The public hearing was organized by field deputies of Mike Antonovich, the area's county supervisor. Southland-based Sunrise Development wants to build the 59-unit complex, which would house about 70 seniors, at the corner of Huntington and Sunnyslope drives.

The project would replace a low-rise medical office building. Sunrise development executive Bob MacNamera told the crowd that building the new project would actually reduce traffic and air pollution in the area because few of the assisted-living residents can drive, but that didn't ease the neighbors' concerns.

"We're talking about more (traffic) congestion, air pollution and all sorts of problems," one opponent complained at the hearing. Many also complained that the three-story, 35-foot project would block their views of the nearby foothills.