LB city official confirms laws will super size proposed high density

LB Planning Bureau Manager confirms that State Density Laws will allow developers to exceed density of  LB's new city-wide proposed high density zoning 

LB Planning Bureau Manager Tatum

City of Long Beach Planning Bureau Manger Linda Tatum has confirmed that developers can use the current and future state density laws to "exceed the density maximum" of  local zoning allowed under a city's General Plan. 

Tatum responded in an email ( see below)  on Monday August 28, 2017 to an inquiry from Robert Fox, the Executive Director of  the Long Beach Council of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO). Fox had inquired about the California Density Law's impact on local zoning laws. 

Long Beach is currently trying to increase areas throughout the city that allow increased high density. Under state laws- areas that allow high density can be super sized beyond local zoning laws. 

The LB4D neighborhood blog had posted about the California State Density Bonus Law- and other state laws that allowed developers that meet certain criteria to super size developments regardless of local zoning restrictions. New LB proposals are to convert East Long Beach retail and church properties into zoning allowing mixed use high density residential.

For more information click on  LB4D state laws and LB Density

Another pending law SB 35 under consideration would also eliminate all local parking requirements and other local protections to any area zoned for housing ( for more information SB 35).

Tatum's email stated that the state laws would allow a developer to "avail" themselves of super sizing their developments "without the need for re-zoning or general plan land use change".

Tatum added that the state laws would allow the "bonus" super sized density "over and above [the local] General plan and/or zoning".

The full text of the email was released by Fox to CONO member neighborhoods. Los Altos Center Adjacent Neighborhoods  is a member of CONO.  The full text of the email is:

From: Linda Tatum <Linda.Tatum@longbeach.gov>
Date: Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 5:04 PM
Subject: Re: The requirement within the California Density Bonus Law
To: Robert Fox <XXXXXX>

Robert,

You are correct. A developer who chooses to avail themselves of a density bonus may receive additional/bonus density without the need for a rezoning or general plan land use change to exceed the density maximum in effect for the property. It's acknowledged as bonus density over and above the General plan and/or zoning..

Linda

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 28, 2017, at 1:41 PM

Tatum was present at the now locally infamous August 17, 2017 Planning Commission Meeting that saw neighborhood organization leaders from across Long Beach attend and testify about two density issues. The results from that meeting have reverberated across the city.

First the Planning Commission reluctantly approved a seven story high density apartment complex at 3rd and Alamitos. Planning Commissioners stated they had problems with the lack of parking, but had no choice under the Downtown Plan but to vote to approve that project.  Reaction to that approval was swift with a lawsuit filed within days (click on: Lawsuit).

The second issue was the Planning Commission's expected recommended approval of the high density Place-Type maps to the City Council.  Those Place-Type maps allow high density development all over Long Beach including transforming East Long Beach retail and church properties into high density housing. 

After hours of testimony from the city-wide neighborhood organization's leaders, the Planning Commission refused to approve the maps and attempted to send the maps back to the community for more input.   At that point Long Beach Development Services Director Amy Bodek told the Planning Commission that she would take the maps to the City Council on October 3rd "as scheduled" with or without the Planning Commission's approval. 

Bodeck firmly repeated her intentions to push through the high density maps three times to a stunned Planning Commission and audience full neighborhood leaders.  (for more information click on  Stunned).

In response to the city-wide public outcry, Mayor Garcia released a statement that he told the City Manager that the Mayor did not want the high density maps to come before the City Council until further public out reach had taken place. The item was withdrawn from the October 3rd City Council Agenda. 

Four public out reach meetings were scheduled.  (for a complete schedule of  meetings, Click on: LB high density UPDATE

Linda Tatum became City of Long Beach Planning Bureau Manger in 2015. She is also a Director of the American Planning Association Foundation. The website of the  APA states its mission is:

The mission of the APA Foundation is to advance the art and science of planning through philanthropic activities that provide access to educational opportunities, enrich the public dialogue about planning, and advance social equity in the profession and in our communities.

For more information click on

Linda Tatum and

APA