Thomas Properties claims that Kilroy Realty has backed two groups that issued campaign reports that state "Thousands of El Segundo neighbors' actively oppose the El Segundo Corporate Park." These groups, "No On J & L" and "Citizens Against Gridlock in El Segundo," urge residents to vote no on the measurements. According to Thomas Properties statements, these groups are "simply a smokescreen for a company afraid of competition."
Kilroy Realty owns an office park adjacent to the El Segundo Corporate Campus. As reported in the local Daily Breeze on Dec. 16, 2001, Boeing's leases in Kilroy Realty's buildings across the street are up for renewal and a Boeing official was quoted in the article stating that they would consider moving to the Corporate Campus. Representatives for Thomas Properties say, "Kilroy's issue is really about competition and controlling the real estate market."
Kilroy Realty Corp. claims that they represent thousands of local residents who signed a petition to have the Measures J and L put on the ballot to allow the people of El Segundo to decide the fate of the development. Jim Tabilio, a spokesperson for the "No On J & L" campaign, says that Thomas Properties can change the El Segundo Corporate Campus project into an industrial park to support Los Angeles International Airport's expansion.
Tabilio adds that the development plan has "loopholes that give [Thomas Properties] the right to build an industrial park instead of the 'lush corporate campus' [it] promised. The result would be a facility that could promote and serve LAX and its expansion." he goes on to suggest that there are environmental and safety problems to the project that would create increased traffic, noise and air pollution, with more than 21,000 trucks and cars entering the area daily.
In response, Thomas Properties says the Corporate Campus takes lands that had previously been planned to support LAX expansion and uses it to benefit El Segundo. It goes on to say that "Kilroy Realty is trying to make the Corporate Campus traffic rates out to be almost equal to an expanded LAX. The fact is, at full build out in 10 years, the Corporate Campus will have 94% less traffic than an expanded LAX."
Last week both Kilroy and Thomas claimed victory after a Superior Court judge struck down two El Segundo ballot arguments and amended a third that supported a referendum to reject the development. The lawsuit was filed by El Segundo Councilman John Gaines in April relating to Measures J and L. The councilman said 12 of the arguments were "false and misleading."
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Dzintra Janavs left nine of the 12 arguments intact. Of the deleted and amended statements the Judge says, "It doesn't advance any argument and can be construed as misleading. This implies you can change the project to a light industrial or manufacturing development without further hearings or reviews. I don't think that's true."
The amended statement will appear in voter pamphlets and sample ballots for the special election. Voters will finally get the final say to decide the fate of the 46-acre development located at the intersection of Mariposa Ave. and Nash St., which the City Council approved in Jan.
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