Temporary Halt On Sepulveda Boulevard Health Facilities

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – The City Council enacted an emergency ordinance on Monday, declaring a 45-day moratorium on new medical office uses on Sepulveda Boulevard, according to Easy Reader News. The moratorium prevents planning approval for six types of use including: medical or dental offices and laboratories, emergency and urgent care facilities and health clinics, assisted care facilities, residential or adult day care facilities, and convalescent facilities.

Councilmembers voted 4-1 to adopt the ordinance, but Councilman Richard Montgomery said he didn't believe the ordinance should include assisted care, residential care or adult day health centers and convalescent facilities, according to Daily Breeze.

“I know this council has the right, and should, to review every project that comes forward. We’re making an ordinance on a ‘what if?’ ” Montgomery said to Daily Breeze.

The discussion began at the previous August 1 council meeting when the Council believed it had adopted the emergency ordinance citywide with a 3-2 vote, Easy Reader News reported. The next day, it was realized that it hadn't gone into effect because emergency ordinances require four votes. Mayor David Lesser and Councilmember Steve Napolitano were the two votes in disagreement.

The issue came to light because of residents’ concerns about potential impacts in the quality of life due to a recently approved Exer urgent care facility on the 3200 block of Sepulveda, and a pending proposal for an assisted living facility on Goat Hill, the 200, 300, and 400 blocks, Easy Reader News reported.

During Monday’s meeting, there was discussion of expanding the ordinance, but that would require a separate urgency ordinance and another council vote, according to Daily Breeze. Council members expressed that they want to examine the interim ordinance sooner than in 45 days, and they're set to discuss Sepulveda Boulevard at their Sept. 19 meeting.

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