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Residents and advocacy group press council over Sepulveda projects; safety and density top concerns
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Summary
During public comment dozens of residents and Stop the Rise organizers urged the council to oppose dense projects on Sepulveda Boulevard, raising safety concerns after recent fatal collisions and arguing the state law limits local control. Speakers also urged council to pursue parking and open-space options downtown.
Numerous residents used public comment time at the Manhattan Beach City Council meeting to urge the council to oppose several proposed dense housing projects along Sepulveda Boulevard and to press the city to take stronger action on neighborhood safety.
Representatives of the community coalition Stop the Rise, including Phil Wa and attorney William Becker, said more dense development at addresses such as 2301 Sepulveda would increase the risk to pedestrians and children and would force unsafe crossings across a state highway.
"We all know that Sepulveda is not just a street. It's a high speed, heavily trafficked, high risk state highway," said Phil Wa (speaker 26). He and other speakers cited recent fatal collisions involving students as evidence of heightened danger and urged the council to act despite state-level constraints they said have reduced local control.
Other public commenters emphasized downtown priorities: the need to preserve parking and avoid increasing traffic, suggestions to use Lot 3 for subterranean parking, and calls to preserve open space rather than enlarge parking supply. Several speakers proposed creative alternatives — rooftop parks, leased east-side space, and shuttle services to improve access to the downtown library — as the city pursues Project Pulse designs.
Council members and staff responded that state law limits some local zoning authority but reiterated the city is pursuing safety discussions with Caltrans and will address Sepulveda safety at a May 5 council meeting. The council received the public’s input and referred many of the detailed requests to staff for follow-up.
