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Results Of CONO Multi-Question Surveys: 500+ Residents Attending Land Use Element Workshops Gave These Responses Re LUE, Increased Density, Parking And More


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(Nov. 4, 2017, 4:55 p.m.) -- Responses from 517 residents who chose to complete multi-question written surveys circulated by LB's grassroots Council of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO) among attendees at four city-organized Land Use Element public outreach meetings (Sept. 30, Oct. 4, Oct. 14 and Oct. 18) show large percentages opposed to high density aspects of city staff's then-proposed Land Use Element revision and disagreed with some underlying assumptions of the proposed LUE revision.

Asked if they want high density development in Long Beach, 353 attendees or 96.18% of those attending the Sept. 30 (Veterans Park) and Oct. 4 (Whaley Park) events said "no." Nearly 70% said they wanted development along business corridors limited to two stories. Asked if they want development of structures with adequate or enhanced parking (which has become an issue given a number of Sacramento-enacted measures including SB 35), 245 respondents (66.75%) said "yes."

Of 150 respondents surveyed at the final two LUE meetings (Oct. 14 at Golden Sails Hotel, Oct. 18 at Scherer Park), 116 (77.33%) disagreed with the statement "We need to build more housing in Long Beach" and 131 respondents (87.33%) said "The LUE gives developers too much reign over the future of Long Beach."

However responses to two questions by attendees at the first two meetings (Veterans Park and Whaley Park) showed majorities appeared willing to accept some density increases in some areas under some circumstances. Asked if they "want development of mixed use building with adequate or enhanced parking," 224 respondents (61.04%) said "yes" while 123 (33.51%) replied "no." Asked if they wanted "development of high density housing, if any, concentrated along the [Metro] Blue Line, 174 (47.41%) said "yes" while 155 (42.23%) said "no."

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As separately reported by LBREPORT.com at this link, Councilwoman Stacy Mungo told a Nov. 3 neighborhood meeting that city staff is preparing to release revised land use density maps on Weds or Thurs Nov. 8 or 9, reflecting its responses to public testimony at the Land Use Element public workshops (Town Halls.) Staff's revised maps will eventually go to LB's non-elected (Mayor chosen/Council approved) Planning Commission for its recommendations before reaching the elected City Council, where a Council majority can make changes to staff's proposed maps if it wishes.

LBREPORT.com provides some of the salient survey responses to the CONO survey below.

CONO conducted two surveys with two different sets of questions. The first survey was circulated at Veterans Park (Sept. 30) and Whaley Park (Oct. 4) and the second was circulated at the Golden Sails Hotel (Oct. 14) and Scherer Park (Oct. 18.) In the first survey, CONO received 397 completed surveys and deemed 367 valid (excluding others on grounds they were unsigned or duplicates.) In the second batch, CONO received 153 surveys with 150 deemed valid.

Veterans Park/Whaley Park

I want high density development in Long Beach

Yes: 10 (2.72%)
No: 353 (96.18%)
N/A: 4 (1.09%)


I want development along the business corridors to be limited to:

2 stories: 254 (69.21%) [6 survey participants selected both 2 and 3 stories]
3 stories: 53 (14.44%)
5 stories: 12 (3.27%) [1 survey participant choseboth 5 stories and more]
More: 3 (0.82%)
N/A: 49 (13.35%)


I want historic architectural guidelines for commercial or mixed-use development adjancent to any historic district

Yes: 297 (80.93)
No: 42 (11.44%)
N/A: 28 (7.63%)


I want building of ANY TYPE of commercial or mixed-use buildings adjacent to neighborhoods and Historic Districts

Yes: 3 (0.82%)
No: 349 (95.1%)
N/A: 15 (4.09%)


I want extensive development of mixed use buildings (commercial on first floor, residential above) throughout the city with limited parking required.

Yes: 9 (2.45%)
No: 353 (96.19%)
N/A: 5 (1.36%)


I want development of mixed use building with adequate or enhanced parking

Yes: 224 (61.04%)
No: 123 (33.51%)
N/A: 20 (5.45%)


I want the development of HIGH DENSITY housing, if any, to be concentrated along the [Metro] Blue Line

Yes: 174 (47.41%)
No: 155 (42.23%)
N/A: 38 (10.35%)


I want development of HIGH DENSITY housing equally distribuited across the city.

Yes: 36 (9.81%)
No: 314 (85.56%)
N/A: 17 (4.63%)


I want the development of structures with no parking (sustainable cities plan)

Yes: 10 (2.72%)
No: 350 (95.37%)
N/A: 7 (1.91%)


I want the development of all structures with adequate or enhanced parking

Yes: 245 (66.76%)
No: 100 (27.25%)
N/A: 22 (5.99%)


I need to drive my car to work and elsewhere due to the lack of fast mass transit

Yes: 253 (68.94%)
No: 87 (23.71%)
N/A: 27 (7.36%)


I can bike or bus anywhere and dont need a car.

Yes: 20 (5.45%)
No: 331 (90.19%)
N/A: 15 (4.35%)


I want more green spacein my neighborhood like parks and community gardens

Yes: 304 (82.83%)
No: 37 (10.08%)
N/A: 7.08%


I want to protect our existing neighborhoods just as they are without HIGH DENSITY and increased heights for buildings surrounding our neighborhoods.

Yes: 344 (93.72%)
No: 4.09%)
N/A: 8 (2.18%)


I want to significantly increase the density of the city.

Yes: 25 (6.91%)
No: 334 (91.01%)
N/A: 8 (2.18%)


I want to retain the community feeling of Long Beach

Yes: 358 (95.55%)
No: 5 (1.36%)
N/A: 4 (1.09%)


I want commercial or mixed use buildings across Long Beach to be no higher than:

2 stories: 230 (62.67%) [6 participants chose 2 or 3 stories]
3 stories: 69 (18.8%) [1 participant chose 3 or 7 stories]
4 stories: 9 (2.45%)
5 stories: 7 (1.91%)
7 stories: 1 (0.27%)
10 stories: 4 (1.09%) [1 participant chose 10 stories or unlimited]
Unlimited: 3 (0.81%)
N/A: 52 (14.17%)


I support reduced parking throughout the city

Yes: 25 (6.82%)
No: 306 (83.38%)
N/A: 36 (9.81%)


The city has 77% of its residents working outside the city. Do we have adequate mass transit that people can utilize to get to work easily?

Yes: 52 (14.17%)
No: 278 (75.75%)
N/A: 37 (10.08%)


87% of city employees live outside the city limits. Do we have adquate parking spaces for these people downtown?

Yes: 45 (12.26%)
No: 246 (67.03%)
N/A: 76 (20.78%)


I think Long Beach has enough jobs within the city so there is no need for cars to get to work

Yes: 14 (3.81%)
No: 314 (85.56%)
N/A: 39 (10.63%)


If we develop new businesses in Long Beach, do you think we need adequate parking for the employees and customers?

Yes: 333 (90.74%)
No: 18 (4.9%)
N/A: 16 (4.36%)


Should the city fund the redevelopment of neighborhood friendly parking structures?

Yes: 180 (49.05%)
No: 120 (32.7%)
N/A: 60 (16.35%)


What kind of mass transit would you support for development in Long Beach? (check all that apply)

Bus lines (136 (37.06%)
Electric trams: 99 (26.98%)
Fast lines: 112 (30.52%) [electric busiens that make a few stops between North, South, East and West]
More blue lines: 40 (10.9%) [This question added to second draft of this survey, not distributed at Vets Park]


Are you concerned about paying for major infrastructure: larger sewer lines, new mass transit lines, more water, electric, gas, trash hauling, hiring more police and fire personnel and equipment to service high density development?

Yes: 326 (88.83%)
No: 29 (7.9%)
N/A: 12 (3.27%)

Golden Sails Hotel/Scherer Park

I support the Land Use Element as it stands today

Yes: 6 (4%)
No: 142 (94.6%)
N/A: 2 (1.33%)


If NO, what is the main reason you do not support it? [The survey read "pick only one" but the majority selected more than one response]

Parking: 56 (37.33%)
High density: 84 (56%)
Safety: 41 (27.33%)
Conservation of Neighborhoods: 94 (62.67%)
Secretive Planning Staff: 39 (26%)
N/A: 10 (6.67%)


I have been aware of this plan for:

<1 month: 59 (39.33%)
1-3 months: 70 (46.67%)
3 months to a year: 14 (9.33%)
1-5 years: 6 (4%)
5-10 years: 0
N/A: 1 (0.67%)


We need to build more housing in Long Beach

Yes: 27 (18%)
No: 116 (77.33%)
N/A: 7 (4.67%)


I agree with the Executive Director of the Council of Neighborhood Organizations that, "If the city would like to approve something, it must first come through Long Beach neighborhoods."

Yes: 134 (89.33%)
No: 10 (6.67%)
7 (4.67%)


The LUE addresses the affordable housing crisis satisfactory [apparently means satisfactorily]

Yes: 4 (2.67%)
No: 131 (87.33%)
N/A: 15 (10%)


The LUE gives developers too much reign over the future of Long Beach

Yes: 131 (87.33%)
No: 10 (6.67%)
N/A: 9 (6%)


The LUE was designed with the needs of Long Beach citizens in mind

Yes: 7 (4.67%)
No: 138 (92%)
N/A: 5 (3.33%)


I want new development to be:

Organized centrally [in a general plan]: 9 (6%)
Vetted by neighborhood reps [on a proposal by proposal basis] 116 (77.33%)
N/A: 25 (16.67%)


I am happy to give up my car in the name of sustainability

Yes: 6 (4%)
No: 131 (87.33%)
N/A: 13 (8.67%)

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