Dear [NAME OF COUNCILMEMBER],

 

I am writing to express grave concerns regarding the proposed Pacific Place Project at 3701 Pacific Place. This self-storage facility and RV park would eliminate 14 acres of precious open space along the Los Angeles River in one of Long Beach's most environmentally burdened areas. Located at the intersection of the 405 and 710 freeways in what has been called the "diesel death zone," this project would further impact a community already suffering disproportionate health effects from pollution.
 

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for this project is severely deficient. It fails to properly analyze significant impacts on air quality, endangered plant species, hazardous materials, traffic safety, and tribal cultural resources. The DEIR also improperly relies on studies prepared for a previously invalidated project, uses an unstable project description, and defers critical analysis of hazardous conditions to other agencies. These shortcomings violate the California Environmental Quality Act's requirements for thorough environmental review.
 

Perhaps most concerning is the project's direct conflict with numerous city and regional plans that have long designated this site for park development. The RiverLink Plan, West Long Beach Livability Implementation Plan, Los Angeles River Master Plan, and Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan all identify this location as the future "Wrigley Heights River Park." The LLARRP even calls it the "gem of the Lower LA River" with unique potential for groundwater recharge. This conflict represents a significant land use impact that the DEIR fails to acknowledge.
 

The inequity in park access throughout Long Beach is stark: western Long Beach has little more than 1 acre of parkland per 1,000 residents compared to 16.7 acres in eastern neighborhoods. The City's own General Plan Open Space and Recreation Element established a goal to achieve 8 acres of recreational open space per 1,000 residents citywide. Approving this project would make it impossible to address this disparity, as this site represents one of the last remaining large parcels available for park development in western Long Beach.
 

I urge you to reject this project proposal and direct staff to pursue alternative uses that align with established planning documents and environmental justice principles. The residents of western Long Beach deserve the same access to green space and clean air as those in the less racially diverse neighborhoods of eastern Long Beach. This project represents a critical decision point for our city's environmental future and commitment to equity. Will we continue to burden heavily polluted communities with more industrial uses while denying them recreational spaces, or will we take this rare opportunity to create the vibrant riverfront park that has been planned on this property for decades?

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Respectfully,

[YOUR NAME]