Council Appoints Prominent Architect to Planning Commission

By Jorge Casuso

Jan. 16 – In a move that will likely further shift the makeup of the City’s most powerful board, the City Council this week appointed prominent architect Gwynne Pugh to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission.

A staunch advocate of sustainable development, Pugh will fill the seat vacated by anti-growth activist Geraldine Moyle, whose term expires in June. He will then be up for reappointment to a full four-year term.

Pugh’s appointment comes six months after the council appointed businessman Terry O’Day to replace Kelly Olsen, who spearheaded a commission widely viewed as anti-development and openly critical of planning staff.

Pugh edged out neighborhood activist Robert Sheldon, co-founder and former chair of Northeast Neighbors, 4 to 3, before Sheldon’s three council supporters changed their votes, appointing Pugh by unanimous acclimation.

“I think he’ll bring good levity and decision making,” said Councilman Herb Katz, an architect who supported Pugh. “At the moment, he’s apolitical.”

A principal at Pugh + Scarpa Architects, Pugh will further change the complexion of the board, which had been “adversarial towards the community and even staff,” Katz said.

“I think O’Day himself helped change the attitude and bring a cohesiveness and a philosophy which had been lacking,” Katz said. “I think it will get more professional and have more insight.”

A licensed engineer as well as an architect, Pugh and his firm designed Community Corporation’s award-winning 44-unit community housing project at 5th and Colorado, a model of sustainable development.

Pugh also helped develop Bergamot Station, a cluster of art galleries by the City Yards and worked on the City’s Solar Study, as well as on a vehicle recharging station.

On his application Pugh listed as his goals providing “clarity and consistency” to planning department procedures and engendering “smart and sustainable growth.”

Pugh also wants to “develop consensus where possible while providing fairness to the process,” “generate a Livable and Sustainable environment for the City of Santa Monica,” and “bring professional knowledge and experience to the process.”

A 19-year-resident of Santa Monica, Pugh has designed new and remodeled housing throughout the city and been involved in the design of numerous commercial projects. He also is helping develop projects with Livable Places, a non-profit dedicated to making market rate affordable workforce housing.

Currently Pugh is working on planning and site design for a three-block area in Palmdale’s downtown civic center and is a consultant to the City of Carson’s Economic Redevelopment Department assisting with redevelopment and planning issues.

Sheldon -- whose main goal was to make planning decisions that are “sensitive to the residents of the City and to the neighborhoods impacted by the decisions” -- was initially supported by Mayor Richard Bloom, Mayor Pro tem Kevin McKeown and Councilman Ken Genser.

In addition to Katz, Pugh had the support of Council members Michael Feinstein, Bob Holbrook and Pam O’Connor, who nominated him.