Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Board Meeting
December 11, 2017
Presentation by Harvard-Westlake on
Weddington Golf and Tennis Acquisition
As most members are aware, Harvard-Westlake is in escrow to purchase the Weddington Golf and Tennis property.
On Monday evening, December 11, the SCRA and Save LA River Open Space boards, along with Save Coldwater Canyon, attended a regularly scheduled Board meeting of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) to address Agenda Item 10: “Presentation of Harvard-Westlake School concerning revised plans and acquisition of Weddington Golf Course property, Studio City.”
Leaders from both SCRA and SLAROS spoke, emphasizing the importance of preserving open space with public access. Save Coldwater Canyon requested that Harvard-Westlake ease the fear in the community about their future plans to build the parking structure on Coldwater Canyon.
Harvard-Westlake’s presentation consisted of a testimonial by an employee and former graduate about the impact the school has had on his life, and a video of current students participating in community projects.
The SMMC Board nor the other three boards received any information on the proposed plans or goals of Harvard-Westlake for the Weddington property nor has confirmation that the plans for the parking structure at Coldwater been abandoned.
Harvard-Westlake said they were there to “listen” and wanted to continue “listening” to the neighbors. Harvard-Westlake has copies of SLAROS’s “LA River Natural Park Vision Plan,” and Alan Dymond encouraged them to read and become acquainted with it. The LA River Natural Park Plan is a regional park and water reclamation concept for the Weddington site that has garnered wide support from residents, river groups and elected officials throughout the city for its vision to protect and restore the unique LA River open space attributes of this property.
SMMC Board Member Steve Veres requested that SMMC, as well as LA Metro, play an important role in the process going forward.
No motion was taken by the SMMC Board.