The California Coastal Commission (CCC) will be ruling on the Coastal Permit Application by Verizon Wireless for the “installation of wireless telecommunication equipment on new 29-43 foot high (grade level) wood utility poles in five various locations. The equipment will consist of six foot double extension arms, two panel antennas, microcell, power meter mounted on the five single poles, and one 25’ x 7’ underground transmission equipment vault” at four locations in the Palisades and one in Point Fermin. Application No. 5-09-125 is item number 20a on the agenda.

The locations of the proposed installations are:
* 2531 S. Western Avenue (west side of street in the ‘S’ curve south of 25th Street)
* 820 S. Paseo Del Mar (north side of street just down the hill from the Korean Friendship Bell)
* 4101 S. Pacific Avenue (corner of Pacific Avenue and Sheppard Street in Point Fermin)
* 3627 S. Gaffey Street (west side of street on south side of entrance to the Korean Friendship Bell)
* 3135 S. Gaffey Street (west side of street just south of 30th Street by the new entrance to SRHS#15)
To see pictures of some of these locations, please click the Related Articles link at the bottom. A map can be found in Verizon’s proposal.

Download a copy of Verizon’s proposal, including maps, diagrams, and two letters of opposition, by clicking Here (downloads a 1.3MB pdf) or click on the agenda link above and look for Verizon.

The CCC meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at the City of Oceanside, City Council Chambers, 300 North Coast Hwy., Oceanside, CA 92054

If you wish to speak at the meeting, you will fill out a “Request to Speak” form and give it to a staff person at the meeting.

Letters and written comments may be submitted to the CCC no later than three working days before the hearing. In the upper right hand corner of the first page of your submittal please identify the agenda item number (W22c), application number (5-08-251) & your name. Please summarize your position in two or three pages. You may attach any exhibits you feel are necessary. Please Note: You are discouraged from submitting written materials to the Commission on the day of the hearing, unless they are visual aids. Letters can be sent to:

If you are unable to be present at the meeting you may view and listen to this meeting gavel to gavel live on the web. When in session, see:
* Just the webcast
* Webcast and the agenda in a frames page
* Just the audio

Related Posts:
Proposed Verizon Cell Towers

This Saturday is the 25th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day. Last year more than 70,000 volunteers participated and picked up 1.6 million pounds of trash. That’s just in California. Coastal Cleanup Day is an international event where volunteers around the world will be cleaning up beaches, creeks and rivers.

Ask a friend or neighbor to join you and let’s take care of our beautiful backyard.

WHEN: Saturday, September 19, 2009, 9 am–12 noon
WHERE: White Point/Royal Palms County Beach, 1800 W. Paseo del Mar
BRING: Suggestions of what to bring or wear: Waiver form (see link below), CCD flyer for free parking (download here), wear clothes and shoes that can get wet or sandy, hat, sunscreen, drinking water.
SIGN-UP: Sign-up on-line or just show up!

Related Articles:
Neighborhood Cleanup Day!

The agenda for the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council meeting this coming Monday, June 15 has several items that concern Palisades residents:

Item #4: There will be a presentation by Col. Latin, United States Air Force (USAF) on the solar panel installations at Los Angeles Air Force base Pacific Heights housing north of the White Point Nature Preserve.

Item #8: A presentation by the Department of Toxic Substances Control on SRHS#15 development at Angels Gate.

The meeting begins at 6:30 pm at the Cabrillo Marina Community Building, Cabrillo Plaza, Berth 28.

Related Articles:
Angels Gate Cleanup Meeting
Annual Meeting

This coming Tuesday is the Palisades Residents Association Annual Meeting. Come meet your neighbors and hear about pressing issues. You will have an opportunity to ask questions to local neighborhood representatives. Some of the topics to be touched upon will be the demolition on LAUSD property at Angels Gate and the installation of new lighting at Pacific Heights Air Force Base housing above White Point Nature Preserve.

We will also be electing a new board of directors. There are quite a few open seats so, if you are interested in helping out once a month, please consider joining us. We will be taking nominations from the floor.

Renters, homeowners, and business owners are all invited. Don’t be the only one not there!

Palisades Residents Association Annual Meeting
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
White Point Elementary School
410 Silvius Ave. San Pedro, CA 90731
6:30 pm: Enjoy refreshments and meet your neighbors!
7:00 pm: Meeting starts

Scheduled Speakers:
Officer Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
Dr. Richard Vladovic, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)
June Burlingame-Smith, Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council (CSPNC)
Air Force Base representatives
Gordon Teuber, Director of Community Development, L.A. City Council District 15 Harbor Office
Yvette LaDuke, Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC)
Andrea Vona, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (PVPLC)

An extremely skinny coyote has been spotted in the Palisades neighborhood recently. The coyote has been seen several times around Paseo del Mar near the White Point Nature Preserve, White Point Bluff Park, and several backyards.

Please protect your small pets by keeping them indoors.

Terry Miller relays questions from the audience to the annual meeting speakers.

This year’s Palisades Residents Association annual meeting had a record attendance. Topics such as the proposed South Region High School #15 at Angels Gate and the Clearwater Program were a big draw.

LAUSD’s Rod Hamilton answers questions about proposed SRHS#15.

Many thanks go out to the the community representatives that came out to the meeting to talk with the residents and address their concerns: Janice Hahn, Councilwoman, 15th District; Brian Dietrich, Sr. Engineer, Cleanwater Program; Chuck Boehmke, Section Head, Cleanwater Program; David Kooper, Chief of Staff, Board District 7, LAUSD; Rod Hamilton, South Region Development Director, LAUSD; Linda Del Cueto, Superintendent, Local District 8, LAUSD.

Linda Del Cueto, Superintendent, Local District 8 and LAUSD
representatives listen to residents concerns.

Chuck Boehmke of the Clearwater Program presented a slideshow showing proposed construction areas where a new wastewater tunnel may be located. The chosen 4–8 acre site will have between 50 to 100 truck trips per day for seven (7) years to bring in equipment and remove dirt. The Palisades locations being considered are White Point Nature Preserve, Royal Palms Beach and Angels Gate Park.

Click photo to enlarge

Elections were held at the meeting and the following people have been elected to serve on the PRA board of directors:

A former Montgomery Ward store has become
a hip downtown San Pedro loft. Photo by
Paul Turang

Have you ever wanted to see what the inside of your neighbor’s cool house looks like? Well, here’s your chance! The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is holding their second annual Spring for White Point Home Tour on Sunday, June 1. This self-guided tour takes a look inside six diverse San Pedro homes from a downtown loft carved out from a 1930 Montgomery Ward department store to a parade ground home at Fort MacArthur to a contemporary home with an artist’s touch.

A wine and cheese party with a silent art auction and music by the Howard Ellis Quartet will be held after the tour from 4:30 –7:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $50 per person from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. All proceeds go toward improving the White Point Nature Preserve and it’s habitat restoration.

Related Link/s:
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy

Flowers are in full bloom at White Point Nature Preserve

Come join the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy for an inside look at the White Point Nature Preserve on Saturday, March 29th. This is the first of a series of events called, “Nature Center without Walls.” Led by an experienced naturalist, you will be taken on a moderate hike through the preserve and introduced to many of the secrets and treasures of White Point, often overlooked by the casual visitor. There will be a fun nature craft activity for the kids and an information booth on the exciting projects happening at the preserve. Future events will highlight other interesting facets of the Preserve. The hike this month begins at 9am in the White Point parking lot and the information booth will be available until 1pm. Please stay tuned for future dates and topics.

UPDATE: Another nature walk is scheduled for Saturday, April 19 at 9 a.m. There will also be a monthly information booth that day until noon featuring an update on the projects happening at White Point, merchandise for sale and a free nature craft for the kids.

Related Links:
Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
White Point Nature Preserve
California Native Plant Society

In 1937 and 1958 two 6-mile tunnels were built to carry treated wastewater from the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson to outfalls 1 1/2-miles off shore. These tunnels, which traverse under White Point in the Palisades, are large enough to drive a car through. The Sanitation District of Los Angeles County (LACSD) wants to dig a new tunnel under San Pedro at the cost of $1 to $2 billion.

The LACSD is holding a public workshop in San Pedro to invite public input.

Thursday, March 13
Peck Park Community Center
560 N. Western Ave., San Pedro
Doors Open at 5:30 pm
Workshop begins at 6:30 pm

For further information, call the Clearwater Info-Line at 877-300-WATER or visit their website. If you cannot make the 3/13 meeting there will be a meetings in Carson 3/4, Wilmington 3/5 and RPV 3/12.

Related Links:
Clearwater Program

Tonight there is a public meeting sponsored by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks to find out how you feel about the parks and recreation space in Los Angeles, specifically San Pedro. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Peck Park Auditorium, 560 N. Western Ave. in San Pedro. Whether you are for open space, youth sports or (gasp!) both here is your opportunity to help the parks department with their five year plan.

If you cannot attend the meeting there will be a second meeting February 11th in Wilmington. You can also fill out a simple 8-question online survey which can take less than 15 minutes of your time. Community input needs to be received before the end of February so act now.

Related Links:
About the Process
L.A. Parks Online Survey
Needs Assessment Blog
L.A. Parks Home Page