Council approves $200,000 community‑benefit payment to resolve 50 Broadway stop‑work dispute after heated debate

The Long Beach City Council on Tuesday approved a community‑benefit and settlement agreement with several 50 Broadway entities requiring $200,000 in community benefits after the developer built a covered parking structure the city says exceeded approved plans and violated stop‑work orders.

City staff said the developer constructed covered parking despite stop‑work orders and submitted outdated drawings to the builder; the matter is a pending case in Long Beach City Court. City Manager Dan Creighton described a post‑construction negotiation that produced a community‑benefit package the city can use for boardwalk matching funds. "This agreement would net the city $200,000 in community benefits in return for allowing 50 Broadway to build covered parking along the east and west sides of the structure," Creighton said.

Opponents on the council argued the settlement weakens enforcement. One council member called the proposal “selling our enforcement authority” and warned it sets a precedent by effectively placing a price on built violations. The same council member said continuing construction after a stop‑work order was not a mere mistake but a conscious decision by the developer.

Supporters said the alternatives would be worse for the city: forcing removal would cost roughly $200,000 and could leave a paved parking lot rather than covered parking; litigation risks, lost tax revenue from unsold units, and the cost of removal weighed into the decision. A council member who voted in favor said the city had stood up to a developer and secured a substantial community benefit in exchange.

Corporation Counsel Frank Decranis told the council the city has injunctive options in more serious cases, and that the Zoning Board of Appeals and city court were involved in the matter. He said that if the city pursued removal through litigation, the likely financial outcome could be similar to the $200,000 payment, so the settlement was negotiated to avoid protracted litigation and to secure funds for public uses.

The measure passed after debate. During roll call on the motion to adopt the resolution, one council member cast a no vote and another recorded an abstention; the remaining members voted yes. The record shows the council approved the settlement and authorized the city manager to execute the agreement.

The council did not approve any demolition or takedown in exchange for the payment; the settlement also requires the city to grant required approvals and waivers to maintain the building in its as‑built condition under the terms of the agreement. Staff said adjacent property owners had been contacted and reported no adverse impacts.

The developer’s court case remains active in Long Beach City Court, and council members said they want to review enforcement procedures to avoid similar situations in the future.