Marine Fence Removal Gets Planning’s Yes

By Kurt Helin
Editor

Plans to remove a portion of the fence on the south side of Marine Stadium — as well as improve other sections — got a key approval last week from the Planning Commission.

That was a unanimous vote of the commission after more than 90 minutes of discussion.

However, it is not the end of the issue. Opponents said they would appeal the decision to the state’s Coastal Commission, which has the final say on the matter.

The city’s plan would remove the chain-link fence and put up a more decorative wrought-iron fence from the entrance to Marine Stadium to the gate arm near La Verne Avenue. Then, from the gate arm to the end of Marine Stadium (at the launch ramp area), the fence would be removed, leaving just the block wall on the sand.

That plan came out of a city survey of residents, Marine Bureau Manager Mark Sandoval told the Planning Commission. He showed the results of a second survey of residents, which showed that a majority of residents in the affected areas supported the city’s plan. Before the meeting, Sandoval said he received a number of e-mails in support as well.

But that support has never been unanimous.

The issue was appealed to the Planning Commission by Kerrie Aley and Larry Goodhue, both of whom told the commission this plan would lead to problems in the neighborhood, including safety concerns and more.

“Removal of this section of the fence affects more than just the immediate neighborhood,” Aley said. “It helps control traffic and crowds at events.”

Some residents have long expressed concern that the big events that come to Marine Stadium — such as this weekend’s Dragon Boats or the upcoming Sprint Races — were not the kind of thing the stadium was meant for.

Marine Stadium was built to handle the rowing events for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It still is home to an active rowing community, as well as other water enthusiasts such as water skiers.

In the end, the commissioners said that this seemed like a good plan, outreach had been done and that it was what a majority of the residents wanted.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the new fence. Two commissioners, chair Leslie Gentile and Melani Smith, had to recuse themselves from the discussion and vote due to a conflict of interest.

Goodhue has asked the City Council to take up the discussion, but it has no direct authority over the proceedings.