We are a bit behind in updating you on the Will J. Reid Boy Scout Park project and what the next steps will be.
On November 10th, the entire council followed 8th district councilmember Al Austin in his support of the 131 home development on this 10.5 acre site. They did so without giving any discussion to the concerns stated by numerous residents from both the immediate neighborhood nor their citywide supporters.
Concerns of increased density in an already burdened community.
Concerns with the years of construction impacts to the area because of the isolated location of the property. This includes thousands of truckloads of infill dirt over a 8-9 month period, followed by roughly 1600 truckloads of building materials for the next 2-3 years.
Concerns of the increased traffic with a minimum 300 additional cars daily after the build out.
The council failed to support efforts to make this a green project with LEED buildings, solar power and grey water irrigation to name a few of the public ideas.
However, there is more at stake here than simply the proposed development in a challenged area of North Long Beach, a neighborhood that is confronted with criminal behavior, parking impacts and traffic today. At the same time, the council approved this new PUD zoning that now allows this type of development throughout our city. It is accurate that each development project will be required to do their own EIR, but now this zoning designation is on the city books, available to all. FYI, the same developer, Integral Communities, already has two other site locations and are in discussion with the city. As I understand these are both 7th district properties.
It is my understanding that discussions are moving forward for a lawsuit to challenge the EIR. It is unfortunate that this must happen for residents to protect their neighborhoods. A vetting of resident concerns during the public hearing could have avoided this action. There could have been a compromise. Stay tuned........next post will highlight the LGB FIS campaign.
On November 10th, the entire council followed 8th district councilmember Al Austin in his support of the 131 home development on this 10.5 acre site. They did so without giving any discussion to the concerns stated by numerous residents from both the immediate neighborhood nor their citywide supporters.
Concerns of increased density in an already burdened community.
Concerns with the years of construction impacts to the area because of the isolated location of the property. This includes thousands of truckloads of infill dirt over a 8-9 month period, followed by roughly 1600 truckloads of building materials for the next 2-3 years.
Concerns of the increased traffic with a minimum 300 additional cars daily after the build out.
The council failed to support efforts to make this a green project with LEED buildings, solar power and grey water irrigation to name a few of the public ideas.
However, there is more at stake here than simply the proposed development in a challenged area of North Long Beach, a neighborhood that is confronted with criminal behavior, parking impacts and traffic today. At the same time, the council approved this new PUD zoning that now allows this type of development throughout our city. It is accurate that each development project will be required to do their own EIR, but now this zoning designation is on the city books, available to all. FYI, the same developer, Integral Communities, already has two other site locations and are in discussion with the city. As I understand these are both 7th district properties.
It is my understanding that discussions are moving forward for a lawsuit to challenge the EIR. It is unfortunate that this must happen for residents to protect their neighborhoods. A vetting of resident concerns during the public hearing could have avoided this action. There could have been a compromise. Stay tuned........next post will highlight the LGB FIS campaign.
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