The Vons project is going forward.
The City Council voted 2-1 this week to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to permit the construction of a new 23,044 square foot Vons grocery store on Sumner Avenue.
The council also approved a coastal development permit.
Councilman Richard Hernandez cast the dissenting vote. For legal reasons, Councilwoman Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy and Mayor Anni Marshall did not participate in the vote.
The Vons project is going forward.
The City Council voted 2-1 this week to uphold the Planning Commission’s decision to permit the construction of a new 23,044 square foot Vons grocery store on Sumner Avenue.
The council also approved a coastal development permit.
Councilman Richard Hernandez cast the dissenting vote. For legal reasons, Councilwoman Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy and Mayor Anni Marshall did not participate in the vote.
Avalon resident Suz Tracey was not pleased with the outcome: “Not good!! Not impressed! The other options available should have been considered and explained more to the public!”
However, Avalon resident Jennifer Smith was apparently happy with the result: “Long overdue. Glad it is done and we can move forward.”
Councilman Oley Olsen, who cast one of the yes votes, appeared to be pleased.
“I believe that the store plans and Von’s mitigation plans address all of the concerns of the majority of the public,” according to Olsen.
“The meeting last night once again brought to light the fact that we have just too many cars and golf carts on our roads. That is something that our council will need to work on,” according to Olsen.
Vons spokesman Carlos Illingworth issued a corporate-approved statement on the council’s decision. “We look forward to providing a unique store with all the modern-day amenities that will meet the present and future needs of the community. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in the process to date, including our loyal customers and valuable employees. We will continue to work with city staff and island residents throughout the final stages of planning and ultimate construction of our new facility.”
City Attorney Scott Campbell estimated 200 to 300 individuals attended the Tuesday council meeting.
He said the Council Chamber was packed and another room in City Hall was packed.
He believed about half the outdoor seating that was provided was also filled.
More than 30 individuals spoke on the issue. According to Campbell, many speakers called on the community to come together now that the issued has been decided. Campbell said he hoped that would happen.
There was also a pro-Vons rally held in Avalon earlier on Tuesday.
“This was the largest crowd that I’ve ever seen in my six years in Avalon,” Campbell said.
In addition to upholding the Planning Commissson’s approval of the project, the council also issued a coastal permit for the project.
Avalon, and many other California cities, has a “local coastal plan,” which means the California Coastal Commission has transferred some of its authority to the local government.
A city with an approved local coastal plan can issue coastal development permits.
According to City Attorney Campbell, the project cannot be appealed again.
He said the Coastal Commission could take a look at the issue on their own initiative. However, Campbell said he didn’t see that happening.
Campbell confirmed that only a court challenge could stop the project from going forward.
Many opponents of the project have argued that the Vons store will use more water than the allotment assigned to the project by Southern California Edison.
As previously reported, critics of the Vons project have questioned both the volume and method that Edison used to allot water to the proposed store.
Edison and Vons have agreed to allow water saved at other properties owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company to be transferred to the Vons property.
Jesus A. Ruiz contributed to this story.