LB City Council Rejects 2nd + PCH Development

The Long Beach City Council turned down the proposed $320 million 2nd + PCH development Tuesday night on a 5-3 vote that stunned the overflow audience and, it appeared, the Council members.

The five no voters objected to the hotel-condo-retail complex including a 12-story building where only three are currently allowed cited concerns long-voiced by opponents about traffic, legal challenges and precedent-setting changes to coastal zoning.

“This is one of the most, if not the most, tough decisions I’ve had to make," said Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, who represents the area where the project was to be built just outside Belmont Shore and Naples, before he voted for the project.

DeLong, Robert Garcia and Rae Gabelich voted for the development but it was  defeated as Gerrie Schipske, Patrick O'Donnell, Suja Lowenthal, Steve Neal and Dee Andrews voted against it. (James Johnson had earlier made clear that he could not attend the meeting.)

The huge development at the southwest corner of Pacific Coast Highway and 2^nd Street, the busiest intersection in Long Beach, would have stretched almost to the Seal Beach city border. The heavily traveled intersection is a daily turnstyle for Naples, Belmont Shore and Seal Beach: freeways, movie theaters, Trader Joe's and other shopping. The plan sought a 100-room hotel, 155,000 square feet of retail space, a science center, restaurant and 275 residential units. 

Major arguments against the development focused on the undisputed traffic increases at intersections surrounding the project; the impact on the Los Cerritos wetlands; and a scale of up to 12 stories in conflict with current local and California Coastal Commission regulations.

Proponents argued that the development will bring hundreds of needed jobs to the area for construction and a vibrant retail hub, and would serve as a gateway to Long Beach. Avid supporters viewed a "seaside village" that would become a public gathering place that blends well with the coastline. 

The public comment period lasted nearly two hours, with the speakers about evenly split in support and opposition. There were so many people in attendance at the start that a few dozen had to wait outside the theater-like chambers in order to address the City Council.

Owners of the vacant land across the street from the project site urged the council to vote it down, noting that their own development plans might be jeopardized because of increased traffic from 2nd + PCH project. 

The California Coastal Commission, in a letter to City Manager Pat West on Monday, urged the Council to delay a vote, to allow the city and commission to “continue discussions on developing a comprehensive LCP (Local Coastal Plan) amendment for SEADIP.” (SEADIP is an acronym for another zoning-like plan).

Seal Beach city officials voiced opposition Tuesday night and earlier in the day--on the sheer scale of the project and its traffic impact on Seal Beach and Belmont Shore residents. 

“We don’t want a Miami-in-California effect going on down at the marina," Seal Beach City Councilwoman Ellery Deaton said prior to the Long Beach meeting. "All the city can do is ask them to be a good neighbor. We don’t feel like the traffic has been adequately mitigated at all. It’s a huge impact on Naples, Belmont Shore, Seal Beach and the marina area. I don’t think it’s right to do to the residents.

Seal Beach city officials, like environmentalists, also have expressed concern for more than a year about the trend in having such a tall building constructed at the apex of residential communities such as Naples and Old Town Seal Beach. 

“The building itself is not an appropriate style. It’s a downtown-style building. It makes no sense,” Said Mark H. Persico, Seal Beach’s director of Development Services. “Now look at the domino effect of what is going to happen if that building gets approved for that corner. The Marketplace across the street--you can see that being redeveloped next.” 

Council also voted 4-4 not to re-certify the project's EIR.

Echoing similar no-voting Council members, Gerrie Schipske said: "If there's retailers wanting to come, we have the space now. They don't have to wait for a new project to be built."

Nancy Wride, Paige Austin and Thomas Wasper contributed to this story.