Palisades-News-July-8-2015

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Page 4 Palisades News July 8, 2015Music, Fireworks Rock the FourthBy SARAH STOCKMANSpecial to the Palisades NewsPhotos by Tom HoferPaliHi sophomore Sophia Eberleincomposed and performed “Palisades.”Above: P.J. and Kalani Hildebrand, performwith the Palisades All-Stars. Below: One ofthe All-Stars musicians let concertgoersstrum his guitar at the family-friendly event.The smell of garlic wafted into theStadium by the Sea from the Cous -ins Lobster Truck positioned in theupper parking lot. It drifted past kids playingFrisbee on the track and parents picnickingon the football field to the mainstage where Palisades Charter High Schoolsophomore Sophia Eberlein performedan original song “Palisades.”“Where the mountains meet the sky/Iswhere I’d like to be/ In the Palisades withyou,” Eberlein sang.The crowd, gathered for the PalisadesRocks the Fourth Concert and fireworks,sang along with the chorus, which incorporatedthe Palisades’ motto, “Where themountains meet the sky.”The eighth annual concert event began at4 p.m. when 10 food trucks, ranging fromGreenz on Wheelz to India Jones, opened.As people wandered from truck to truckmunching on tacos and ice cream sandwiches,Dale Fisher and Lexie Rose serenadedthem on the upper stage. Whileparents sat at picnic tables and ate, kidsplayed in the bouncy house, receivedSponge Bob-shaped balloons from clownsand had flags painted onto their faces.At 5 p.m. the stadium was opened andpeople spilled onto the turf with blanketsand chairs to wait for the main stage concert.By the time headliners took the stagethe football field was packed from end zoneto end zone and the stadium bleachers werealso more than half full.Promptly at 6 p.m. Michael Libow sanga tenor version of the “Star Spangled Banner.”The Palisades Charter High ComplexConcert Band, led by Arwen Hernandez,followed. The band, made up of PalisadesElementary, Paul Revere and Pali High students(both present and alums), played fivePyro Spectaculars fireworks lit up the sky above Palisades High.pieces, including “When the Saints GoMarching In” where a majority of the bandsang along with tubas.Next on stage were the Palisades All-Stars. Amazing Music teacher and Ukes ofHazzard band member P.J. Hildebrand, Jr.organized the local musicians, who hadauditioned to perform for the show.One selected was Eberlein, who playedguitar and sang, accompanied by twoukuleles, one played by Alex Hildebrand,P.J.’s son. The All-Stars played four songs,including a cover of The Zutons’ “Valerie.”Louise Goffin, daughter of Carole Kingand Gerry Goffin, performed next, accompaniedby Greg Wells on keyboard and hertwo sons, who are 15 and 12 years old, onbass and drums. She performed four songs,including “We Belong Together” from heralbum, Songs from the Mine.The evening’s headliners, The WestsideTroubadours featuring Adam Topol andTom Freund, took the stage. The band performedrock and groove songs like PeteTownshend’s “Let My Love Open the Door.”Previous Palisades Rocks the Fourth performerRocky Dawuni joined the band towardsthe end of the set, performing BobMarley’s “Three Little Birds” and helpingsing “This Land Is Your Land.”The fireworks began as the last chorusrang out across the field. The fireworksshow, presented by Pyro Spectaculars, hada soundtrack that included songs fromTaylor Swift and George M. Cohan.The show ended in a kaleidoscope of red,white and blue, bringing another PacificPalisades Fourth of July to a spectacular end.International reggae star Rocky Dawuni and recording artist Louise Goffin joined Tom Freund and Adam Topol to close the concert.
July 8, 2015 Palisades News Page 5Residents Object to Shell Station PlansBy SUE PASCOEEditorApopular catchphrase commonlymisattributed to Dragnet’s Joe Fridayis “Just the facts, ma’am.” Factsare needed regarding the proposed Shellconvenience store that has become anemotionally-charged issue with some inthe community.Mobil owner Saeed Kohanoff has purchasedthe Shell station, located just a blockaway at Via de la Paz and Sunset. He is undercontract to sell his Mobil property at thecorner of Swarthmore to developer RickCaruso. (Escrow will close in mid-2016 andthe corner parcel is considered a linchpinfor Caruso Affiliated’s redevelopment ofnorth Swarthmore and along Sunset.)Kohanoff said he plans to demolish thecurrent 1,620-sq.-ft. Shell building, whichis centered near the back of the alley andcurrently is mostly a well-utilized servicebay. He wants to build a 2,870-sq.-ft. conveniencestore next to the two-story officebuilding at 15415 Sunset, owned by Dr.Shaun Malek. (A typical convenience storeis about 3,300 sq.ft.)As proposed by Kohanoff, the eight gaspumps will remain in place and there willbe 12 parking spaces for customers. Onegas station entry on Via would be closedand landscaped.The current Shell station has numerousparked cars, many waiting repairs, on the16,000-sq.-ft. lot, which is in violation ofthe Brentwood-Pacific Palisades CommunityPlan Section 2-2.3: “Require screeningof open storage and auto repair uses, andprohibit storage of automobile parts andother noxious commercial-related productsin front of commercial developmentexposed to the street.”Kohanoff ’s Mobil station is open 244th Home Contest Winners(Left to right) Jack, Sharon, Suzanne, Doug and Zachary (front) Sutton wereawarded first place by contest sponsor realtor Joan Sather (right). Look for astory about the contest and judging in the next issue.The new Shell owner wants to build a convenience store replacing the station, causing controversy. Currently, the lot is used by otherbusinesses. A restaurant valet rests near a pump at the Shell station and the restaurant delivery car is parked on the lot. The white car,after picking up take-out food, backed into the Shell station and turned around and drove across the lot, exiting on Via de La Paz.Photo: Shelby Pascoehours a day, with wine and beer sales from8 a.m. to 2 a.m. At the Shell station, hewould like to stay open 24 hours and sellbeer and wine from 10 a.m. to midnight.Neighbors have raised concerns aboutthe size of the proposed building, saying itis too big. They do not want a 24-hour gasstation: many feel it should close at 10 p.m.They oppose beer and wine sales.Adjoining property owner Malek doesnot want the new building because he saidit would limit access to parking behind hisbuilding.Architect Richard Finkel, who was hiredby Kohanoff, said Malek may have anothermotive in opposing a convenience store:keeping an important tenant happy.“A valet for the restaurant parked a vehiclein the alley on the Shell property,”Finkel said in an email to the news. “Apparentlyboth the valet and restaurant customerspark in the alley and in the stripedparking spaces on the Shell property.”Kohanoff and Finkel have appeared beforethe Palisades Community Council andthe Palisades Design Review Board, andheld a special meeting with the neighborson June 16 in the Palisades Library communityroom, attended by about 50 residents.“We wanted to solicit input so we canmake a reasonable effort to address commentsand complaints that residents mighthave,” Finkel told the Palisades News. “Thatis not to say that all comments can be accommodated,but many things can besolved if all parties are willing to remainopen-minded and work together.”At the meeting, Kohanoff promised neighborsthat there will be no deliveries of gas,grocery items or beer or wine after 10 p.m.One resident said that she had heardthere had been numerous alcohol violationsat the Mobil Station.The California Department of AlcoholicBeverage Control keeps a record of infractions.There are four on record, the first onein 1998 and the last in 2007. Kohanoff andFinkel were contacted by the News aboutthe record.“Contrary to how it was made to soundat the meeting, that frequency does notseem to indicate that Mr. Kohanoff runs astore that is a hotbed of under-aged childrenlining up to buy booze,” Finkel said.“This is packaged goods, not for consumptionon the site,” Kohanoff said. “Thereis no difference between buying it here orwalking over to Ralphs and Gelson’s.” (CVSalso sells liquor, beer and wine.)The Shell owner has paid for a trafficstudy that has been made available to theDesign Review Board and anyone whowants to see it.The L.A. Department of Building andSafety has checked Kohanoff ’s buildingplan against the Pacific Palisades SpecificPlan guidelines and found them in compliance.His plan has also been approvedby several other city departments.At the library meeting, a resident asked:“The City approved it without our approval?Can we see the papers?”Another resident disputed that Koha -noff really cared about the residents, andsaid, “If you’re such a good neighbor, whydon’t you sponsor a [PPBA] baseball team?”Yet another shouted, “Gas prices are 40cents more than other locations; this isabout the money.”Kohanoff answered calmly, “I appreciateyou coming here. We want to hear whatyou want.”Another person asked, “What is yournext step and how can we stop you fromdoing this?”Jill Jones, who represented the condoowners at 1029 Via de la Paz, reiterated: “Wedon’t want a liquor license, it’s too closeto the high school and Palisades Elementary.We can’t have a business open 24hours a day, seven days a week. Severalunits whose bedroom windows face thestation would be impacted by the constantnoise and lights.”The next step for the project is DRB approvalof the aesthetics of the building andsignage. Since the site has not previouslyhad beer/wine sales, Kohanoff will need aConditional Use Permit from the City, aprocess that will include a public hearingand an opportunity to appeal. The hearingdate has not been set. Visit: 161.149.221.137/caseinfo/ and reference case number (ZA-2015-420-CUB-DRB-SPP).
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