TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution approving an Addendum to the Midtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report for the purposes of analyzing potential impacts related to the proposed General Plan Amendment GPA17-005;
DISCUSSION
On December 7, 2017, the Planning Commission (Exhibit A - Planning Commission Report) held a public hearing and recommended that the City Council approve an Addendum to the Midtown Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and to approve a General Plan Amendment (GPA17-005) to change the Land Use District (LUD) Map on 11 properties from LUD #3B (Moderate Density Residential) and LUD #8A (Traditional Retail Strip Commercial) to LUD #7 (Mixed Uses) on lots located in the Midtown Specific Plan (Exhibit B - Midtown Specific Plan Map). The Planning Commission also approved a Lot Merger (LMG17-015) to facilitate a development project located at 1836-1852 Locust Avenue (Exhibit C - Location Map).
The Midtown Specific Plan (SP-1) was adopted in 2016 and established new land use districts to implement the Plan. The Transit Node district was created to support transit-oriented mixed uses and residential developments within walking distance of Metro Blue line stations. The General Plan LUD Map was to be revised to be consistent with SP-1 during the current Land Use Element/Urban Design Element (LUE/UDE) update. A Mitigation Measure was included in the Midtown Specific Plan EIR to complete these General Plan Amendments within one year of the approval of SP-1. Since the LUE/UDE update has not yet been completed, inconsistencies between SP-1 and the underlying General Plan land use designations remain in multiple locations within the boundaries of SP-1. The purpose of this General Plan Amendment is to resolve this inconsistency to facilitate a development proposal and conform adjacent properties at the Long Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highw...
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