Articles

Fast Food Mecca in CD 10?

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Category: Community News

Published on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 16:50

Written by Dianne Lawrence

In 2008, Jan Perry and Bernard Parks introduced, and City Council adopted, an ordinance temporarily prohibiting the growth of any new stand-alone fast-food restaurants for the West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Park, South L.A. and South East L.A. communities.

The unusually high percentage of fast food restaurants in these communities generated concerns about the correlation between high sugar and salt content to the high rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension found in these communities. Other concerns included the effect idling drive-through traffic had on local residents and the compromising effect fast food architecture had on the historic character of the area.

In 2011, to support the growth of healthier alternatives and healthier residents, restrictions and guidelines for establishing fast-food stand alone structures, became a permanent ordinance. One of the requirements limited installing any new stand-alones within ½ mile of each other. Councilman Wesson asked for and got a lifting of this restriction for CD10 above the 10 freeway.

Fast forward to the current new West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Park Community Plan, which comes up for final consideration and approval by the City Planning commission on April 11. If approved it goes on to the City Council in June or July for a vote.

In reviewing the current draft of the Plan we discover that Council President Herb Wesson has asked that the majority of Council District 10 within the plan, become completely exempt from any distance restrictions to the growth of fast food restaurants.

From the West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Park Community Plan Staff Recommendation Report;

“Council District 10, through these briefings, felt that, for their district, further adjustment to the distance separation approach was necessary. As such, within the CD 10 boundaries , the CPIO [Community Plan Implementation Overlay] fast-food distance separation requirements apply only adjacent to schools and in the TODs (1/4 mile radius in lieu of ½ mile radius), and are exempt for all other corridors in the CD 10 area (except Crenshaw Corridor Specific Plan). Instead CPIOs in CD10 favor an approach which bolsters development standards and guidelines in lieu of distance separation toward ensuring compatibility with existing community character.”

In plain English, Councilman Wesson has decided that CD10 can support unlimited growth of fast food restaurants (as long as they are designed properly) and that students can tolerate fast food restaurants within a ¼ mile rather than ½ mile from their schools. This despite the overwhelming majority community response speaking in favor of the restrictions at the community hearings where the only speakers against restrictions were McDonald's representatives and people who have benefited from their progams.

 On February 19, 2013, McDonald's was invited to City Council to give a lengthy presentation of their community programs and "healthy food options". They also provided free breakfast for the Councilmembers who will be voting on the new Plan this summer. Listening to the tapes of the Council meeting, we can hear Council President Wesson introduce McDonald's with a glowing and hearty endorsement, emphasizing their healthy apple, salad and porridge options. After McDonald's presentation, other council-members salute them with Council President Wesson winding it up by congratulating the popular fast-food chain for offering the community a “choice.” Clearly the Council President is fond of McDonalds. What is unclear is why McDonalds was invited to City Council and why they and Councilmember Wesson, want the option to place new fast food restaurants every half mile within these communities - and even closer to schools making it easier for students to choose between apples and French fries. Does it appear as if MacDonalds is being allowed to unduly influence community plans that will be in place for the next 20 years or that Councilmembers may be putting corporate needs before the health of their communities?

Want to weigh in and show your support for or against the exemption? Want to ask why the exemptions were included? Then write a letter, email or call Councilman Wesson's office.

200 North Spring Street, Room 430 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Office: (213) 473-7010 Fax: (213) 485-9829 E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UPDATE April 10

City Planning Commission Withdraws Exemption on Fast Food Development.

Cites community concerns in lifting exemption

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles City Planning Commission today listened to the voices of community residents and recommended eliminating the exemption proposed in the draft West Adams New Community Plan. The draft plan proposed exempting the Council District 10 portion of the West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert Park New Community Plan from the fast food density policy. The policy restricted new standalone fast food restaurants within a ½ mile of an existing fast food restaurant. CD 10 constitutes more than half of the total West Adams plan area and nearly 80% of the plan area’s population, stretching from Vernon Blvd north to Pico, west to Culver City and east to Arlington/Van Ness.

Nearly 200 people attended today’s early morning hearing with the majority there to oppose lifting the restriction on fast food development. A resident asked that the restrictions remain in place for her health and her family’s, citing how her addiction to fast food led to a weight of 240 pounds. Others indicated they wanted to eat healthy, but have to go outside their community to find healthy choices. In reaching their decision, the Planning Commission said they heard residents’ demands for healthy, walkable, attractive communities. 

The Planning Commissions’ recommendations will be sent to City Council. The next step in the New Community Plan process is a hearing before the Planning & Land Use Management Committee, which is expected to take place before July 2013. Final approval rests with the City Council.

Community Health Councils is a non-profit, community-based health promotion, advocacy and policy organization. Established in 1992, our mission is to promote social justice and achieve equity in community and environmental resources for underserved populations.

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