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State Official Says No Active Fault Is Under The Proposed Millennium Hollywood Project
In a decision that should definitely be considered a 'win' for the developer of a controversial Hollywood project, an official from the State Mining and Geology Board said on Thursday that there is no evidence of an active fault under the site of the proposed Millennium Hollywood towers.
Stephen Testa, executive officer of the Board said in a public hearing in Sacramento that there is "a lot of strong evidence" that a fault recently marked on a zoning map from the California Geological Survey is not there. Testa visited the site with consultants hired by the developers in search of the fault. His findings along with over 200 pages of public comments will go to John Parrish, the state geologist that's the head of the survey, according to the LA Times.
"You know what you see, and there was no fault or faulting deposits in those trenches that were observed," said Testa.
Since its inception the Millennium Hollywood project has been under fire from groups who say that its site is on top of active faults. Parrish still has final say over the zoning map, but he said that he could consider Testa's conclusion despite the fact his survey was not given sufficient time in the site. "Contrary to a lot of things being said, we were not in the trenches. We were allowed into the first trench a couple of times," he said.
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A private geotechnical consultant hired by the Millennium developers found no evidence of active faults at the site of the planned towers. According to state law, a fault is "active" if it has ruptured in the last 11,000 years.
Despite all the back and forth, the city's Department of Building and Safety has final say in the matter after they determine the plans are safe. The City Council has already approved the project.
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