Riordan Avoids a Position on Universal Studios Plan

TOLUCA LAKE — Mayor Richard Riordan met Tuesday for the first time with two dozen representatives of homeowner groups who vigorously oppose Universal Studios’ proposed $2-billion, 25-year expansion plan but refused to take a position on the project.

After a closed-door meeting at the Lakeside Golf Club, Riordan said much of the debate on the Universal project boils down to “a balance between quality jobs and [protecting] the quality of life” in local neighborhoods.

“Whether it’s DreamWorks or Universal’s expansion,” Riordan said, the goal is “to try and come up with a reasonable balance. If you go all the one way or the other, you destroy the city.”

Universal Studios wants to roughly double current building space on its 415 acres by adding 5.9 million square feet of theme park attractions, resort hotels, studio and office space, in addition to 6.3 million square feet of parking. The company estimates the expansion would generate 13,000 jobs at Universal.

But in recent months, homeowners have warned that Universal’s proposal is too vague, one that would give the entertainment giant carte blanche to build as it likes for the next quarter century. Many neighbors fear the plan would turn Universal City into an out-of-control destination resort and theme park complex, and boost crime, noise, traffic and pollution.

At Tuesday’s meeting with Riordan, homeowners brought maps, aerial photos and position papers to make plain their opposition to the project.

Architect Paul Ramsey, who lives just east of Universal Studios, brought a map to show Riordan a plan offered by Ramsey for a $200-million public roadway that he wants built across Universal’s property to help feed traffic to the Hollywood Freeway.

Ramsey’s plan is one of a half-dozen traffic alternatives now being studied by government agencies to try and fix traffic congestion along the Barham-Cahuenga Corridor.

If built, Ramsey’s road would be the first public throughway on Universal’s property. Universal opposes any public roadway on its property.

Riordan was noncommittal about Ramsey’s idea, other than to say the homeowners thought “it should be seriously considered.”

“We’re all hoping [Riordan] gets involved and takes a position,” Ramsey said.

With massive expansion plans at Disney, NBC, Warner Bros. and Universal, Ramsey said, “If nothing is done the entertainment industry expansion is not going to happen. It’ll grind to a halt” because of traffic problems.

About 70% of Universal City is situated in an unincorporated area of the county; the rest falls in the city’s jurisdiction. So both city and county planning departments are reviewing the project.

Any major expansion at Universal is subject to approval of both the City Council and county Board of Supervisors. Government officials don’t expect any final approval to occur before next spring.

Kevin Walter of the Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Assn. said he was gratified to hear Riordan talk about quality of life issues. “We think of him as a one-note-Johnny: jobs, jobs, jobs. The quality of life is another issue we do not want to sacrifice for Universal to make a buck.”

Joan Luchs, another homeowner who attended the meeting, told Riordan that Universal’s expansion plan amounts to turning the area into “Disneyland North.”

She said a massive expansion of its theme park would pummel property values, and that Universal is not making any serious efforts to mitigate already chronic traffic and noise problems.

“Nothing is for free,” Luchs told the mayor.