Last week, the Long Beach Planning Commission voiced their concerns over the density of this 131 home project to be built on the Will J. Reid Boy Scout Park site, yet they forwarded it onto the council with a 5-2 vote to support it as presented. The alternative that the community could most likely have supported would be the EIR Alternative Project suggesting 65 homes on the 10.5 acre site. The PC never addressed that option.

This project, as submitted, requires new zoning approval and a zone change by the city council that will allow lot sizes to be 2400 sq.ft. to accommodate their proposed project. The homes are 2-4 bedrooms and yet parking is restricted to a two car garage included on the home site with no on-street parking. At minimum this will put another 300 cars on the narrow, impacted streets within this isolated neighborhood.

Could this be considered “spot zoning” to support the OC developer known as Integral Communities? Spot zoning is a provision in a general plan which benefits a single parcel of land by creating a zone for use just for that parcel and different from the surrounding properties in the area.

The EIR states that there is no other property within Long Beach that could handle this size development, unless of course one were to consider taking more open space/park land to house more residents in an already built out city! That most certainly says this change in density with a new PUD-13 allowing 13 homes per acre is project specific. With over 30% of the land being considered landscaped or open areas, the density will be even greater.

If you believe, at best, this project should be reduced in size to more appropriately compliment the area, please attend the November 10th 5:00 p.m.city council meeting when this hearing will take place. I personally, am of the mindset that this valuable land should remain open space for future park development in an area of Long Beach that today is lacking recreational opportunities.

The Long Beach 2010 Sustainable City Action Plan includes the goal of creating 8 acres of open space per 1000 residents. This project will take 10.5 acres of available open space in a north Long Beach community that even a resident supporter of the project identified as "an abandoned area of Long Beach" and allow increased density that usually brings negative impacts and demands to the area.

This is not only an issue for Dominquez Gap community, but all of the 8th district since access to Del Amo Blvd and LB Blvd will most definitely be impacted well beyond what is experienced today.

Last bite at the proverbial apple.......this is where the residents can influence the outcome of a housing development that is not complimentary to the neighborhood community. Will you do your part?

Long Beach Neighborhoods First encourages you to attend the November 10th 5:00 p.m. city council meeting to support these concerned residents.

The EIR can be viewed at

This site is not only to keep Long Beach residents advised about LGB activities, but to present projects that could have impacts throughout our city.

There are two proposed Long Beach projects that you may be interested in casting your opinion on during this next month.

  The first is this coming Thursday, October 15th at 5:00 p.m. in the council chambers located at 333 Ocean Blvd.  The Planning Commission will be hearing the request to build a new 131 single family home community where the Will J. Reid Boy Scout park was located. 

New single family housing for our city sounds good, until you examine the details provided.  The city has created a new zoning for this project.  It will allow these homes to be built on a 10 acre plot of land.  Each lot size is 2400 square feet with the homes being 2 or 3 stories.  How large is your home?  Compare the average 2000 sq.ft home and now imagine building a home within these boundaries, with a garage and a yard.  Tight quarters for sure!  So my question remains, will this result in another lesson learned like the "cracker box" buildings that were allowed in the 80's?  Those projects scattered throughout the city, proved to be a disaster for the communities and a drain on public resources as they turned to decayed properties laden with crime.

To approve this project the zoning must be changed from Open Space (park land) to RP-13 that will allow 13 homes per acre.  Why would the city allow such density in an already challenged area of our city?  Why would the city give up valuable park land that this area of Long Beach could benefit from? 

The Boy Scouts abandoned this camp years ago for what they claimed was a financial decision to reinvest in other Boy Scout properties and programs.  They had that right, but we were firm that the zoning changes would not be allowed.  Today, that change is on the table for approval. 

The agreement includes that the builder, Integral Communities, will complete the Oregon Park soccer fields located at Oregon and Del Amo Blvd.  This property was purchased by RDA around 2008-9 with the intent to provide the community with another recreational source that would include 2-3 soccer fields and a small playground area.  Instead, the allocated funding was then used to complete building of the new eastside police sub-station. 

Two concerns here are:

1.  Is it wise to hand over 10 acres of much needed open space land that could be incorporated into the Dominguez Gap wetlands area?  The answer will be there is no money to acquire the property.  One day, there will be.

2.  If approval is given and the soccer fields are built by Integral Communities what will the composition of the artificial turf be?  There is much controversy over some of the materials being used even though the EPA has not taken a defensive stand.  Visit SynTurf.org to gather more information on this subject. 

Then take the time to write your council office with a cc to all district offices and the office of the mayor.  Come down on October 15th and support a neighborhood community! 

Stay Involved!

Item #2 can be viewed through the Hot Topics site.  More to come on that next time.