The City of Long Beach has settled with Long Beach Transportation and Parking Solutions (TAPS), resolving three separate environmental lawsuits, the Long Beach City Attorney’s Office announced today. As part of the agreement, the city will fund parking studies in downtown and Alamitos Beach.

TAPS filed three lawsuits against the city that challenged the sales of three properties formerly owned by the city’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) to three different developers—one at 3rd Street and Pacific Avenue (sold to Ensemble), one at 125-133 North Long Beach Boulevard and 234-248 East Broadway (sold to Raintree) and the last at 200-232 Long Beach Boulevard (sold to Broadway).

“TAPS was concerned that the development of these three parcels, which would replace existing parking lots in two cases, would exacerbate a perpetual problem identified by many residents – a lack of parking,” said Jamie T. Hall, an attorney with Channel Law Group that represented Long Beach TAPS, in a statement. “The City has heard the voice of TAPS and its supporters and has agreed to grab the bull by the horns and tackle this problem – even though it might be challenging.”

Both studies will focus on creating a balanced parking management approach for visitors, residents and businesses as part of the city’s Complete Streets Program, zoning code and the general plan, according to the city. The studies are expected to be completed in two years and cost a maximum of $250,000.

“We are pleased that this settlement agreement has been reached,” said Long Beach City Attorney Charles Parkin in a statement. “The City will proceed with the sale and development of these properties, and move forward with the parking studies in Downtown and Alamitos Beach.”

The settlement also included the city depositing a percentage of the proceeds of the sales (approximately $139,000) into a parking solution implementation fund. Additionally, the developers of the projects will contribute $20,000 each into the fund, which will address parking-related issues in downtown and implement recommendations and suggestions identified in the study, they said. Additionally, the city will pay up to $30,000 in attorneys’ fees to the petitioners, and the city will be reimbursed by the developers of the projects.

In exchange, TAPS has agreed to not challenge the sales of the properties or any projects brought forth by the developers. Additionally, TAPS won’t challenge any sales from other properties formerly owned by the city’s RDA, and it won’t challenge other development projects in the downtown area.