



In another case of rich people trying to pull the Santa-Monica-livin' ladder up behind them, the ultra-tony Wilmont Neighborhood Coalition, representing homes between Wilshire and Montana, have called for their city to be frozen in amber. In a meeting on Saturday, the group voted for a moratorium on all development in the city, at least until the city adopts a Zoning Ordinance Update and a Downtown Specific Plan, which won't happen until at least next year and probably well into it: "the Zoning Ordinance Update is scheduled to go before the Planning Commission in a few weeks where it will be vetted over the course of six meetings," reports the Lookout. Many of the old members of the WNC supported a redevelopment project at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, but they've been tossed out in favor of a new board of zealots passionate anti-development crusaders, including the manager of the Huntley Hotel, a property that's declared war against the Miramar project and even produced a survey claiming Santa Monicans hate development. Putting aside the probable bias, the irony is that the WNC apparently doesn't recognize that banning new housing in their city ensures more people will have to commute to job-rich Santa Monica and therefore clog up their streets, which is supposedly what they hate most.

· Santa Monica Neighborhood Group Wants Moratorium on Development [SM Lookout]