The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: CONO Report 4

Council of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO)

Community Report on the transcripts of the Long Beach Department of Development Services staff's public testimony to the Long Beach Planning Commission on August 17, 2017

CONO Report Four: Planning Commissioners Vote
The Council of Neighborhood Organizations (CONO),  the city-wide coalition of neighborhood organizations, released the first three reports on the transcripts of the  controversial August 17th Long Beach Planning Commission meeting on the Land Use Element (LUE) place-type maps. This is the final report on the transcripts from that meeting.

This final report covers the Planning Commissioners trying to vote to send the Land Use Element  maps back to staff for further community engagement, specifically with the neighborhood associations after dozen's of  association leaders from across Long Beach showed up at the August 17, 2017 Planning Commission meeting.  

At that Long Beach Planning Commission meeting, staff from the Long Beach Department of Development Services (LBDS) under the direction of the department's Director Amy Bodek made two presentations to the Planning Commission, answered questions from the commissioners and reacted to the Planning Commissioners motions for more public outreach following extensive public testimony from neighborhood organization leaders and residents from across Long Beach.

This is Report Four on the transcripts of those LBDS staff reports and interactions taken from the public video and audio on the City of Long Beach website:

http://longbeach.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=9297

In Report Four CONO transcribes portions of the audio of the online video concerning the Planning Commissioners attempt to send the Land Use Element (LUE) Maps back to the LBSD Staff for further community outreach after the hours of public comment on:

Agenda Item 5 17-051PL Recommendation to recommend that the City Council approve the selected alternative for the Place Type and Height Map, superseding the existing adopted Land Use Element and Scenic Routes Element. (Citywide) (Application No. 1701-01)

Long Beach Development Services Director Amy Bodek interrupts and tells the Planning Commissioners that despite their wishes (and ultimately their vote) to  not send the LUE Maps  to the City Council- she was bringing the maps to the City Council regardless.

CONO's Report Four quotes are transcribed from the Planning Commission Video link above (go to Agenda 5section and click on Agenda 5).  The report includes video Time Stamps as indicated by the (TS) followed by the nearest time down to the second of the quote taken from the city provided video.

For the first Three Transcribed reports Click on:

 CONO Report One

CONO Report Two

CONO Report Three

CONO Report Four: Planning Commissioners Vote

(TS) 4:31:52 Chair Van Horik recognizes Commissioner Cruz

(TS) 4:31:57-4:32:23  Commissioner Cruz

"Just a quick comment. Because this is a document that is going to be in place for decades. I'm just not comfortable moving it forward yet without  more buy-in, from the, particularly with some of the communities on the west-side. That they're complaining of  possible ten-story developments up against residential. I know this has gone back-and-forth, but based on these comments about lack of  outreach, and you know, and inadequate community meetings I just would like to see some more outreach."

(TS) 4:32:23-4:32:30  Loud Audience applause and cheers

(TS) 4:32:32  Chair Van Horik recognizes Commissioner Templin

(TS) 4:32:40 4:33:19 Commissioner Templin asks about questions from audience

regarding communications to the commission

(TS) 4:33:19-4:33:55 Staff responds to question noting procedures to forward communications

(TS) 4:34:01 Chair Van Horik recognizes Commissioner Lewis

(TS) 4:34:06 Commissioner Lewis asks a question to staff about the Mid-Town Plan and reducing density outside the Mid Town Plan and the "Land Use Plan is affected" if  there was a reduction in certain heights outside the Mid Town Plan.

(TS) 4:34:36-4:35:26 Staff replies that the commissioners could make adjustment to areas outside the Mid Town Plan the commissioners "would just make".  Staff stated that it was possible to move the 10 story boundary back that is "consistent with the plan, we would just make that change".  Staff said the more complicated change is "the change adjacent to the park".

(TS) 4:35:00 4:35:24 The Staff continued answering Commissioner Lewis' question about the Mid Town and the LUE

" I mentioned in a previous  answer to a different question that the zoning can be more restrictive, but it can not be more permissive. So we'd be in a situation were the General Plan was more restrictive than the Mid Town Plan, so we would have to amend their Mid Town Plan in that case".

(TS) 4:35:31- 4:35:41 Commissioner Lewis asks how those changes could be made when they are complicated to do verbally.

(TS) 4:35:31 -4:35:51 Staff replied to verbalize the intention and the Staff  would "do their best to communicate that to the City Council".

(TS) 4:35:51-4:36:18 Commissioner Lewis states:

"I guess my fellow commissioners,  I'm just looking at the Mid Town Plan, and the work the went into that. I am seeing that we added on these five and ten story areas that go multiple blocks in either direction. It seemed to be the large majority of concerns that we had and I'm wondering that if we go back down to that thoughtful Mid Town Plan , if that addresses a lot of the issues and still keeps this corridor, this transit corridor functioning"

(TS) 4:36:18 -4:36:27 Chair Van Horik asks for clarification from staff if the Mid Town Plan was ten stories

(TS) 4:36:27-4:37:15 Staff explains that by Earl and Pacific they moved the ten story line, but the staff would be glad to move the line back adding that in the Mid Town Plan it is 5 stories- in the LUE it was changed to 10 stories. Staff added that the areas outside the Mid Town Plan could be changed by the commission.

(TS) 4:37:15 Chair Van Horik states she is willing to make that change

(TS) 4:37:30 - 4:38:01 Chair Van Horik asks Commissioner Perez if she has a motion to make

(TS) 4:37:34- 4:38;03 Commissioner Perez makes the following motion

"Sure I agree with Commissioner Cruz's earlier comments, we heard from the neighbors loud and clear. My motion is that we send this back to staff for further stakeholder engagement, with the neighborhood organizations, [audience applause starts Perez pauses]. Recommend that we send this back to the staff for further extensive stakeholder engagement with the neighborhood organizations to improve the Land Use document and to preserve the integrity of the neighborhoods and communities" 

(TS) 4:38:03 Audience applause

(TS) 4:38:08 Chair Van Horik calls on Commissioner Templin. Templin replies

" I do recommend that. Second it."

(TS) 4:38:10 Chair Van Horik asks staff if a friendly amendment has to be made for the changes discussed for the Mid Town Plan. She receives an answer off microphone.

(TS) 4:38:33 Chair Van Horik states the commission has a motion and a second on the floor and calls for discussion

(TS) 4:38:40 Video goes blank

(TS) 4:38:44-4:39:28  Video resumes -unidentified male Planning Commissioner

"I do feel comfortable when I look through the pages, I mean we have made an incredible amount of progress on this plan. I feel comfortable where most of the density is lying even in some of the areas, where density has been added in the Fifth. Its in very punctual areas and I know, people are concerned about that, as well they should be, and they are expressing there opinions,  but, I feel that the document over all is very good. I'm a little concerned about the, a little bit of the over reach in I think in the Mid Town Plan and if we were moving for it I would have made a motion to reduce the five and the ten stories to only been within what  had previously been approved in the Mid Town, but it sounds like there is a majority on the commission that is looking to push this off, push this off,  so I'm comfortable with that as well."

(TS) 4:39:28 4:40:57 Staff asks chairman for clarification and specific direction about the Land Use item and more specific intent from the commission about the outreach request and the motion and land use changes

(TS) 4:40:57- 4:41:09 Commissioner Cruz

"So I agree with Commissioner Lewis' comments about Mid Town, but I also want to make sure these neighbors are all happy and try to reach consensus and at least do a better job. There is room for improvement. So that is what I am looking for, and I think [ interrupted by staff]..."

(TS) 4:41:09-4:41:11 Staff interrupts to question

"So no specific direction, but just working with the neighborhoods?"

(TS) 4:41:12-4:41:22 Inaudible comment from the audience-staff asks for quiet

(TS) 4:41:36-4:41:43 LBDS Director Amy Bodek

"...So, If I may just jump in here.

Ahh, were going to the City Council October 3rd.

That has been set and scheduled.

So we can present these maps to them October 3rd as scheduled and make the recommendation to them that you are asking us to do additional community outreach."

(TS) 4:41:47 Commissioner Cruz

"Agreed and I am sure you'll let them know all the neighbors that came out here tonight."

TS) 4:41:48 LBDS Director Amy Bodek

"Of course".

(TS) 4:41:49-4:42:52 Chair Van Horik

"I think, I am comfortable with the plan. But I am not comfortable with the reaction from the community. And I specifically, I think that, Wrigley has had, an opportunity, to, if were going to talk about specific areas, Wrigley's  had a very rich opportunity to provide input. They may have not like all the results of that have come out of the input, but they have defiantly had a process. The two districts that I think, the districts that I think have a right to feel that they haven't been involved are the ones that got changed as a result of our, as a result of our, request in the last two or three months.  And that would be district 5 for sure, and ahh, four, five, seven, well seven is part of two. And eight as well. So I think that the ones [interrupted by Amy Bodek] ..."

(TS) 4:42:52-4:42:04 Director Amy Bodek interrupting

"...We. We don't have significant changes in seven or eight. So I don't know if their have been any changes made in seven and eight. I am hearing four yes and five yes."

(TS) 4:43:05-4:43:14 Chair Van Horik responding to Bodek

"Well eight has had a lot of density changes in existing multi-family housing as a result of some of our suggestions [interrupted by Amy Bodek]..."

(TS) 4:43:14 - 4:43:26 Director Amy Bodek interrupting

"...So. In the interest of time, cuz I know we are about to loose a commissioner. Might I suggest that your recommendation be to the city council that additional community outreach occurs?"

(TS) 4:43:26 -4:43:29 Pause from Chair Van Horik, then she responds

"Yes.  that is the motion that is on the table. I want to hear what Commissioner Templin has to say."

(TS) 4:38:10 - 4:43:38 Chair Van Horik

"Yes that is the motion that is on the table. I want to hear from Commissioner Templin".

(TS) 4:43:38-4:44:31 Commissioner Templin agrees with Commissioner Lewis abut Mid Town and continues

"In agreeing with Commissioner Lewis on Mid town, I think that's understood, I think a lot of information we've been being given by, that I've gotten better answers on, those better answers need to be brought back out to the community. So they understand what we as a city are dealing with. And what our restrictions and limitations are. And why were prompting what were promoting.  I also would like very much to see better outreach, that, that if there are bounced emails and there are no longer associations that are viable, they are taken off the list, and the ones that are viable, that they are included in that outreach is brought up to current standards, so that there is more, or better outreach [interrupted by Amy Bodek]..." "

(TS)  4:44:31-4:44:39 Director Amy Bodek interrupting

"...I do just want to point out that we do not rely exclusively on defined neighborhood organizations".

(TS)  4:44:40 Commissioner Templin " I appreciate that"

(TS)  4:44:41-4:45:04 Director Amy Bodek

"So as I understand it, you going to make a motion tonight, there will be a motion for additional community outreach. We will be going to city council on October 3rd with these land use maps. And we will be including in that discussion your request for additional community outreach."

(TS)  4:45:04-4:45:09 Silence from the commission then chatter in the audience

(TS) 4:45:09-4:45:19 Chair Van Horik asks Bodek if she would like the motion read again and Van Horik states she will call the question

(TS) 4:45:33- 4:45:56 Commissioner Perez speaking

"Thank you guys for being patient here tonight. So I make a recommendation that we send this back to staff for further extensive stakeholder engagement with the neighborhood organizations. To include Commissioner Lewis' Mid Town plans to improve the Land Use document with the goal of preserving the integrity of the neighborhoods and communities."

(TS) 4:46:02-4:46:07  Chair Van Horik asks Commissioner Templin if she still seconds  who acknowledges yes and the chair asks the commissioners if they have any more discussion.

(TS) 4:46:07-4:46:21 An unidentified male commissioner asks for clarification

"So just to clarify, were making some modifications. to the plan. And where making a recommendation it go on to City Council with the caveat that we think there should be some additional community output [sic]...[interrupted by Amy Bodek]..." 

(TS) 4:46:21-4:46:38 Director Amy Bodek interrupting

"I have not heard you make a recommendation that this goes to City Council. I am telling you. That I am taking it to City Council...[a Planning Commissioner tries to continue to speak] Excuse me. I am telling you, I am, we are taking this to city council October 3rd. with or without your recommendation of the Land Use Maps itself."

(TS) 4:46:38-4:46:50 unidentified male commissioner resumes speaking

"So right now the only recommendation, in the motion that we have to you is to make the modification and go out for additional community output [sic]"

(TS) 4:46:38-4:46:50  Director Amy Bodek

"That is correct"

(TS) 4:46:50-4:46:57  Silence.  Then shocked audience starts to talk.

(TS) 4:46:57  Chair Van Horik speaking to audience

"Excuse me. lets just,  we are behind the rail here."

(TS) 4:47:00-4:47:06  Chair Van Horik

"Is it?  Ahh. Does it? Do we need to approve the map at some point? I assume we do."

(TS) 4:47:06 -4:47:47  Director Amy Bodek

"Tonight's action for you was to make a recommendation on the map. Your technical reasonability is to make a recommendation of the map and the EIR. And that combination will come back to you. As Christopher elaborated early on in his presentation, several hours ago, this is a process where we are trying to nail the map down as a project description for the purposes of conducting and completing our CEQA analysis. So if you are not making a recommendation tonight, we understand that on the land use maps."

(TS) 4:47:47 -4:47:57 Chair Van Horik

" OK, Commissioners are any of you ready to approve the land use maps at this point or do you want to wait for the community outreach?"

(TS) 4:47:57-4:48:01 Commissioner Lewis

"I think there already is a motion on the table right now."

(TS) 4:48:01-4:48:11 Chair Van Horik

"There is...but...There is, absolutely there's a motion on the table. I just trying to understand if you want to talk about the motion before you go forward?"

(TS) 4:48:11-4:48:35 Commissioner Perez

"Let me ask this. I'm not ready to send this to council. I don't think its ready yet. Right? I mean... (Audience applause) ...and that's not why I'm doing this I care about the neighbors.  Let me be clear on this, Amy and staff and our attorney, it is very rare we do this but I'm not comfortable sending this its not done. In my mind  its not an end product, its not done"

(TS) 4:48:35-4:48:36 Director Amy Bodek

"We understand that."

(TS) 4:48:36 Chair Van Horik Calls for a vote and the motion carries 4 -1.  

Yes: Lewis, Perez, Templin, van Horik

No: Cruz