The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust announced today that developer Tom Dean and his Studebaker LLC company have decided to stop pursuing the development of a Home Depot store on Los Cerritos wetlands near Pacific Coast Highway and Studebaker Road. The Press-Telegram tells us that the release indicates Dean will cease fighting a judge’s ruling against his project.
The issue had been hotly contested since the City Council voted to approve the development back in November of 2006. Problems followed the project with an Environmental Impact Report that was rejected (twice) by a judge. The issue found itself swirled into debates about conserving natural wetlands, growing traffic concerns and the decision to ban big-box retail stores.
Last October, an lbpost.com column written by Frank Colonna argued against the plan and sparked debate, indicating the community’s torn emotions over the project.
The District Weekly provides us with an excerpt from a letter written by LCWLT President Heather Alltman to members of her organization:
“The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust (LCWLT) and the University Park Estates Neighborhood Association (UPENA) have agreed to a settlement that will result in the return of a significant amount of the legal fees paid on behalf of the LCWLT/UPENA in the lawsuit against Studebaker LLC (i.e. the Home Depot Project). As part of the agreement, Studebaker LLC will be dismissing their appeal of Judge Torribio’s decision to de-certify the City’s Environmental Impact Report and vacate all permit approvals.”
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor