Amid Public Pushback On 3701 Pacific Place (Los Cerritos) Parking/Storage Project, Councilman Austin Seeks Ambiguous Mgm't Report On L.A River-Adjacent Park Projects

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(Jan. 27, 2021) -- Confronting grassroots organized public pushback to a proposed parking/storage facility on parcel adjoing the L.A. river and nearby Los Cerritos parkland -- and targeting the record of 8th district Councilman Al Austin and the City on long discussed LA river-adjacent open space -- Councilman Al Austin (along with Councilmembers Roberto Uranga and Mary Zendejas) have agendized a Feb. 2, 2021 Council item. asking city management "to study feasibility of acquiring open space for public park development along LA River consistent with the Long Beach RiverLink plan and the Lower LA River Master Plan and report "back within 60 days."

But Austin has included a key ambiguity. Exactly what "open space" does he propose to include or exclude fro possible acquisition? Does it include or exclude the controversial 3701 Pacific Place proposal to build a commercial/personal storage facility with parking for RVs, trailers, campers, boats, trucks) in the Los Cerritos neighborhood?

Allowing "60 days" for management's report could make it moot concerning the Pacific Place project since the Council is expected within weeks to decide whether to approve it within weeks,.

In his agenda item, Austin and his co-agendizers write in pertinent part:

Long Beach developed the Riverlink plan in 2007, identifying opportunities along the L.A. River for additional park space. The Lower L.A. River Revitalization Plan was developed in 2018, following Assembly Bill 530 by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon.
Long Beach has established many acres of parks and open space along the Los Angeles River in recent years that are now accessible to the community, with more projects under development.
These include 32 acres of the DeForest Wetlands, and 3.5 acres at Molina Park, both of which opened in 2018. Los Angeles County opened more than 35 acres of the Dominguez Gap Wetlands in 2008, which provides additional trails and open space adjacent to the river. Other projects that are currently under design or development include the Drake-Chavez Greenbelt, the Hamilton Loop, the Wrigley Greenbelt, LB-MUST, and the 51 Street Greenbelt.
All of these park projects are on publicly-owned parcels.
We would like to request the City Manager to assess the feasibility of acquiring additional open space adjacent to the Los Angeles River, including potential funding sources at the local, county, state and federal levels, and report back to the City Council.

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