blank">http://bryansanders.com/4436.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/nayrbgo" target="_blank">@nayrbgo</a></p>Culver City, stay hip, fresh and greentag:culvercitytimes.com,2012-03-13:6303163:BlogPost:238062012-03-13T06:30:00.000ZBryan and Tongohttp://culvercitytimes.com/profile/BryanandTongo
<p><strong>Attend the 7PM City Hall meeting</strong> about creating a new vision for Sepulveda Boulevard.</p>
<p>Build on the successes of Parcel B and create a Specific Use Plan for our neighborhood.</p>
<p><strong>WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE MEETING?</strong></p>
<p>We don't have a Specific Use Plan on file in the City Municipal Code to govern the specific usage of the commercial properties on Sepulveda Boulevard from Farragut Drive up to Venice Boulevard. The City will hold site plan hearings…</p>
<p><strong>Attend the 7PM City Hall meeting</strong> about creating a new vision for Sepulveda Boulevard.</p>
<p>Build on the successes of Parcel B and create a Specific Use Plan for our neighborhood.</p>
<p><strong>WHY SHOULD I ATTEND THE MEETING?</strong></p>
<p>We don't have a Specific Use Plan on file in the City Municipal Code to govern the specific usage of the commercial properties on Sepulveda Boulevard from Farragut Drive up to Venice Boulevard. The City will hold site plan hearings and possibly vote to approve our sixth 7-Eleven store at the corner of Braddock Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard.</p>
<p><strong>WHAT CAN WE DO?</strong></p>
<p>Residents can discuss the need for a Specific Use Plan for the commercial district and urge the Planning Commission to disapprove the 7-Eleven project. We need to conduct further studies into the matter and adopt new ordinances into the City Municipal Code.</p>
<p><strong>Meet an hour before in the courtyard. :-)</strong></p>
<p>Plan out your thoughts and come up to the microphone to put your thoughts in the public record.</p>
<div class="xg_user_generated"><p><strong>March 14, 2012 7:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers</strong></p>
<p>Come to discuss why you think that the Sepulveda Commercial Corridor needs an upgrade to match the other commercial districts in Culver City.</p>
<p><strong>Here's what I'm going to tell the Planning Commission:</strong></p>
<p>Just last week, my in-laws came through and had a lovely time first at Pho Show and then over to Coolhaus. When they returned to see us, they commented on how fun and unique their experience in Culver City was, and how it is so nice and refreshing to have individually owned businesses rather than the cookie cutter chain stores one usually sees.</p>
<p>We can continue that tradition by working together to create a Specific Use Plan in the Sepulveda Commercial District. Right now it is zoned "Commercial General" and as a result, property owners have more freedom to choose the types of business they wish to house. Andrew Swerdlow doesn't live next door to the proposed 7-Eleven, butwe do. With a Specific Use Plan, we can limit the types of business to match a more unified purpose. This is not unusual. We have these plans in place in Downtown Culver City and West Washington.</p>
<p>Don't get bogged down by other issues. The City has already received a threatening legal letter from Andrew Swerdlow's attorney. It is very clear that there is only one issue: <strong>zoning. </strong>You can read the letter yourself. It is part of the public record and in the agenda documents for this meeting.</p>
<p>Unless we modify the municipal code to include a Specific Use Plan for the properties in that Commercial General Zone, then we will have this 7-Eleven as the corner store. And then beyond that, who knows how else the character and flavor of our neighborhood will change.</p>
<p>We need to stay hip, fresh, green, interesting, unique and fun. Culver City is different for a reason. Let's keep moving forward.</p>
<p>Yours,</p>
<p>Bryan Sanders</p>
<p>Culver City</p>
</div>Who is Aaron Swerdlow?tag:culvercitytimes.com,2012-01-25:6303163:BlogPost:226192012-01-25T06:37:43.000ZBryan and Tongohttp://culvercitytimes.com/profile/BryanandTongo
<p>Aaron Swerdlow is Equitas Investments, LLC and Festival Development Partners, LLC. He has invested in 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard and wants to build a 7-Eleven. It would be Culver City's sixth 7-Eleven and would also be five short blocks from a "Mom and Pop" convenience store known as Overland Mini Mart.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.equitasinvestments.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.equitasinvestments.com/index.html</a></p>
<p>Read about his company, their approach and what they have…</p>
<p>Aaron Swerdlow is Equitas Investments, LLC and Festival Development Partners, LLC. He has invested in 4436 Sepulveda Boulevard and wants to build a 7-Eleven. It would be Culver City's sixth 7-Eleven and would also be five short blocks from a "Mom and Pop" convenience store known as Overland Mini Mart.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.equitasinvestments.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.equitasinvestments.com/index.html</a></p>
<p>Read about his company, their approach and what they have done so far.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.equitasinvestments.com/projects.html" target="_blank">http://www.equitasinvestments.com/projects.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.equitasinvestments.com/case-studies.html" target="_blank">http://www.equitasinvestments.com/case-studies.html</a></p>
<p>If you have an opinion about this project, you need to contact your City Officials. Call and email Joshua Williams and Thomas Gorham in the Planning Commission. Also, you should try to attend the February 8, 2012 Planning Commission meeting at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. There will be a vote on this project that evening.</p>
<p>Joshua Williams -- 1-310-253-5706 -- joshua.williams@culvercity.org</p>
<p>Thomas Gorham -- 1-310-253-5710 -- thomas.gorham@culvercity.org</p>
<p>Additionally, you may visit my webpage where I am aggregating reading material on the subject, as well as email addresses and phone numbers of other critical players in our City. <a href="http://bryansanders.com/4436.html" target="_blank">http://bryansanders.com/4436.html</a></p>
<p>Stay focused. Be clear. Remain persistent.</p>
<p>We do not need another 7-Eleven in our neighborhood.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Yours,</p>
<p>Bryan Sanders</p>
<p>Culver City</p>