Neighbors voice opposition - Los Angeles Times
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Neighbors voice opposition

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Huntington Beach residents packed the Planning Commission’s first study session on the updates to the Downtown Specific Plan on Tuesday to voice their disapproval with the city’s possible development of their neighborhood.

The Downtown Specific Plan is a long-range planning document that dictates building specifications and is being updated to increase development over the next 20 years. The plans encompass the area south of Goldenwest Street and north of Beach Boulevard along the beach and from the pier to Palm Avenue with Sixth Street and Lake Street as the boundary lines.

The residents don’t have an issue with the plan as a whole, just with the part that would turn their neighborhood by Main and Sixth streets into a “mini-destination†by building a performing arts theater, art center and underground parking structure. The purpose of the development is to create a cultural arts district to anchor the north end of Main Street.

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About 70 residents came to the first of a series of study sessions, which, according to Associate Planner Jennifer Villasenor, are designed to familiarize the Planning Commission with the Downtown Specific Plan.

“Contrary to popular belief, we have, none of us, made up our mind yet,†Planning Commission Vice Chairman Blair Farley said.

The neighbors are also concerned with losing Triangle Park and the Main Street Library to the possible development, and more than 20 residents voiced their disapproval during public comment.

“This cultural arts center is not for the residents,†said Kim Kramer, spokesman for the neighbors’ Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Assn. “This is for getting heads in beds . . . It’s all about transient occupancy tax.â€

The study session addressed the purpose of the update to the Downtown Specific Plan, as well as its process and background, and an analysis of major changes to the plan.

The plan was created in 1983, and the current update was initiated by the City Council in 2006, when development in the downtown reached the current maximums. The update will change development and parking standards and alter zoning guidelines to accommodate future development.

The plan will increase retail, restaurant and office facilities, as well as residential units. The updates also call for sustainable and green building practices.

The neighbors have mobilized since learning about the plan, forming the association and circulating a petition against the development that has nearly 3,000 signatures. The association held a rally June 18 that brought out more than 100 neighbors to learn about the possible development and how to get involved in preventing it.

The proposed three- or four-story cultural center is slated to be on top of Triangle Park, where residents said families walk their dogs, kids play and sporting contests are held.

Neighbors gathered at the park they are trying to save with homemade signs and their children and dogs in tow. Kramer said at the rally the possible development would “degrade and demolish†the quality of life for the residents by taking away their park and library, increasing traffic congestion in their neighborhood and bringing more people to an already overpopulated area.

“This library is now in jeopardy of being demolished. This park is now in jeopardy of being demolished. We would like to stop this,†Kramer said at the rally. “We understand the possibilities of what could be built here, and it’s not pretty.â€

Sue Hart has lived on Sixth Street for 11 years and said she is terrified at the thought of the increase in people and traffic the development would bring.

“We are already so very impacted by Main Street and the chaos down there,†Hart said. “I’m all for progress. I’m all for a cultural center but not in the middle of a residential district.â€

The Environmental Impact Report for the plan is expected to be released by mid-July according to Villasenor.

The Planning Commission will hold two more study sessions before it is expected to vote in September. From there, the plan would have to gain City Council and the California Coastal Commission approval before ultimately being put to a vote by residents.

Timeline

Past: Neighbors created the Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Assn. to protest the Downtown Specific Plan. The association created a petition against the plan and held a rally June 18 to garner support for its cause. If put into motion, the plan aims to develop a cultural arts district on the site of the park and library.

Present: The Planning Commission held its first study session Tuesday on the updates to the Downtown Specific Plan. Residents packed the board meeting and more than 20 spoke against the project during public comment.

Future: The Planning Commission will hold two more study sessions before it is expected to vote in September.


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