PLANNERS OK PROVIDENCE EXPANSION CRITICS OF HOSPITAL PROJECT WILL APPEAL.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

Staff Writer

After winning some concessions, the Los Angeles Planning Commission gave its unanimous approval Thursday to a $143 million plan to expand Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills.

The panel issued a conditional-use permit for the 101-bed, four-story tower at 15031 Rinaldi St., after Providence officials agreed to develop a traffic management program and revise its parking plans.

"We are doing this, not because of the wonderful work you do as a hospital, but after studying all the land-use aspects," commission President Jane Usher said at the conclusion of a 90-minute hearing.

Usher noted that commissioners were facing a deadline to act, and that Providence officials had refused requests by local officials and residents for additional time to study traffic, air quality and other environmental issues.

Critics of the plan said they will appeal the commission's approval to the City Council.

After the hearing, City Councilman Richard Alarcon said he will renew concerns about the need for a full environmental impact report during the appeals process.

"This is a large project that will definitely impact traffic for many miles around," said Alarcon, who represents the community. "The community deserves a clearer picture of the impact the expansion will have so we can ensure proper steps are taken to mitigate the impact."

Ann Ziliak, a Granada Hills resident who belongs to a grass-roots group called Community Advocates for Responsible Expansion, said neighbors were not given adequate time to review environmental documents.

And Nicholas Krall of the Sylmar Neighborhood Council said he was concerned that Providence officials would ignore residents' concerns about the effects of traffic and parking.

"They have refused to meet with us and won't sit down and make any real commitment," Krall said.

But hospital officials said they'd complied with a commission directive issued in March to ensure that the project would not adversely impact the neighborhood.

Attorney Tim McOsker, who represents the hospital, said Providence had released the documents in late May and had addressed all the concerns raised.

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