The Advisory Committee says it aims to envision the area 50 years from now in 2060. The current SEADIP zoning document (which development interests have criticized as outdated) was adopted less than forty years ago in 1977. SEADIP's current zoning (map below) governs land use across sprawling area that includes the major business centers of Marina Pacifica Mall, Seaport Hotel (aka 2nd/PCH), and The Market Place Mall; Gelson's /Lucille's Center; the Los Cerritos Wetlands, a number of parks, a golf course, environmentally sensitive ecological reserves and boating marinas as well as the industrial Studebaker LB Tank Farm and the AES Alamitos Generating Station off of Studebaker Rd. In addition, thousands of residents live in expensive homes, condominiums and exclusive apartments within SEADIP's boundaries.
For years, developers have had to live with SEADIP's current restrictions or seek City Council (and Coastal Commission) ad hoc approval for specific developments. Former 3rd dist. Councilman Gary DeLong made an effort to advance an overall update to SEADIP but it foundered after some criticized DeLong's-chosen advisory panel as less than transparent. In December 2011, a developer-propelled proposal to put a partial high rise/mixed use development at the 2nd/PCH Seaport Marina hotel site failed to gain Council majority approval. (Vote was 3-5, Yes: Garcia, DeLong, Gabelich; No: Lowenthal, O'Donnell, Schipske, Andrews, Neal; Johnson absent). Public issues included traffic, height, Coastal zone and wetlands impacts. In the wake of the 2nd/PCH vote, the Council unanimously approved launching a new SEADIP update that it said would be transparent and faithful to community input. City staff selected a "community advisory committee" (to view its members, click here.) The Advisory Committee's stated mission is to "provide perspectives and input to the project team to generate a project vision, identify issues and opportunities, and formulate planning alternatives and recommendations that will inform the Specific Plan, which will be forwarded to decision makers for consideration. The Committee's mission also includes encouraging the involvement of other community members in the public participation process and considering the community's input in dicussions about the Specific Plan." The City hired a consultant team to conduct public meetings. [LBREPORT.com comment: At least one of the consultant-run meetings public input individually at various tables instead of via an open mike from the floor where those attending could hear the comments of others.] Ultimately, a Council majority will decide on any zoning updates in the SEADIP rearea, which will also go to the Coastal Commission for approval. The upcoming Advisory Committee meeting will take place Oct. 29, 6 p.m. at the Golden Sands Hotel, 6285 E. PCH (within the SEADIP area). At the meeting, the project team is expected to present "various prototypes and analyses of alternatives, which we will be comparing to certain criteria, such as the project vision, traffic thresholds, fiscal feasibility, etc." [Source: City Development Services Dept. as quoted by Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust.] An August 2014 "vision" for the SEADIP area (on the City's SEADIP website) states: The following is a vision of Southeast Long Beach as described 50 years from now: Developing...with further to follow on LBREPORT.com. SEADIP Community Advisory Committee Public Meeting
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