TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, consider the appeal from Debora Dobias, and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission to approve a Site Plan Review for the west phase of the Shoreline Gateway Project, consisting of a 17-story, 224-unit residential tower with 9,182 square feet of retail space and 275 parking spaces, located at 635 East Ocean Boulevard located in PD-30 (Downtown Plan). (District 2)
DISCUSSION
On May 16, 2013, the Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on the Site Plan Review request for the west phase of the Shoreline Gateway Project, consisting of a 17-story, 224-unit residential tower with 9,182 square feet of retail space and 275 parking spaces, located at 635 East Ocean Boulevard (Exhibit A -Plans and Photographs). After considering testimony from the public and applicant, the Planning Commission received the supporting documentation into the record, concluded the hearing, and voted 3-0-1 (Chair Blair recused and Commissioners Fox, Smith and Campbell absent) to approve the Site Plan Review, subject to conditions (Exhibit B - Findings and Conditions of Approval). An appeal to the Planning Commission decision was filed within the appeal period. The reason stated for the appeal is that the project does not provide adequate parking (Exhibit C - Appeal). The project provides code required parking per the Downtown Plan standards. The City does not have the ability to require the developer to provide parking in excess of that required by code.
The subject property is a 0.7-acre site located at the northwest corner of Ocean Boulevard and Lime Avenue and is currently developed with a vacant 33-unit apartment building and surface parking lot. The applicant is requesting approval of a Site Plan Review application for the west phase of the Shoreline Gateway project that consists of a 17-story, 224-unit residential tower with 9,182 square feet of retail space and 275 parking spaces.
Following is the history of key milestones related to the proposed project:
· July 2006 - The Redevelopment Agency Board certified EIR 18-05 for the originally designed 3-building, 358-unit project.
· November 5, 2007 - The Redevelopment Agency Board certified a Supplemental EIR and Stage III design approval was granted.
· July 2007 - The revised project was presented to the Planning Commission as an information item.
· November 15, 2007 - Planning Commission approved the Shoreline Gateway Master Plan that included a Tentative Tract Map, General Plan Conformity Finding, Administrative Use Permit and Site Plan Review for the 35-story east tower. These entitlements are still in effect. It was anticipated that the east tower would be developed as phase 1; as such, Site Plan Review for the west tower was not granted at the time.
· December 2011- The Downtown Plan EIR was certified.
· January 2012 - The Downtown Plan was approved by the City Council and went into effect in February 2012. The plan included design guidelines to increase the quality of design and materials used throughout the Downtown area. In addition, the Downtown Plan revised parking standards for both residential and commercial land uses.
· February 2012 - The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency is dissolved pursuant to State Legislation AB 1X 26.
· March 2013 - The State of California Department of Finance approved the Amended and Restated Owner Participation agreement between the City of Long Beach Successor Agency and the applicant to allow the property transaction to move forward.
The project is designed to meet all Downtown Plan code standards including height, setbacks, open space and parking. Specific to parking, the development is required to provide 266 on-site parking spaces per code based on the requirement of 1.25 parking spaces/residential unit (280 spaces) minus a five percent Transit Oriented Development credit (14 spaces). A total of 275 parking spaces are provided within the subterranean garage.
The project also meets all design guideline standards for the Downtown Plan. It is contemporary in style and utilizes smooth cement panels, architectural pre-cast panels, aluminum panels and glass as the primary materials. The building is designed to provide visual interest from all four sides by including varying materials, colors and architectural planes, and is complementary to the previously approved 35-story east tower.
The proposed Site Plan Review does not result in any additional impacts that were identified in either the previously certified project Environmental Impact Report (EIR 18-05) or the Downtown Plan Program EIR. Therefore, in accordance with the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project was previously assessed.
For the reasons stated above, staff recommends approval of this project and a denial of the appeal of the Planning Commission's decision.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael Mais on July 2, 2013 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 8, 2013.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
The Municipal Code Section 21.21.504 requires City Council action within 60 days of receiving an application for appeal. The appeal was received on May 24, 2013.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact as a result of the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER