Controversial Plan for Hollywood Moves Closer to Approval

In a marathon hearing before the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management committee, community members and interest groups staked out their positions during a public comment section that "clocked in at well over two hours, with the number of speakers totaling somewhere between umpteen and infinity."

According to Brasuell, consistent with complaints raised previously, "Aside from traffic congestion, population figures were the most frequent target of the opposition--the US Census says Hollywood's numbers are declining, while the plan counts on numbers rising. Opponents don't think that a "build it and they will come" mantra is a good enough reason to add density and increase building heights in the neighborhood."

The New York Times has also picked up on the story, and had Adam Nagourney on hand to witness the proceedings and provide context, noting the plan's support among key public officials.

"For Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa and Eric M. Garcetti, a council member who represents much of Hollywood, the Hollywood Community Plan reflects the latest attempt to move Los Angeles away from its reliance on cars, creating a concentrated urban area along a thriving subway line where people would work, live and shop - by foot, no less."

"The Planning and Land Use Management Committee of the Council, after hearing nearly three hours of conflicting testimony on Tuesday, put off its vote pending further study. Still, the plan is expected to come before the City Council in the next few months and both sides said that as of now, it seems likely to win approval," reports Nagourney