I am posting the information contained in a TWO PAGE advertisement in last Thursday's PVP News, written, I mean signed by Mr. Leonard J. Aube, Executive Director of the Discovery Park opportunity funded by The Annenberg Foundation.
I am doing to so present Mr. Aube's statements that can be used as a 'fact check' against opponents of the project's statements and 'facts'. I want to post everything I feel is important on all sides of the issues to provide a more open and honest debate.
I have posted my comments and feelings about the Discovery Park Project on multiple posts and you are free to search out my thoughts.
Here is the text of Mr. Aube's advertisement:
"To the Community:
In a letter to the editor last week, someone asked us to ponder "Why is the Annenberg running so many Ads? What are they trying to sell us?" I'm glad she asked because she and others who continue to spread contentious and misleading misinformation deserve a response.
Frankly, certain statements in her letter go right to the heart of why we decided to initiate the ads. Some opponents have succumbed to the axiom that "'if you sling enough mud some of it will stick,"' Those tactics set out to intentionally confuse people and serve to purposefully obscure the truth.
The Nature of Philanthropy
The Annenberg Foundation is philanthropy. Our core practice is to elevate humankind. Imagine for a moment you wake up in the morning and your sole focus is to identify and support ways to imporve the life of other human beings. The's the very essence of our work. We are a nonprofit entity. The members of the board of Direectors authroize grants to other nonprofit organizations, schools and other public charities with absolutely no expectation of return for those investments. There is no hidden agenda, just hope and inspireation that people and communities are better off as a result of an Annenberg contribution.
So, with no agenda other than community benefit, it is troubling to hear and read some fo the egregious and erroneous things being said about the Annenberg Foundation's proposed public/private partnership with the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and our intentions for Lower Point Vicente (LPV).
Debunking Some Misconceptions
First, let me address the assertrion that "plazas...and wide roads would pave over most of our park." Pure nonsense. Every park needs some infrastructure. In this case those "plazas and wide roads" provide critical access for public and life safety equipment and personnel. The don's exist becasue of a design whim or subjective decision making. Professionals from the local fire department have reviewed, advised and specified their requirements as part of the landscape design process. Life and public safety specifications are non-negotiable--as they should be.
Let's talk parking. Today, LPV, inclusive of its two asphalt and one overflow parking lots can handle about 125 vehicles. Back in 1996 and 1998 the National Park Service endorsed and the RPV Planning Commission approved, respectively, plans to expand parking at LPV to 207 spaces. Annenberg had absolutely no involvement in those decisions. Skip forward. The City with its already approved plans for expanded parking combined with the proposed Annenberg project would have a grand total of 198 shared spaces (that's a net gain of approximately 73 spaces over the current number). Moreover, approximately 27 of the spaces would be hidden from view by placing them under ground. A step better, the curreent, unsightly and heat-absorbing black asphalt would be replaced with state-of-the-art, eco-friendly product. The parking areas would be replete with pretty, native landscaping. Does that sound horrendous to you? Of course not, but the opponents want you to think so.
Also, consider this" the PVIC, a 32-foot tall structure above grade, already sits atop the landscape; the hardscape areas around the PVIC building, including the whale observation terrace, stone amphitheater as well as the asphalt service road, already exist; as previously stated parking for more than 100 vehicles already is there and plans for 207 parking spaces were approved in 1998. All of these condiditons exist today because LPV is zoned as open space recreation (a.k.a.- a community park).
Lower Point Vicente is NOT part of the City's 1400-acre nature preserve as some opponents want you to believe. The City Council specifically excluded LPV from the preserve. Therefore, LPV has the potential to becoma a Discovery Park, with more than 100 indoor and outdoor exhibits, world-class visitor and community amenities, more than two miles of new trainls and other activities that promost connecting with nature and outdoor recreation, funded by a $45 million gift from the Annenberg Foundation. The project aims to be LEED Certified, Gold.
When establishing its guidelines for park development, the City of RPV specified that buildings cannot occupy more than 10% of the land. The existing PVIC plus the proposed Annenberg facility would total 4% of the site -- 4% in the context of a site that covers more than 1.1 million square feet. That means 96% of the land remains open and most of that is beautifully landscaped with native plants as far as the eye can see, including the rooftops -- even the parking lots are landscaped and all of the existing lighting would be replaced to be Dark Sky compliant. Moreover, the Annenberg building, a unique and innovative design that rently slopes into the hillside would site 16-feet above the existing grade and less than 5-feet above existing grade at its lowest. Remember, PVIC sits 32-feet above existing grade.
The assertion that the Annenberg project is "mainly a companion anumal cehter and adoption facility with some educational displays and video" trivializes the brillian work of the Los Serenos Docent Exhibit Advisory Committee, as well as the other best-in-class designers, architects, project managers and advisors.
Facts You Should Know
Opponents are telling residents misinformation and collecting signatures on a petition based on false statements. Don't be fooled by things you've been hearing:
- The project would not house 300 animals. (There would be 10 dog and eight cat adoption suites).
- The project would not include an animal crematorium.
- Anndnberg does not want to buy the land. (The property would be leased from the City under an operating agreement).
- Wallis Annenberg has no desire to use the park for personal purposes.
- The porject would not conduct animal testing or research.
- LPV is not owned by the Federal Government. (LPV is owned by the City of RPV).
- The project will not pave significant portions of the land.
- The National Park Service and CA State Parks do not oppose the project. (The City's "Draft Application for Public Facility" is under review to be followes by a "Final Application" and public comment).
- If the Annenberg project is approved, "Whale of a Day" will not end. (The Annenberg project significantly imporves site infrastructure to support and potentially expand "Whale of a Day" and other community-wide events.
Programs That Enrich and Restore
The design and programming wold attract people of all ages -- and abilities -- to a place where they will be able to exercise their minds and bodies. There will be places to be alone, take and early morning run across Lower Point Vicente and connect to the 1400-acre nature preserve. There would also be ways to join others for activities, such as group hikes, activities at the Native American (Tongva) village, or agility classes where dogs and their families exercise together. The new interpretive building would support and promote public interaction, education and outdoor recreation and activitiesl It also would include a coffee and snack counter, program and administrative support offices, animal adoption and husbandry space, including a state-of-the-art surgical suite where students interested in veterinary care and telemedicine can participate. The project would create temporary and permanent employment opportunities. Internships (paid and unpaid) and other volunteer opportunities would be offered for students, adults and seniors alike.
I want to thank the hundreds of community residents who have attended one of our more than 175 information sessions and the more than 5,000 people who have contacted the Annenberg Foundation with your interest in following the project. Your comments and feedback continue to shape the design process and ensure that the project reflects the mission, vision and values of the community.
Sincerely,
Leonard J. Aube
Executive Director"
More at
www.facebook.com/lpvdiscovery park
Or visit www.annenbergfoundation.org
Email us at info@annenbergfoundation.org
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I'll have some comments associated with Mr. Aube's ad, probably in the comments section of this post.
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