Long Beach, CA
File #: 16-0437    Version: 1 Name: CD7-Acquisition of Vacant Property
Type: Agenda Item Status: Approved
File created: 5/9/2016 In control: City Council
On agenda: 5/17/2016 Final action: 5/17/2016
Title: Recommendation to direct City Manager to identify potential funding sources for the acquisition of vacant property between Baker Street and Wardlow Road adjacent to the Los Angeles River for public purpose and return findings to the City Council in Closed Session. (District 7)
Sponsors: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTO URANGA, SEVENTH DISTRICT
Attachments: 1. 051716-R-12sr.pdf, 2. 051716-R-12 Handout.pdf

TITLE

Recommendation to direct City Manager to identify potential funding sources for the acquisition of vacant property between Baker Street and Wardlow Road adjacent to the Los Angeles River for public purpose and return findings to the City Council in Closed Session.  (District 7)

 

DISCUSSION

There has been considerable interest from the community pertaining to future development of vacant property between Baker Street and Wardlow Road, adjacent to the Los Angeles River (Site). The Site is an approximately 15.6-acre former oil operations property, owned by Oil Operators, Inc. (Oil Operators), a consortium of Long Beach area gas and oil companies providing support services for local oil operations.

 

Oil Operators transitioned off the site in the 1990s, but is currently addressing remediation obligations at the Site. The Site was formerly used to treat oilfield-produced water from various oil extractions efforts in the Long Beach area. As such, there is high probability of continued remediation that is necessary.

 

Over the past several years and as recently as a year ago, various development concepts have been proposed for the Site. To date, however, the Department of Development Service's Planning Bureau has not received a formal application for redevelopment of the Site. Nonetheless, community residents have expressed concern related to future development scenarios, particularly in regards to medium or high-density residential development. The Site has two zoning districts. A majority of the Site is zoned as Commercial Storage (CS), while a small portion of the Site at Wardlow Road and the Los Angeles River is zoned as Single Family Residential (R-1-N). These zoning designations would preclude any new development except Commercial Storage or Single Family Residential development without additional actions by the Planning Commission and the City Council.

 

Community residents have additionally expressed a desire to consider the Site for future public purpose. Therefore, the Seventh District Office is requesting that the City identify potential funding sources for an estimated $17 to $22 million for the acquisition of the Site for public purpose and return information pertaining to price and terms to the City Council in Closed Session.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommendation to identify potential funding sources. Future financial impact would be considered before the City takes any action related to the property

 

SUGGESTED ACTION

Approve recommendation.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

ROBERTO URANGA

COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT