The 25-year development plan for Paramount Pictures, approved in 2013, is moving forward. The Hollywood Project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was released on Sept. 10, and community members and neighborhood councils have met with the studio to voice their opinions and concerns regarding jobs, traffic and neighborhood character. The public comment period for the EIR ends on Monday, Oct. 26.

Paramount’s 56-acre main studio property, bordered by Melrose Avenue, Gower Street, Van Ness Avenue and Willoughby Avenue, has an additional six acres of adjacent properties. The proposed specific plan would add 1,385,000 square feet of floor area within their properties, including soundstages, production offices and facilities, parking areas, talent and writer’s bungalows, storage facilities for props and lighting, expanded infrastructure, and increased communal areas and amenities for employees. The $700 million development would be constructed in intervals, as to not jolt the surrounding neighborhoods with an immediate influx of density, with final completion expected in 2038.

The majority of proposed development would occur within 60- and 75-foot height zones located throughout all edges of the main lot’s campus. The plan requests allowances for two 95-foot tall buildings in the northern, northeastern and eastern portions of the main lot, and for one 135-foot tall building at the south end. Also requested is an allowance for a 240-foot tall, 15-story building, the historic KCAL building, which will be preserved.

The six acres of adjacent properties, which include five of the proposed projects, have height limits of 45 to 55 feet. Currently, the adjacent properties are mostly used for parking structures.

Paramount has presented their plan to the community based on economic growth, projecting 12,600 jobs throughout Los Angeles and $1.1 billion annually in economic output will be created over the course of construction. Once the development is complete and operating, the studio estimates the new space will create 12,600 jobs throughout the city and $3.1 billion in economic output annually.

“The plan helps Paramount to remain a viable business option and to compete with sister studios. We want them to be successful, as an anchor in the south end of Hollywood they bring many jobs to the business community – this will only increase those job opportunities and allow them to operate here for years to come,” said Leron Gubler, president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

Gubler has attended meetings with representatives of Paramount to discuss the development, and has another meeting is planned in two weeks to discuss the EIR. He said while no specific issues or objections have surfaced to his knowledge, traffic is typically a concern. Gubler said Paramount is locked geographically without immediate access to mass transit lines or freeways – which may prove to be a problem when it comes to traffic and parking.

Issues with congestion and traffic in Paramount’s surrounding neighborhood are already a point of contention for some residents, including Wally August, a board member on the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Association who has lived in the area for 33 years.

“The traffic studies have said the development won’t impact our neighborhood, but we are already dealing with increased congestion in all of our streets due to Paramount,” he said.

August has walked to his store, FanciFull Fine Food and Gift Baskets on Melrose Avenue, for the past 27 years, but said the walking conditions have grown increasingly dangerous, especially for children. Paramount’s EIR notes that increased neighborhood intrusion may result in more cut-through traffic along nearby portions of Gower Street, Santa Monica Boulevard, De Longpre Avenue, Vine Street, Sunset Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and Fountain Avenue, among others.

August added that he and other community members are concerned about the large, bright scrolling digital signs with displays that change every eight seconds planned for Melrose Avenue. He said in addition to the proposed large towers, the scrolling signs threaten to create an eyesore for their residential neighborhood.

“Paramount is very important to Los Angeles and Hollywood, but I don’t see many benefits for our neighborhood – it will actually be disastrous for us,” August said.

Other neighbors feel differently, and believe the increase in jobs will bring more residential housing to the area and increase the amount of people that bike or walk to work. Paramount’s EIR explains traffic mitigation measures they plan to take to address the congestion, including flexible work schedules, bicycle amenities, ride share programs, discounted transit passes and more. The plan also suggests signal upgrades at intersections and a reassessment of lanes to improve the flow of traffic during rush hours.

Owen Smith, chairman of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, has met with Paramount regarding the project, and supports the change the development will bring to the area.

“The truth of it is, they seem to be building for the future. They have been here for 100 years. I imagine what Melrose looks like today, and I know it won’t look like that in 10 to 20 years from now – things will change, I hope for the better,” Smith said.

Gubler said the fact that construction will phase in over 25 years allows the company and community to grow into the new development.

“Imagine what it would be like if we didn’t have any of the major studios here. Paramount is one of the real jewels of Hollywood, and we are glad to keep them here,” Gubler said.