NFL NOTEBOOK: ROSE BOWL PLAN FACES OPPOSITION.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

A Pasadena preservation group declared its opposition Saturday to the latest proposal that would renovate the Rose Bowl into a state-of-the-art facility and bring the NFL back to Los Angeles.

Pasadena Heritage executive director Sue Mossman said that after examining the latest site plans, which were unveiled nearly two months ago, her group has ``absolutely no alternative but to resist renovation.''

Mossman made her remarks in front of about 50 people who attended a forum at Art Center College of Design, which was sponsored by the Linda Vista/Annandale Association, a group of residents who live near the Rose Bowl. Also speaking at the forum were Rose Bowl Operating Company president Bill Thomson, Rose Bowl general manager Darryl Dunn, Pasadena Director of Planning Richard Bruckner and Recreation and Parks Commission chairman Frank Olsen.

Mossman said the addition of approximately 750,000 net square feet of space - in the form of luxury suites, meeting rooms, restaurants, museums and shops - will add so much girth and height to the stadium that it would have little chance of retaining its status as a National Historic Landmark.

Plans unveiled in April 2003 called those additions to be put mostly underground, but the NFL - expected to foot the approximate $500 million bill - deemed the design too costly.

Thomson stressed that the latest plans are not final and will be open for discussion while the city puts together its environmental impact report on the project. The first scooping workshop, where issues might be vetted, will be held Thursday at the Rose Bowl.

Bruckner said the city is using three consultants to determine traffic, design and air quality issues related to the construction and use of a renovated Rose Bowl. He expects a draft EIR to be issued in early January, which will be followed by a 45-day comment period.

The city would respond to any complaints and deliver a complete EIR to the city council for certification in late April or May 2005 - just before the NFL is expected to chose among the four sites it is considering: the Rose Bowl, Carson, the Coliseum and Anaheim. However, if those who file complaints aren't satisfied with the city's response, they can sue to stop the project.

Thomson, stressing the cost of doing nothing, said the Rose Bowl would need $55 million in improvements over the next 20 years - even without the NFL.

--Redskins sign kicker: Washington signed kicker Ola Kimrin to replace John Hall in today's game against Chicago. Hall is out after suffering a groin injury in practice Thursday.

The Redskins made room on the roster for Kimrin, a native of Sweden, by releasing tight end Brian Kozlowksi.

- Associated Press

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