July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Downtown Specific Plan, Bergamot Plan To Return To Santa Monica City Council:

After a quiet July where consecutive City Council meetings were convened with the minimum quorum, business might just be usual again come Aug. 13 when two major planning issues – both tabled because of the council’s attendance issues – are expected to be on the docket for debate and discussion at Santa Monica City Hall.

The Downtown Specific Plan (DSP) and Bergamot Area Plan are both expected to be discussed when Council members reconvene Aug. 13. Both items were on the council’s agenda July 9 and 23. However, with only four members present at both meetings, both topics were tabled until Aug. 13 in anticipation a full dais that evening.

As Council members waited it out for enough of them to be on the dais, planning commissioners had essentially spent all summer poring over both plans.

During Planning Commission deliberations and community input of both the DSP and Bergamot Area Plan, an interesting concept made itself apparent: commissioners thought the Bergamot Area could use more density, while a debate brewed amongst city leaders and residents about scaling back plans for more density in the downtown.

When the DSP finally makes its way to the dais, Council members will initially discuss the Plan’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) parameters. Before any final determinations could be made about building heights and density, city leaders must first determine the environmental impacts such buildings would have in Santa Monica’s urban core.

At the core of the DSP discussion are eight “opportunity sites” where “expanded development” would be allowed in exchange for “exceptional community benefits.”

Practically speaking, these eight projects could result in erected structures exceeding current and planned height restrictions, including the revitalized Fairmont Miramar and plans for a new high-rise hotel at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard.

According to City staff, the opportunity sites are labeled as such “because of their unique ability to provide opportunities for the City to accomplish important policy objectives towards affordable housing, creation of additional open space, cultural facilities, preservation of historic resources, congestion mitigation, and sustainability measures for ongoing reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”

A requirement to commencing an environmental review – a pretext for the DSP agenda item – requires council members to define “a stable project description.” Accordingly, density and height restrictions will likely be at the heart of the Aug. 13 debate and deliberation.

While the DSP will continue through the public process for several more months, council members are expected to vote Aug. 13 on whether they should adopt the Bergamot Area Plan.

According to City staff, the Bergamot Area Plan “provides policies and standards for transitioning 142.5 acres of former industrial lands into an arts-focused, transit-oriented, mixed-use pedestrian-oriented neighborhood anchored by the Bergamot Exposition Light Rail Station” and “refines the vision for this new Santa Monica neighborhood called for in the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE), and establishes policies, standards and guidelines applicable to projects that develop, remodel, or adaptively reuse existing buildings.”

Planning commissioners spent several hours discussing the Bergamot Area Plan before ultimately recommending it to the City Council for approval.

The recommendation did not come without concern, however.

One major issue at least two commissioners had with the plan was its lack of public parks and open space.

Commissioners also worried the plan did not do enough to ensure enough affordable housing would be developed within the Bergamot Station area, hence precluding those who would work there from being able to afford to live there or close by.

A key element of the LUCE is preventing any gains in vehicular traffic with any new development within Santa Monica. Hence, the ability of the city to offer affordable housing to those who would work in Santa Monica could help the LUCE’s goal of no new net vehicular trips during peak hours.

Whether any substantive decisions are made Aug. 13 on the DSP or Bergamot Area Plan remains to be seen. Both issues may still be tabled to a later date if the council again struggles with attendance – only four council members were on the dais at the July 9 and 23 meetings.

in News
<>Related Posts

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...