PLANNING COMMISSION DENIES REQUEST TO SUBDIVIDE MARKETPLACE CENTER
By Dave Wielenga
The Long Beach Planning Commission denied by a 5-1 vote Thursday evening a request to subdivide a small slice of the MarketPlace shopping center, located on Pacifice Coast Highway between the proposed Second+PCH development and the Los Cerritos Wetlands.
Alan Fox cast the dissenting vote against a majority that consisted of Melanie Smith, Charles Durnin, Becky Blair, Philip Saumur and Donita Van Horik.
The request to snip 1.2 acres off the southerly end of the 18.2-acre shopping center—land surrounding the building that currently houses the United Artists movie theater—had been recommended by planners in the city’s Development Services department. Their report suggested that the change would improve chances to finance and market the site to a national theater chain; during testimony Thursday it was revealed that the United Artists lease expires this year.
But environmentalists, including the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, and fans of the low-rise and low-density zoning laws that govern development in southeastern Long Beach were concerned that that the move was a step toward piecemeal development that might threaten the quality of life in the area.
Discussion among the planning commissioners seemed to coalesce around the idea that the requested subdivision was premature and not sufficiently thought through, considering the other pending decisions about land use in the area—read: Second+PCH and a since-withdrawn proposal by the owners of the MarketPlace for an even larger multi-use development.
2 Comments
More like a step toward piecemeal development that would allow the owner an opportunity to extend a road, or maybe build a road, or change the Marketplace zoning for their own specific purpose without concern for SEADIP. The Planning Commission asked good questions and, in the end, they listened to the concerns they heard from the public who spoke against this matter.
I spoke on behalf of El Dorado Audubon, a California Chapter of The National Audubon Society. Our position, in part, “the proposal would not be consistent with the Certified LCP unless it is consistent with the SEADIP ordiance. The findings should state whether it is consistent with SEADIP or not.” To summarize — The California Coastal Act protects our coast for the entire state of California. We are concerned with native birds and their habitats including our local jewel, Los Cerritos Wetlands, of which 200 acres are in public ownership on both sides of the SG River. Looking through the fence one can see the migratory ducks all winter and the wetlands birds present right next to the road. http://www.eldoradoaudubon.org and email eldoradoaudubon@yahoo.com