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Long Beach moves to create planning board to oversee larger developments
Summary
The City Council approved a resolution to authorize a planning board to review subdivisions and plats, saying it will correct a long-standing gap in local land-use oversight. Staff warned the enabling legislation is nearly complete but will undergo county review and additional public hearings in January.
The Long Beach City Council on Dec. 3 voted to empower a municipal planning board that staff and council members said is needed to review large developments and subdivisions and to ensure new construction fits the city’s comprehensive plan.
City Manager Dan Creighton and planning staff said the city currently lacks a planning board; those functions have fallen to the zoning board of appeals, which is not designed to lead comprehensive development review. Patty Born, introduced by staff as a planning resource, described the planning board’s role: review site plans and subdivision (plat) maps, assess compatibility with the comprehensive plan and neighborhood character, and refer any variance requests to the zoning board of appeals.
“Planning board is very necessary in a community like this,” a staff member said, noting the city will submit enabling legislation to the Nassau County Planning Commission and then hold multiple public hearings and follow-up resolutions in January to set membership, fees and procedures.
Residents and advisory-board veterans welcomed the change while urging inclusive appointments and caution about environmental justice and contamination at some redevelopment sites. Crystal Lake referenced federal and state documentation she has submitted on the Long Beach MDP site and asked staff to ensure any contaminated land is cleared before development.
The resolution to authorize the planning board was adopted by roll call; staff said the enabling legislation is roughly 90% complete and will be refined following county review.
