Engineer says street improvements would aid 2nd+PCH traffic issues Politics Guide

May 18

Engineer says street improvements would aid 2nd+PCH traffic issues

LONG BEACH — Increased traffic is one of the biggest concerns about a massive proposed development in southeast Long Beach, but the city’s traffic engineer says there’s no need to worry.

Current street improvement projects would cancel out the extra traffic generated by the residential, commercial and hotel development proposed at 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway, Traffic Engineer David Roseman told the Planning Commission Thursday. The “seaside village” dubbed 2nd+PCH would replace the aging Seaport Marina Hotel at the intersection’s southeast corner.

“The project we have under construction basically adds more capacity to the intersection than this project adds cars to it,” Roseman said during a study session at City Hall.

That didn’t alleviate all of the commisioners’ worries Tuesday, as they gave mixed reviews and levels of support for the project. Some said they want a smaller or shorter development, less than the 12-story maximum now proposed, while others said they mostly liked the plan.

“I can’t believe if we add over 200,000 feet of retail, it won’t create traffic,” said Chairman Charles Durnin, who was joined by Commissioner Donita Van Horik on the issue.

Commissioner Phil Saumur said he was concerned about the height, while Commissioner Melanie Smith said it didn’t bother her. She added that she doesn’t think the project will impact the nearby Los Cerritos Wetlands, as environmentalists contend, and that “a mix of uses is appropriate” there.

The development would include 325 residential units, 192,000 square feet of retail space, a 100-room hotel, 21,000 square feet of restaurant space, a community theater, a marine science learning center and 1,440 parking spaces. Building heights would include a 12-story residential building, as well as two six-story buildings.

Commissioner Alan Fox said he’s “generally supportive of the project,” though he said he’s concerned it would change the “aesthetic relationship” of the corner. Commissioner Leslie Gentile showed support for the development.

“I welcome the change,” she said.

Construction of the project really would require a change.

The Planning Commission, City Council and California Coastal Commission all would have to agree to alter 34-year-old zoning rules at the site to allow residential development, which is currently prohibited there, and to allow buildings taller than 35 feet. As proposed, the tallest building in the project would be 150 feet.

A mixed crowd of supporters and opponents also spoke at the meeting.

Randy Sarver, a retired fire captain who lives nearby on Appian Way, was skeptical about the traffic mitigations outlined by Roseman. He noted that while PCH may be widened, 2 nd Street is staying the same size and would still be congested if the development moves forward.

“All that traffic is in those two lanes,” Sarver said. “I don’t know how you can see that there’s going to be an improvement.”

Stephen Bello, a real estate broker who lives at Marina Pacifica across the street, said he prefers the project because, as Roseman had stated, retail development creates far more traffic than residential development.

“The alternative, in my opinion, could be worse,” Bello said.

A draft environmental impact report on the project found that some negative traffic and air quality effects from the project would be unavoidable. The only way to avoid these problems, the study says, is to reduce the scale of the project.

David Malmuth, the developer, has said that shrinking the development would make it economically infeasible.

Malmuth has said that the project would generate an estimated $2.8 million annually for the city, creating jobs and other economic benefits. Malmuth also said that a recent survey commissioned by 300 Long Beach residents that found that over 70 percent support the project.

Opponents are skeptical of the numbers cited for the financial benefits and of the survey methodology and results. They say far more area residents are against the project.

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