Fast Food Exemption Deleted

Category: Eye On Wesson
Published on Tuesday, 04 June 2013 11:44
Written by D.V. Lawrence
 
JuneMcdIn our last issue we reported on efforts by CD 10's Councilman Wesson to try and get fast-food restrictions exempted from the community plan for portions of our CD 10 district. These  exemptions were to be included in the final report by the L.A. Planning Commission...but there was one more community meeting before the final presentation to City Council.  Here is a press report on the results of this meeting on April 11 2013, from The Community Health Council, a non-profit, community-based health promotion, advocacy and policy organization;

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 was  established in 1992.  Their mission is to promote social justice and achieve equity in community and environmental resources for underserved populations.

It will be interesting to see if Councilman Wesson will use his powers as the Council President along with his backroom dealing skills to somehow get the issue back on the table for a vote by City Council.  We will keep our eye on it.