| Trust me. I get it. The new development proposals for South East Long Beach near Los Cerritos Wetlands are concerning. But for those of us who have been actively working to protect Los Cerritos Wetlands for over a decade (or longer), we have been anticipating this day. Some background: You may remember that the City of Long Beach started updating the zoning for the lands in and around Los Cerritos Wetlands in 2014. In some ways, that was a good thing since zoning for those lands was a mishmash of old laws that needed to be improved. We engaged in the zoning update process every step of the way. We participated in every public meeting, mobilized our members, sent in comment/feedback letters, engaged experts, and even filed a lawsuit when we saw issues that violated the California Environmental Quality Act. That process resulted in a final zoning plan (approved by the City of Long Beach and then, with some good modifications, by the California Coastal Commission) We didn’t love it, but we acknowledge the good things about the new zoning. For example, robust buffers between development and the wetlands, bird-safe lighting, and drought-tolerant/native plant landscaping. Subsequently, due to the acute housing crisis in California, new State laws were passed that override local zoning and have bumped up the allowed height of residential/mixed-use developments as long as certain conditions are met. Two of the proposed new developments include affordable housing units which triggered overriding SEASP and allow six-story buildings. |
| Carmel Partners proposes a development that qualifies for and complies with State requirements at 6615 E PCH (near the Pumpkin Patch). However, I am happy to let you know that, because of our talks with them, there will be some improvements to that project. Improvements1) Carmel Partners has agreed to consult Dr. Travis Longcore for his expertise, review, and feedback to enhance wetlands/bird-safe lighting and rooftop design elements. Dr. Longcore is a highly regarded expert on the impacts of light and other urban intrusions on fragile wetlands species. His involvement will help make the proposed development’s bird safety and wetlands-friendly features as robust as possible. Given that the Carmel development will be located so close to Los Cerritos Wetlands, that is something they must get right. 2) Another office building owned by Carmel Partners is currently located within the new 100-foot buffer zone designed to protect Los Cerritos Wetlands from the impacts and intrusions of the surrounding urban environment. Carmel has agreed to give the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust a “first option” opportunity to find a non-profit or government agency that could purchase the building and restore it to an open space/buffer area. I have closely followed the State of California’s 30 x 30 initiative, and a project that offers a robust buffer adjacent to wetlands meets those goals. I am optimistic that funding will be available to us. |
| 3) I have heard more than one person tell me that the solution to all new traffic woes brought on by new development in the area is to extend Shopkeeper Road through to PCH. But what if that isn’t true? Or what if extending the road is traffic-inducing or worsens nearby traffic? The best way to answer those questions is to conduct a traffic and mobility study to provide critical data. I am happy to share that Carmel Partners is committed to working with community leaders and partners to study “best practices” to address transportation issues in the area. A traffic and mobility study is the first step in that discussion. Roads adjacent to wetlands harm and kill fragile species. It is in the interest of all of us who care about Los Cerritos Wetlands to at least look at transportation alternatives, and I hope we do. While I’m never going to be happy with the new development so close to Los Cerritos Wetlands, we must acknowledge it when developers go beyond the minimum required and Carmel Partners has done that. Stay tuned. There are more developments proposed for the area, but you can be sure we will be all over them and will work to improve them as much as we possibly can. Elizabeth Lambe Executive Director Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust |
| P.S. I hope by now you have heard the news! The California Coastal Conservancy voted to award $31,852,000 to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, which will help with planning and permitting for restoration and providing public access for Los Cerritos Wetlands restoration efforts. |