The City Council will hear an appeal of the proposed Forge Lodge project at its Monday night meeting, Jan. 27.
The Sierra Club appealed the Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Forge Lodge project and certify the accompanying environmental impact report (EIR). Many of the issues addressed in the appeal concern conditions set forth in Resolution No. 02-20 of the approved project.
The Forge Lodge has been in the works for more than 20 years and since then has undergone a series of conditioned modifications resulting in the recently approved 28-unit facility. Among these conditions are: an environmentally sensitive habitat area (ESHA) setback of 50 feet, a dedication of 2.6 acres to open space as well as a 20 foot-wide trail linking Solstice Park to the under-road pedestrian tunnel, 17 parking spaces designated for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and a non-chemical pool and spa. The actual setback of seven of the project’s units range from 53 to 98 feet, according to architect Mike Barsocchini.
Many of the conditional modifications were a result of the project’s location. The Forge bed-and-breakfast would be located west of the Beau Rivage Restaurant, owned by Daniel and Lucia Forge, (on Pacific Coast Highway and Corral Canyon Road) near Solstice Creek-a designated ESHA.
The project’s close proximity to the creek has raised concern among environmentalists, especially given the National Park Service (NPS)’s current work to restore an endangered fish species to the area.
However, some say there may be bias against the Forge Lodge project, given the work the NPS is conducting near the creek and in Solstice Park.
The NPS plan to restore southern steelhead trout to Solstice Creek includes modifying two culverts, tearing down or altering two small dams, and replacing the “Arizona crossing” (a concrete apron that crosses at the grade of the stream) with a new bridge.
Photos taken of the work in the area show uprooted trees, foundations built next to the creek less than 50 feet from the edge, and major construction within the creek itself.
However, it is not known at press time whether the NPA is subject to different rules than private developers.
The NPS project is estimated to cost $1.7 million. By removing obstacles that obstruct the steelhead from swimming up the creek to spawn, the NPS hopes the fish will return to the creek for the first time in 60 years. NPS officials say Solstice Creek could provide a mile of habitat for approximately 300 steelhead and ideal conditions for spawning.
In a letter of support for the Forge Lodge project, Barsocchini says the Forges have spent years trying to get the project, which is not visible from the highway, approved and have spent large amounts of money on consultants and EIRs. He further supports the project by saying that it will provide visitor-serving use and room tax income to the city.