Is Resistance to Nursing Home Plans on Fallbrook A Repeat Of Past Efforts To Delay Costco Construction

It seemed like the resistance to build a Costco off of Victory and Owensmouth continued for years by a small community group. Meanwhile, in the background Westfield bought up properties and the 2035 plan expanded to include an ambivalent description of the development on the Promenade Mall site, couched with a blanket permission from LA City zoning. Poof. The Costco and Village were built and the horrendous traffic predictions never materialized. However, what has materialized is the plan to raze much of the multistory 1970's condominiums and apartments as part of a well orchestrated and financed major project. Also a 15,000 seat stadium was NEVER mentioned until recently. All while vaguely detailed to the public yet encompassed under the 2035 plan permissions.

Almost simultaneously was another project a little over a mile west. A plan to develop a much smaller plot of land into a nursing home. The community raised objections, based upon traffic flow, lack of need, etc. However, in 2012, then councilman Dennis Zine, supported the construction of the facility based upon "Namely, this portion of Fallbrook Avenue is classified as a Class II Highway and serves as a major thoroughfare. Within walking distance of the proposed site, there is a commercial corridor that includes a fire station, shopping center, medical building, grocery stores, childcare center, and, most notably, there is a Metro stop situated directly in front of this location. "

Nearly five years later a 2-10-17 letter-to-the-editor in the Warner Center News, authored by John Sundahl included a lengthy objection to the proposed nursing home and Dennis Zines recent remarks in the paper earlier in the month. John Sundahl is President of Preferred Mechanical Services & former President of TOLD Partners (unrelated to TOLD Corp which is Thousand Oaks Land Development) . Note: TOLD Partners executives also include Vincent Patrick Hall (HWA Investments / SNK Realty) and Brian Forster the Executive VP (per LinkedIn).

Mr. Sundahl said his objection to the construction of the nursing home is supported by 260 residents. While he agreed Zine was correct in his assessment the Walnut Acres Neighborhood Association (WANA) attorney was corrupt, he seemed more concerned with a threatened expose of the incident. Additionally he suggested the proposed $5000-$8000 monthly cost for residents of the home was too expensive and "approximately 800 people have been surveyed in the neighborhood and none expressed an interest to ever move there".

However, he didn't address the fact most people don't welcome a local nursing home for themselves but for their elderly relatives. Did the survey ask that question? Woodland Hills residents are for the most part a very wealthy demographic of the San Fernando Valley. This location for a nursing home (along with the proposed facilities on the Boething Nursery property, adjacent to Valley Circle and the 101 freeway ) would benefit the larger community of the West San Fernando Valley.

What we have to ask is, if the noisy objections to Costco sidetracked attention and thus benefitted a much larger development. Is it possible WANA's objections to the Fallbrook facility will similarly benefit a developer elsewhere, by spinning energy to focus on this smaller construction. Does any WANA current leadership know of such other more lucrative development in the area? Will it be revealed later the property on Fallbrook is going to be developed with the current owner, just as Boething, and not sold? Thus existing zoning laws may be grandfathered. In other words, much of the objections may be not applicable. What of issues of campaign donations in relation to the WANA expose? Is this a means to clarify, confuse, or misrepresent the benefits or pitfalls of Proposition S, on the March ballot?

Clearly a number of concerns are apparent as the WANA expose looms. The least of these is a residential facility on the MAIN street of the West San Fernando Valley.