Long Beach is dialing into the digital age for civic engagement with an upcoming virtual community meeting on zoning regulations. The City of Long Beach Community Development Department is inviting the public to weigh in on the new zoning proposal for the central part of the city. The "Zone In: City Core" project stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway to 10th Street and between Magnolia and Ximeno avenues.
The draft zoning regulations, which could pave the way for over 3,000 new housing units, were crafted following a two-year dialogue with locals. The interactive map available on the department's website allows residents to snoop in on how their addresses could be affected. A virtual discussion is slated for April 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., where feedback will be taken ahead of an April 22 deadline. According to the City of Long Beach, attendees are encouraged to RSVP for the online forum, which can also be joined by dialing 213.338.8466 with the Meeting ID: 994 5666 5878. Spanish and Khmer interpretation services are on the table, and other languages can be requested through the RSVP process.
The Zone In City Core project, previously nicknamed the Anaheim Corridor Zoning Implementation Plan, targets an area seen as ripe for a residential and commercial facelift. Mixed-use developments, aiming to blend living spaces with job opportunities and retail, are planned particularly along the bustling corridors of Anaheim Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
The new zoning aims to sculpt a cohesive community, knitting together homes, businesses, and shopping hubs while promoting walkability. Public feedback is encouraged on the proposal, which could significantly reshape Central Long Beach's skyline and streets. Comments on the draft are to be funneled to Felice Anaya at [email protected] and should be tagged with “City Core Public Input” in the subject line, as per the City of Long Beach. Following the public review period, the plan will wend its way to the Planning Commission and then to the City Council for potential adoption.
For those who prefer to peruse planning documents at their own pace, a deep dive into the Zone In City Core plan and other rezoning efforts citywide is available on the project's webpage. Media inquiries can be fielded by Rick de la Torre, Community Information Officer at Long Beach Development Services Department, who is reachable at 562.570.7174 or [email protected].
