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Home My WebLink AboutDecertificiation of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Env (2) oATINGTo 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 9 City of Huntington Beach 92648 - Q? APnieovED y-3 ``oo r„-. �' ( 1G41.141c4, /-1ojj1� c, NNTY C Bony -No) File #: 23-497 MEETING DATE: 6/6/2023 Subject: Submitted by Council Member McKeon - Decertification of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report Recommended Action: Direct the City Attorney and City Manager to return to the City Council with a plan for decertification of the BECSP EIR and vacate all associated findings. Attachment(s): 1 . McKeon - BESCP EIR City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 6/1/2023 powered by LegistarT"^ I, l (, 2..N, CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING — COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: CASEY MCKEON, COUNCIL MEMBER DATE: J U N E 6, 2023 SUBJECT: DECERTIFICATION OF BEACH EDINGER CORRIDOR SPECIFIC PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT ISSUE STATEMENT The State continues to recklessly enact legislation that purportedly requires the City to plan for and build housing that could exceed the City's planned housing growth as detailed in the City's General Plan. The environmental impacts analyzed as part of the Environmental Impact (EIR) report for the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan (BECSP) back in 2010 were consistent with the City's General Plan. The environmental impacts back then were analyzed and provided to the public long before the recent aggressive State housing laws that now purportedly require an exponential increase in the amount of housing in the City. While the City is actively challenging these recent State's high-density housing mandates, because of the rash of new State housing laws,the informational value of the data provided as part of the BECSP's EIR is lost and the document obsolete. Because of this, I recommend the City Attorney and City Manager return to City Council with a plan for decertification of the BECSP EIR and vacate all associated findings. RECOMMENDED ACTION Direct the City Attorney and City Manager return to City Council with a plan for decertification of the BECSP EIR and vacate all associated findings. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL Economic Development & Housing !Kennedy COMMISSION June 6, 2023 www.kennedvcommission.org 17701 Cowan Ave.,Suite 200 Irvine,CA 92614 949 250 0909 Mayor Strickland and Councilmembers City of Huntington Beach 2000 Main St. Huntington Beach, CA 92648 RE: Item 27 - Submitted by Council Member McKeon - Decertification of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report Mayor Strickland and Councilmembers: The Kennedy Commission (the Commission) is a broad-based coalition of residents and community organizations that advocates for the production of homes affordable for families earning less than$30,000 annually in Orange County. Formed in 2001,the Commission has been successful in partnering and working with Orange County jurisdictions to create effective housing and land-use policies that have led to the new construction of homes affordable to lower-income working families. As the Council considers item 27, The Kennedy Commission urges the Council to not move forward with the proposed consideration to decertify the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan (BESCSP) Environmental Impact Report. If the city moves forward with decertifying the BESCSP EIR it will cause greater uncertainty in creating affordable housing opportunities in Huntington Beach. The BECSP current standards, development capacity and environmental review adopted is a critical part of providing housing opportunities and consistency in the city's General Plan, Housing Element, and overall planning. Again, we remind the city of the critical need for affordable housing in the City of Huntington Beach and request that the city not continue to undermine affordable housing planning and opportunities. The shortage of affordable housing in Huntington Beach is in large part due to the City's noncompliance with Housing Element commitments, programs and general housing laws and requirements. We ask the city to do the following: - We request that the city not decertify the BECSP EIR and create further uncertainty in development. - We request the city work with residents and community organizations on further analysis of the feasibility and capacity of sites and programs that will facilitate affordable housing. - To provide housing in a more balanced manner, the Commission recommends that the city comply with state housing laws and that the city adopt its 2021-2029 Housing Element in an effort to p gxpk ppsing opportunities in Huntington Beach. �,�Utt'' �j,4L COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: 69/612..3 Agenda item No.; (?91°Z3 Ll J�) Kennedy C O M M I S S I O The Housing Element should include robust and effective housing programs and should identify adequate affordable housing sites to address affordable housing requirements on the production of the lower-income segments. We request that the city prioritize the creation of affordable homes for extremely low-,very low-, and low-income households to truly address housing needs not being addressed by the housing market in Huntington Beach. The Commission looks forward to partnering with the city to increase housing opportunities for lower-income residents in Huntington Beach. Please keep us informed of any updates and meetings regarding strategies to increase the affordable homes for lower-income households in the city. If you have any questions, please contact me at cesarc@kennedycommission.org. Sincerely, Cesar Covarrubias Executive Director cc: Ms. Megan Kirkeby, Acting Deputy Director, Housing Policy Development, CA HCD Ms. Melinda Coy, Proactive Accountability Chief, CA HCD Switzer, Donna From: Fikes, Cathy Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 11:50 AM To: Agenda Alerts Subject: FW: Opposition To Agenda Item #27: Decertification of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan EIR From: Douglas Von Dollen<von.dollendouglas@gmail.com> Sent: Monday,June 5, 2023 11:39 AM To: CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org> Subject:Opposition To Agenda Item#27: Decertification of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan EIR Smarter people than me will likely comment on whether a City Council can decertify a 13 year-old program EIR which has been tiered from several times, including in reaction to a major lawsuit that ultimately cost the city $3.5 million. My concern is the size of the special file in which staff seem to be keeping Councilman McKeon's increasingly novel attempts to affect building policies in Huntington Beach. This file seems to contain: 1. The "Request To Update and Develop Objective Standards For Development" introduced on 1/18. 2. The "Request To Review Group Home Regulations and Recommend Amendments and Improvements As Needed" introduced on 2/7. 3. The "Request To Commence A Development Impact Fund (DIF) Study" also introduced on 2/7. 4. The "Request For A One-Stop Shop Update" introduced on 4/4. 5. The "Request For A Fiscal and Operations Update On the City's Middle Income Housing Program" introduced on 5/16. To this thick file we now add the BECSP Environmental Impact Report review request. Should citizens expect action on any of these requests? If not, why? And why do more keep coming? Is there a particularly wobbly desk at City Hall that has finally achieved structural integrity thanks to this folder? If so, maybe it's time to take a break from these requests and to get back to matters with a tangible impact on citizens. SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: W“a 3 Agenda Item No.; 71°23— y 1 .7) CHEVY • CHRYSLER• DODGE • FORD •HOND4•�FEP Alit *A, VeadE' • xemic Av.K��• � 405 HBADA F G Foundatih Blvd.on •vO�Ksp. �� A MAZDA• HYUNDAI • NISSAN •TOYOTp` Huntington Beach Auto Dealers Association June 2,2023 Dear Mayor Strickland and members of the Huntington Beach City Council, The Huntington Beach Auto Dealers have concerns on the potential future impacts of the possible decertification of the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan E.I.R. scheduled for discussion on Tuesday June 6th(Agenda item 23-497). The City's auto dealers represent a significant economic impact to the community and any changes which would impact their ability to update,modernize or redevelop their facilities could have a potential negative effect on the community as a whole. The Huntington Beach Auto Dealers have always been open to working with the City on major changes and will make ourselves available to discuss any modifications to the adopted City plans for Beach Boulevard. Thank you, Dave Garofalo Executive Director Huntington Beach Auto Dealers Association SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: l%v/2..3 Agenda Item No.; 771-23— 630 Main Street-Huntington Beach, Ca - 92648 714.914.9797 - Hbnewsl@aol.com - beachblvdofcars.com Switzer, Donna From: Jennifer(Ward) Bullard <jbullard@ocbc.org> Sent: Monday,June 5, 2023 7:13 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL Subject: City Council Item#23-497 Good Afternoon, On behalf of the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) we submit the following comments on the June 6 City Council Item #23-497 regarding Decertification of Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report. OCBC's primary goal is to support and promote the economic development of Orange County, to ensure businesses and our economy continue to thrive and we continue to enjoy our high quality of life. Enabling business growth and economic revitalization to occur by streamlining regulations and cutting red tape when possible, is extremely valuable. OCBC cautions the City Council against removing important tools in the toolbox for business and economic development to occur in the Beach and Edinger corridors specific plan area. We would be happy to provide more information on our concerns. Thank you. JENNIFER BULLARD Senior Vice President Advocacy & Government Affairs Orange County Business Council jbullard@ocbc.org 949-794-7215 :+ �� 3 ORANGE COUNTY � BUSINESS COUNCIL 2 Park Plaza, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92614 ocbc.org I locationoc.com SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: Go/L0 Agenda Item No.; a jl a3 J ±!2) i Switzer, Donna From: Cathy Edman <cathyedman@hotmail.com> Sent: Tuesday,June 6, 2023 12:27 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org Cc: Garofalo, David; Mike Adams Subject: H.B. City Council Meeting 6/6/23 (agenda item 23-497) Mayor Strickland and members of the Huntington Beach City Council, The Huntington Beach Auto Dealers have concerns on the potential future impacts of the possible decertification of the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan E.I.R. scheduled for discussion on Tuesday June 6th (Agenda item 23-497). The City's auto dealers represent a significant economic impact to the community and any changes which would impact their ability to update, modernize or redevelop their facilities could have a potential negative effect on the community as a whole. The Huntington Beach Auto Dealers have always been open to working with the City on major changes and will make ourselves available to discuss any modifications to the adopted City plans for Beach Boulevard. Thank you, Dave Garofalo Representative for the Huntington Beach Auto Dealers Association 1 Switzer, Donna From: Adam Wood BILD <awood@bildfoundation.org> Sent: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 1:36 PM To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL Subject: Building Industry Legal Defense Comment Letter Attachments: BILD Comment Letter.pdf Please see the attached letter regarding BECSP decertification efforts. Thank you. -Adam Adam S. Wood Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation awood(aabildfoundation.orq ph: (949) 777-3860 w: bildfoundation.org Address: 17192 Murphy Ave.,#14445, Irvine,CA 92623 1 I3I L1) BUILDING INDUSTRY LEGAL DEFENSE FOUNDATION June 6, 2023 Mayor Tony Strickland City of Huntington Beach 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach, CA 92648 RE: File Item 27—Decertifying the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan EIR On behalf of the Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation (BILD), I write to express serious concerns regarding decertification of the Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan Environmental Impact Report. By way of background, the Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation (BILD) is a non-profit affiliate of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC). The mission of BILD is to provide research and pursue litigation. The Beach Edinger Corridor Specific Plan(BECSP)has a well-documented history in Huntington Beach. Most recently,the Kennedy Commission was awarded$3.5 million in legal fees stemming from the last attempt to block housing within the BECSP. As File Item 27 opens by stating that the "State continues to recklessly enact legislation that requires the City to plan for and building housing..."the motives of this current assault on the BECSP are made clear. Ironically, decertifying will incentivize higher density housing construction in Huntington Beach. AB 2011 takes effect in July and creates a ministerial, California Environmental Quality Act exempt, time-limited approval process for multifamily housing developments on commercially zoned property. This will become the primary housing development tool along Beach and Edinger if viable alternatives are removed. If this Agenda Item ultimately results in further misguided attempts to limit housing production, BILD will be forced to act. Potential steps include involving the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Attorney General's office, and direct litigation, if required. None of these actions are desired or necessary. We hope to work with Huntington Beach to find reasonable housing solutions. Decertifying the BECSP does not align with that goal. BILD recommends your careful review of this matter and appreciates the role housing plays in a vibrant future for Huntington Beach. Sincerel , Adam S. Wood Building Industry Legal Defense Foundation 17192 Murphy Ave.,#14445, Irvine, CA 92623 949.777.3860; BILDFoundation.org