100 signatures reached
To: Culver City Council
PROTECT OUR KIDS: Stop the Costco Gas Station Relocation
Dear Esteemed Members of the Culver City Council,
Thank you for your continued commitment to the well-being of our community and for your attention to the concerns surrounding the proposed relocation of Costco’s gas station to the southwest corner of their property.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the well-being of our community and for your attention to the concerns surrounding the proposed relocation of Costco’s gas station to the southwest corner of their property.
As you may know, this relocation will place the expanded gas station dangerously close to two preschools—just over 200 feet from Sol y Luna Montessori, where my wife works, and 185 feet from Morning Glory Preschool. These are spaces where our youngest and most vulnerable community members spend their days, and their health and safety are at the heart of our concerns.
We are particularly troubled by the city’s decision to exempt Costco from conducting an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires a thorough environmental review for discretionary actions unless a project is proven not to have a significant impact on the environment. In this case, Costco received a Class 32 “Infill” Categorical Exemption, which is meant for projects deemed environmentally benign. However, the scope of this project—a large gas station with 15 dispensers and 30 fueling stations—raises serious concerns about its alignment with this exemption.
The Class 32 exemption explicitly states that it does not apply to projects with significant traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality impacts. Given the proximity to sensitive receptors like preschool children and the documented risks of benzene, a known carcinogen associated with gas stations, we believe this project warrants a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). To support this, we hired an environmental consulting firm that identified flaws in the data presented to the Planning Commission and recommended an EIR due to the potential risks. It is worth noting that several health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize benzene as a hazardous air pollutant and a known carcinogen. These organizations emphasize that children are particularly vulnerable to benzene exposure due to their developing systems and greater relative intake of air.
We have formally appealed the city’s decision and are awaiting a hearing date. In the meantime, we are reaching out to the community for support. We respectfully urge the City Council to take the following actions:
1.Support our appeal to require Costco to conduct a thorough EIR before proceeding with this project.
2.Reconsider the approval of the relocation in light of the risks to public health and safety.
This is not a matter of opposition to development but rather a call for responsible decision-making that prioritizes the health of our children and community. An Environmental Impact Report will provide the transparency and accountability necessary to ensure that all potential impacts are properly assessed and mitigated.
We sincerely appreciate your time, consideration, and dedication to serving Culver City and the greater community. Thank you for standing with us in our efforts to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children.
Respectfully,
Alba & Noah Beller
Sol y Luna Montessori
Respectfully,
Alba & Noah Beller
Sol y Luna Montessori
Why is this important?
A serious issue is threatening the health and safety of our children and community. The relocation and expansion of Costco’s gas station in Culver City will place it dangerously close to two preschools - Sol y Luna Montessori and Morning Glory Preschool. This would expose our most vulnerable community members to harmful air pollution, including benzene, a known carcinogen.
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/IcjFYZ8aWn4?si=Ocyyc-JYZckONM0l
WHY THIS MATTERS:
CHILDREN’S HEALTH IS AT RISK:
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize benzene as a hazardous air pollutant and a known carcinogen. These organizations emphasize that children are particularly vulnerable to benzene exposure due to their developing systems and greater relative intake of air. Exposure to benzene is associated wit respiratory problems and leukemia. Google it - it’s terrifying!
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
Increased emissions and traffic have the potential to harm not only preschoolers, but the entire neighborhood. The plan to store 120,000 gallons of fuel underground - doubling their current capacity of 60,000 gallons of underground storage.
INSUFFICIENT REVIEW:
This project was deemed EXEMPT from ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. The Culver City Planning Commission granted Costco an exemption from doing an Environmental Impact Report which would require an analysis on impacts on traffic, noise, air quality, and water quality - the report would require an analysis to the impact on the preschoolers, a “sensitive receptor” population.’’
We need your support and your voice to help stope this harmful project and demand a safer solution - or at the very least - an Environmental Impact Report to assess the potential risks to our community. The Culver City Council must hear from as many people as possible to understand that our community stands together and wishes to protect one another and especially our children!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. SIGN THIS PETITION
2. VISIT OUR WEBSITE - https://www.futurenotfossils.com/
3. EMAIL THE CITY COUNCIL
Please email the Council members to express your opposition to the relocation.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please utilize and customize one of the templates:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i9Rmq3FbnwyYTgHw6MoqHwh8MFYDqJSplB3dXvJSAm8/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-xtzm9RAUOCznXCu2eFY4ENednAEeD8nHiwcoSU5lew/edit?usp=sharing
4. SPREAD THE WORD
Please share this issue with friends and neighbors. The more voices we have, the stronger our message.
Thank you for standing with us in this fight.
Sincerely,
Noah & Alba Beller
Watch Here: https://youtu.be/IcjFYZ8aWn4?si=Ocyyc-JYZckONM0l
WHY THIS MATTERS:
CHILDREN’S HEALTH IS AT RISK:
The World Health Organization (WHO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize benzene as a hazardous air pollutant and a known carcinogen. These organizations emphasize that children are particularly vulnerable to benzene exposure due to their developing systems and greater relative intake of air. Exposure to benzene is associated wit respiratory problems and leukemia. Google it - it’s terrifying!
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
Increased emissions and traffic have the potential to harm not only preschoolers, but the entire neighborhood. The plan to store 120,000 gallons of fuel underground - doubling their current capacity of 60,000 gallons of underground storage.
INSUFFICIENT REVIEW:
This project was deemed EXEMPT from ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW. The Culver City Planning Commission granted Costco an exemption from doing an Environmental Impact Report which would require an analysis on impacts on traffic, noise, air quality, and water quality - the report would require an analysis to the impact on the preschoolers, a “sensitive receptor” population.’’
We need your support and your voice to help stope this harmful project and demand a safer solution - or at the very least - an Environmental Impact Report to assess the potential risks to our community. The Culver City Council must hear from as many people as possible to understand that our community stands together and wishes to protect one another and especially our children!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. SIGN THIS PETITION
2. VISIT OUR WEBSITE - https://www.futurenotfossils.com/
3. EMAIL THE CITY COUNCIL
Please email the Council members to express your opposition to the relocation.
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please utilize and customize one of the templates:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i9Rmq3FbnwyYTgHw6MoqHwh8MFYDqJSplB3dXvJSAm8/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-xtzm9RAUOCznXCu2eFY4ENednAEeD8nHiwcoSU5lew/edit?usp=sharing
4. SPREAD THE WORD
Please share this issue with friends and neighbors. The more voices we have, the stronger our message.
Thank you for standing with us in this fight.
Sincerely,
Noah & Alba Beller
How it will be delivered
Social Media, Word of Mouth