TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Section 21.25.502; and by adding
Sections 21.15.064.5 and 21.45.500, all related to adaptive reuse, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
In October 2011, the City Council directed the City Manager to develop an adaptive reuse incentive program and ordinance that recognizes the economic, environmental and cultural value of preserving older and/or historic landmark buildings within the City of Long Beach.
Staff explored creating a new adaptive reuse ordinance to provide a clear process for reviewing and approving a range of different types of adaptive reuse projects. Adaptive reuse projects can come in a variety of forms and result in a range of new uses. The City seeks to encourage adaptive reuse as the greenest form of development, and to maintain the existing character of the urban form, providing guidance for the reuse of existing buildings without stifling creativity.
Key to the success of an adaptive reuse program is the ability to provide guidance for code modifications and/or full use of the Historic Building Code for eligible buildings, and to grant relief from parking standards, setbacks, height limitations, and other development standards on existing structures, which will allow reuse projects to be economically feasible while ensuring adequate health and safety protections. Complying with present day building and fire codes and parking standards is the major barrier in creating an adaptive reuse ordinance that provides adequate incentives for innovative projects.
Every three years, the State of California adopts new construction codes, known collectively as the California Building Standards Code, to establish uniform standards for the construction and maintenance of buildings, electrical systems, plumbing systems, mechanical systems, and fire and life safety systems. The City Council adopted amendments to Title 18 to address these code chan...
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