On January 18, the City of Long Beach released the fourth version of its Land Use Element maps, which include revisions based on planning commission recommendations made late last year.
“After review by the public and planning commission, there have been several changes to the land use maps based on feedback,” City Manager Patrick West said in a press release. “The revised maps, which will go before city council [March 6], take into consideration the needs of current residents and those who will join our communities in the future.”
The revised maps have no revisions for Council Districts 1, 3, 7, 8 and 9. Revisions in the remaining districts are as follows:
Council District 2
• Reduced allowable building height on 7th Street from Walnut Avenue to St. Louis Avenue from five stories to three stories.
• Changed the allowed land use on 7th Street from Walnut Avenue to St. Louis Avenue from “Neighborhood Mixed Use Moderate Density” to “Neighborhood Mixed Use Low Density.”
Council District 4
• Changed the allowed use on Bellflower Boulevard at Stearns Street (Sears) from “Mixed Use” to “Community Commercial.” As a result, the density was also reduced.
• Changed the allowed use of the properties fronting the traffic circle (such as the Audi dealership) from “Mixed Use” to “Commercial,” which also resulted in reduced density.
• Reduced allowable building height in the traffic circle area from six stories to four stories (except existing buildings over four stories).
Council District 5
• Changed the use, and therefore reduced density, on Bellflower Boulevard at Spring Street (Kmart/Lowe’s) from Mixed Use to Community Commercial.
• Reduced allowable building height at Bellflower Boulevard at Spring Street (Kmart/Lowe’s) from three stories to two stories.
Council District 6
• Reduced the allowable building height outside the Midtown Specific Plan borders roughly bounded by Pine Avenue, Earl Avenue, Burnett Street and Willow Street from five stories to four stories.
• Reduced the allowable building height in the area bounded by Earl Avenue, Pacific Avenue (alley behind), and 25th Street from five stories to two stories.
• Changed the use, and therefore reduced density, in the area bounded by Earl Avenue, Pacific Avenue (alley behind), and 25th Street from Transit Oriented Development to Founding and Contemporary (single family).
• Reduced the allowable building height in the area east of Midtown Specific Plan bounded by Pasadena Avenue, Linden Avenue, Nevada Street and Vernon Street from five stories to four stories.
• Reduced the allowable building height on Pacific Avenue from 25th Street to 28th Street (outside of the Midtown Specific Plan) from four stories to three stories.
• Changed the use, and therefore reduced density, on Pacific Avenue from 25th Street to 28th Street (outside of Midtown) from Transit Oriented Development to Neighborhood Mixed Use Low Density.
• Reduced the allowable building height on Pacific Avenue from 20th Street to 25th Street from four stories to three stories.
• Changed the use, and therefore reduced density, on Pacific Avenue from 20th Street to 25th Street from Neighborhood Mixed Use Moderate Density to Neighborhood Mixed Use Low Density.
• Reduced the allowable building height in the area bounded by 20th Street, Pacific Avenue, 19th Street and Locust Avenue from five stories to four stories.
Overall, the changes equate to a 98-acre reduction between the new maps and those released in November following four community meetings and written public input. These maps leave 44% of city land as single-family neighborhoods, which will see no change. Nineteen percent of the city consists of the airport, port and other infrastructure, and Downtown Long Beach accounts for 2% of the city. Additionally, 16% of the city is planned for public and private open space and parks, 6% for mixed-use development, 5% for existing multi-family residential buildings, 5% for industrial and neo-industrial uses, 2% for transit-oriented development and 1% for traditional commercial or retail shopping centers.
To view the maps and for more information on the Land Use Element, www.longbeach.gov/lueude2040. To submit input on the maps, e-mail LUEUDE2040@longbeach.gov. The city council is scheduled to consider the revised maps during its March 6 meeting.