Redondo Responds to Redevelopment Foes : Agency Will Launch Information Blitz

In response to strong opposition to a redevelopment proposal, the Redondo Beach Redevelopment Agency voted this week to conduct a public information campaign before deciding whether to move forward with the idea.

The agency, which consists of the City Council and mayor, voted 5 to 0, with member Marcia Martin absent, to inform the public of the proposal through a newsletter, a cable television program, a community survey, presentations to groups and meetings with business people in the project area. The agency said it will not decide whether to proceed with the redevelopment process until March.

City officials have promoted redevelopment as a tool to improve deteriorating commercial corridors and nearby low- and moderate-income housing. Critics say the city is not blighted and businesses should fix up properties on their own.

At its next meeting, on Sept. 29, the agency will discuss whether voters should decide the issue.

The agency also voted to change a Project Area Committee of residents and business people into an advisory committee.

A project committee is required by state law if the agency uses eminent domain in the redevelopment process. However, when the agency voted two weeks ago to give up its power of eminent domain, the legal requirement for the 29-member group--elected last month by people within the plan’s boundaries--also was eliminated.

The agency voted to add six members--three each from the north and south sides of town--to the advisory committee. Unlike representatives on the Project Area Committee, members of the advisory group do not have to own property, operate a business or live within the redevelopment study area boundaries.

The study area generally consists of the state beach; most of Artesia and Aviation boulevards; the City Hall complex; Veterans Park; Dominguez Park; the Redondo Union High School campus; Pacific Coast Highway between South Guadalupe Avenue and Anita Street; Catalina Avenue between Beryl and Anita streets and between Pearl and Diamond streets; two industrial areas--one in the northeastern corner of the city and one on 190th Street--and the Southern California Edison right of way that cuts across North Redondo.

The agency has said that it intends to take all residential properties out of the study area and all properties south of Diamond Street except the high school campus and the beach.