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Thursday, July 01 2010 - 12:34 AM
City of Lancaster Prevails in Westside Shopping Center Court Case
City of Lancaster Prevails in Westside Shopping Center Court Case
Court Rules Allegations Against City are Unfounded
Lancaster — On Tuesday, June 29, the Los Angeles County Superior Court determined that allegations made by Quartz Hill Cares against the City of Lancaster are unfounded. In Quartz Hill Cares v. City of Lancaster, Quartz Hill Cares alleged that the City violated Planning and Zoning laws and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when the City approved development of the area located at the northwest corner of 60th West and Avenue L in Lancaster. After reviewing all case-related evidence, the court ruled in favor of the City.
“The City is pleased to overcome this hurdle and is looking forward to the developer proceeding with this project. This has been a long and difficult process with many viewpoints involved,” commented Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “We are glad the court upheld our stance in yesterday’s ruling.” “The City and developers will continue to work with the community, as we always have, to make this project an asset to west Lancaster and the surrounding area,” said Lancaster City Manager Mark V. Bozigian. The City approved zoning of the subject property to allow for the development of The Commons at Quartz Hill project, which includes 40 acres of retail and commercial businesses to be anchored by a Wal-Mart Super Center. Opposing the City’s decision, Quartz Hill Cares petitioned for a writ of mandate to block the project. The court denied the petition for a writ of mandate, as well as requests for judicial notice. The City was found to be operating within the law in all areas of the planning and approval process. The cost of defending the lawsuit was borne by the developer, not the City.Lancaster City Attorney Dave McEwen stated, “The court’s agreement with the City’s approval of the project enables the developers to move forward with this development.” McEwen also added, “This court ruling demonstrates that the City was both accurate and thorough in meeting the procedural, technical, and substantive requirements of the Planning laws and the California Environmental Quality Act.”
City officials expect the property owners will now commence with their development plans which will further bolster the local economy for Lancaster residents and business owners.
“The development of this project will provide numerous local construction jobs and ongoing employment for Antelope Valley residents, along with significant revenues to pay for critical City services,” concluded Mayor Parris.For all of the latest news and entertainment, go to www.avnewstodayonline.com
RealSteve says...
Will the news be printed in one of the “slipper people’s” newspapers? Maybe extend the bus lines from all over Lancaster to QH so it’s easy to get to the Wally’s World.
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Randy Hall says...
Anybody notice DBW letter in the VP today? She hates all things Rex and Lancaster, but her info was off. Wonder why the VP didn’t correct her letter like they usually do?
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Tom Knox says...
Randy, Bill Warford is the opinion editor and he’s on vacation back east. If he had been there he would have corrected it. Nobody really pays any attention to DBW any more. She’s a tired, jealous and vindictive person with little self-control. She really ought to start paying more attention to her own home town.
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Randy Hall says...
Tom,
Lancaster isn’t her hometown is it?
Why if her hometown is Palmdale isn’t it a lot better place than Lancaster?
If her town is Rosamond, isn’t it in Kern county with the great shoot first then yell stop thief Sheriff Department?
If her town is Littlerock, why doesn’t it little rock!
If her town is…
What exactly are you saying Tom?
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PKShaw says...
No, I was too busy reading the one where someone was saying something about running a natural gas pipeline through Palmdale as if we don’t already have them.
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Harding Republican says...
I don’t think you’ll see too many of those letter PK, Rex doesn’t like to go on record with anything, and now he’s on written record stating a bunch of inaccurate things.
He should have just had islander, Reagan Republican or one of his other aliases spread those rumors on the blog.
He better be careful about going on record like that. People might actually remember it and bring it up later. Dangerous stuff in a democracy.
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avbornbred says...
I voted for Rex, but was critical of the QH Walmart. I often said he was pissing on the backs of the QH residents with this decision to built the shopping center there. This shopping center is probably a profitable endeavor for someone related to Visco of AVRA. To bad the only opponent against Rex was that nut Rodio. Anyone else could have ran wild with this in the campaign and probably won the seat, even a few of the LBC votes might have gone against Rex.
This shopping center will prove profitable to someone, just not the residents in QH.
Does this court ruling mean the deal in final? Can there be an appeal by citizen groups? Besides trying to vote out Rex, is there anything else we can to stop this nightmare of a project?
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Harding Republican says...
Well AVBB, I think you’re kind of stuck with Democrats if you want someone to oppose Rex. The local Republican Establishment is so lily-livered that they won’t stand up to him. Since the Republicans won’t clean their own house, the Democrats are all that are left. If any Republican (remember Ken Mann?) dares to oppose them, there will be a flurry of hit mailers calling them everything from Judas to Brutus, to a child molestor.
I think that the folks in Quartz Hill need to realize that L.A. County won’t protect, the courts won’t protect them either. They will have to band together, vote as a bloc, and stand up for their own rights. As it was, the people that lived in that area tended to vote for Rex, so they either need to persuade some people to vote differently or quit whining.
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avbornbred says...
I have plenty of reasons to oppose any AVRA candidate. The people who have the balls to run against them are usually a little on the strange side. I wish there would be a viable candidate that does not appear to be insane.
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scdyne says...
I think that the economy will be the only thing that will stop this shopping center at this point. The Target, Lowes super center off 395 in Adelanto has been stalled for a very long time now and the economy is not getting any better.
Maybe this whole project can be put on the back burner for 5 years until the economy turns around. By that time most people will have moved on to other issues allowing this to slip/slide under the radar.
I’ll still live in QH and my child will be at QHHS, but I’ll be just as vocal against it as ever.
5 wal-marts are too many and even if it was justified why not put it 3 miles north.
Don’t burden QH with the blight and not compensate us with the tax benefits.
Wal-mart has seen BIG drop in traffic over the last 6+ months and this is totally contradictory to what they expect from previous recessions. In the past when the economy goes down and gas prices go up people to go Walmart. This has not been the case this year as foot traffic has been down as much at 15% in some regions.
A little birdie told me that one of the AV walmarts was listed as a potential cut-back on a memo that was circulated to select shareholders. It listed a number of stores in saturated regions that showed both a drop in foot traffic and population. These stores were candidates for a program that was not described in the memo. It could be anything from more aggressive roll back pricing, reintegration of previously retired SKUs to possible closing of the store all together.
The point is I think that (all bias aside) we need to seriously think long and hard about putting that walmart next to QHHS and also about adding another Walmart anywhere in the Antelope Valley.
It’s never to late to fight the fight.. they just want you to think that.
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avbornbred says...
Trying to find a silver lining on a cloud, being the QH Walmart project, would be the job force created. That could help. I know Rex did studies as did Walmart showing the are could accomodate another superstore. The really bad thing about the project is the location. I am sure the location had something to do with lining the pockets of an investor owning the land and a relationship with one of the AVRA higher ups.
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Antelope Valley Independent says...
Rex does seem to be leading Lancaster to victory after victory in the lawsuits. By my count, he has won 4 out of 5 so far with the other one still undecided.
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Harding Republican says...
I beg your pardon AVI, your amorality is showing…
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Antelope Valley Independent says...
Winners or whiners who really writes history?
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138hwy says...
Harding lib..
Fess up..How did Mr. Parris beat your butt in a court of law? Did Rex make you pay all court costs in addition to you losing the case?
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Harding Republican says...
’Fess up 138. Did Rex smile at you one day? Did he pat your little head and say, “good boy?”
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RealSteve says...
scdyne
You are correct in one sense, WalMart will only build a store if it makes business sense. Nothing more, nothing less and WalMart knows how to run a business.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Many of you have good points. There is no doubt that the west side needs more retail. Having said that, another Super Wal-mart in this location is still a terrible idea. If I had to vote again today, I would still vote no. Obviously facts, as well as differing opinions have no place in the current administration. I gather that an appeal will be filed. I would definitely testify as to the many flaws in the EIR.
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Sincere says...
I thought Johnathon Ervin was kicked off the planning commission for trying to jack up the developers and then voting against WalMart when they refused to pay to play. Most people would call that more than a difference of opinion.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Oh dearest Raymond, I knew you would come out to play! The only shakedown that occurred was when you attempted to get me to resign in that “mafia-style” meeting you put together for me. My guess is that you treat everyone that way that doesn’t agree with you. As I recall it was a narrow 3-2 vote for the Wal-mart to pass through the council. You tried to teach Councilman Mann a lesson with the trumped up charges. They seemed to disappear when he didn’t run for mayor though.
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Ray Cunneff says...
I guess I’m not the only “Raymond” here…
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Harding Republican says...
“Raymond” Rex Parris. That’s what the “R.” stands for.
This is par for the course. They accused Deborah Shelton’s husband of sleeping with the babysitter, Johnathan Ervin of being mean to developers, Bruce Macpherson of taking bribes, Arnold Rodio of using his father to influence City policy, and Ken Mann of being a wife beater.
I heard that Ron Smith abandoned his partner when the bullets started flying.
Any other rumors you want to promote there Rex? Maybe if you say it enough times, people will start to believe it. You must just LOVE Goebbels.
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RealSteve says...
Well now Johnathon
Are you against QH slipper people having somewhere to shop or something?
Is your outrage selective or something?
Why are you in favor of say a Target being in QH but not a Wally’s World?
Questions questions questions.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Steve, the citizens are outraged about many issues. I personally base my voting decisions on what is best for our community. I actually voted against the Target as well. The George Lane parcel has been commercial for quite some time. What I voted against was the addition of more commercial land. I asked Mr Lane during the hearing if he had to have the additional occupants to make the project work. He stated that the project was only financially viable with the Bank of America, home improvement store, and pharmacy. With the additional occupants this made the project a “no-go” for me. We have 25 to 40 percent more pharmacies than we should have and we had just approved a Lowes on 60th and K. Urban decay is a real threat that we have the power to prevent. Also, the bank up the street in the Vons center was robbed within months of it opening. With commercial comes activity that could be detrimental to our childrens’ safety and learning experience. We should think long and hard on how we develop and how it affects our communities. I am also against elementary schools being built over looking prisons…. Rex agreed with me on that one… My buddy Jim Vose was on the same page as well.
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Sincere says...
Johnny I will be who ever you want me to be. I can be Raymond, I can be Rex, I can even be Diana Beard Williams. All you have to do is believe. You can even believe that you will be mayor someday, but you decided to take the 5th when asked to explain your dishonesty and now will never be anything but a disgraced ex planning commissioner.
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Sincere says...
Is it possible that Diana Beard Williams still works for Rex. Everyone knows that he almost lost the first election because he hired her to work on the campaign. The next election everyone knew that he disavowed any connection to her, because of her letters to the editor. He then won by an overwhelming majority.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
(Rex, Raymond, Sincere) Rex, I say to you about dishonesty… you’re a lawyer, prove it. You couldn’t even convince a room that I had done anything wrong and I wasn’t even in attendance. That’s probably because I told the truth and you told various fibs. I hope you have practiced your skills of persuasion. For the record, I didn’t run for mayor, I ran for city council. You may have me mixed up with Ron who will probably run for mayor because Frank/Georgy won’t let him run for Assembly. It was an honor fighting for the citizens and I will continue to do so whether I ever hold office.
You seem to have some sort of unhealthy obsession with Mrs. Beard-Williams; I did not mention her name. Counseling is out there… With your fortune, you can afford the clinic Tiger went to.
Did you read the letter addressed to you today from Palmdale? Former Mayor Harrison wrote a brilliant one as well. Wow, you are a master at alienation. Not only do you alienate your own citizens, but other cities residents as well. Seriously though, shouldn’t you be looking out for the best interests of the residents of Lancaster? With your “star power” we could attract an airport and keep it. You could do many things with your riches and influence, but you choose to support special interests instead. Sad, sad, Raymond…
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avbornbred says...
Matt, Roxi, lancaster, and I are getting together for a BBQ today. We all promised not to discuss politics.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Thanks for the update avbornbred. I’ve just been banned from this site for the next few hours and banished to the grill by my wife. See ya later!
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Sincere says...
Johnny if you want to send Rex a message you will have to find the courage to do it yourself. I am not your messenger boy.
You shouldn’t talk about your campaign manager that way. She did the best she could. She just didn’t have much to work with this time.
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lancaster says...
this is a win win 4 lil rex.
he gets to pay off vose, destroy some beautiful country in QH, and destroy another public school.
1st Park View, then Quartz Hill High.
why do you hate our children rex?
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lancaster says...
wasn’t it smith who ran the fight against a senior apt complex from being built across from HIS daughter’s private school?
you know, runners free property from the city. we give him the old YMCA, runner gives us a indoctrination center.
what was smiths argument against? oh yeah, the senior apts MIGHT attract child abusers.
some of which hang at walley world?
rex and ron, making money off the backs of our children. what’s that called again?
i mean, besides creepy?
and yet they give the child abuse church of the millennium a 5 million dollar park.
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lancaster says...
fantasy’s about their own lil neverland?
bitterness over their public school days? makes sense. children can spot posers, and probably saw these 2 coming years ago.
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lancaster says...
hey hwy, who pitied u and fed ur family today?
handouts getting a lil slime?
maybe rex will let u have some of his leftovers! lolololololololololol
naw, rex won’t tolerate such a loser in his neighborhood! thus the gates!
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lancaster says...
heh hwy, maybe he’ll give ur kid a job a the chinese factory. that way there could be a least one breadwinner in the family!
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138hwy says...
Racist..Handouts?? We pay taxes so people like you can get those EBT cards and wreck those Section 8 houses.
Can ya even afford that 30% you have to pay, or does ya need to take in paroles to make ends meet?hahahahahaha
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lancaster says...
lol sssuuuurrreeee ya do hwy! lolololololol
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A V Observer says...
Jonathon Ervin giving persuasion advice to R Rex Parris, now that is narcissism in action.
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Ron/AV Observer, Mr. Humble himself. lol I’m still waiting on you to come through with that promise. Didn’t think you would…
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138hwy says...
This is weird!!. A person who wanted to be a city councilperson is arguing to an fro with anonymous bloggers and throwing accusations back and forth. If Ervin cannot even get along with bloggers,(forgetting the allegations against him), how would he get along with other people on the council and the mayor?
Not a very good attitude for someone who MUST work and interact with different people.
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Tom Knox says...
Mr. Ervin still has a little “growing up” to do. He is definitely not ready for prime time.
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mattkeltner says...
…and you have the authority to make that claim how exactly, Billy?
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Johnathon Ervin says...
Great day off today. I started off at the Lancaster Cemetery’s pancake breakfast. Great pancakes cooked up by Bruce, Dave, Norm and the crew. Tasted like a Grand Slam breakfast! Pretty good turnout, I saw Councilman Mann, Councilman Hofbauer, Larry Chimbole, Michael Rives, and Loretta Berry. Boys Scout Troop 164 did a great job posting the colors!
I saw the Last Airbender with the kids… pretty good for a kid flick. lol
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newstoday says...
Here is the latest on the Wal Mart issue, we welcome your viewpoints.
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