tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post6024336585889624082..comments2023-08-25T08:59:37.703-07:00Comments on Ponte Vista Blog: Another Important Letter to the EditorM Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-40152690900744602962008-01-16T11:45:00.000-08:002008-01-16T11:45:00.000-08:00keepithonest,You are right, AmeriGas owns that pro...keepithonest,<BR/>You are right, AmeriGas owns that property- but- large parts of San Pedro were built well before that facility went in, and it was built before the dangers of close proximity to that kind of operation were fully understood. I'm in the part of town that was built mostly from 1890-1920, long before AmeriGas, the refinery or the tank farms in the port. It's not NIMBYism to say that those facilities are dangerous and present a real hazard. What I and I believe, Mark, are saying is that it's irresponsible to put an even greater burden of population around a known hazard, particularly when the probability of evacuating the area is so low.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-46086971731695774962008-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:002008-01-15T19:18:00.000-08:00Thanks km,I would have to agree that attemting to ...Thanks km,<BR/><BR/>I would have to agree that attemting to evacuate San Pedro would probably be more of a folly than anything real.<BR/><BR/>Palos Verdes Drive West is one of the only roads in the U.S. that is constantly in motion fast enough to need constant attention.<BR/><BR/>Of course we all should know that Bob's plans are to put some of the most senior drivers at the northwestern most access out of San Pedro and onto northbound Western Avenue.<BR/><BR/>With Bob wanting his Senior Section on the north side of Ponte Vista, not only will he put those drivers closest to Lomita, he also puts them just about as far as they can be from the local shopping area. Many of us tried to get Bob to think about putting the Senior Section on the southwest part of his property, but this was just another example of how Bob doesn't really wish to hear from the community or even some of the seniors who actually said they would like to move into Ponte Vista's senior section, if there is one.<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-69618413154812375062008-01-15T19:08:00.000-08:002008-01-15T19:08:00.000-08:00Thanks keep'em honest. I will be honest and let yo...Thanks keep'em honest. I will be honest and let you know that those Amerigas tanks were built AFTER the home I live in, the homes in The Highlands, and the homes in the Westmont tract were built.<BR/><BR/>There are still quite a few residents of the area who were living in their homes before Amerigas built the twin tanks.<BR/><BR/>Also, the lower tank section of the Conoco-Phillips refinery was also built after most of the housing was built and occupied. My Uncle Chuck was a foreman on much of the pipe-fitting work on the western side of what was the Union Oil refinery.<BR/><BR/>But you are correct that there are many people and everyone who may move into Ponte Vista that came or will come after the tanks were built. And you are also very correct that it is every one's right to be able to purchase a home near tank farms, refineries, or wherever else housing can be provided.<BR/><BR/>I would be more happy to see LPG storage facilities in the outer harbor, or even on a human-made island. We already have quite a few high pressure pipelines running under our area. They seem much safer than having tanks nearby, I feel.<BR/><BR/>Please don't forget, we all live in an earthquake area and the three other "seasons" are floods, fires, and riots.<BR/><BR/>Yes, many folks choose to live near Amerigas, but that shouldn't stop us from wanting those tanks moved.<BR/><BR/>Wouldn't that site be a great place to put Eastview Little League?<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-27264312687386820702008-01-15T14:35:00.000-08:002008-01-15T14:35:00.000-08:00Property rights are sacred in our country. AmeriG...Property rights are sacred in our country. AmeriGas, or any company, has a right to use the property as they see fit as long as all laws and safety requirements are met. All of the people who live in this area moved in AFTER the tanks were installed. They had property choice. If someone wants AmeriGas, or any other company to use property differently, they can always make an offer to buy the property. Let's respect what made this country great, the freedom of choice to do as we see best. Finally, we all want Cheap energy and that usually means low cost oil, natural gas, coal and gasoline as well as electricty. But why does everyone say "Not in my backyard"? Again, your free to put your home where you please but if you buy a home with a facility in the backyard, please don't try to pretend it grew there after you moved in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-20797826142912323972008-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:002008-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00Fact is that if anything major happens at Amerigas...Fact is that if anything major happens at Amerigas, no one is evacuating off the peninsula. There are only 4 major points of access to the mainland and they will choke quickly. Heck, it's bad enough getting over the VT bridge or getting on to the 110 on a regular weekday morning; can you imagine what it will be like when people are panicked and trying to flee the area? Forget about it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-62441418037850658842008-01-15T11:09:00.000-08:002008-01-15T11:09:00.000-08:00Thanks for your comments, Jim.You brought up a ver...Thanks for your comments, Jim.<BR/><BR/>You brought up a very good question as to why was the Westmont tract built. Maybe it would not have been built if there was as much debate as there is with Ponte Vista.<BR/><BR/>As it seems you remember, not only were the big tanks down on Gaffey, near the Pacific Drive-in, there was also a Standard Oil tank farm between Western and the houses that were built, probably beginning in about 1962 in the area of Taper.<BR/><BR/>The Amerigas tanks came after both the Highlands and Westmont were built, if I remember correctly.<BR/><BR/>There was quite a stirrup about the tanks on north Gaffey where Home Depot now stands. They contained much less product than Amerigas does, but if they had gone up, there would have been great destruction, too. Thank goodness they didn't.<BR/><BR/>The chances that the Amerigas tanks would fail or have something else happen to them is remote and I don't lose any sleep worrying about them.<BR/><BR/>However, with so many SFRs, condos, and apartments in the area, bringing a development that would have about three times the unit density than The Gardens, seems ridiculous to many folks.<BR/><BR/>Statistically, we all stand a greater chance of having an airplane attempting to come in for a landing at Zamperini Field (Torrance Airport), crash into our residence, than there would be a chance that something would happen with Amerigas.<BR/><BR/>As I am sure folks who live on our end of town know that our area is an area where small aircraft line up to land at the airport. The farther north you go in San Pedro, the more folks are underneath the landing pattern of the airport.<BR/><BR/>While there have been a few crashes of aircraft near the airport, I don't remember anything in the DEIR that illustrated typical landing patterns for aircraft.<BR/><BR/>It may be just a tiny issue, but it might be an issue that should be discussed.<BR/><BR/>A light airplane did fall out of the sky into the then canyon just off of Park Western Drive.<BR/><BR/>One of the main routes to line up to land after flying back from Catalina Island or from touring the coast is just about right up over Western Avenue or somewhat to the east of that.<BR/><BR/>It may be that a group of concerned folks who have lived in the area for quite some time could get together and come up with a host of issues that could be dealt with in a new EIR for Ponte Vista.<BR/><BR/>If Bob really wants to build 1,950 units in this particular area, I would hope the decision-makers would want to consider not only the things considered in a "normal" EIR, but also some things that make Ponte Vista such a special area for OUR community and elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>If someone comes into OUR community and seeks to change the way we live, that person had better dot all of his "Ts" and cross all of his "Is". Bob has demonstrated time and time again, he has done neither for the betterment of the current residents of OUR community.<BR/><BR/>Jim, I wish you would consider writing a post for this blog. write whatever you wish and I publish it to this blog.<BR/>MWM Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644940232494534872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34141007.post-90281750094069314122008-01-15T08:46:00.000-08:002008-01-15T08:46:00.000-08:00MarkWhile I can't disagree with all of the dangers...Mark<BR/>While I can't disagree with all of the dangers mentioned, and I most certainly agree that Ponte Vista should be developed R-1, one must ask why were all the homes allowed to be built in the first place.<BR/><BR/>The refinery has been there since before time. How about the tanks that used to be where the Home Depot on Gaffey is now? Those tanks really were in peoples backyards. I'm sure the tanks were there first, so why were the homes approved in the first place, and, why would anyone ever buy a home with a time bomb in their backyard.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure there is plenty of blame to go around for all of the past planning and development blunders, but what is important now is not making the same mistakes all over again.<BR/><BR/>Having 1400 more homes than what zoning permits on one of the few roads in or out of town is simply unacceptable. 1950 new condos would bring Western Ave. to a hault in normal conditions. I hate to imagine what would happen in a major catastrophy<BR/><BR/>All this over a greedy developer. Remember Bob, that property you paid way too much for was zoned R-1 when you bought it. Get over it Bob, you can still make millions and millons and millions of dollars on a quality R-1 project.<BR/><BR/>Thank YouAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com