Beach Project to Face Voters

Redondo Beach activists have collected enough signatures to force a controversial redevelopment plan known as Heart of the City onto the ballot.

The City Council will decide tonight whether to rescind the resolutions that laid the groundwork for the project or let the matter go to voters.

“This is what the petitioners wanted, and they’ve complied with the guidelines,” said Redondo Beach Mayor Greg Hill, one of Heart of the City’s most vocal supporters.

“People should have a right to vote, but I still believe this isn’t the way you do city planning,” he said.

Citizens for a Vote on Heart of the City was formed in late March to protest the City Council’s approval of the plan. The group circulated two petitions against the project--one challenging the zoning, the other the Specific Plan--and on April 18 submitted more than 6,000 signatures for each initiative. The group needed about 4,000 signatures to force an election.

Chris Cagle, the group’s organizer, has said that the petitioners are not looking to kill Heart of the City.

“It’s not every detail of the plan that people are uncomfortable with,” Cagle said. “Even if we vote no on this, that doesn’t mean they can’t reopen the process and modify everything.”

Heart of the City, a massive redevelopment of the beachfront and an aging power plant, would turn most of Catalina Avenue into a residential neighborhood and transform the harbor into a seaside village. Acres of parking lots would become a shopping district, and a large portion of the 52-acre AES power plant would be leveled and replaced with new offices and homes. The plan allows for 2,998 new units and 657,000 square feet of commercial space, though AES is planning to build only 1,100 units.

If built to its maximum capacity, the project would produce about 3,500 extra vehicle trips during the evening rush hour. Heart of the City detractors have said that Redondo Beach simply can’t handle that many cars and people.

If the City Council does not vote to rescind the plan, it can call a special election no sooner than Sept. 10 or hold the vote in conjunction with the November general election.

Combining the referendum with the city election next March also is an option.

Hill said he and other Heart of the City proponents will work to ensure that Redondo Beach residents have accurate information before they vote.

“It’s pretty easy to get people riled up against traffic and congestion, but we’re trying to get back the voice of reason,” Hill said.

“The facts are being misconstrued,” he said. “We’re going to make sure the truth is out there.”