Read traffic consultant Fred Minagar’s review of the proposed Second + PCH traffic issues.

Click here to read traffic consultant Fred Minagar’s review of the proposed Second + PCH traffic issues..

Hellman hike is this Saturday.  It's a great opportunity to check out some rare and wonderful local wetlands.

Belding's Savannah Sparrrow

Join us for a nature walk on the Seal Beach portion of the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Led by naturalists Eric Zahn and Taylor Parker of Tidal Influence, this event is an easy walk. You will learn a lot, and you are sure to have a good time.

The walk will take place Saturday June 4th at 8:00AM. We will meet, and park at the Hellman wetlands property entrance which is a driveway on the inland side of the intersection 1st Street and PCH. Click here for a map.

We will walk through the wetlands and learn about encroachment, heritage coastal sage scrub and historic dredge spoils. We will ramble down along salt flats and look for tiger beetles and coyote tracks. Then we will hike up to Heron Pointe and learn how tidal circulation shapes our local wetlands. We will then walk along the Heron Pointe cultural trail and discuss the native peoples of the area and the history of the Heron Pointe Development. On our way back, among other things, we will look for wildlife like.

The endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow. We will complete our walk by heading back along the access road to the parking place.

For more information or to RSVP contact Elizabeth at ejlambe@verizon.net

Tuesday's meeting, featuring traffic expert Fred Minagar was fascinating.  We all learned a lot about the traffic issues surrounding Second + PCH.

Measuring and understanding the traffic implications of proposed developments can be challenging, such as when Second + PCH developers say that their huge development won't cause too much traffic; and even if it does, you won't really notice it. You know that just sounds wrong. That's why it's so important to have this aspect of the proposed Second + PCH development carefully analyzed and reviewed.

At our meeting on Tuesday, well regarded traffic consultant Fred Minagar of Minagar and Associates (click here to see their website) reviewed his analysis of the proposed Second + PCH development's traffic impacts. He then shared some key points with the audience. An important point he made is that the specifics of how the traffic caused by the development are insufficently analyzed in the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) for the project. Since, with Mr. Minagar's expert help, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust submitted comments to the city on that deficiency in the RDEIR (and others too) the city is legally obligated to respond to them. That should help us all piece together a better picture of the traffic producing aspects of Second + PCH.

A great overview of Tuesday's meeting was reported by Patch.com which you can read by clicking here.

An interesting quote about the meeting from the article on Patch.com is below.

Stressing his company's objective analysis, Minagar found 64 items of concern with the DEIR, some big, some small and some cosmetic. Nonetheless, these 64 items have been submitted as a report to the Planning Commission to review along with the current DEIR. "Any project will generate traffic," Minagar noted, "even the smallest one."

However, he did pinpoint four intersections that would experience significant levels of traffic increase in the near future, and six that would be affected by 2015. (The DEIR first identified five intersections that would be impacted, then reduced the number in the RDEIR to two.) Minagar analyzed 25 intersections (as in the DEIR) for impact because, as Minagar said, explaining the increase in traffic like a bucket overflowing with water, "the traffic has got to go somewhere, but you don't always know where."

In order to learn as much as we can about the traffic problems that would be created by the proposed Second + PCH development, we are working with well regarded traffic expert Fred Minagar.

There are a lot of problems associated with the proposed Second + PCH development. It is too tall, too dense, sets a bad precedent. But perhaps the most controversial aspect of the development is the huge amount of unmitigable traffic it would produce. What we know now is that intersections near the development (2nd + PCH, Westminster and Studebaker and more) are already really bad and would be even worse should this immense, unsuitable project ever get built. But before that can happen, the traffic impacts must be studied and addressed in the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in a thorough and complete way, not in a quick and shallow way that glosses over the problems.

To help ensure that a detailed and thoughtful analysis is done of the traffic issues caused Second + PCH, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is working with traffic engineer Fred Minagar. Mr. Minagar has provided an invaluable service to the process by reviewing and critiquing the traffic calculations (and conclusions) in the Revised Draft EIR about Second + PCH. We have submitted his comments to the City, and we are awaiting a response.

Click here to read Mr. Minagar's traffic review.

To learn what Mr. Minagar shared with the city regarding Second + PCH attend our meeting on Tuesday, May 31st.

• What: Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust General Meeting and Community Briefing.
• Who: Fred Minagar is a recognized national authority in the areas of Intelligent Transportation Systems, traffic engineering and transportation planning. Mr. Minagar has engineered, managed and administered over 250 traffic engineering projects in 15 states across the United States.
• When: Tuesday, May 31st at 7:00PM
• Where: Best Western Golden Sails Resort Hotel, 6285 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90803. (near the corner of PCH and Loynes).

View Larger Map

To RSVP or for further information: Contact Elizabeth at ejlambe@verizon.net or 714/357-8576.

Don't forget to check out our website lcwlandtrust.org/truthabout/ for the latest news about Second + PCH and more.

We are glad the Long Beach Planning Commission is hosting study sessions regarding the proposed Second + PCH development. The next one will be on the land use implications of the proposal, and these are huge. Take the time to attend the meeting and express your thoughts and concerns.

Attend the Planning Commission Second + PCH study session this Thursday .

Here's the thing about the development proposed for the corner of 2nd Street and PCH. What is at stake isn't just the future of that corner but the future of land use for the entire area. Why? Because what is being proposed for 2nd Street and PCH is so very different from what is allowed there now under current zoning that it will set the stage for a dramatically different look and quality of life for the entire area. The project proponents are not just asking for a few zoning variances; they are asking for a zoning amendment. This is a serious matter because, as we have seen in so many other communities, one giant development facilitates others in places that were formerly low-rise and un-dense because they were zoned that way. If you want to a peek into the future of what the area around the Los Cerritos Wetlands could look like, think Marina Del Rey--one giant high-rise after another blocking access and views to the local bay, casting long shadows, and impeding wildlife.

That's why the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust and other community groups are so concerned about this proposed development. Not because we don't want to see the corner of 2nd Street + PCH spruced up and become of greater value to the community, but because we think huge towering buildings surrounding our wetlands are bad for the community and our local wetlands no matter how many bells and whistles are hung on them.

Keep in mind what zoning is supposed to mean: you are protected from your neighbors' building something huge and out of charcater in your local neighborhood. You deserve the protection and certainty that enforced zoning provides, and so do the residents of east Long Beach. Attend the meeting on Tuesday and tell the Planning Commission to enforce the current low-rise zoning for the area.

What: Planning Commission Study Session. The City of Long Beach's Planning Commission will be asking the public to share their thoughts, questions and concerns about the land use issues associated with the proposed Second + PCH development.

Click here for a link to the Planning Commission meeting agenda.

• When: Thursday, May 19th, 2011. The study session will be at the end of the Commission's regular meeting which starts at 5:00 PM.
• Where: Long Beach City Council Chambers. 333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802

View Larger Map

Enjoy an educational and recreational early morning birdwalk in our local wetlands.

View of the Hellman portion of the Los Cerritos Wetlands as viewed from Gum Grove Park. Photo: Cindy Crawford.

Bird/Nature Walk at Los Cerritos Wetlands, Orange County side

It is beautiful out on our wetlands in the spring time. Why not see for yourself by joining us this Saturday on a bird/nature walk, taking a relaxing stroll through our wonderful Los Cerritos Wetlands?

We will be meeting in the parking lot of Gum Grove Park in Seal Beach (Avalon entrance) which is a long narrow park that runs along the Hellman section. It is an easy walk and a great way to see birds, butterflies, spiders and native ground squirrels.

Ponds from the fall and winter rains have dried up, giving way to a spectacular spring with nesting birds and colorful migrating songbirds. They are visible in the park and on the 100 acres of land now in public ownership. We will also be looking for hawks, egrets, herons, wrens and more.

Come and enjoy some of the wildlife in our midst at a beautiful season of the year. We always have a great time!

• What: Nature and Bird Walk
• When: Saturday, March 12th, 8:00 a.m.
• Where: Gum Grove Park, off Pacific Coast Highway at the border of Seal Beach and Long Beach. Meet at the Avalon entrance.

If you have questions, please email eldoradoaudubon@yahoo.com

Planning Commission is meeting again to study the proposed Second + PCH development. This time the topic is how this development would impact land use. We know the answer...IT WOULD SET A BAD PRECEDENT. Attend the meeting and share your thoughts with the commissioners.

Depiction of the height and scale of the proposed Second + PCH development as seen from Marina Drive.

It's common sense of course. Let one developer blow through the height and density levels that regulate the development in southeast Long Beach and more giant towers will become the rule. And while the pictures that the Second + PCH developers show around town are pretty, there is nothing to guarantee that the finished product will look anything like their fancy artist renderings. We count on vigilant citizens to "truth check" developer claims and help us understand the truth. That's why we were so pleased to see entered into the public record renderings that help a regular person understand the height of what is being proposed at the corner of 2nd St. and PCH. You can see all the renderings in the post below.

The rendering above depicts the view of the proposed 12-story tower looking across the street from the parking lot that hosts the very popular farmer's market every Sunday. The building is really tall compared to what's there now. Then look even further into the future. The whole area will have even more tall buildings if the Marketplace is also allowed to build the giant and dense project they have previously expressed interest in building. That is why we have no doubt that approval of the Second + PCH development would set a bad precedent for local zoning, for the local wetlands and for local neighborhoods. Attend the Planning Commission meeting and share your thoughts on zoning and more next Thursday.

• What: Planning Commission Study Session. The City of Long Beach's Planning Commission will be studying the land use aspects of the proposed Second + PCH development.
• When: Thursday, May 19th, 2011. The study session will likely be at the end of the Commission's regular meeting, which starts at 5:00 PM.
• Where: Long Beach City Council Chambers.

333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802

View Larger Map

Check out the images below to get a picture of the height and width of the proposed Second + PCH development project

Click on images for a larger pop-up window

Elizabeth Lambe
ejlambe@verizion.net
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

Read the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust comment letter about the proposed Second + PCH development. And check out another interesting comment letter sent in by blogger Heather Altman, author of the great blog, egretsnotregrets.com

Depiction of the height and scale of the proposed Second + PCH development as seen from Marina Drive.

We have been pretty clear about our concerns regarding the proposed Second + PCH development. It is big. It is tall. It will create a lot of traffic. It sets a bad precedent. We shared those concerns, and more, in our official comment letter to the City of Long Beach regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Second + PCH proposal.

We've posted a link to our letter which you can see by clicking here.

A great read, and a great source of information about the latest happening on and around the Los Cerritos Wetlands is the blog,

egretsnotregrets.com. Blog author Heather Altman is a professional Environmental Planner, and she sent in her own comment letter which you can check out by clicking here.

We know a lot of people sent in some really thoughtful and interesting comments to the City and we thank you for it. It is by working together as a community that we will protect our local wetlands and low density, village atmosphere that makes Southeast Long Beach unique.

Thanks for helping, and stay tuned. There will be more to come regarding this huge, out-of-place development.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lambe
ejlambe@verizion.net
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

Development enabling land division proposal at the Market Place shopping center was denied by the Planning Commission last week. We appreciate the thoughtful questions they asked and their vote to reject this odd request.

Representatives of the Market Place mall claimed they wanted to subdivide their property so that the movie theater could re-finance. But what they really wanted was not exactly clear when the project proponents went before the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission asked a lot of good questions about many aspects of this subdivision proposal, including some very "on point" questions about traffic flow within the shopping mall and how it would be impacted. Although they asked a lot of good questions, they didn't get back much information. It was the piecemeal approach of the subdivision proposal that the majority of commissioners objected to and ultimately why the application was denied.

We are concerned that the owner wants to do something besides show movies, maybe build something tall and big. So we were pleased that the Planning Commission decided to deny this request.

Given that the Marketplace owners have already expressed an interest in building an even taller and denser development than what is being proposed across the street by the Second + PCH team, we will be watching with great interest whatever is suggested for the Marketplace.

Heron Hike is super cool. Hope you can join us on Saturday, May 7, at 8:00 AM sharp!

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust hopes you will join us and our partners, biologists and environmental educators Taylor Parker and Eric Zahn on a wonderful hike of our local wetlands.

Eric and Taylor will be leading us (and you too, we hope) on a tour that will take us to Marketplace Marsh on the City of Long Beach's land swap parcel and over to the San Gabriel River on the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority's property. During this 2-mile urban hike, Eric and Taylor will discuss the history of land acquisitions in Los Cerritos Wetlands and show us some freshwater marsh habitats that few people have ever viewed. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at how wetlands and oil operations co-exist at Los Cerritos Wetlands. We may also be lucky enough to spot the state endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow, and we will likely come across great blue herons .

• WHAT: Heron Hike to and around the Marketplace Marsh at Los Cerritos Wetlands
• WHEN: Saturday, May 7, at 8:00 AM sharp! Parking lot gate will open at 7:45am and close at 8:10 am. No late- comers can be admitted for the tour, and all participants must stay for the entire tour, which will end by 9:45am.
• WHERE (and WEAR): Meet in the parking lot off Studebaker, just north of the corner of Studebaker and Westminster (aka Second Street). There will be signs. Close-toed shoes; and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bring binoculars if you have them.

For more information or to RSVP for a spot on this tour email ejlambe@verizon.net or call 714/357-8576.

P.S. For a clearer idea of where to meet and where we will be hiking, check out the map below.

Click For Larger Pop-Up Image

Read the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report for Second + PCH.

Click here to read the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Report for Second + PCH.

Information about the proposed Second + PCH development

Click here for information about the proposed Second + PCH development and how to write your letter to the City of Long Beach.

Second + PCH. Too big, too tall, too dense and too precedent setting. Tell the City you think so too.

Depiction of the height and scale of the proposed Second + PCH development as seen from Marina Drive.

We have been pretty clear about our concerns regarding the proposed Second + PCH development. It is big. It is tall. It will create a lot of traffic. It sets a bad precedent. (For more of why we think that, see below.) Many of you have shared your concerns with your friends, neighbors, and maybe even decision makers.

Now is your chance to get your concerns quot;on the record, quot; and you have until Monday, April 25th to do so. In order to be part of the official process and ensure your voice is heard, you need to write a letter to the City of Long Beach's Department of Development Services, attention City Planner Craig Chalfant, and tell him what you think. His email address is Craig.Chalfant@longbeach.gov. You need to send in your letter soon because the comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact report for the proposed Second + PCH development closes on April 25th.

But you know what they are because we have not been shy about expressing them: Height, Traffic, Density, Open Space and Land Use.

We can't and won't be shy because the stakes are so high. And the stakes are high because this development will shape the future of this part of Long Beach and therefore shape the future of our wetlands.

Sending in your thoughts and comments does a couple of things: It makes sure your voice is heard as the process of review for Second + PCH moves forward, and it ensures that as many aspects of this proposed development are reviewed and analyzed as possible. Furthermore, your involvement sends a message to those in City Hall who sometimes hear developers louder than citizens that we are watching them and expect them to represent our concerns, not the concerns of special interests.

When you send in your comment, please send a copy to my address too (ejlambe@verizon.net) so that I can see that your thoughts get passed along to other decision makers that matter also, like the Long Beach Planning Commission or your local Councilmember.

Thanks for helping, and stay tuned. There will be more to come regarding this huge, out-of-place development.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Lambe
ejlambe@verizion.net
Executive Director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust

Even more development planned for around the wetlands? Maybe. We are attending the Planning Commission meeting tonight to find out.

The movie theater over at the Market Place mall wants to subdivide their lot so they can re-finance? That's what it says in one part of the Long Beach Development Services staff report on the matter (which you can check out by clicking here). But if you read on, you will see they also talk about how subdividing would facilitate the leasing or selling of that property. And. . .maybe the new owner is looking to do something besides show movies? Maybe build something tall and big? We don't know, and we suspect the Planning Commission doesn't know either. That's why they should put off voting on this proposed land use change until we get more answers about what exactly is being proposed and the intention behind it.

To read more about what may be a stealth proposal, you can click here to check it out on www.greaterlongbeach.com.

Click here to check out the item on the Planning Commission agenda and read accompanying staff report.

We will share with you what we learn at tonight's Planning Commission meeting. But given that the Marketplace has already expressed an interest in becoming an even taller and denser development than what is being proposed across the street by the Second + PCH guys, we are concerned. And this one is just across little Shopkeeper Road from the wetlands.

And speaking of Second + PCH the Grunion Gazette was nice enough to run a letter (authored by me!) in response to their unfortunate (and sort of inaccurate) endorsement of the development. Boy, they sure are a lot more trusting of the developer's claims than I am!

Click here to read what I have to say in the Grunion Gazette. If you have the time, please take a minute to write to the Gazette yourself and share your thoughts, which you can do by emailing them at editor@gazettes.com.

Heron Hike is super cool. Hope you can join us on Saturday, May 7, at 8:00 AM sharp!

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust hopes you will join us and our partners, biologists and environmental educators Taylor Parker and Eric Zahn on a wonderful hike of our local wetlands.

Eric and Taylor will be leading us (and you too, we hope) on a tour that will take us to Marketplace Marsh on the City of Long Beach's land swap parcel and over to the San Gabriel River on the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority's property. During this 2-mile urban hike, Eric and Taylor will discuss the history of land acquisitions in Los Cerritos Wetlands and show us some freshwater marsh habitats that few people have ever viewed. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at how wetlands and oil operations co-exist at Los Cerritos Wetlands. We may also be lucky enough to spot the state endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow, and we will likely come across great blue herons .

• WHAT: Heron Hike to and around the Marketplace Marsh at Los Cerritos Wetlands
• WHEN: Saturday, May 7, at 8:00 AM sharp! Parking lot gate will open at 7:45am and close at 8:10 am. No late- comers can be admitted for the tour, and all participants must stay for the entire tour, which will end by 9:45am.>
• WHERE (and WEAR): Meet in the parking lot off Studebaker, just north of the corner of Studebaker and Westminster (aka Second Street). There will be signs. Close-toed shoes; and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Bring binoculars if you have them.

For more information or to RSVP for a spot on this tour email ejlambe@verizon.net or call 714/357-8576.

P.S. For a clearer idea of where to meet and where we will be hiking, check out the map below.

Click For Larger Pop-Up Image

Local activist Gabrielle Weeks is hosting a fun and educational garden workshop this Saturday, April 16th. The cost is only $20, and proceeds go to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust.

Have you ever heard that expression "Think globally; act locally"? It reminds us all that every action we take, however small, when added to the work of others can help protect our environment.

One of Gabrielle's "small steps" was to make her garden eco- friendly by replacing her lawn with low-water-use and native plants. Her garden looks lovely, uses next to no water and provides great habitat for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and more. Have you ever wondered if you could do the same but didn't know where to start?

Well start by attending Gabrielle's workshop on converting your garden, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Saturday, April 16th. It will be a "hands on workshop" where you can see, touch and feel the various plants so you can get a real sense of how they would work in your yard too. And you can attend for the very affordable amount of $20 per person, all of which goes to help the Los Cerritos Wetlands protect and restore our local wetlands. So come on over and get "down and dirty" with us while at the same time getting some great information about how to make a drought tolerant garden of your own.

We will send you Gabrielle's address when you RSVP for the event.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

Elizabeth Lambe

P.S. Did you get a chance to check out this YouTube video yet? It is very empowering and espouses Gabrielle's "small steps" approach to protecting the environment.

If you missed the April 7th Planning Commission study session about the proposed Second + PCH development, you can watch the meeting by clicking the link below.

It was an interesting meeting, and it was great to hear the Planning Commissioners asking important questions about the traffic this development would cause, the lack of adequate parking in the proposal and lack of details in general. I suspect the meeting raised as many questions as it answered, and that is OK too. It's a huge development, out of harmony with the surroundings, and the more information the community has the better able they will be to express an informed opinion.

To view the Planning Commission Second + PCH workshop click here.

To read an interesting point of view on LBReport.com by Terry Jensen about the proposed Second + PCH development click here. Mr. Jensen raises many of the same points we do, like that the precedent setting nature of the development will jump start a building spree of huge developments all around the area. And, like us, he supports something to be built at that corner, but not something that blows the lid off the low density character of east Long Beach.

Heron Hike is super cool. Hope you can join us on Saturday, May 7th at 8:00AM sharp!

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust hopes you will join us and our partners, biologists and environmental educators Taylor Parker and Eric Zahn on a wonderful hike of our local wetlands.

Eric and Taylor will be leading us (and you too, we hope) on a tour that will take us to Marketplace Marsh on the City of Long Beach's land swap parcel and over to the San Gabriel River on the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority's property. During this 2-mile urban hike, Eric and Taylor will discuss the history of land acquisitions in Los Cerritos Wetlands and show us some freshwater marsh habitats that few people have ever viewed. Participants will get a behind-the-scenes look at how wetlands and oil operations co-exist at Los Cerritos Wetlands. We may also be lucky enough to spot the state endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow, and we will likely come across great blue herons .

• WHAT: Heron Hike to and around the Marketplace Marsh at Los Cerritos Wetlands
• WHEN: Saturday, May 7th at 8:00 AM sharp! Parking lot gate will open at 7:45am and close at 8:10 am. No late- comers can be admitted for the tour, and all participants must stay for the entire tour, which will end by 9:45am.
• WHERE (and WEAR): Meet in the parking lot off Studebaker, just north of the corner of Studebaker and Westminster (aka Second Street). There will be signs. Close-toed shoes; and kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Bring binoculars if you have them.

For more information or to RSVP for a spot on this tour email ejlambe@verizon.net or call 714/357-8576.

P.S. For a clearer idea of where to meet and where we will be hiking, check out the map below.

Click For Larger Pop-Up Image

It's pretty cool that the Long Beach Planning Commission is taking time to hear from the community their questions and concerns about the proposed Second + PCH development, so let's take them up on their offer to listen.

Attend the Planning Commission Second + PCH study session this Thursday.

The Long Beach Planning Commission

will conduct a study session regarding the proposed development at 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway tomorrow at the end of their regular meeting.

We think it is great that they're hosting this study session and we urge you to attend. At this stage in the process, there is so little real information available for public review (the city doesn't even include the appendices of the draft environmental impact report on their website) that you probably have many questions and concerns. This would be a good time to share them with the Commission and your fellow community members who will be in attendance.

And there is plenty to be concerned about:

Bad, bad traffic. The development would create a huge amount of traffic that even with proposed mitigation measures (and how real are they anyway?) would make traffic worse at the corner of 2nd and PCH. Do you think it is fair to the community that we endure bad traffic for developer profits?

Who knows if any of the touted "high end retail" will even materialize. No one has signed on the dotted line yet, and furthermore the economic study, on which the developer purports to base his revenue numbers, is not in the public record. So there is no way to know if his numbers work.

Amenities. Are they guaranteed? That theater, bike station and science center sure sound nice but could easily vanish if the money isn't there.

Precedent setting. Build one giant 12-story tower (and adjacent 5 and 6 story buildings) and more will follow. We know the Marketplace wants to build up and why wouldn't other local land owners? There is profit to be made in exploiting the current low density area, but where will it end? Think of Marina del Rey and you may have your answer.

Add to the list liquefaction issues, insufficient parking, noise pollution, light pollution, impact on sensitive wetlands, costs to the city, especially from safety concerns. For example, with a 12-story tower, what fire equipment that can reach that high will need to be sited nearby? Lots of questions but not very many answers. Tell the Planning Commissioners we need the answers to the above and more. In fact, tell the Planning Commissioners that no large development should move forward until there is comprehensive planning for the entire area.

• What: Planning Commission Study Session. The City of Long Beach's Planning Commission will be asking the public to share their thoughts, questions and concerns about the proposed Second + PCH development.
• When: Thursday, April 7, 2011. The study session will be at the end of the Commission's regular meeting with starts at 5:00 PM.
• Where: Long Beach City Council Chambers. 333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90802

Click here for a link to the Planning Commission meeting agenda.

Click here for a map

Go on a springtime nature walk.

Bird/Nature Walk at Los Cerritos Wetlands, Orange County side

It is beautiful out on our wetlands this time of year. Why not see for yourself by joining us this Saturday on a bird/nature walk to take a relaxing stroll through our wonderful Los Cerritos Wetlands?

We will be meeting in the parking lot of Gum Grove Park in Seal Beach (Avalon Street entrance) which is a long narrow park that runs along the Hellman section. It is an easy walk and a great way to see birds, butterflies, spiders and native ground squirrels. Come and enjoy some of the wildlife in our midst at a beautiful season of the year. We always have a great time!

• What: Nature and Bird Walk
• When: Saturday, April 9th, 8:00 a.m.
• Where: Gum Grove Park, off Pacific Coast Highway at the border of Seal Beach and Long Beach. Meet at the Avalon Street entrance. Click here for a map. If you have questions, please contact eldoradoaudubon@yahoo.com

We are in the news. The links below will take you to interesting stories about the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, the proposed Second + PCH development and our new campaign website. Check it all out below.

See what LBReport.com has to say about our recent community briefing, our website and more by clicking here.

Check out Dave Wielenga of GreaterLongBeach.com article about our campaign website, our recent community briefing, and how the Second + PCH folks are trying to make "friends" on Facebook by offering iPads. You can read that article by clicking here.

Hey, that reminds me. I need an iPad (iTablet?) too so I can be a better defender of our local wetlands. Maybe I should try comedian Stephen Colbert's approach, which you can check out below.

Finally, click here to read an interesting article on Belmontshore.patch.com about the many concerning aspects of the proposed Second + PCH development,

It would change the landscape of our community forever. So shouldn't you have as good an idea as possible about the details of the proposed Second + PCH development and how it would impact you and your community?

Yes, the proposed Second + PCH development is an issue that evokes strong emotions in people. But whether you love it, hate it,or haven't made up your mind, don't you think it would be a good idea to get as many facts as possible about what Second + PCH will look like and how it will affect you? Well, the only way to do that is to read the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the project. But since that document is over 4,000 pages long, you may not have the time. So why not hear from someone who actually has read the DEIR, and has not only read it, but understands it and can help you understand it too? For the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, that someone is Environmental Planner Ed Almanza, someone with years of experience not only reading and analyzing EIR's but authoring them too. Some of Ed's well known clients include The Nature Conservancy, the Zoological Society of San Diego as well as the County of Monterey.

So plan to join us on Tuesday, bringing your list of questions. We may not be able to answer all of them but we sure will try. Not only will you get a better understanding of the proposed development but also of the process (which includes meeting the standards of local zoning, the California Environmental Quality Act and the Coastal Act too) so that what is finally built on the corner of 2nd St. and PCH is the right sort of development for our community and our local wetlands.

• What: Community briefing featuring environmental planner Ed Almanza
• Where: Best Western Golden Sails Hotel. 6285 East Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach, CA 90803
• When: Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00 PM
• Why: So you can be educated about what is being proposed for the corner of Second St. & PCH and how it will impact not only local communities but also our local wetlands.
• RSVP: ejlambe@verizon.net or 714/357-8576

View Larger Map

Planning Commission Study Session about the proposed Second + PCH development project is this Thursday at 5:00 PM. Make sure they hear from you too!

We don't have too many details about the meeting that the Planning Commission is hosting about Second + PCH on Thursday, but what we know we will share with you.

What we know is that typically study sessions, like the one about Second + PCH, are at the end of a regular Planning Commission meeting. We know that the the goal of the meeting is to educate the Planning Commission on the DEIR and allow them to ask questions of staff. We know that the planned format will be 1) presentation from the developer about the project, 2) presentation from City staff about the project and then 3) questions and concerns from those in attendance.

We are glad that the Planning Commission wants to learn more about this proposed development and think it is important they get help from the public about what they ought to know and what questions they should be asking.

The Planning Commission meets in City Council Chambers at Long Beach City Hall, which is located at 333 West Ocean Blvd., Long Beach, CA, 90802. Click here for a map.

Mark your calendars. Local activist Gabrielle Weeks is hosting a great fun/fundraiser for the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust on April 16th.

Have you ever heard that expression "Think globally; act locally"? It reminds us all that every action we take, however small, when added to the work of others can help protect our environment for ourselves and future generations.

One of Gabrielle's "small steps" was to make her garden eco- friendly by replacing her lawn with low-water-use and native plants. Her garden looks lovely, uses next to no water and provides great habitat for hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and more. Have you ever wondered if you could do the same but didn't know where to start? Well start by attending Gabrielle's workshop on converting your garden, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Saturday, April 16th. And you can attend for the very affordable amount of $20 per person, all of which goes to help the Los Cerritos Wetlands protect and restore our local wetlands. We will send you Gabrielle's address when you RSVP for the event. In the meantime check out this YouTube video that espouses Gabrielle's empowering and "small steps" approach to protecting the environment. It is very cool and makes me want to go and buy a spork.

It's been a long time coming, a very long time. But now that the revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed Second + PCH development is available, we are finally able to begin educating folks about how this development will impact them and our local wetlands.

We are happy to announce that we have created a separate page on our website all about the proposed Second + PCH development proposal. You can click here to check it out, or follow the link on the top of this page. Either way be sure to let us know what you think. We welcome your feedback and hope that it will serve as a clearinghouse for real information about this proposed development and what it will mean for our community, our local wetlands and our traffic.

And speaking of the facts, plan to spend a few hours of your time with us this Tuesday evening reviewing the highlights of the DEIR for the proposed Second + PCH development.

Now that the new DEIR has been released and we have had a chance to review it, we have information to share and questions we need the city of Long Beach to answer. Questions like the following:

• What kind of traffic will the development generate and what realistically can be done to mitigate it? The intersection at Second St. and PCH already has the lowest rating an intersection can have. Adding all that development is sure to make it worse.
• High end retail or empty storefronts? The developers say they can attract high end retail to that spot, but what if they can't?
• Amenities. Sure a bike station and community theater sound like great ideas. But are they guaranteed or just concepts dangled in front of the community to buy their support?
• Harm to wildlife. How will all this new construction impact the fragile species that make their homes in not only the Los Cerritos Wetlands, but also Alamitos Bay? How will all the air pollution, run-off from cars into the wetlands and additional traffic affect them?

To help you (and us too) get as much information as possible about what the proposed Second+PCH development will look like and how it will affect all the communities that surround it, the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust is hosting a community briefing featuring respected Environmental Planner Ed Almanza. Mr. Almanza will educate us on the details of the DEIR and what we can learn from it.

Attend our meeting and learn what questions the Planning Commission needs asked and answered before such a large, traffic-producing development should be allowed so close to our fragile wetlands.

• What: Community briefing featuring environmental planner Ed Almanza
• Where: Best Western Golden Sails Hotel. 6285 East Pacific Coast Highway. Long Beach, CA 90803
• When: Tuesday, April 5th at 7:00 PM
• Why: So you can be educated about what is being proposed for the corner of Second St. & PCH and how it will impact not only local communities but also our local wetlands.
• RSVP: ejlambe@verizon.net or 714/357-8576

View Larger Map

P.S. Just a few days later, on April 7th, The City of Long Beach's Planning Commission will devote the latter part of their meeting to hearing from the public their thoughts, concerns and questions about the proposed Second + PCH development. The Planning Commission meets at 5PM in the City Council Chambers. As we get further details, we will be sure to share them with you.

The Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust General Meeting is Tuesday, March 29th. Not only will we have an interesting speaker, but some new Directors will also be elected that night. If you are a current member, we hope you will show up and vote.

View of the Hellman Wetlands.
Photo: Kerrie Aley

CPR (Community Promoted Restoration) for the Bolsa Chica Mesa is an ambitious ten-year, $4.3 million restoration project. Partnering with the California Department of Fish and Game, which owns the Lower Bench, the Bolsa Chica Land Trust has spent the past 4 years planning this restoration and is now getting ready to launch their unique, community-based restoration project.

One wonders what lessons we could learn from them that we could apply to our local wetlands that, while pretty and full of life, including diverse species, need to be restored. Restored wetlands are a place where wildlife flourishes, but to make that happen the public needs to be involved. The Bolsa Chica Land Trust folks working to protect the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach are not only advancing restoration, but they are advancing "Community Promoted Restoration (CPR).

Given that there are now newly acquired Los Cerritos Wetlands in the public trust, the logical next step is to figure out how to best restore all the lands held by the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority. Attend our meeting and learn from Laurel Telfer, a Bolsa Chica Land Trust Board member, how they are managing and preparing for their restoration of the Bolsa Chica Mesa and see what lessons we might learn for restoring our local wetlands.

• What: Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust General Meeting
• When: Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00PM
• Where: Golden Sails Hotel (note this is new meeting location), 6285 E Pacific Coast Hwy. Long Beach, CA 90803 Click here for a map.
• Why: To vote for Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Directors and to learn the latest in restoration plans for the Bolsa Chica Mesa and get ideas for Los Cerritos Wetlan

RSVP: Elizabeth at ejlambe@verizon.net or 714/357-8576.

View of Steamshovel Slough on a sunny day. Photo: Cindy Crawford caopenspace.org

Tragic news. Long Beach is still shocked by the untimely deaths of prominent community members, including bicycle advocate Mark Bixby, and also Tom Dean and Jeff Berger, the two partners who held most of the privately owned parts of the Los Cerritos Wetlands.

We are saddened by this loss and wish to extend our condolences to the families and friends of the five men who lost their lives in the small plane that crashed and burned last week just after take-off from Long Beach Airport on it's way to Salt Lake City. While the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust certainly did not always see "eye to eye" with some of them, we have nothing but the deepest sympathy for their families and friends and want to take a moment to express how sorry we are that this happened.

How the deaths of these landowners will affect the remainder of the wetlands that they owned (including the magnificent Steamshovel Slough, pictured below) we don't know, so stay tuned.

But in the meantime, their families and friends are suffering from a terrible loss, so take a moment to send a good thought or a prayer to them.

Next hike of the Hellman Wetlands will be Saturday, April 2nd, at 8:00AM. It is so beautiful out there you won't want to miss it.

Hellman wetlands as seen from Gum Grove Park. Photo: Cindy Crawford caopenspace.org

Join us on a nature walk, the Raptor Ramble, on the Seal Beach portion of Los Cerritos Wetlands. Led by naturalists Eric Zahn and Taylor Parker of Tidal Influence, this event is an easy walk. You will learn a lot, and you are sure to have a good time.

The walk will take place Saturday April 2nd at 8:00AM. We will meet, and you can park in the driveway near 1st Street and PCH.

After a brief orientation, we will walk through the wetlands and then learn about encroachment, heritage coastal sage scrub and historic dredge spoils. We will ramble down along salt flats and look for tiger beetles and coyote tracks. Then we will hike up to Heron Pointe and learn how tidal circulation shapes our local wetlands. We will then walk along the Heron Pointe cultural trail and discuss the native peoples of the area and the history of the Heron Pointe Development. On our way back, among other things, we will look for wildlife like the endangered Belding's Savannah Sparrow. We will complete our walk by heading back along the access road to the parking place.

It's a great hike, maybe even our favorite because the land is so lush and green right now.

Make a plan to join us. You will be glad you did.

For more information or to RSVP contact Elizabeth at ejlambe@verizon.net