Council upholds planning commission, clears controversial Pacific Place self‑storage project after lengthy hearing

The City Council on Aug. 13 denied appeals and approved the entitlements for a proposed self‑storage, RV parking and tenant‑only car wash project at 3701 Pacific Place, by upholding the Planning Commission’s June 5 approval and certifying a new environmental impact report (EIR).

The item drew the largest public turnout of the evening. Appellants — represented by the Riverpark Coalition and Los Angeles Waterkeeper — argued the project site, adjacent to the Los Angeles River and near the 405 and 710 freeways, should be preserved as open space and that the EIR understates air‑quality, biological and land‑use conflicts, and failed to analyze feasible park alternatives and cumulative traffic impacts. Riverpark Coalition attorney Sanjana Sue Baker said the site sits in a disadvantaged community and argued the EIR shortchanged park equity and the potential for park acquisition.

Los Angeles Waterkeeper attorney Benjamin Harris urged council to prioritize river revitalization and to reject the development near the river channel, saying the project would “double down” on past mistakes that built more infrastructure and industry along the river and reduced habitat and green space. Appellants sought recirculation of the EIR and additional alternatives, plus stronger mitigation for biological resources, including southern tar plant losses.

The applicant, Insight Property Group, and its project team said the privately funded redevelopment would clean and remediate historically contaminated land, introduce a public easement and trail connection to the county‑owned river parcel, and provide a tar‑plant mitigation area at the northwest portion of the site. Applicant Brian Sorensen described design revisions made since 2021 and emphasized the project eliminates a long‑standing blighted property while providing security, lighting and remediation paid by the developer.

Planning staff and the city’s environmental team recommended upholding the Planning Commission. Staff emphasized that the project site is privately owned, that adjacent county property is the parcel more readily used for riverfront park acquisition, and that the EIR had analyzed biological, air and traffic impacts and added mitigation measures, including a half‑acre native plant preserve, a pathway easement to the LA River bike path, tar plant mitigation and other conditions required by permitting agencies. Staff noted efforts by county and state agencies to pursue park acquisition elsewhere in the corridor.

Council action and votes: Council took a sequence of seven roll‑call votes to (1) receive the administrative record and conclude the hearing, (2) certify the EIR and adopt the mitigation‑monitoring program, (3) approve a general plan amendment changing the place type to community commercial, (4) adopt a zoning code amendment to permit the commercial storage height overlay, (5) adopt a zone change from light industrial to commercial storage (with a height overlay to 50 feet/5 stories), (6) deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission’s site‑plan review approval, and (7) deny the appeals and uphold Planning Commission conditional use permit approvals for self‑storage, RV parking and an accessory car wash. Each procedural step passed by recorded roll call; the final entitlements passed 8–1 (District 5 No).

Why the decision matters: The hearing highlights a recurring planning conflict in Long Beach — balancing privately funded remediation and infill development on challenging, contaminated parcels with long‑range river revitalization and park‑equity goals for nearby communities. Appellants argued the river corridor and park equity deserve stronger protection; staff and the applicant said private‑sector cleanup and the project’s easement/mitigation measures would remediate a long‑unused blighted site.

What the approval includes and limits: The council approved the legislative entitlements and site approvals with conditions that require tar‑plant mitigation, a public easement/trail connection to the county parcel, and standard operating conditions (hours, security plans, vehicle idling prohibitions and no on‑site repairs). The county‑owned river edge remains the primary opportunity for larger riverfront park creation; the city said acquisition and remediation of that county parcel remains contingent on separate county decisions and state/federal grant funding.

Next steps: Under the Planning Commission’s conditions and the council’s actions, the project may move to permit issuance; the DTSC (state toxic‑cleanup agency) must approve the developer’s remediation response plan before on‑site work. Appellants retain legal options; council decisions on complex EIRs are commonly followed by litigation.

Speakers: Sanjana Sue Baker (Riverpark Coalition/Carson Blackman Tier), Benjamin Harris (LA Waterkeeper), Brian Sorensen (Insight Property Group), Planning staff and multiple public commenters including neighborhood advocates. Vote outcome: entitlements approved 8–1.