Dec 21, 2023 Planning Commission

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THANK YOU FOR ALL BEING HERE.

WE'LL BE STARTING SHORTLY.

WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM, SO WE'RE JUST GETTING EVERYONE LOGGED IN.

ONLINE.

[00:06:19]

[00:11:04]

[CALL TO ORDER]

I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR PLANNING MEETING FOR, UH, DECEMBER 21ST TO ORDER.

MADAM CLERK, WE HAVE THE ROLL

[ROLL CALL]

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER CASTILLO.

PRESENT.

PRESENT.

COMMISSIONER CLEMSON? HERE.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.

EDMOND.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER LAGA.

COMMISSIONER WHERE? VICE CHAIR.

TEMPLE.

PRESENT.

CHAIR LEWIS.

PRESENT.

WE HAVE QUORUM.

THANK YOU .

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

YOU.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WE'LL DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S LAST TIME WAS ONLY KINDA A PRACTICE RUN.

OKAY.

STAND IF YOU CAN.

READY, BEGIN.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

THAT'S NOW TIME FOR SWEARING IN OF THE WITNESSES.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE GIVING ANY TESTIMONY THIS EVENING, PLEASE STAND, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO YOU SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT THE EVIDENCE YOU SHALL GIVE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SHALL BE THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? THANK YOU.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM THIS

[1. 23-51601 Recommendation to receive and file Director’s Report.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT ITEM? I MAKE THAT MOTION.

SECOND.

I'VE GOT A FIRST AND A SECOND.

WE HAVE THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT, PLEASE.

YES.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS.

UM, WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE LAST MEETING OF 2023 OF OUR PLANNING COMMISSION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE THIS YEAR.

I WANNA TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE, UM, THE WORK AND THE ROLE OF THIS COMMISSION IN HELPING THE CITY TO ENTITLE OVER 1800 HOUSING UNITS THIS YEAR, WHICH IS A HUGE INCREASE, UM, FROM LAST YEAR.

AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO ENTITLED OVER 800 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

UH, FOR COMPARISON IN 2022, WE ENTITLED ABOUT 200, SO A VERY EXCITING YEAR.

WE'LL HAVE MORE FORMAL NUMBERS, UH, SHARED, UM, AT THE STATE OF THE CITY AND IN THE NEW YEAR.

THERE'S STILL A FEW DAYS LEFT IN THE YEAR, UM, BUT AS WE'RE FINALIZING THOSE NUMBERS, JUST, UH, VERY EXCITING TO SEE THE PROGRESS.

THERE'S MUCH MORE WORK TO DO OF COURSE, BUT, UH, WE'VE HAD SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS, SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR, YOUR ROLE IN THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UM, AT LONG LAST THERE'LL BE SOME WORK HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS RELATED TO SOME OF THE AUDIO ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND SO OUR COMMISSION MEETINGS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WILL NOT TAKE PLACE HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

UM, THEY WILL ALMOST DEFINITELY BE TAKING PLACE AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE AT THEIR, UM, UM, UH, LAC CAMPUS WHEN WE'LL GET THOSE FINAL DETAILS TO YOU AND THE PUBLIC.

AS SOON AS THOSE ARE FINAL, THE JANUARY 4TH MEETING OF PLANNING COMMISSION IS CANCELED.

SO OUR NEXT MEETING TOGETHER WILL BE ON JANUARY 18TH.

WE DO HAVE A STUDY SESSION ON JANUARY 18TH FOR, UH, THE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT AND SSB NINE, UM, ORDINANCE THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER.

THAT WAS POSTPONED, YOU'LL RECALL, UH, BACK IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE HAD THE, UM, CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT.

AND SO THAT WILL BE, UH, COMING FORWARD IN JANUARY.

WE'LL ALSO BRING, BE BRINGING A COUPLE OF OTHER POLICY RELATED STUDY SESSIONS TO YOU IN THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF THE NEW YEAR.

SO LOOK OUT FOR THAT.

UM, AND WITH THAT, UH, MY DIRECTOR'S REPORT IS CONCLUDED.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? I, I APPRECIATE THE, UH, THE THANK YOU, BUT

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IT'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND HAS DEFINITELY RESULTED IN, IN THE UPTICK THAT WE'RE SEEING IN DEVELOPMENT.

CLEAR, CLEARER RULES AND MORE DEFINED GOALS HAVE, HAVE DEFINITELY HELPED.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR THAT.

UH, IS THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT? DO WE HAVE ANY, UH, VIRTUAL CALLERS THIS EVENING? IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

GREAT, THANK YOU.

WITH THAT, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, IF WE COULD HAVE A VOTE TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

NEXT ITEM

[2. 23-51602 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2023.       Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? SO MOVE, MAKE THAT MOTION.

SECOND.

THANK YOU.

I'VE GOT HER FIRST AND SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION ON, TO CLARIFY, I BELIEVE WE HAD A SECOND SUBMITTED BY COMMISSIONER CASTILLO CLEMMENS, I BELIEVE CLEMS. I DID DO THAT.

I DID IT ON, ON THE SCREEN.

SORRY.

WE'VE GOT COMPETING SYSTEMS, HIS WORK.

OH, GOT IT, GOT IT.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS , THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES AS THEY'VE BEEN SUBMITTED? ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WISH TO ADDRESS, ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON OUR MINUTES FROM OUR NOVEMBER 16TH MEETING? DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE MINUTES, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

THERE APPEARS TO BE NO FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

ALRIGHT, WITH THAT I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK BEHIND THE RAIL COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED? IF NOT, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE THE VOTE PLEASE? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU.

AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE

[3. 23-51616 Recommendation to determine that the project is consistent with and within the scope of the project previously analyzed as part of the Southeast Area Specific Plan Program Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse No. 2015101075) (PECC 04-23) and subject to the Southeast Area Specific Plan Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and that no further environmental review is required pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15168, 15162, and 15183; and Approve Site Plan Review SPR22-109 and Local Coastal Development Permit LCDP22-062, and adopt the proposed findings and conditions of approval related thereto, for a mixed-use project within the Coastal Zone consisting of two, 5-story buildings with a total of 559,599 square feet containing 600 residential units and 4,000 square-feet of ground-level restaurant space with 1,156 parking spaces located at 6500 E. Pacific Coast Highway in the Mixed-Use Community Core (MU-CC) designation of Southeast Area Specific Plan (SEASP). (District 3)        Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

ITEM THREE IS RECOMMENDATION TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH AND WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED AS PART OF THE SOUTHEAST AREA PACIFIC PLAN PROGRAM, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, AND SUBJECT TO THE SOUTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM.

AND THAT NO FURTHER ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE CA TO CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES, SECTIONS 1 5 1 6 8 1 5 1 6 2, AND 1 5 1 8, 3 AND APPROVED SITE PLAN REVIEW, SPR 22 DASH 1 0 9 AND LOCAL COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PERMIT LCDP 22 DASH 0 6 2 AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED FINDINGS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL RELATED THERE TO, FOR A MIXED USE PROJECT WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONE CONSISTING OF TWO FIVE STORY BUILDINGS WITHIN A TOTAL OF 559,559 SQUARE FEET CONTAINING 600 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 6,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND LEVEL RE RESTAURANT SPACE WITH 1,156 PARKING SPACES LOCATED AT 6,500 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN THE MIXED USE COMMUNITY CORE DESIGNATION OF SOUTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICT THREE.

THANK YOU.

AND I, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I BELIEVE IT'S 4,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND LEVEL RESTAURANT SPACE.

THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MOTION TO HEAR THIS ITEM.

UH, GOOD EVENING.

UM, SO SORRY, BEFORE WE CAN BEGIN, CAN I JUST, IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE ITEM? WE'RE STILL WAITING.

GREAT.

OUR SCREENS JUST SAY, WAIT.

THERE WE GO.

I BELIEVE THE PRESENTATION'S UP CLERK'S TABLE.

CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHO THE MOTION AND SECOND ARE? WELL, I, I'LL GET IT.

I'LL GET IT TO YOU JUST AS SOON AS WE GET 'EM.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT A FIRST FROM, OR WE'VE GOT A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER CLEMSON AND A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TEMPLE.

AND WITH THAT, IF WE'VE GOT A STAFF REPORT.

WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS MAY FEEL YOU'RE HAVING, UH, DEJA VU AS WE DID SEE A VERY SIMILAR PROJECT AT THIS, UH, SAME SITE BACK IN JULY.

UM, HOWEVER, SINCE THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVED A 600, A PROPOSED 600 UNIT MIXED USE, UM, PROJECT AT THE SITE, UM, IN SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION, UM, STAFF THERE HAS OPINED THAT THIS PROJECT IS

[00:20:01]

AND SO, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO, UM, AN OPINION THAT AN ONSITE BIOSWALE COULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE A COASTAL, UM, UH, WETLAND RESOURCE, THE APPLICANT HAS, UM, ELECTED TO REDESIGN THE PROJECT TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM EXTENT, UH, BUFFER FEASIBLE, UM, FROM THAT ONSITE BIOSWALE WHILE STILL PROVIDING THE SAME NUMBER OF, UH, HOUSING UNITS PURSUANT TO LOCAL AND STATE HOUSING LAW.

SO WHAT'S COMING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A PROPOSAL FOR A REVISED, UH, DESIGN TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT IT IS, UM, STILL APPROPRIATE AND WITHIN THE CSIP STANDARD, UH, AS WELL AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER TO QUENTIN, WHO WILL WALK YOU THROUGH, UH, THE BOOK DESIGN PROPOSAL AND WHAT HAS CHANGED, UH, SINCE JULY.

THANK YOU ALLISON, AND GOOD EVENING TO THE CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

UH, THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A REQUEST TO DEVELOP A NEW MIXED USE PROJECT ON THE EXISTING MARINA SHORES SITE WITHIN THE SOUTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN.

THE, UH, PROJECT SITE IS LOCATED AT 6,500 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY ON AN APPROXIMATELY SIX ACRE PARCEL OF LAND.

UH, IT'S CURRENTLY DEVELOPED WITH THE COMMERCIAL SHOPPING CENTER OF APPROXIMATELY 68,000 SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING AREA AND WITH 352 SURFACE PARKING SPACES WITHIN THE, UH, MIXED USE COMMUNITY COURSE SUB AREA OF SP TWO, ALSO KNOWN AS, UH, CIP SURROUNDING LAND USES INCLUDE THE SECOND AND PCH PROJECT AND MARKETPLACE LONG BEACH TO THE NORTH SURFACE PARKING AND OFFICES TO THE SOUTH, MORE OF THE MARKETPLACE AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH SITE TO THE EAST AND MORE SURFACE PARKING IN ALAMEDOS BAY TO THE WEST.

HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF STREET VIEW IMAGES OF THE, UH, PROJECT SITE FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF PCH THAT SHOW THE EXISTING BIO SWELL, WHICH IS, UH, THE, THE CRITICAL FACTOR THAT LEADS TO THE, UH, SLIGHT REDESIGN OF THE PROJECT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

THE PROJECT PROPOSAL INCLUDES A REQUEST TO COMPLETELY DEMOLISH THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCT THE NEW MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

UH, THE PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF TWO MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, UH, BOTH FIVE STORIES ABOVE GRADE WITH THE TOTAL OF 600 DWELLING UNITS AND ALSO, UH, WITH 4,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND LEVEL RESTAURANT SPACE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING SECOND AND PCH COMMERCIAL CENTER.

IN TOTAL, THE PROJECT WILL HAVE 1,156 PARKING SPACES, UH, THAT WILL BE ALLOCATED ON THE, UH, FIRST TWO LEVELS OF BOTH BUILDINGS.

UH, AS ALLISON STATED EARLIER, THIS PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY HEARD AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JULY 20TH, 2023.

UH, HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RAISED BY THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION RELATING TO WETLAND PROXIMITY, THE APPLICANT HAS, UH, PROACTIVELY REDESIGNED THE PROJECT TO PROVIDE AN INCREASED BUFFER FROM THE EXISTING ON ONSITE BIO SWELL.

UH, AS FAR AS THE PROJECT HAS BEEN, UH, HOW THE PROJECT HAS BEEN RECONFIGURED FROM THE, UH, FIRST ITERATION, UH, HERE YOU CAN SEE A SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE, UH, PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT AND THE, UH, THE NEW PROPOSAL.

UH, THE IMAGES TO THE LEFT REPRESENTS THE, UH, PREVIOUS PROPOSAL THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION WITH THE BUFFER OF 10 FEET FROM THE BIO SWELL TO BUILDING FRONTAGE AT GROUND LEVEL AND A, UH, A ZERO FOOT BUFFER ON THE UPPER LEVELS.

THE IMAGE TO THE RIGHT REPRESENTS THE MODIFIED PROPOSAL IN WHICH THERE WOULD BE A, A BUFFER OF 25 FEET FROM BIO SWELL TO BUILDING FRONTAGE ON ALL LEVELS.

THIS, UH, SLIDE HERE SHOWS A BEFORE AND AFTER DESIGN COMPARISON, UH, ON THE ELEVATION THAT FACES PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.

AND THIS SLIDE SHOWS A BEFORE AND AFTER DESIGN COMPARISON OF THE ELEVATION THAT FACES STUDEBAKER ROAD.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE SLIGHT DIFFERENCES HERE FROM THE, UH, VANTAGE POINT OF THE INTERSECTION OF PCH AND UH, STUDEBAKER ROAD, MAINLY THE REPURPOSING OF THE CORNER GATEWAY ELEMENT AS, UH, WELL AS THE EXPANDED BUFFER IN BETWEEN BOTH BUILDINGS.

UH, AND SO IN ORDER TO, UH, COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF UNITS ADJACENT TO THE BIO SWELL AREA, DUE TO THE INCREASED BUFFER, UH, THE APPLICANT HAS, UH, UTILIZED A A DIFFERENT APPROACH WITH THE, UH, CORNER GATEWAY, UH, FILLING IN OPEN SPACE FROM THE PREVIOUS, UH, ITERATION.

UH, WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS APPROVAL FEATURED, UH, AN OPEN, UH, CORNER WITH A GROUND LEVEL ART SCULPTURE, UH, ALSO WITH OUTDOOR SEATING AND LANDSCAPING.

THE MODIFIED PROPOSAL TAKES THE APPROACH OF, OF A DISTINCT ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT THAT MIMICS A A CORNER TOWER, CORNER TOWER WITH, UH, FACADE MOUNTED ART SCULPTURES THAT FACE PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY.

CSIP DOES ALLOW FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE DESIGN OPTIONS FOR THE CORNER GATEWAY ELEMENT, AND THESE OPTIONS INCLUDE, UH, TOWERS THAT ARE DISTINCT FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING CORNER, PLAZAS OR GATHERING SPACES, LOBBY CANOPIES, PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS, LANDSCAPE INSTALLATIONS, OR

[00:25:01]

UH, THE SITE PLAN REVIEW COMMITTEE DID REVIEW THE MODIFIED CORNER GATEWAY, UH, ELEMENT AND DETERMINED THAT IT MET THE CRITERIA OF, UH, A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT DESIGN OPTIONS ALLOWED BY CIP, UH, SPECIFICALLY THE PUBLIC ART, THE PROMINENT ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A CORNER TOWER.

AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF A 25 FOOT BUFFER FROM BIO SWELL TO BUILDING FRONTAGE, THE MODIFIED DESIGN AGAIN PRO PROACTIVELY ADDRESSES COASTAL COMMISSION CONCERNS REGARDING THE TWO.

UH, AND FROM, UH, A SITE CONFIGURATION STANDPOINT, UH, THE INCREASED BUFFER CREATES A SORT OF A, A GATEWAY OR, OR PLAZA, IF YOU WILL, UH, LEADING INTO THE MID-BLOCK, PEDESTRIAN POEO THAT, UH, BISECTS THE PROJECT SITE.

AND SO AGAIN, THE OPEN AREA THAT, UH, IS LOST AT THE CORNER GATEWAY, UH, IS REINTRODUCED IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE BIO SWELL.

UM, AS FOR THE, THE BIO SWELL ITSELF, THE WRITTEN STAFF REPORT IN YOUR PACKAGE GIVE A, A MUCH MORE THOROUGH DESCRIPTION OF ITS CON EXISTING CONDITION AND COASTAL COMMISSION DETERMINATIONS, UH, RELATING TO ITS, UH, CONSIDERATION AS A WETLAND.

UH, BUT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT, UH, THE CURRENT FUNCTION OF THE BIO SWELL IS MORE AKIN TO, UH, THAT OF A STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEM, UH, MORE SO THAN A A NATURAL WETLAND.

AND SO, AGAIN, THE APPLICANT HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN THEIR APPROACH TO NOT ONLY, UH, MAINTAINING THE EXISTING BIO SWELL, BUT ALSO TO ENHANCING IT.

THE BIO SWELL WILL BE IMPACTED WITH SEVERAL BENEFITS RESULTING FROM THE REDESIGN PROJECTS, UH, MOST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VOLUNTARILY BROUGHT FORTH BY THE APPLICANT.

UH, ONE OF THOSE BENEFITS IS THE INCREASED BUFFERING FROM BIO SWELL TO PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, UH, AND THIS WILL, UH, BE MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE INSTALLATION OF NEW LANDSCAPE PARKWAYS SIDEWALKS AND, UH, AND A BIKE LANE.

UH, A SECOND BENEFIT WITH THE REDESIGN IS THE INCREASED BUFFERING FROM BIO SWELL TO BUILDING FACADE, UH, AGAIN, ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS ALREADY APPROVED.

ANOTHER BENEFIT IS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW MANAGEMENT PLAN INVOLVING CONTINUED MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRASH AND DEAD PLANT REMOVAL.

ALSO, THE REMOVAL OF INVASIVE OR NON-NATIVE, UH, PLANT SPECIES AND THE USE OF AQUATIC APPROVED HERBICIDES.

OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE PROPER IRRIGATION AND THE ELIMINATION OF TOXIC URBAN RUNOFF, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF SOME OF THE INVASIVE SPECIES ON THE BIO SWELL IN THE FIRST PLACE.

UH, AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE, UH, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO FUND THE CREATION OF A 0.2 ACRE, UH, WETLANDS WITHIN THE LOW CERRITOS WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT, WHICH IS, UH, FOUR TIMES THE SIZE OF THE, UH, ONSITE BIO SWELL.

AND SO, UH, NOT ONLY IS THE PROJECT POSITIVELY GOING TO IMPACT THE ONSITE BIO SWELL, BUT IT WILL ALSO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL WETLANDS OFFSITE, UH, WHICH AGAIN, UH, MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE SUBJECT CAN BE REFERENCED WITHIN THE, UH, WRITTEN STAFF REPORT AND THE SUPPORTING, UH, ATTACHMENTS.

IN CONCLUSION, UH, STAFF IS IN SUPPORT OF THE REDESIGN PROJECT WITH A 25 FOOT BUFFER, UH, BETWEEN THE BIO SWELL AND PROPOSED BUILDING.

FRONTAGES, UH, STAFF BELIEVES THAT THE, UH, BUFFER OF 25 FEET IS JUSTIFIED AND REPRESENTS THE BEST FEASIBLE BUFFER, UH, SO AS NOT TO AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE, UH, PROJECT IN TERMS OF, UH, REDUCED UNIT COUNT.

AND STAFF BELIEVES THAT ALL FINDINGS CAN STILL BE MADE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.

THE AFOREMENTIONED INITIATIVES PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT ARE INCLUDED AS CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL, UH, ALONG WITH ALL OF THE ORIGINAL CONDITIONS FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSIONS APPROVAL EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND STAFF BELIEVES THAT THE REDESIGN PROJECT DOES STILL MEET THE INTENT AND GOALS OF CSIP AND THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN, AND THAT THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE, UH, MUCH NEEDED HOUSING WITHIN A HIGH RESOURCE AREA IN SOUTHEAST LONG BEACH.

AND SO WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, UH, STAFF IS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVE THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT SUBJECT TO THOSE CONDITIONS.

UH, THAT'S GONNA CONCLUDE THIS REPORT.

WE DO HAVE THE APPLICANT'S IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, THE PRESENTER, THE APPLICANT, THEY HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION, UH, AND THE PRESENTER IS, WILL BE JOINING, UH, REMOTELY.

SO, UH, STAFF IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP, UH, NAVIGATE THE, UH, THE, THE PRESENTATION, UH, OR THE APPLICANT, UH, MEMBERS WHO ARE ON SITE CAN FEEL FREE TO DO SO AS WELL.

UH, AGAIN, THAT'S GONNA CONCLUDE THIS REPORT AND STAFF IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

BEFORE WE ASK STAFF ANY QUESTIONS, ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING THE APPLICANT'S PRESENTATION FIRST AND THEN WE CAN ASK OUR QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THAT.

SO IF WE GO AHEAD AND QUEUE UP THE APPLICANT WHILE WE'RE QUEUING UP THE APPLICANT, I DID WANNA MENTION THAT ON THIS ITEM WE'LL HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION, BUT WE WILL TAKE, BE TAKING TWO VOTES RELATIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THEN RELATIVE TO THE SITE PLAN RECOMMENDATION.

[00:30:03]

READY? THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS AND CITY STAFF FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

I'M MEREDITH MCGARRY, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WITH A E GROUP, AND HERE WITH ME TODAY IS VP OF DEVELOPMENT, MARK SPECTER AND DAVID GOLDBERG FROM A GD LAND USE ATTORNEYS.

AND JOINING US VIRTUALLY IS BEN WRIGLEY FROM STB ARCHITECTS.

AS QUENTIN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, THIS PROJECT WAS IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON JULY 20TH.

FOLLOWING THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S APPROVAL, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS, THE CITY STAFF, AND THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION.

FOLLOWING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE'VE DECIDED TO INCREASE THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER ADJACENT TO THE ONSITE MANMADE BIOSWALE AND VOLUNTEER TWO ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS.

WE BELIEVE THIS COLLECTIVELY WILL PROVIDE GREATER RESOURCE PROTECTIONS WHILE ALSO BRINGING MUCH NEEDED HOUSING TO THE AREA AND HELP THE CITY ACHIEVE ITS ARENA REQUIREMENTS.

ANI HAS A NUMBER OF PROJECTS COMPLETED OR IN THE PIPELINE WITHIN THE GREATER LEV LA AREA, ONE OF IT, WHICH IS OUR ANI EAST VILLAGE PROJECT AT THE INTERSECTION OF LONG BEACH BOULEVARD AND THIRD STREET, WHICH WE'RE CURRENTLY IN LEASE UP UPON.

ANI IS A VERTICALLY INTEGRATED OWNER, BUILDER AND OPERATOR, AND WE'VE NEVER SOLD AN ASSET IN OVER 50 YEARS ON THE DESIGN TEAM, WE'RE WORKING WITH SCB ARCHITECTS.

SCB HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ON SIMILAR MIXED USE, MULTI-FAMILY PROJECTS ACROSS THE US.

WE'RE WORKING WITH SALT FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.

SALT HAS COMPLETED SEVERAL PROJECTS WITH THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND THE COUNTY OF LA UM, AND THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB INCORPORATING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS ON THE SITE FOR THIS PROJECT.

WHILE WORKING WITH THE, WORKING THROUGH THE DESIGN AND SQA COMPLIANCE FOR THE PROJECT, WE'VE DONE EXTENSIVE OUTREACH WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED ON THE PROJECT.

AS PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LONG BEACH MARINA BOAT OWNERS ASSOCIATION, WE'VE AGREED TO ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY CONDITIONS TO ADDRESS THEIR FEEDBACK.

THE VOLUNTARY CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH CITY STAFF AND INCORPORATED INTO THE CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL.

WE HAVE ALSO WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS LAND TRUST, AND BY INCORPORATING THEIR FEEDBACK, WE BELIEVE THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN NET BENEFITS TO WETLAND RESOURCES.

WE VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE LOCAL GROUPS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AS A PROJECT PROGRESSES.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, THE PROJECT IS WITHIN THE SOUTHEAST AREA SPECIFIC PLAN, AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ANY INCENTIVES TO INCREASE THE HEIGHT OR GO BEYOND WHAT IS PERMITTED WITHIN THE SPECIFIC PLAN.

DESPITE THE CHANGES TO THE LANCE OR THE BIOSWALE BUFFER, WE'VE MAINTAINED 600 UNITS AND 4,000 SQUARE FEET OF GROUND FLOOR RETAIL, AND BOTH BUILDINGS WILL MAINTAIN FIVE STORIES.

AS QUENTIN MENTIONED.

UM, EXISTING ON THE SITE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 SQUARE FEET OF HIGH TURNOVER RETAIL AND IS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE SECOND AND PCH MALL.

THE EXISTING BUILDINGS WILL BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE TWO FIVE STORY BUILDINGS AS PART OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE IMAGES HERE, THE MANMADE BIOSWALE IS NOT IN GREAT CONDITION AND HAS BEEN COLONIZED BY VARIOUS NON-NATIVE INVASIVE SPECIES.

AS PART OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT, WE'LL BE INCREASING THE LANDSCAPED BUFFER ON SITE TO 25 FEET INCLU AND INCLUDING ADDITIONAL PARKWAY LANDSCAPING TO PROVIDE INCREASED SEPARATION FROM PCH.

WE'RE ALSO TAKING SEVERAL VOLUNTARY MEASURE MEASURES THAT QUENTIN PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, INCLUDING AN ENHANCEMENT IN MANAGEMENT PLAN, AS WELL AS FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITHIN LONG BEACH, AND FUNDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF 0.2 ACRES OF WETLANDS WITHIN THE SOUTHERN LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS.

WE'LL ALSO BE ADHERING TO THE WETLAND MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS WITHIN CSIP, INCLUDING BIRD SAFE GLAZING, ALL NATIVE PLANTING PALETTE THROUGHOUT THE SITE, AS WELL AS BIRD SAFE LIGHTING DESIGN TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS.

ANI WILL ALSO BE PERFORMING ADDITIONAL CONSULTATIONS WITH A BIRD SAFE LIGHTING EXPERT TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON SURROUNDING HABITATS.

AND WE HAVE BEN WRIGLEY ON THE LINE, UM, WHO WILL SPEAK TO THE BUILDING CONCEPT AND DESIGN.

[00:35:03]

BEN, I SEE YOU HAVE YOUR MICROPHONE UNMUTED.

GO AHEAD BEN.

WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.

BEN, YOU MAY WISH TO TRY UNMUTING AND OR MUTING AND UNMUTING AGAIN ON YOUR END JUST TO MAKE SURE.

OKAY, WE HAVE YOU NOW YOU HAVE ME NOW.

YOU CAN HEAR ME NOW? YES.

YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, THANK YOU MEREDITH.

UM, ALSO THANK YOU TO QUENTIN FOR MAKING A GREAT PRESENTATION AND, UH, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME NOT TO TRAVEL TODAY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I'M UP HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.

I AM BEN WRIGLEY WITH SCB, AND, UH, WE, WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO WORK, UH, WITH ANI ON THIS PROJECT AND WITH MANY OF THEIR OTHER PROJECTS.

AND THIS WILL BE A VERY BRIEF DESIGN PRESENTATION.

I KNOW YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE PROJECT BEFORE ON SCREEN HERE.

YOU CAN SEE, UM, FOR US SOME EARLY CONCEPT SKETCHES REALLY THAT EXPLORED SUCH A, THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS SIDE, UH, THIS SIDE, THE WAY THAT ADDRESSES BOTH THE UNIQUE ECOLOGIES OF THE WETLANDS TO THE NORTHEAST AND TO THE MARINA TO THE SOUTHWEST.

AND FOR US, THAT REALLY DROVE THE DESIGN CONCEPT, WHICH, UH, LOOKED AT WAYS OF INCORPORATING THE LANGUAGE OF THE WETLANDS INTO THE, THE LANDSCAPING ON THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES FACING THAT SIDE OF THE SITE.

BUT ALSO EQUALLY, UM, THE, THE WINGS ON TOP OF THE BUILDING PULL IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE MARINA, AND REALLY FROM THAT ELEVATED POSITION, THEY ADDRESS THE MARINA AND START TO REFERENCE THE LANGUAGE OF SOME OF THE SHIPS AND THOSE SORT OF CLEANER, LIGHTER FORMS THAT YOU SEE WITHIN THE MARINA.

SO BRINGING THOSE TWO THINGS TOGETHER ON THE PROJECT SITE.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

NOT WORKING.

OH.

UM, AND SO AS WELL AS THINKING ABOUT THE BUILDING SORT OF THREE DIMENSIONALLY FROM A, FROM A SORT OF AERIAL PERSPECTIVE, THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ORGANIZE THE SITE AND SORT OF RECOGNIZING SOME OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE, OF THE SPECIFIC PLAN, UM, I THINK FOR US, THE, THE BIGGEST PART OF THAT WAS THE, THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAD A PASSE AT THE CENTER OF THE SITE, UH, BREAKING THE BUILDING UP INTO TWO.

THIS ALLOWED US TO REALLY CREATE A PHYSICAL CONNECTION AS A SORT OF MANIFESTATION OF THE IDEA OF CONNECTING THE MARINA AND THE WETLANDS.

UM, AND ALSO YOU SEE HERE, THE WAY WE PULLED THE WINGS BACK, UH, ON, ON THAT ELEVATED POSITION TO ALLOW A BETTER AMOUNT OF DAYLIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE SITE AND ONTO THE AMENITY LEVELS OF THE PROJECT, WHICH ARE UP AT THAT ELEVATED POSITION, REALLY ADDRESSING THE WATER AND THE, THE, THE TWO BUILDINGS ARE CONNECTED BY A BRIDGE OVER THAT PEO.

UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IMPORTANTLY, WE KNOW THAT THAT PEO WAS THERE TO SERVE AS A VIEW CORRIDOR UP TO THE WETLANDS, AND WE KNOW WE HAD THE BIO SWELL ON THE SITE THAT WE HAD TO PROTECT.

AND THAT'S SORT OF INDICATED HERE ON THIS SKETCH.

I THINK FOR US, AS WE STARTED TO EXPAND THE BUFFER AROUND THE SITE AND ADDRESS THIS DESIGN CHALLENGE, IT ACTUALLY JUST IMPROVES THAT CONDITION AND, AND THE SORT OF PRESENCE OF, OF THE, THE, UH, THAT WETLANDS AND THE LANDSCAPING IS AT THE HEAD OF THAT, PER SE, AS AS A REAL PEDESTRIAN GATEWAY INTO THE PROJECT.

UH, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AT THE GROUND FLOOR PLAN HERE, YOU CAN SEE IT HASN'T REALLY CHANGED FROM, I KNOW YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKAGES BEFORE AND AFTER PLANS.

THE GROUND FLOOR PLAN HASN'T REALLY CHANGED EXCEPT FOR THE, THE, UH, THE RESIDENTIAL ELEMENT ALONG, UH, PCH, WHERE WE'VE OBVIOUSLY EXPANDED THOSE SETBACKS AROUND THE BIOSWALE.

AND THAT HAS MEANT MOVING, AS QUENTIN SAID, SOME OF THE, UH, AREA OF THE BUILDING OUT TOWARDS THE CORNERS.

AND THE CIP, WE KNOW, UH, GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT AND EXPLORE OTHER WAYS OF REPRESENTING THAT GATEWAY ON THAT CORNER OF, UH, PCH AND STUDEBAKER.

SO THIS SITE PLAN IS REALLY CHANGING PREDOMINANTLY ALONG PCH.

NEXT SLIDE.

YOU SEE HERE THE, UH, THE PLAN OF THE PODIUM OF THE BUILDING.

AGAIN, IT'S REALLY HERE TO HIGHLIGHT WHERE THAT AREA HAS MOVED TO AND OUT TO THE CORNERS OF, UH, PCH AND STUDEBAKER.

AND REALLY THAT THAT 25 FOOT SETBACK THAT HAS BEEN INCREASED NOW GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SKY WHERE THE BUILDING WAS ACTUALLY EVEN A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE BUILDING, UM, IN THE PREVIOUS ITERATION.

UM, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND THEN THE TYPICAL FLOOR OF THE BUILDING ABOVE THAT

[00:40:01]

AND AS YOU TRAVEL DEEPER INTO THE SITE, WHETHER AGAIN IT'S ON THE PODIUM OR THROUGH THE PASSE OR AROUND THE SITE, IT STARTS TO GET A LITTLE DENSE WITH LANDSCAPE AND A LITTLE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WETLANDS ENVIRONMENT AS YOU MOVE AWAY FROM THE MARINA.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND SO, THE CORNER ELEMENT, WHICH I THINK QUENTIN DESCRIBED VERY WELL, UH, IS NOW SWITCHED FROM BEING MORE OF A PLAZA EXPRESSION WITH PUBLIC ART TO THIS, UH, TOWER EXPRESSION, WHICH MAY MAINTAINS THE MATERIALITY OF THE REST OF THE BUILDING.

SO IT DOESN'T LOOK ALIEN TO THE BUILDING, BUT IT TAKES ON A DIFFERENT, MORE VERTICAL EXPRESSION.

TAKES SOME OF THOSE MATERIALS.

WE ACTUALLY ARE LOOKING TO DARKEN THE, THE METAL, UH, PANEL THAT IS, UM, THE PREDOMINANT CLADDING OF THIS CORN ELEMENT.

AND SOMETHING WE'RE DOING HERE, WHICH WE HAVE DONE ON OTHER PROJECTS, IS BRINGING THAT PUBLIC ART COMPONENT, WHICH WE'RE VERY KEEN NOT TO LOSE, BRINGING IT OUTTA THE PLAZA, PUTTING IT ON THE FACE OF THE, OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS ACTUALLY GONNA MAKE IT, I THINK, MUCH MORE VISIBLE TO PEOPLE, UH, MOVING IN AND AROUND AND PAST THE SITE.

UH, IN OUR MINDS ACTUALLY AS A CORNER EXPRESSION.

UH, THE TOWER HERE IS SOMEWHAT MORE POWERFUL AS A GATEWAY ELEMENT THAN THE PLAZA ELEMENT WAS.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

AND AN, AND AN ILLUSTRATION, WHICH IS FROM THE EARLIER PRESENTATION, WHICH SHOWS YOU, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PROJECT IS NOT REALLY CHANGING.

THIS IS THE CHARACTER THAT WE'VE REALLY WORKED HARD TO DEVELOP THIS RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER WITHIN THE PASSE, THIS PUBLIC SPACE THAT HELPS PEOPLE MOVE FROM PCH THROUGH TO THE MARINA.

AND THE, THE, THE LANDSCAPING THAT'S VERY SORT OF CAREFULLY CHOREOGRAPHED THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE HARDSCAPE FINISHES, THERE'S FRONT STOOPS, THIS REALLY, UH, BEAUTIFUL, UH, PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE THAT MOVES YOU FROM PCH AND INTO THE HEART OF THE SITE.

NEXT SLIDE.

THIS SLIDE'S INCLUDED.

THIS IS REALLY, YOU KNOW, JUST AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THAT, HOW THE LANGUAGE OF THE BUILDING CHANGES AS IT LOOKS TOWARDS THE MARINA.

AGAIN, LESS FOCUSED NOW ON THOSE, UH, SORT OF THE DARKER RICHER, WETLANDS DRIVEN MATERIAL PALETTE AND MORE PROMINENCE GIVEN TO THOSE WINGS AND THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE ABOVE THAT PODIUM LOOKING OUT AND ADDRESSING THE MARINA.

NEXT SLIDE.

THE LAST SLIDE HERE IS AN AERIAL SHOT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE HARD AT THIS SCALE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PREVIOUS SCHEME AND THIS ONE.

BUT THE TWO THINGS, OBVIOUSLY THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT LANDSCAPE SPACE THAT EXISTS AROUND THE, UH, THE, THE BIOSWALE THAT HELPS TO CREATE A REAL LANDSCAPE GATEWAY AS YOU START TO MANEUVER FROM PCH INTO THE PEO AND THE, UH, THE CORNER TOWER ELEMENTS AND HOW THAT SORT FILLS OUT THAT CORNER REPLACES THE OLD PLAZA AND CREATES THAT VERY SORT OF PROMINENT GATE, UH, GATEWAY MOMENT ALONG PCH.

AND THAT CONCLUDES THE ARCHITECTURAL PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

THANKS BEN.

AND WE'RE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, BEN.

THANK YOU MEREDITH.

COMMISSIONERS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE APPLICANT? NO, THANK YOU, MEREDITH.

I HAD A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

THE EXISTING BIO SWELL THAT'S THERE RIGHT NOW IS THAT TREATED AS A TYPICAL BIOS SWAB THAT WE WOULD SEE ON A REGULAR COMMERCIAL PROJECT WHERE THE STORM WATER FROM THE SURROUNDING SITE IS ACTUALLY DRAINING THROUGH THAT, UH, PERCOLATE INTO EITHER THE UNDERGROUND WATER TABLE OR INTO A STORM DRAIN SYSTEM.

UH, SO IT DOESN'T DRAIN INTO THE STORM DRAIN SYSTEM, IT DIRECTLY PERCOLATES, UM, IT'S NOT FUNCTIONING WELL OR CORRECTLY.

SO IN THAT REGARD, IT'S NOT LIKE A TYPICAL SYSTEM, BUT IT'S DESIGNED SIMILAR.

UM, I THINK SINCE THE TIME THIS ONE WAS DONE, UM, THEY'RE DESIGNED A LITTLE MORE THOUGHTFULLY.

UM, BUT IT'S THE SAME IDEA.

I JUST THINK OF IT AS LIKE A IPHONE ONE OR TWO AND NOW WE'RE ON 15 OR, OR WHATEVER.

SO, UM, IT DIDN'T, IT DIDN'T WORK OUT PERFECTLY.

UM, AND IT WASN'T IMPOSED BY THE CITY.

IT WAS IMPOSED BY THE COASTAL COMMISSION ALL THOSE YEARS BACK.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE NOW FROM QUENTIN'S PRESENTATION, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL ACTUALLY MEET THE CURRENT LID STANDARDS AND WILL FILTER AND DRAIN STORM WATER OFF THE SITE INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAN INTO THIS BIO SWELL, CORRECT.

AVOIDING THE TOXIC THINGS THAT MIGHT BE IN A PARKING LOT AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING INTO.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

SO PREVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT APPEALABLE TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND NOW IT IS.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? YEAH,

[00:45:01]

I'M JUST GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THE CHRONOLOGY OF WHAT HAPPENED.

UM, THIS IS NOT A NATURAL WETLAND.

THIS IS A CONSTRUCTED STORMWATER FACILITY, UM, THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED DECADES AGO.

UM, IT WASN'T A SECRET.

IT'S KNOWN, IT'S KNOWN TO THE CITY, IT'S KNOWN TO COASTAL COMMISSION STAFF.

UM, WE SUBMITTED, UM, CAP TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION BACK IN I BELIEVE, 2017, UM, WHICH INCLUDED, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE SITES AND WHAT WE CONSIDERED ESHA AND DID NOT CONSIDER ESHA.

UM, THEY DID NOT FLAG THIS SITE.

THEY DID ASK US FOR ADDITIONAL HABITAT MAPPING, WHICH WE DID, INCLUDING FOR THIS SITE.

AND WE IDENTIFIED WHY IN THE VIEW OF THE CITY IT WAS NOT, UM, SENSITIVE HABITAT.

UM, THEY CERTIFIED CSIP WITH THIS LOCATION AS NOT SENSITIVE HABITAT AND NOT APPEALABLE.

UM, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, UM, THE APPLICANT ACQUIRED THIS SITE, UM, AT SUBSTANTIAL COST, THE COASTAL, UH, CONCEIVABLY BASED ON THE WRITTEN RULES THAT EXISTED AT THAT TIME.

UM, THE COASTAL COMMISSION, UM, PUBLISHED AS A MAP POST CERTIFICATION APPEALABLE MAP, WHICH LISTED THE SITE IS NOT APPEALABLE.

UM, THE CITY PROCESSED THIS PROJECT, IT WENT TO THIS COMMISSION, IT WAS APPROVED NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, UM, AND IT WAS APPEALED TO, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL.

CITY COUNCIL DID NOT HEAR THE ITEM, UM, WHEN IT WAS APPEALED TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, THE COASTAL COMMISSION, UH, INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBER CONTACTED THE CITY, UH, TO INSTRUCT US TO INSTRUCT THE, UH, APPLICANT IN THIS CASE THAT THE PROJECT WAS APPEALABLE AND THAT THE COASTAL COMMISSION HAD OPINED, UM, THAT THIS WAS A WETLAND BASED ON THE, UH, CONJECTURE OF THE PROJECT OPPONENT IN THIS CASE.

UM, I THINK IF THE CITY DID THAT, THAT WOULD NOT BE A DEFENSIBLE ACTION.

BUT THE, THE STATE, UH, DOES HAVE DIFFERENT AUTHORITY AND THEY'RE RELYING ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S A FOOTNOTE ON THE MAP THAT SAYS IT'S, UM, SUBJECT TO REFINEMENT BASED ON NATURAL CONDITIONS.

UM, I THINK THE CITY IS HIGHLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE COMPLETE LACK OF CONSISTENCY PROVIDED BY THE STATE IN THIS MATTER.

UM, AND, AND WE'VE INDICATED SO TO THEM BOTH IN VERBALLY AND IN WRITING.

UM, BUT HERE WE ARE.

SO, UH, THE CITY AND THE APPLICANT WERE LEFT WITH A COUPLE OPTIONS.

WE COULD SPEND THE NEXT DECADE IN COURT, UM, FIGHTING WITH THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND WOULD PROBABLY LOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVEN ALMOST COMPLETE DEFERENCE BY THE COURTS.

UM, OR WE COULD COME BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND SEE WHAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD SATISFY, UM, THE, UH, STATED OBJECTIVES OF THE APPELLANT, UM, AND THE, THE COASTAL COMMISSION THAT TOOK THE, UM, APPELLANT'S VIEW, UH, AT FACE VALUE, UH, THAT TO DETERMINE AFTER THE FACT THAT THIS IS A WETLAND.

THANK YOU.

UH, THAT'S VERY, UH, INTERESTING.

UM, THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION JUST DECIDING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY BASIS, UH, OBJECTIVE STANDARD.

UH, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AND, UM, I APPRECIATE BOTH THE WORK THAT YOU FOLKS IN THE APPLICANT HAVE PUT INTO, UH, WORKING AROUND THIS REQUIREMENT AND THE PUSHBACK THAT YOU PROVIDED TO THE COASTAL COMMISSION.

UM, BUT THANK, THANK YOU FOR THAT DESCRIPTION.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS THAT HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO SHARE? ALRIGHT, GO AHEAD, COMMISSIONER.

WELL, FIRST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

AS A NEWEST, I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER I'VE, I'M LEARNING AND DIGESTING ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WAS SENT.

UM, I JUST WANT CLARIFICATION THAT THE COASTAL COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THE PROJECT, THIS IS FOR STAFF, SORRY, FOR PROJECTS, THE, THE PROJECT SITE IS A WETLAND OR IS IT ADJACENT? THAT'S WHAT I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED ON HOW THE DOCUMENTS READ ON.

CAN WE HAVE THE STAFF POWERPOINT BACK UP? I THINK, UH, OUR PRESIDENT ANSWERED MY QUESTION.

YEAH, .

SO JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF, JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE, IT'S NOT THAT THE WHOLE OF THE SITE IS A WETLAND.

SO, UM, THERE'S AN AREA THAT TO THE NAKED EYE LOOKS LIKE OVERGROWN PLANTS, BUT IT DOES RECEIVE

[00:50:01]

UM, AND THEREFORE IN THE REASONING OF THE COASTAL COMMISSION, IT HAS WETLAND SOILS AND WETLAND INDICATOR PLANTS.

UM, SO IT MEETS THEIR CRITERIA, UM, AS A WETLAND.

UH, IT'S NOT THE SAME CRITERIA USED BY THE FEDS OR ACTUALLY ANY OTHER AGENCY IN WHICH THERE'S A THREE PART TEST, UM, TO DETERMINE A WETLAND.

AND TRADITIONALLY YOU DON'T CONSIDER A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND A WETLAND BECAUSE THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM EVER BUILDING A CONSTRUCTED WETLAND.

BUT THOSE ARE, UH, POINTS OF DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE, THE CITY AND THE STATE.

SO IT'S NOT THE WHOLE OF THE SITE.

ALLISON'S GONNA BRING UP THE IMAGE.

HOLD ON.

YEAH, SO THERE'S A RED KIND OF ARROW POINTING AT THAT PLANT AREA.

NO, I THINK THAT CLARIFICATION WAS IMPORTANT AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS TRYING TO APPEASE THAT IF THIS WERE TO BE CONSIDERED A WETLAND BICOASTAL, THE REQUIREMENT IS TYPICALLY TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SETBACK, AND WE'RE LOOKING TO HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THE FEASIBILITY OF THE EXISTING PROJECT AND PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SETBACK TO THIS AREA, RIGHT? THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT.

SO ACROSS THE STREET WHERE WE HAVE QUOTE UNQUOTE REAL WETLANDS LIKE MARKETPLACE MARSH AND STEAM SHOVEL SLEW, YOU KNOW, YOUR IDEAL, UH, SETBACK IS A HUNDRED FEET OR MORE, UH, A HUNDRED FEET WOULD RESULT IN A TOTAL TAKING OF THIS SITE, UM, AND WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

SO WE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PROVISIONS IN THE PLAN FOR REDUCING, UM, THE BUFFER TO AN AMOUNT THAT'S FEASIBLE.

THAT AMOUNT WAS 25 FEET.

UM, AND WE DID HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COASTAL COMMISSION AND, AND THEY SEEMED TO VERBALLY CONCUR IN THAT AMOUNT.

UM, AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE 10 TO 12 FEET ORIGINALLY DESIGNED WAS GONNA RESULT IN SHADOWS, UH, IMPACTS, AND THAT, THAT THERE WOULDN'T BE ENOUGH SUNLIGHT, UH, INTO THE WETLAND AREA FOR IT TO, UH, GROW AND FLOURISH.

GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE CLARIFICATIONS, COMMISSIONERS.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.

WITH THAT WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

AFTERNOON.

SPEAKING OF DEJA VU, WE WERE ALL HERE ON THIS 25 YEARS AGO AS WELL, SO WHEN THAT SITE WAS A WETLANDS, SO IT'S ALL HOW YOU TELL THE STORY, BUT I DON'T ONLY HAVE THREE MINUTES WE SENT YOU.

I'M FROM THE LOS SIERRA CLUB.

LOS CERRITAS WHITTENS.

WE, WE, WE WILL BE APPEALING THIS SHOULD YOU APPROVE IT BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING WE SAID IN OUR EMAIL, WHICH I CAN'T READ IN THREE MINUTES.

MY CO-CHAIR IS ON THE LINE, BUT I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER A COUPLE OF POINTS HERE THAT IT'S CIP.

THERE'S MANY VIOLATIONS OF CIP, EVEN THE REVISION VIOLATES THE CIP, UH, HEIGHT LIMITS, UH, ON, ON FOR THAT INTERSECTION NOW.

SO WHATEVER, UH, OKAY.

EXPANDING GREEN SPACE AROUND AND IMPROVING MAINTENANCE OF ONSITE WETLANDS IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT IMPACTS TO THE PLANTS AND WILDLIFE NOW SERVED BY THIS WETLANDS.

AND IT IS A WETLANDS, IT'S A REMNANT WETLANDS.

IT IS USED BY BIRDS AND WILDLIFE BLOCKING FLIGHT INTO AND OUT OF THIS WETLANDS WITH A FIVE STORY BUILDING, INCREASING BOTH FOOT AND VEHICLE TRAFFIC ADJACENT TO THIS WETLAND ALONE WILL REDUCE ACCESS, ACCESS, NOT BY PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WILDLIFE AND BIRDS.

THE FACT THAT NEITHER THE CITY NOR THE PROPERTY OWNER, PREVIOUS PROPERTY OWNER ENSURED THAT THE MITIGATION FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL ONSITE WETLANDS BACK IN THE DAY, UH, WAS SUCCESSFUL, DOESN'T MAKE THE CITY LESS ACCOUNTABLE, NOR SHOULD IT RESULT IN ADDITIONAL HARM.

COASTAL BIRDS ARE KEY TO THE HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE WETLANDS, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE INCREASINGLY IMPACTED BY DEVELOPMENT.

THE EXISTING ONE STORY DEVELOPMENT IN A PARKING LOT, UH, DOES NOT IMPEDE FLIGHT BETWEEN THE WETLANDS AND THE BAY, BUT CERTAINLY A FIVE STORY BUILDING WILL.

SO THE SALTWATER MARSH, I'LL, JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'LL JUST SAY THAT THE LOCATION OF THE, OF THE AREA THEY WANT TO IMPROVE IS IN SEAL BEACH.

IT, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CSIP, AS IT SAYS IN THE REPORT, IT'S ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER FOR THAT.

PLUS SALTWATER MARSH ISN'T IN IN SEAL BEACH.

AND, AND TO, IN ORDER TO GET THAT SALTWATER MARSH, WHICH THEY'RE OFFERING TO GET AND WHICH IS IS PROPOSED MEANS BULLDOZING AND FLOODING THE EXISTING SITE OVER THERE.

THIS, THIS WILL IMPACT TRIBAL CULTURAL RESOURCES AND THE EXISTING ECOSYSTEMS. IT'S A, IT'S AN OUTDATED AND VERY BAD RESTORATION PROJECT.

JUST NO MORE ON THAT AS FAR AS HOUSING GOES, SURE, WE NEED HOUSING, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF LONG BEACH,

[00:55:01]

AND WE ALSO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING AS IT'S BEING MISREPRESENTED AS A NEED FOR THIS SPECIFIC KIND OF HOUSING IN THIS PART OF TOWN.

FIRST OF ALL, THE SITE IS UNSAFE.

IT IS, IT IS GOING, IT IS SURROUNDED BY LAND THAT IS GONNA BE UNDERWATER.

IT'S NEXT TO AN EARTHQUAKE FAULT AND ACTIVE OIL FIELDS WITHIN, WITHIN EVEN A 3,200 FEET OF EXISTING AND EXPANDING OIL FIELDS.

IT'S DANGEROUS.

IT'S DANGEROUS TO BUILD THERE AND TO HOUSE PEOPLE THERE.

AND THE CITY IS PUSHING THIS HOUSING ON THIS STREET WITHIN A FEW BLOCKS.

AND MEANWHILE, YOUR COMMENT, HOUSING, HOUSING, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS HOUSING.

TO RENT A ONE BEDROOM APPOINTMENT.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE APARTMENT, YOU HAVE TO MAKE $90,000 A YEAR.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH DON'T MAKE 90,000 A YEAR.

THE MAJORITY OF SENIORS DON'T HAVE A $60,000 A YEAR INCOME.

THIS IS LUXURY HOUSING.

WE NEED HOUSING, WE NEED IT IN EAST LONG BEACH.

WE NEED MULTI-STORY HOUSING.

WE'RE ALL FOR IT.

I LIVE IN EAST LONG BEACH, COME AND BUILD ON MY BLOCK.

MY NEIGHBORS WILL HATE ME FOR SAYING THAT, BUT I, BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL, THEY'LL BE SAFE.

IF PEOPLE MOVE AT THIRD AND TERMINAL, THEY WILL BE SAFE.

THEY WILL NOT BE FLOODED, THEY WILL NOT BE NEXT TO AN EARTHQUAKE.

THEY WILL NOT BE NEXT TO OIL WELLS IF WE'RE GONNA BUILD, BUILD SAFE AND BUILD IT AFFORDABLE TO THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, NOT IMPORTING PEOPLE LUXURY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE OUT OF TOWN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

ANY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE CHAMBER THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NONE, DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL COMMENTS? IF YOU'RE JOINING US VIRTUALLY AND YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AT THIS TIME.

OUR FIRST PERSON WITH OUR HAND RAISED IS JOHN.

JOHN, YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

MY NAME IS JOHN FREEZE.

I'M PRESIDENT OF THE LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS LAND TRUST FOR LONG BEACH AND SEAL BEACH.

I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT THAT ARE PROTECTIVE OF WETLANDS VALUES.

THEY ARE FUNDING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF 0.20 ACRES OF SALT MARSH WETLANDS WITHIN THE SOUTHERN LOS CERRITOS WETLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT AT A FOUR TO ONE RATIO TO ADDRESS POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO THE BIOSWALE ON THE PROJECT SITE.

SECOND, PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE BIOSWALE FOUND ON THE PROJECT SITE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A QUALIFIED BIOLOGIST TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM FEASIBLE FRESHWATER WETLANDS FUNCTIONS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND PROVIDE OTHER ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS.