The Seaport Marina Hotel, site of a project proposed in 2012 that did not meet existing SEADIP standards. File photo.
The City of Long Beach is hosting another community meeting to hear public opinions on the update to the Southeast Area Development and Improvement Plan (SEADIP), a proposal that will affect 1,500 acres of southeast Long Beach.
According to the release issued Tuesday, the scoping meeting will take place tomorrow, November 4 at 6:00PM at the Best Western Golden Sails Hotel Seafarer Room, 6285 East Pacific Coast Highway.
While the Notice of Preparation (NOP) and the Initial Study (IS) are available here, this meeting is meant to explore topics to be addressed in the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Specifically, the meeting will provide local stakeholders and residents the chance to review and offer feedback on the scope and content of the draft EIR.
The draft EIR is meant to ensure the SEADIP plan meets California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, in relation to aesthetics, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, land use and planning, noise, population and housing, public services and utilities, transportation/traffic and other environmental impacts.
In 2012, the city was recommended for a $929,000 grant that would amend SEADIP, essentially the guiding blueprint adopted in 1977 that permits what can and cannot be built in a wetlands area (in this case, the Seaport Marina-occupied corner of Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway). Materials on the SEADIP website say a new project was proposed for the Seaport Marina site that year which did not meet the standards set in the original 1977 improvement plan, and the Long Beach City Council decided to explore updating the new plan.
SEADIP has undergone a three-year planning process, engaging the community through workshops, pop-up events, and meetings. According to the SEADIP website, technical studies have been prepared by a consultant team that will inform the new, specific plan.
A work timeline was implemented in 2014 to complete the specific plan.
The website says the latest SEADIP initiative will “take a fresh look at this area, acknowledging work conducted through previous efforts but with a new approach,” creating a plan that “maintains valuable natural resources, customizes land uses and development standards, and identifies locations for future development and expanded transportation choices.”
The City of Long Beach will accept written comments relating to the draft EIR through November 20, 2015. All comments will be addressed in the final EIR. Comments should be sent to Craig Chalfant, Planner, Long Beach Development Services, 333 West Ocean Boulevard, fifth floor, Long Beach, CA 90802, by facsimile to 562.570.6068, or by e-mail at [email protected].
For the latest news regarding this project or to get involved, visit www.lbds.info/seadip_update, where you can sign up for e-mail notifications, status updates, and register for the Long Beach Town Hall online forum.
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