Highrose Apartment Project Still Stinks
Highrose part 2. Sign petition to take back local control. Thank you Councilman Montgomery. About MBStrong.
Highrose part2
On January 30th, we informed our subscribers of the 4 story, 79 unit apartment complex slated for building approval at Rosecrans and Highland in North Manhattan Beach, the most congested area of our city.
The developer is taking advantage of the new legislation passed by the state that allows developers to sidestep local planning regulations.
See our Newsletter from January 30th Highrose Apartment Project Stinks to high Heaven.
Many residents contacted City Council asking that they do everything in their power to intercede to have the developer follow our local planning regulations.
Remarks from MB Residents:
“The State does not understand the ramifications of these laws.”
“I’m frustrated that Sacramento laws override what our city has deemed appropriate.”
“We need to push back for the sake of the residents.”
“Community development should be at the local level, not subject to state density laws.”
“This will have a vast environmental impact on our city.”
“I wasn’t allowed to expand my balcony, how is Highrose ok?”
At last Tuesday’s City Council meeting on February 1, council discussed the housing issue.
Listen to the discussion here: City Council Recording 2/1 Begin at timepoint: 2:20:50
Remarks by City Council Members:
“This is will ruin our city” - Joe Franklin
“This is the tip of the iceberg” - Richard Montgomery
“This is city-wide and impacts our city for the long term. This is about density and local control and the character of our city is at stake” - Steve Napolitano
“The damage may already be done because SB9 and SB10 are state law” - Suzanne Hadley
“We have a responsibility to address the housing crisis” - Hildy Stern
Council has scheduled a special meeting on Friday 2/4 to begin at 5:00 pm to further discuss the housing issues and how MB can address it.
City Council Members and MB Residents from ALL political parties must push back on this overreach by Sacramento lawmakers and save our city.
If MB City Council takes the lead to protect our city, we will follow!
Give a 3-minute Public Comment in support of City Council doing all it can to protect our city. 5:00 via Zoom here: Zoom Link
You can also voice your opinion by writing a comment directly on the Agenda or by emailing City Council:
1) Write a comment on the Agenda here: comment link Closes at 4:30pm, Fri. 2/4.
2) email City Council at citycouncil@citymb.info
Petition to take back local control
Governor Newsom signed SB 9 (Senate Bill 9) on September 2021, which allows any R1 lot (residential, one family) to be split into two, and then put two dwellings on each lot. This could mean 4 dwellings, where one dwelling once stood.
There are a host of other zoning and housing bills, but for many people, SB9 is the worst. This legislation from Sacramento took effect on January 1.
Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand, along with others, has proposed a constitutional amendment that WOULD RETURN CONTROL OF ZONING TO THE CITIES. The main point of the amendment is if local zoning laws were in conflict with state laws, the local city laws would supersede.
This does not just apply to SB 9, but any zoning law, including those that add bonuses to apartment buildings, or attempt to override city design limits on height and setbacks.
What does the “Our Neighborhood Voices” initiative do?
The Our Neighborhood Voices initiative restores the authority of our local representatives to decide what gets built in our community, on our street, and right next door to where we live.
To enact this amendment, 1.2 million or so signatures statewide are needed to get it on the November 2022 ballot. It is estimated we only need 2000 from Manhattan Beach by the end of April.
If everyone shares this video with two other people, we can do this!
The petition is making its rounds in the southbay because each city is battling its own “Highrose” project.
Thank you Councilman Montgomery
A note of gratitude for then Mayor Montgomery’s leadership on August 4, 2020, when he brought to City Council a list of bills under consideration by the California State Legislature, many of them were Housing Bills.
He lead a discussion about the destructive nature of these bills and advocated for council to oppose them. A vote was taken and they were all in agreement. Aye: 5 - Montgomery, Hadley, Hersman, Napolitano, and Stern.
Although the Sacramento Law Makers eventually passed legislation in favor of this destructive legislation, it was Councilman Montgomery who sounded the alarm to MB residents and fellow Councilmembers.
Thank you for your leadership, Councilman Montgomery. MB Residents are paying attention now!
MBStrong
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