Council Authorizes Eminent Domain To Take Portion of Property Adjoining Southbound PCH Toward Westbound 2nd St. To Widen Chronically Congested Intersection
(Oct. 22, 2009) -- The City Council voted 8-1 (Schipske dissenting) at its Oct. 20 meeting to authorize eminent domain to take a portion of land along southbound PCH toward westbound 2nd St. to widen the chronically congested intersection.
Photo source: Oct. 20, 2009 city staff report
The Council action implements part of the 1998 Marina Shores EIR (PCH @ Studebaker Rd., south of the location). The city staff report stated in pertinent part:
As part of the [Marina Shores 1998] EIR, it was determined that the intersection of PCH and 2nd Street was operating at a deficient level of service and that a widening project to provide additional southbound traffic lanes on PCH will not only mitigate the development's impact, but will provide significant traffic flow benefits. [The] City Council approved funding for these improvements through the Traffic Mitigation Program and the Department of Public Works has been
working with the California Department of Transportation to design and implement improvements to the intersection.
Community Development Director Dennis Thuys said Traffic Engineer Dave Roseman had indicated that the location is one of LB's busiest intersections...with over 85,000 vehicles a day (and up to 100,000 vehicles/day during peak summer months).
Mr. Thuys said the City determined via an appraisal that property has a value of $655,000...a sum offered by City Hall and rejected by the property owner. "The offer was rejected and negotiations have continued without success . The acquisition of the Subject Property will not be possible without the use of the City's power of eminent domain," the city staff report said.
Neither the property owner nor a representative of the property owner spoke at the hearing.
In making the motion to adopt city staff's recommendations, 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong said:
It's an exciting time for the community. They've await this project for many years...since I've been here it's a project that's been on the boards. The intersection of 2nd and PCH is not only one of the busiest but from a level of service one of the worst intersections in the City of Long Beach, so I'm anxious to see this project move forward and see if we can improve things a little bit.
