PADILLA BACKS DOWN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Councilman Alex Padilla on Wednesday introduced a formal proposal to create a two-year moratorium on any redevelopment project in his district, including an end to plans for a controversial project in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

``I don't think the Community Redevelopment Agency is in any position to take on this project,'' Padilla said during a meeting of the City Council's Housing and Community Redevelopment Committee.

``We will have to work with other programs to bring about the changes needed in the northeast San Fernando Valley.''

Padilla said he had concluded that he should abandon the project also based on community opposition to the proposed 6,800-acre project area, which would have been the largest redevelopment area in the city's history.

The councilman said he tried to deal with community concerns, for example, by eliminating the power to have eminent domain, or condemnation power, to take over residential property.

Padilla has been criticized for the role his staff has played in project area committee elections and in hiring buses to bring people to meetings.

Councilman Nick Pacheco agreed with Padilla's call to abandon the current proposal, but said he would not support a moratorium on other redevelopment projects citywide.

``I think it would be ludicrous to say we are not going to do anything for areas in need for the next two years,'' Pacheco said.