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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Westfield Navigates Minefield as Costco is Scrutinized

While some in the community have major concerns about Westfield Topanga’s inclusion of a Costco store in its mixed-use development project, Westfield officials say they are already addressing traffic and walkability issues. At a Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council meeting with Councilman Dennis Zine, Westfield officials and Costco officials, supporters and opponents of the Costco plan packed the auditorium of Woodland Hills Academy. Community members for and against the project attended the Sept. 15 meeting, along with labor union members who backed the proposed Costco store because of the jobs that are expected to be created. The 146,000 square-foot Costco store, its gas station and its tire store was proposed for the corner of Victory Boulevard and Owensmouth Avenue as part of The Village at Westfield Topanga has raised community concerns about issues such as traffic congestion, big-box-store blight and pedestrian walkability. The addition of the Costco as the development’s anchor store was announced this year after Westfield downsized its development project and made other changes to its plan. Zine started the discussion by attempting to clear the air of past accusations that he misled constituents about the project. Zine, who helped start discussions with Costco, said he continues to support the project because it creates jobs and includes a retailer with a strong reputation. He also said that while he had supported the Costco proposal, he never made promises about the details and any specific changes are the responsibility of Westfield. Calls for change Later during the meeting, the council’s Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee presented several ideas for changes to the plan. Committee members proposed a two-story Costco building with mixed-use retail featured at street level. They also called for Westfield to consider breaking up what they call the “superblock” by adding two streets, with one running north and south and another running east and west to improve traffic flow. “We want them to lay it out properly and in more of an urban fashion, and something that would be more appropriate to a downtown area,” Dennis DeBiase, the committee’s co-chair, said after the meeting. The committee also suggested the developer replace the large parking structure that is proposed into smaller ones to reduce blight. The neighborhood council has already been in discussion with Westfield officials about its concerns, DeBiase said. “We aren’t against the project. We’re not against Westfield’s tenants,” DeBiase said, adding that the land use committee just wants to ensure Westfield does what is appropriate for the community’s needs. Traffic mitigation Westfield is already addressing many of the issues proposed, said Larry Green, Westfield’s senior vice president of development. “We have been working with (the Department of Transportation) very closely on different things that we can do to make things flow a lot better,” Green said in reference to concerns by the public about increased traffic. Westfield is still completing its environmental impact report, which should be completed in October of November. He said road widening, the addition of left-turn lanes and additional street signals are being considered. Pedestrian walkways and designated areas are also in the planning, he added. “That will take you from Erwin all the way down to Victory in a space that’s going to have great landscaping and water (features),” he said, adding that landscaping will also line the development. “I think we’re already doing most of the things that they’ve suggested. We are creating community spaces. We are making the block smaller. We are using undulating architecture.” Green said Westfield will continue holding meetings with the council and community throughout the next year. Meanwhile, he said adding Costco widens the shopping options offered by the shopping center and adds the presence of a reputable retailer.

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