S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
March 18 – March 24, 2022 Volume CXXXII, Issue 136
INSIDE ORIGINAL SANTA MONICA HOT DOG A STICK SHACK DEMOLISHED PAGE 4
SMMUSD Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate District changes policy from “required” to “strongly recommended” By Dolores Quintana Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has lifted its indoor mask mandate but should COVID-19 cases begin to surge again SMMUSD may again call for required masking. As of March 14, 2022, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District moved its indoor masking policy from “required” to “strongly recommended” for vaccinated and unvaccinated people alike. The Board’s masking resolutions were modified on March 10 and are in line
with current state of California and County of Los Angeles guidelines. The vote was unanimous to amend resolutions Nos. 21-01 and 21-02 that had been originally approved in August of 2021. Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent of SMMUSD, issued a statement that updated the district policy and made recommendations to parents and school staff going forward. The masking policy has been amended to state the following: “This change is effective Monday, March 14, 2022, in SMMUSD for TK-12. The first day of in-class instruction with strongly recommended, but not required, masking is Monday, March 14, 2022. Preschool families, please expect written communication from our CDS department regarding any upcoming changes. This change applies to both vaccinated
SMMUSD, see page 8
Credit: Sam Catanzaro
Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica, seen during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
Coastal Commission Issues Permits for Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Redevelopment Hotel will double in size under new plans By sam Catanzaro
The California Coastal Commission has approved plans to redevelop the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, authorizing demolition and construction permits for the project. On March 10 the project went before the California Coastal Commission in two parts. At the virtual meeting, the Commission approved separate permits allowing developers to demolish a parking lot to make way for a five-story residential building and another allowing for the development of the current hotel. “We appreciate the California Coastal Commission’s unanimous approval of our project and are incredibly humbled by, and grateful for, the extraordinary outpouring of support across the community,” said Ellis O’Connor and Dustin Peterson of Miramar Santa Monica in a statement. “We look forward to writing the next chapter in the Miramar’s storied history.” At the same meeting, the City of Santa Monica obtained approval from the Commission to triple the maximum height allowed for a project at that site. The City’s standard land-use plan sets a maximum building height of 45 feet with a floor area ratio of 2.0. The increase approved by the Commission bumps this to 130 feet and 2.6,
A rendering of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows redevelopment.
respectively. “The subject site is already developed with multi-story buildings extending up to 135-ft. tall and a perimeter wall that blocks any public coastal views onsite or through
the site from inland of Ocean Avenue; the proposed height and FAR will not adversely impact any existing, public coastal views; views from Ocean Avenue, Pacific Coast Highway, and the public beach will not
Credit: The Athens Group
be affected. Additionally, buildings with significantly higher heights and FARs may be found on each street surrounding the subject site,” reads the Coastal Commission
Fairmont, see page 8