Long Beach, CA
File #: 22-0690    Version: Name: DS - Parks Zoning Dedication
Type: Ordinance Status: Adopted
File created: 6/13/2022 In control: City Council
On agenda: 7/5/2022 Final action: 7/5/2022
Title: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Use District Map of the City of Long Beach as said Map has been established and amended by amending portions of Parts 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 24 of said Map for parks rezoning, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)
Sponsors: Development Services
Attachments: 1. 062122-H-21sr&att, 2. 070522-ORD-36sr&att.pdf, 3. ORD-22-0018.pdf
Related files: 21-0959
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
7/5/20222 City Council approve recommendation and adoptPass Action details Meeting details Video Video
6/21/20221 City Council declare ordinance read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final readingPass Action details Meeting details Not available

TITLE

Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Use District Map of the City of Long Beach as said Map has been established and amended by amending portions of Parts 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 24 of said Map for parks rezoning, read and adopted as read.  (Citywide)

 

DISCUSSION

The Development Services and Parks, Recreation and Marine Departments have been working collaboratively for more than five years to assure land records, zoning, dedications and the general plan designations of the parks within the City of Long Beach (City) are accurate, up-to-date and consistent across multiple regulatory instruments and documents. This current tranche of requests represents major progress toward updating and ensuring appropriate protections for all the City’s parks. On June 20, 2019 and November 18, 2021, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the dedication or designation of 29 existing City-owned parks, including any other land use actions needed such as General Plan Amendments, Zoning Code Amendments, and Zone Changes (Attachment A). Dedication is the process that applies to City-owned parkland to protect the park in perpetuity for public open space use. The City Charter states that the Parks and Recreation Commission shall have exclusive authority over all leisure activities in public parks and recreational facilities, controlled or operated by the City; and shall recommend to the City Manager and the City the dedication of public land for public parks.

 

Since June 2019, further assessment of the properties has informed the process and land use actions necessary to ensure the protection and preservation of the subject parks for open space use by the public in perpetuity by ensuring that each of the park properties has the appropriate General Plan Land Use Element (LUE) PlaceType (PlaceType) and Zoning District Designations and that each park is properly dedicated as parkland. The parks are being grouped by the type of land use actions required and the subject action represents the first batch that encompasses the required actions for 11 of the 29 subject parks (Attachments B, C, D, E and F), described in more detail below.  Actions include necessary General Plan Amendments, Zone Changes, Zoning Code Amendments, and dedications to protect the parks in perpetuity. On July 15, 2021, the Planning Commission recommended to the City Council the approval of dedications and associated land use actions for 12 parks; however, one was removed from the batch as it needs further investigation, so 11 parks are being presented to the City Council for action (Attachment G). The remaining parks will be brought forward for dedication and necessary land use actions at a future date, as they have been identified to have more complex boundary and land use issues that require additional resources to support land surveys needed before any land use actions or dedications can be considered for those parks.

 

Following is a summary of the proposed changes for each of the 11 mini-parks, parks, greenway parks and open spaces subject to this action: 

                     Craftsman Village Park - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from two-family residential (R-2-N) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     C. David Molina Park - Dedicate.

                     Donald Douglas Plaza - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Regional Serving Facility (RSF) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from Douglas Park (PD-32) Planned Development District to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     Grace Park - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Merge three (3) lots; and, Dedicate.

                     Jenni Rivera Memorial Park - Rezone from Commercial Storage (CS) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     Locust Tot Lot - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from two-family residential (R-2-N) to Park (P); and, Dedicate. 

 

                     Mary Molina Community Garden - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from two-family residential (R-2-N) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     Miracle on 4th Street Park - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Neighborhood Serving Center or Corridor Low Density (NSC-L) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     Orizaba Park - General Plan Amendment to change the PlaceType designation from Neighborhood Serving Center or Corridor Low Density (NSC-L) to the Open Space (OS) PlaceType; Rezone from Two-Family Residential (R-2-N) to Park (P); Rezone 456 square foot, noncontiguous remnant parcel from Park (P) to Light Industrial (IL) and remove from dedication; Merge six lots; and, Dedicate.

                     Pacific and 6th Community Garden - Rezone from Downtown Specific Plan (PD-30) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

                     Pacific Electric (P.E.) Railway Greenbelt - Rezone from Two-Family Residential (R-2-N) to Park (P); and, Dedicate.

Brief descriptions of the parks subject to this action are provided below:

 

Mini-Parks 

 

A mini-park is a small park serving neighbors within 1/8 mile and generally less than two acres in size (General Plan Open Space and Recreation Element, 2002).  Land use actions are being proposed for the following six mini-parks:

 

                     Craftsman Village Park - This is a 0.34 acre park, opened in 2012, features craftsman style fencing, entry features and lighting, native landscape, walking paths and a playground. The park land was purchased by the former Long Beach Redevelopment Agency, and the park improvements were funded by the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. (District 1)

                     Donald Douglas Plaza - This approximately 0.44 acre existing park is one of several publicly accessible open space amenities provided through the buildout of the Douglas Park Specific Plan (PD-32). The community open space was developed as part of the first phase of the Douglas Park Development and serves as the northeast entrance to the overall development. (District 5)

                     Locust Tot Lot - This 0.09 acre park opened to the public in September 2016 and includes a play structure with climbing and exploratory features, benches, bike racks, picnic tables, and a walkway. (District 6)

                     Mary Molina Community Garden - This community garden was created through a family donation of undeveloped land in 2005 to commemorate avid gardener Mary Molina. The Mary Molina Community Garden is managed by Long Beach Organic, which provides garden plots available for community use. (District 7)

                     Miracle on 4th St. Park - This approximately 0.14 acre park was the City’s first mini-park in a new program of building parks on single lots in park deficient areas. Initially leased by the City from the adjoining property owner, the City bought the site in 2004 with Park Impact Fee funds. The park includes a playground, bench seating, turf, mural, and varied landscaping. (District 2)

                     Pacific and 6th Community Garden - This community garden was established in 2001 on a vacant City property acquired by the former Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and was renovated through a Neighborhood Improvement Project Grant in 2011. The community garden is operated by Long Beach Organic and provides garden plots to seniors and the greater public. (District 1)

 

Parks

 

A park is a tract of land, most often publicly held, accessible to the general public, for purposes of preserving natural areas and/or promoting the mental and physical health of the community through recreational, cultural and relaxation pursuits. Land use actions are being proposed for the following three parks:

 

                     C. David Molina Park - Located in North Long Beach, this approximately 3.3 acre park opened in 2018 on land that the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency acquired over ten years prior. The park includes a sports field, shaded playground including accessible swings, landscaping, fitness trail, parking, and restroom facility. (District 8)

                     Grace Park - Grace Park is a 1.12 acre park, opened in 2006, featuring a Picnic Area, Playground, barbeques, benches, a small community garden and pathways. The park was built with funding from the Redevelopment Agency; The California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002; and the City of Long Beach Park Impact Fees. The park was named after Grace Wiley, a nationally known herpetologist and the first woman in her field. (District 8)

                     Orizaba Park - This approximately 3.8 acre park features a LEED certified community center, playground, skate park, basketball court, and restrooms. Former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way is now part of Orizaba Park, and as such a replica of the Red Car that historically ran from Long Beach to Los Angeles is located at Orizaba Park. Land use actions associated with this park include removing from the park dedication area a small, 456 square foot, noncontiguous remnant parcel of the former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way located at the southwest corner of E. 14th Street and N. Orizaba Avenue. Given the size, location, and irregular shape of this small parcel, it has limited functionality for park purposes and presents a maintenance and operational challenge. (District 2)

 

Greenway Parks

 

Greenway Parks are characterized as large undeveloped green spaces, often a remnant or odd shaped piece of land left over from development, which can be used for casual recreation uses. Greenways can serve to connect or link recreation opportunities throughout a community. Land use actions are being proposed for the following two greenway parks:

 

                     Jenni Rivera Memorial Park - Located in Central Long Beach, this approximately 3.2 acre park acquired by the former Long Beach Redevelopment Agency provides open space along the Pacific Electric Railway and was funded with Measure A sales tax revenue.  It features a mural, grass area, and walkway. (District 6)

                     P.E. Railway Greenbelt - The Pacific Electric Railway Greenbelt site served historically as a portion of the Pacific Electric Railway Balboa Line, linking Orange County to downtown Los Angeles. The site provides a walking trail and native California plants. (District 3)

 

The proposed project consists of the following land use actions being proposed in order to ensure the appropriate General Plan LUE PlaceType designation and zoning district are applied to each of the parks in order to protect them in perpetuity as existing, City-owned parks allocated for public open space use. The specific actions include: General Plan amendments to establish the OS PlaceType designations on specific City-owned parks consistent with their existing park uses;  zone changes for existing City-owned parks to the P zoning district; lot mergers to consolidate parcels; rezoning a noncontiguous, remnant parcel of Orizaba Park so it can have appropriate oversight and be better maintained; and dedications, as appropriate, for the purposes of developing and protecting City owned land planned for recreational and open space use.

 

Cumulatively, the proposed actions are necessary to formally dedicate existing parks and open space. These actions are consistent with the goals and policies of the General Plan Open Space and Recreation Element (OSRE) and LUE to protect parkland for public open space uses and to equitably increase access to park space in communities with the greatest need. The ongoing program (of which this action is a part) to change the land use designation and zoning district of existing parks to the appropriate OS PlaceType and P zoning designation is needed to reflect and memorialize the existing park use and to protect the parks by ensuring development regulations that are aligned with park uses.  Lot mergers, as applicable, will be completed through the Zoning Administrator hearing and approval process. Basic information regarding each subject park, including the existing and proposed zoning and PlaceTypes for each of the 11 parks, is provided in Attachment C. Positive findings have been made for the proposed General Plan Amendments, Zoning Code Amendments, and Zone Changes (Attachment H).

 

 

 

 

 

General Plan Amendments

 

Based on a recommendation by the Planning Commission, General Plan Amendments must be approved by the City Council. General Plan Amendments needed for the subject parks were recommended by the Planning Commission to the City Council on July 15, 2021.  General Plan Amendments are needed for the seven parks listed below in Table 1. All proposed General Plan Amendments are for parks that do not already have the OS PlaceType designation to be changed from their existing PlaceType to the OS PlaceType. Maps depicting the boundaries of the properties requiring General Plan Amendments to change the PlaceTypes for each respective park are provided in Attachment D. Again, positive findings have been made for each of the proposed General Plan Amendments (Attachment H). No physical construction or change is proposed by this action; rather the City Council is requested to approve the change of the General Plan PlaceType to reflect the current conditions and operations of these properties.

 

Table 1. General Plan Amendments

Name

Current PlaceType

Proposed PlaceType

Craftsman Village Park

Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN)

Open Space (OS)

Donald Douglas Plaza

Regional Serving Facility (RSF)

Open Space (OS)

Grace Park

Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN)

Open Space (OS)

Locust Tot Lot

Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN)

Open Space (OS)

Mary Molina Community Garden

Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN)

Open Space (OS)

Miracle on 4th Street Park

Neighborhood Serving Center or Corridor Low Density (NSC-L)

Open Space (OS)

Orizaba Park

Founding and Contemporary Neighborhood (FCN)

Open Space (OS)

 

General Plan Amendments are proposed for Craftsman Village Park, Grace Park, Locust Tot Lot, and Mary Molina Community Garden to change their PlaceType from FCN to the OS PlaceType as they are all developed parks or mini-parks that are proposed by this project to change their PlaceType to better reflect the City’s development of these properties as parks. PlaceType changes to OS will be accompanied by zone changes to the P zoning district and dedication to ensure they are maintained as public parks in perpetuity. 

 

A General Plan Amendment is proposed for Donald Douglas Plaza to change its PlaceType from RSF to the OS PlaceType. Donald Douglas Plaza is one of several publicly accessible open space amenities planned in PD-32. Changing the PlaceType of Donald Douglas Plaza to OS will create consistency with the proposed P zoning and better reflect existing park uses. PlaceType changes to OS will be accompanied by zone changes to the P zoning district and dedication to help protect the park in perpetuity for public open space use. A General Plan Amendment is proposed for Miracle on 4th Street to change its PlaceType from NSC-L to P. A General Plan Amendment is proposed for a portion of Orizaba Park to change its PlaceType from FCN to OS. Orizaba Park was expanded over time and changing the PlaceType of the remaining portion of the park which does not already have the OS PlaceType will reflect the existing park use. The FCN PlaceType provides for single-family and low-density housing and neighborhood-serving low-intensity commercial uses and is inconsistent with existing park uses. PlaceType changes to OS will be accompanied by zone changes to the P zoning district and dedication to help protect the park in perpetuity for public open space use.

 

Zone Changes

 

Zone Changes are required to be approved by the City Council upon recommendation by the Planning Commission. Zone changes for the subject parks were recommended by the Planning Commission to the City Council on July 15, 2021.  The existing and proposed zoning for each of the 11 parks that are part of this project are provided in Attachment C.  No physical construction or change is proposed in this action, rather the City Council is being requested to adopt zone changes to reflect the current conditions and operations of these properties as parks.

 

Zone Changes are needed for nine of the 11 parks listed below in Table 2. Maps depicting the boundaries of the of properties requiring Zone Changes for each respective park are provided in Attachment E. General Plan Amendments are also being proposed for parks on this list that do not already have the OS PlaceType designation, to change from their existing PlaceType to the OS PlaceType to ensure consistency between the land use designation and zoning of the subject parcels. For each one of these nine parks, the proposed zone change from existing zoning district to the P zoning district will provide for consistency with the OS PlaceType. For one of these parks, the proposed zone change from P to IL for a non-contiguous remnant parcel zoned as park cleans up the zoning so that the park can have the appropriate oversight and be better maintained, and is discussed further below. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 2. Zone Changes

Name

Current Zoning

Proposed Zoning

Craftsman Village Park

Two-Family Residential (R-2-N)

Park (P)

Donald Douglas Plaza

Douglas Park (PD-32)

Park (P)

Jenni Rivera Memorial Park

Commercial Storage (CS)

Park (P)

Locust Tot Lot

Two-Family Residential (R-2-N)

Park (P)

Mary Molina Community Garden

Two-Family Residential (R-2-N), Community Automobile-Oriented (CCA)

Park (P)

Miracle on 4th Street Park

Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR)

Park (P)

Orizaba Park

Two-Family Residential (R-2-N), Light Industrial (IL) and Park (P)

Park (P)*

Pacific and 6th Community Garden

Downtown (PD-30)

Park (P)

P.E. Railway Greenbelt

Two-Family Residential (R-2-N), Pacific Railway (PD-22)

Park (P)

 

The above parks (with the exception of part of Orizaba Park at APN 7259024902) will be rezoned from their respective zones to the P zoning district. Craftsman Village Park, Locust Tot Lot, and Mary Molina Community Garden are mini-parks (14,392 square feet [SF]; 4,057 SF; and 7,699 SF respectively) currently zoned R-2-N. Pacific and 6th Community Garden is a mini-park (2,750 SF) currently zoned PD-30. Mary Molina Community Garden and Pacific and 6th Community Garden are operated by Long Beach Organic and provide garden plots that are available to the public. All are mini-parks created relatively recently in residential areas to serve the immediate surrounding community.

 

This project proposes zone changes for several parks from commercial zones to the Park (P) zone. These are Jenni Rivera Memorial Park (CS), Donald Douglas Plaza [Douglas Park (PD-32)], Mary Molina Community Garden [Community Automobile-Oriented (CCA)], and Miracle on 4th Street Park [Neighborhood Commercial and Residential (CNR)].  Jenni Rivera Memorial Park was formerly RDA property that opened as a park in 2012. Donald Douglas Plaza (15,935 SF) is located in PD-32 North, Subarea 1. This subarea, located in the northeast corner of Douglas Park, is intended as a mixed-use commercial district of office, retail, entertainment, restaurant, and hotel uses. Douglas Plaza is one of several publicly accessible open space amenities within PD-32. The community open space was developed as part of the first phase of the Douglas Park Development and serves as the northeast entrance to the overall development. A portion of Mary Molina Community Garden is currently zoned CCA. This community garden was created through a family donation of undeveloped land in 2005 and is currently operated by Long Beach Organic. Miracle on 4th Street Park was the City’s first mini-park in a new program of building parks on single lots in park deficient areas. Miracle on 4th Street Park is developed with a playground, bench seating, turf, mural, and varied landscaping, and should be rezoned from CNR to P to be consistent with existing park uses.

 

The majority of Orizaba Park was previously dedicated on December 23, 2003 and is appropriately zoned P. Since 2003, Orizaba Park was expanded through acquisition of blighted industrial properties and developed with various park amenities. The area of Orizaba Park where the basketball court and a portion of an open field were developed is zoned IL and is proposed to be rezoned to P to reflect this expansion and the existing park uses. Adjacent to the west, the area of Orizaba Park which includes the remainder of the field and a community garden currently leased and managed by Long Beach Organic is currently zoned R-2-N and is similarly proposed to be rezoned to P to reflect existing uses and to bring cohesive zoning across the entirety of the park. Orizaba Park includes a 456 SF, noncontiguous remnant parcel of the former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way located in the southwest corner of E. 14th Street and N. Orizaba Avenue. This noncontiguous remnant parcel was dedicated in 2003 (Ordinance No. C-7894). A community organization had received grant funding from the Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau for the improvement and future maintenance of the remnant parcel. Over time, this zoning became a barrier to the proper oversight and maintenance of this corner of the property by the Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department. Considering the challenging conditions associated with this remnant parcel, Economic Development Department staff are exploring the possible sale of the parcel to the abutting industrial property owner. As a result, this area is proposed to be rezoned from P to IL to bring consistent zoning across the subject parcel and the abutting privately owned property. The proposed zone change and removing the area from the dedicated park area reflect future anticipated use and private ownership of the parcel. The City will then complete lot mergers of the remaining parcels that comprise Orizaba Park. Further discussion is included in the Dedication section.

 

A portion of the P.E. Railway Greenbelt between Termino Avenue/8th Street and Bennett Avenue/7th Street was previously dedicated in 2003 and is appropriately zoned P or Pacific Railway (PD-22). The parcel that is zoned PD-22 includes a commercial building currently operated by Musical Theater West and will retain PD-22 zoning. The parcel at the upper northwest corner (APN: 7254013901) is already appropriately zoned P. The subsequent parcel to the northwest (APN: 7254017901) continues the P.E. Railway Greenbelt, is existing park, and is proposed to be rezoned from R-2-N to Park (P) to reflect the expanded park use. The P.E. Railway Greenbelt from Bennett Avenue/7th Street Ximeno Avenue to E. 4th Street/Park Avenue is comprised of two parcels (APNs: 7241015902, 7250018904) that are proposed to be rezoned from PD-22 (Subarea 12) to P for consistency with existing park uses. In PD-22, Subarea 12 was previously leased to the operator of a Christmas tree farm, however park space has since been developed in this area.

 

Dedication

 

The City Charter and General Plan OSRE provide guidance on dedication and parkland replacement requirements that preserve and protect parks in perpetuity for public open space uses. The City Charter outlines that those areas that have been dedicated or designated as public park or recreation areas of the City shall not be sold or otherwise alienated unless ratified by an affirmative vote at a municipal election for such purpose, or after a recommendation by the Parks and Recreation Commission to the City Council and a public hearing whereby the City Council determines that said park or recreation areas will be replaced by other dedicated or designated park or recreation areas on substantially an amenity for amenity basis, and at a ratio of at least two to one (2:1) with an approximately equal portion of the replacement land located in the park service area where the land was converted and an approximately equal portion of the replacement land located in a park service area needing parkland as determined by the Parks and Recreation Commission (Long Beach Municipal Code [LBMC] Sec. 905). The OSRE calls for formal dedication of all City owned parks (Policies 4.2, 4.4, 4.5, and 4.8) and requires any conversion of parkland be replaced amenity-for-amenity and acre-for-acre at a 2:1 ratio, with one acre of replacement land located in the park service area where the land was converted and an additional acre of replacement land located in a park service area needing parkland (Policy 4.5).

 

Consistent with the City Charter and the OSRE, the proposed project includes an action to dedicate the 11 parks listed in Attachment C to protect them in perpetuity for public open space use: Craftsman Village Park, C. David Molina Park, Donald Douglas Plaza, Grace Park, Jenni Rivera Memorial Park, Locust Tot Lot, Mary Molina Community Garden, Miracle on 4th Street Park, Orizaba Park, Pacific and 6th Community Garden, and P.E. Railway Greenbelt. Dedication maps for each of the respective parks are provided in Attachment F.

 

As discussed above, there is one exception wherein the proposed Project includes a recommendation to rezone a 456 square foot, noncontiguous remnant parcel at Orizaba Park, located at the southwest corner of E. 14th Street and N. Orizaba Avenue, which was previously zoned P and dedicated. This area is proposed to be rezoned from P to IL and removed from the dedicated park area to accurately reflect existing use, given the constraints to its use as functional park space, and to facilitate future sale of this remnant parcel to the adjacent owner. While this removes the noncontiguous, remnant parcel from dedicated park area, the 1.2-acre area within Orizaba Park being proposed by this action to be rezoned from R-2-N and IL will be dedicated as park, complying with and going far beyond the 2:1 replacement policy within the required park service area. Additionally, the Project dedicates Jenni Rivera Memorial Park (2.9 acres) and others within park deficient neighborhoods, providing dedicated park area substantially in excess of that required by the replacement policy and meeting the geographic requirements of the policy to locate replacement parkland in underserved areas.

 

The remaining 18 parks recommended by the Parks, Recreation and Marine Commission in 2019 will be brought forward for dedication and necessary land use actions at a future date.  Most of the remaining parks have been identified to have more complex boundary and land use issues that require additional resources to support land surveys needed before any land use actions or dedications can be considered for those parks.  This includes Willow Springs Park, which was originally included in this first batch of parks but later was identified as having more complex boundary concerns.  Additionally, Tanaka Park was purchased by the City in 2019, and although it does not have complex boundary or land survey needs, it is being processed separately because it had not yet been purchased when the first group of recommended parks was moved forward in 2019.  It is anticipated that Tanaka Park will come before the City Council for a dedication and zone change in late summer 2022, and that Willow Springs Park will come before the City Council in late 2022.  The remaining 16 parks will be brought forward after additional land surveys and necessary analyses have been completed.

 

This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Dawn McIntosh on May 31, 2022 and by Revenue Management Officer, Geraldine Alejo on June 3, 2022.

 

Public Hearing Notice

 

In accordance with public hearing notification requirements in LBMC Section 21.21.302, notice of this public hearing was published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on June 8, 2022. Notices were also provided to City libraries and at City Hall. Public hearing notice posters were posted at the entrance of each of the 11 parks. Additionally, notice of the proposed project was distributed through the City’s LinkLB e-mail blast system.  As of the date of preparation of this report, no written comments have been received.

 

Environmental Review

 

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a Negative Declaration was prepared for the Parks Zoning and Dedication Project (Round 1) in May 2021. The environmental report and associated documents were posted on the City website and a notice was published in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on June 1, 2021.  The Negative Declaration was circulated for a 30-day review period until July 1, 2021 (Attachment I).   One agency comment was received from the California Department of Transportation indicating that some of the 11 parks are near but not expected to have a direct adverse impact to the State Highway System (Attachment J).  Twelve parks were analyzed under CEQA and were include in the original recommendation by the Planning Commission, but only 11 parks are being brought forward for City Council approval at this time.  It is anticipated that the 12th park, Willow Springs Park, included in the environmental analysis, will come before the City Council later in 2022 after all park boundary issues have been resolved.

 

 

TIMING CONSIDERATIONS

This action was continued at the September 14, 2021 City Council meeting and City Council action is requested on June 21, 2022.  Lot mergers for applicable parks can then be initiated after City Council’s action.

 

FISCAL IMPACT

This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with City Council priorities. There is no fiscal or local job impact associated with this recommendation.

 

SUGGESTED ACTION

Approve recommendation.

 

BODY

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AMENDING THE USE DISTRICT MAP OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AS SAID MAP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND AMENDED BY AMENDING PORTIONS OF PARTS 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, AND 24 OF SAID MAP FOR PARKS REZONING

 

Respectfully Submitted,

OSCAR W. ORCI

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

 

 

 

APPROVED:

 

THOMAS B. MODICA

CITY MANAGER