9:56 a.m. update: Development Services Dir. Beck tells LBReport.com there was/is no written proposal; there was an oral proposal by Mr. Hitchcock re subarea 23 in which Mr. Hitchcock didn't mention subarea 24 (owned by Dean); Beck says he referred to subarea 24 in his letter in case Mr. Hitchcock had any plans to acquire subarea 24 for similar use. Further below.

(April 20, 2009, updated 10:03 a.m.) -- Documents obtained by LBReport.com in a recent CA Public Records Act request and reported exclusively by LBReport.com on Sunday (April 19) include a March 23 letter to Sean Hitchcock (who acquired the Loynes-south parcel, SEADIP subarea 23, from Tom Dean) signed by Craig Beck, City of LB Director of Development Services.

The letter states in pertinent part:

We have reviewed the proposal to place recreational soccer fields on SEADIP Subareas 23 and 24...Based on our review, placing soccer fields in area 23 and 24 South would be inconsistent with the allowable uses outlined for those areas under the current SEADIP requirements.

Source: City of LB SEADIP map

Underlying image source: City of LB

• Subarea 23: To be developed with an 8.3 brackish pond that could sustain itself as a separate wetland.

• Subarea 24 South: To be developed as an overlook area and intwerpretive center for the bordering marshlands.

As a result, an amendment to SEADIP would be required to permit soccer fields in either of these areas. The required entitlements would include:

• Local Coastal Program Amendment to amend the Land use (General Plan) and implementation (SEADIP) Plans;
• Local Coastal Development Permit (for consistency with the Local Coastal Program); and
• Environmental Review as per CEQA standards.

Subsequently, the California Coastal Commission would rule on the Local Coastal Program amendments and, on appeal, the Local Coastal Development Permit.

Subarea 24 North is currently zoned for open space uses in SEADIP:

• Subarea 24 North: To be dedicated to the City for park and playground purposes.

In order to develop Subarea 24 North with soccer fields, the City would be required to issue a Local Coastal Development Permit after appropriate environmental review. Since Subarea 24 North lies within the City permit jurisdiction area, the issuance of a Local Coastal Development Permit would not be appealable to the California Coastal Commission.

Dean spokesman Mike Murchison told LBReport.com on Sunday (April 19) that Mr. Dean still owns Subarea 24 (i.e. we asked spokesman Murchison if Mr. Dean had sold subarea 24 to Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Murchison replied no, he hasn't).

So...are Messrs. Dean and Hitchcock more than just seller/buyer on subarea 23? Was there/is there some kind of proposal for soccer fields on both subareas 23 and 24 involving both Messrs. Hitchcock and Dean?

[update] Answer: No. Development Services Dir. Beck tells LBReport.com that there was and is no written proposal re subarea 23; there was an oral proposal by Mr. Hitchcock re subarea 23...in which Mr. Hitchcock didn't mention subarea 24 (owned by Dean). Mr. Beck says he referred to subarea 24 in his letter just in case Mr. Hitchcock had any plans to acquire subarea 24 use similar to what he proposed orally for subarea 23. [end update]

Subareas 23 and 24 are effectively the Loynes Drive gateway to the Studebaker/Loynes tank-farm parcel on which a Dean-related LLC sought to develop a Home Depot-anchored retail center. A court ruled the project's Environmental Impact Report inadequate...and a new EIR is now reportedly being prepared for a similar retail center (without Home Depot but with some similar retailer).

A swap of city owned developable property for the Dean-owned open space/presumed wetlands area south of 2nd St., approved by a Council majority on Feb. 10 (6-2, Schipske and Gabelich dissenting, 1st dist. vacant), is the subject of an April 21 Council item agendized by Councilwoman Schipske seeking reexamination of the transaction.

As previously reported by LBReport.com, City Attorney Bob Shannon has separately advised a closed session of the City Council in May at which city management can discuss material matters about the transaction not previously disclosed to Councilmembers...after which the Council will have an opportunity to revote the issue.

And several weeks ago, Mr. Murchison told LBReport.com that Mr. Dean hopes to reach agreement with the city on a larger swap transaction involving the remainder of the Bixby wetlands north of 2nd St. and south of subareas 23 and 24.