A group of Brentwood residents filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the city of Los Angeles’ approval of a $100 million expansion of a girls school that they allege will immobilize traffic flow in the area.
The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court challenges the validity of environmental studies done on the project at the Archer School for Girls, at 11725 Sunset Blvd.
The lawsuit alleges the project will attract an additional “tens of thousands” of vehicle trips to the area after it is built. It further alleges that environmental analysis on the traffic and air quality impacts were improperly done, and not enough was done to remedy the impacts that were anticipated.
The planned expansion includes a new gym, performing arts and visual arts facilities and an underground parking garage with space for 200 cars.
“The Archer project is a monster — it’s far too impactful and big,” said David Wright, co-chair of the Sunset Coalition, a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Some neighbors of the school have also contended the construction work — expected to last three years — will worsen traffic on Sunset Boulevard near Barrington Avenue, which already suffers from congestion.
Councilman Mike Bonin, whose district includes the school, said in August he opposed the original concept for the project, but a good compromise was ultimately reached that would actually improve traffic in the area.
Bonin said construction time, originally set to be six years, was cut in half. A planned aquatics center was also nixed and the size of the performing arts center was reduced, part of about 50 changes that were made to the project plans.
Bonin said the compromises include several provisions that directly affect traffic, including a requirement that 76 percent of Archer students be bused to school, a cap on the number of cars allowed on campus during sports and special events, and a limit on the number, timing and size of events the school can hold each year.
— Wire reports