The Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted unanimously July 26 to approve the South Addition project at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. The $146 million plan, which includes a new 101-bed patient care building at the hospital, drew opposition from community groups who want Providence to conduct an environmental impact report with regards to pollution, congestion and parking in the area. At the hearing, however, Planning Department hearing officer Jim Tokunaga told the commission that the end results of conducting an impact report would be no different from that of the mitigated negative declaration the hospital has already performed. Because of the community outcry regarding parking, the commission agreed to approve the South Addition project if the hospital made more signs to point out available parking, if one tree was placed per every eight stalls and if a pre-disaster mitigation program was implemented. “This is a great outcome. We’re extremely pleased with the work of the Planning Commission staff,” hospital administrator Kerry Carmody said. “We will continue to work with the community, the neighborhood councils and Councilman [Richard] Alarc & #243;n on this issue.” Members of Community Advocates for Responsible Expansion at Providence Holy Cross (CARE), a group that formed last week in response to the proposed South Addition, said that they plan to appeal the commission’s decision before City Council.
