BOA Writtes a letter to City Council Members
October 21, 2011
Dear Councilmember
The Long Beach Marina Boat Owners Association (BOA) represents approximately 3000 boaters who rent slips in the Long Beach marinas.
The slip fees provide approximately $ 20,553,306 a year. We are asking that you deny the recent Long Beach Planning
Commission request to amend the SEADIP plan to allow high-density development on the corner of 2nd and PCH. While we agree that the
property has been allowed to deteriorate and should be upgraded, we believe that this upgrade should conform to the guidelines of the
existing SEADIP plan that limits building height to a maximum of 35 feet. Our reasoning is as follows:
1. Majority Wishes. First, the Planning Commission has ignored the wishes of a majority of Long Beach residents in recommending these
changes to SEADIP. At the Planning Commission meeting on October 12, by our count, the speakers opposing the SEADIP change outnumbered
those in favor by a 2-to-1 margin. In addition, a recent 2008 citywide survey requested by the City Council revealed that public opinion
supported a SEADIP revision, but top priority should be given to preservation/restoration of wetlands. Other priorities were traffic flow
improvements, specialty retail and sit-down restaurants. Sixty percent stated that they would not favor increased building height in exchange
for these amenities. Fewer than10% favored increased residential development. The Planning Commission recommendation is clearly contrary to the wishes
of a majority of Long Beach residents since it supports a project that violates most of these desires.
2. Traffic. Our second major concern is the severe impact on traffic that a large development like the one proposed for 2nd and PCH would create.
Traffic is already a problem at 2nd & PCH and the project envisioned would increase traffic at that intersection by approximately 10 fold.
This traffic congestion cannot be mitigated. The traffic congestion would also spill over to neighboring intersections such as 2nd and Studebaker and 2nd and Bayshore.
Envision, if you will, traffic gridlock throughout East Long Beach and the severe impact this will have on the quality of life of the residents.
Attendant to this is the likelihood that emergency service vehicles will be unable to easily travel to fires or police and health emergencies. Public safety will likely suffer.
3. Air Quality Hazards. Third, air quality will also be unacceptably worsened. This translates into more respiratory illness and potential
hospitalizations for the citizens in East Long Beach. Health care costs, already very high, will only increase. Our citizens deserve better
treatment from the Planning Commission and the Council.
4. Parking and Security. Our fourth concern has to do with the project’s inadequate provision of parking spaces. The proposal states that “shared”
parking will be the solution. To boat owners this suggests the use of the Alamitos Bay Marina parking spaces across the street from the development site.
This will reduce spaces available to boat owners and will increase the flow of foot traffic into the marina. More visitors will lead to more crime and many
boaters have already experienced burglaries in this marina.
5. Insufficient Evidence. Mr. David Malmuth, the developer, states that the large development he proposes is the only financially feasible option for
him that will provide amenities desired by the City Staff. As far as we know, there is no verifiable evidence to support the developer’s claims that the
City will benefit from increased tax revenues or more jobs. Nor is there clear evidence to support the developer’s assertions about economic feasibility.
Decisions of this scope should be based on good evidence and not-pie-in-the-sky projections. We suggest that a different developer could envision a project
meeting SEADIP standards that would be an attractive gateway to East Long Beach and would be financially feasible.
Thank you for your support,
B. Thomas Mayes, Ph.D.
BOA Vice President for Environmental Issues
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