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Council approves final Playa Vista tract maps after heated public comment on wetlands and litigation
Summary
After extended public comment from wetlands advocates and residents, the Los Angeles City Council approved final tract maps for portions of the Playa Vista development. Speakers cited a federal court order and argued conditions tied to habitat restoration and stormwater management remain unmet.
Councilmembers voted to approve two final tract maps for portions of the Playa Vista development following extended public comment and a brief council debate.
Tom Francis, speaking for a wetlands land trust, told the council the tract maps should not be approved because “many of the conditions have not been met” and a federal lawsuit under the National Environmental Policy Act blocks developers from meeting certain map conditions including stormwater management and habitat restoration. Marcia Hanscomb, executive director of the Wetlands Action Network and chair of Sierra Club California’s Wetlands Committee, urged the council that the Playa Vista and DreamWorks tract maps "are not ready to be approved" and cited a 53‑page order by Judge Liu that she said identifies conditions still unmet.
Councilmember Ruth Galanter and the city attorney emphasized the limited scope of today’s action: these were final tract maps, and if the engineering and planning conditions required by the Department of Engineering and Planning are met the council’s act is ministerial. Edmund Yu of the City Engineer’s office told the council he had records in the file from planning, transportation and engineering showing conditions and clearances.
Councilmember Jackie Goldberg said the package provides funding needed to restore habitat in areas the council and staff identified; other members said their planning committee had reviewed the conditions and found they had been satisfied. A motion to end debate was adopted, and the council recorded the vote and approved Items 5 and 6 (final tract maps) by voice tally announced as 12 ayes.
Supporters and opponents both signaled more fights ahead: several public speakers warned they would pursue further litigation if the council moved forward, while council members said future phases and subsidy issues remain separate and would return to council later. The council noted that phase‑2 approvals and any subsidies or job tax‑credit decisions are distinct actions that would require separate consideration.
The council sent the approved items forward and recorded the result; no specific schedule for additional Playa Vista phases was decided at the meeting.
