By Patrick Atwater
Coro Fellow/Maven Intern

The developer behind the proposed Farmer Field stadium told Mayor Antonio Villaraigoa’s Blue Ribbon Commission today that the project will go through the full CEQA EIR process.

In response to concerns about parking, reps with the Anschutz Entertainment Group pointed to the 13 million people who visited the 1,500 events that took place at Staples Center and L.A. Live last year.

“It is important we look at the potential impacts of this event center on traffic and the environment,” commission co-chairs Austin Beutner and Michael Lynton said in a statement. “We need to also study carefully what concrete plans can be implemented to mitigate any impacts including through increased use of public transit.”

Representatives from the California Department of Transportation, the Central City Association, Fixing Angelenos Stuck in Traffic (FAST), and Rail LA spoke to the importance and viability of new sustainable transportation patterns.

Ted Tanner, AEG’s executive vice president of real estate and development, claimed that Farmers Field was best positioned to take advantage of the L.A. public transportation network.

Currently, AEG is preparing a draft EIR and workshops in conjunction with the city’s Planning Department to solicit community input on the project.

Later this afternoon, the Blue Ribbon Commission will hold another hearing:

Committee on Convention and Tourism
Tuesday, March 8, 2011, 3:30 – 5:00 PM
Westfield Office
1801 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067

The Blue Ribbon Commission is also meeting privately with AEG officials to discuss how well the developer can follow through on its promises.

*AEG’s Michael Roth says the company is committed to a full EIR process however, no determination has been made on whether to seek CEQA protection.