The City Council indicated late Tuesday that it may step back and take a closer look at the controversial Downtown Community Plan before moving forward on it.
The council voted unanimously to hold a study session about the plan on Nov. 9, which will allow members the opportunity to consider delaying the release of an environmental report as demanded by housing advocates.
The Downtown Community Plan is a longterm development vision for downtown that housing advocates say doesn't provide for any new affordable housing.
Council members Rae Gabelich, Patrick O'Donnell and Steven Neal had requested that a study session be held before the city releases the environmental impact report, but the council had to first sign off Tuesday on whether to have the session at all. The environmental report is the first step toward implementing the plan.
During the study session, the council will be able to give city management direction on the plan, including whether to let housing advocates have their way.
The advocates want the city to wait until an economic benefits study that they have commissioned on the plan is finished, which will take four months, before the environmental report is released. The $100,000 economic benefits study is being funded by a grant from the California Endowment.
City Manager Pat West said he had expected to release the report by late November.
Gabelich, O'Donnell and Neal said the study session is also needed because the council hadn't heard any updates on the plan since putting it in motion in 2007. Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, whose 2nd District includes most of downtown, said she was concerned about delaying the development plan.
The plan calls for increasing density in a one-square-mile area to allow up to 9,200 new residential units, 2 million square feet of office and retail space, and 3,200 new hotel rooms over 25 years. The plan would also streamline and speed up processes for developers to get projects approved and under way by removing some environmental impact report requirements. It has been estimated that the approval time for new developments could be cut by a year to 16 months, providing considerable savings for developers.
A legion of housing advocates showed up at Tuesday's meeting to voice their support for having a study session and seeing the results of the economic study before moving forward.
The council voted unanimously to hold a study session about the plan on Nov. 9, which will allow members the opportunity to consider delaying the release of an environmental report as demanded by housing advocates.
The Downtown Community Plan is a longterm development vision for downtown that housing advocates say doesn't provide for any new affordable housing.
Council members Rae Gabelich, Patrick O'Donnell and Steven Neal had requested that a study session be held before the city releases the environmental impact report, but the council had to first sign off Tuesday on whether to have the session at all. The environmental report is the first step toward implementing the plan.
During the study session, the council will be able to give city management direction on the plan, including whether to let housing advocates have their way.
The advocates want the city to wait until an economic benefits study that they have commissioned on the plan is finished, which will take four months, before the environmental report is released. The $100,000 economic benefits study is being funded by a grant from the California Endowment.
City Manager Pat West said he had expected to release the report by late November.
Gabelich, O'Donnell and Neal said the study session is also needed because the council hadn't heard any updates on the plan since putting it in motion in 2007. Councilwoman Suja Lowenthal, whose 2nd District includes most of downtown, said she was concerned about delaying the development plan.
The plan calls for increasing density in a one-square-mile area to allow up to 9,200 new residential units, 2 million square feet of office and retail space, and 3,200 new hotel rooms over 25 years. The plan would also streamline and speed up processes for developers to get projects approved and under way by removing some environmental impact report requirements. It has been estimated that the approval time for new developments could be cut by a year to 16 months, providing considerable savings for developers.
A legion of housing advocates showed up at Tuesday's meeting to voice their support for having a study session and seeing the results of the economic study before moving forward.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
Leave a comment