The plans for the West Harbor development project, which is at the former site of Ports O’ Call, originally included a 500-seat amphitheater, as well as several restaurants. However, the Port of Los Angeles announced plans in April to expand the amphitheater to 6,200 seats, with plans to host about 100 paid events per year. In addition, the planned changes include replacing a Ferris wheel with a viewing tower.
The port released an initial study/notice of preparation, or IS/NOP, on April 14. In addition, it held a public scoping meeting on Zoom on May 3 to gather public comment. Following the public review period of the project, which ends June 15, the port will release a draft environmental impact report.
The proposed amphitheater will take up about 108,000 square feet, including a 35,000 square foot stage, backstage and box office area. In addition, it will have an artificial lawn that is over 50,00 square feet.
The port has already determined that these changes to the project will not have a significant impact on water quality, energy, hazardous materials and utilities and services systems, said Nicole Enciso, project manager. The port will not be considering these impacts in its supplemental environmental impact report. However, the port has determined the changes could have a significant impact on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and transportation. The port will study these areas in the report.
Many criticized the planned changes for their environmental impact. Dianne Woelke criticized the proposed use of synthetic turf in particular, which contains polyfluoroalkyl, or PFAs substances. These are man-made compounds that are potentially harmful to humans and the environment because they break down very slowly.
“[They] are forever chemicals that will forever be in your environment, your aquatic waterways,” Woelke said. (They were the subject of a Project Censored top 10 story last year.)
Woelke pointed out that PFAS are known to have caused reproductive and developmental issues, as well as liver and kidney problems. They have also been associated with cancer, heart disease and hypertension.
“You’re going to have to use ungodly amounts of water to clean and sanitize it,” Woelke said. “Chemical use is recommended. Again, you are on the water. You’re talking about adding horrific amounts of plastic, microplastic waste.”
Woelke said that a regulation playing field, which is 80,000 square feet, sheds 551 to 661 pounds of plastic waste every year.
Eva Cicoria, founder of Paddle Out Plastic, said that the project is going to comply with the city’s green new deal and phase out certain kinds of single-use plastics. However, she wanted to know what would take their place.
“Why not make this a model of sustainability with fully reusable food service wear and snack and room services that rely on reusable containers and associated deposits and dispensing systems?” Cicoria said. “Short of such a plan for across-the-board reusables, we would expect to see a significant increase in litter hitting LA harbor, and we expect the site to be a substantial source of polluting run-off.”
Cicoria said that even though the amphitheater will be cleaned after every event, the wind can still blow plastics or other trash during the events. She also criticized the proposed use of pyrotechnics, which will be set up over the water, bringing hazardous materials into the air and water. She said that these impacts need to be mitigated.
Elise Swanson, president of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber supported the changes to the project.
“The amphitheater will complement our vibrant arts community in San Pedro and provide additional venues for performing arts, as well as event space for area nonprofits,” Swanson said. “This investment will also provide new jobs and opportunities for youth employment, which is very much needed in the Harbor Area.”
Swanson said she would like the port to study the economic impact of the project to see if it will help local businesses.
Betty Sedor, a San Pedro homeowner, was one of several people who expressed concern about noise pollution. She said that residents nearby the harbor already hear fireworks from various events, and more fireworks are planned for the project.
“Above Leland, I can hear every single concert, and I don’t appreciate it,” Sedor said. “I would like to attend concerts, but I would like guarantees that the way in which they build the amphitheater will keep the sound within that area alone.”
Sedor said that increasing the seats to 6,200 is excessive, and the addition of the tower is unnecessary.
“It seems as if it will out-date itself pretty quickly,” Sedor said. “I’d rather that the funding for a gimmicky tower go towards supporting more artists in our community to create art for this project, or for more natural outdoor spaces.”
San Pedro resident Dannia Hernandez said that the amphitheater will bring more tourists and revenue, but that this was not necessarily a good thing.
“San Pedro is charming, it’s small, it’s unique,” Hernandez said. “There’s culture to it. There’s people who have lived here for years. And I think that’s getting pushed out when these large projects are being built in this little, small, charming town that we grew up in.”
Hernandez said her biggest concern is the effect the project will have on traffic congestion.
“Coming in and out of San Pedro is hell, to be honest with you,” Hernandez said. “I think that is going to be one big headache.”
Rema Wasserman, a representative of Nederlander Concerts, which will run the amphitheater, said her organization was taking people’s comments seriously.
“We look forward to addressing and mitigating all of the concerns you have, because they’re our concerns as well,” Wasserman said. “We ran the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles for 40 years, and I think we improved the neighborhood with our presence.”
Wasserman said that Nederlander is sensitive to neighbors’ concerns about noise and traffic, as those are the two biggest issues around the Greek Theatre.
“We have been very careful to research the layout of the venue itself to decrease any factors of noise in the neighborhood,” Wasserman said. “And we think with the technology of 2022, that we will be very successful in this effort.”
Cicoria said that the project does have potential, despite her concerns with pollution of noise and hazardous materials.
“This could be a dream of a project,” Cicoria said. “An opportunity for the community to enjoy music in a special setting on the water, honoring the proximity to wildlife and thereby educating the public as to the value and importance of it. Or it could be a nightmare.”