LOS ANGELES (CNS) â The environmental justice group Riverpark Coalition and the environmental watchdog Los Angeles Waterkeeper ruled in their favor when a judge ruled in their favor against a proposed development bordering the Los Angeles River in Long Beach. won the lawsuit. say was previously reserved for open space.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff said on October 19 that the city of Los Angeles would not approve the Pacific Place project, the proposed self-storage facility and parking lot without adequately studying and mitigating its environmental impacts. was found to have violated California environmental law.
âThis victory is a victory for equity and environmental justice in the parks of Long Beach and the most neglected side of the Lower Los Angeles River Basin,â said Juan Ovalle, president of the River Parks Coalition. Long Beach River Link Plan and LA River as specific goals in his Master Plan. â
The judge said the city should stop work on the project until it produces an environmental impact report that addresses the significant environmental, biological, recreational and cultural impacts the development could have. The location is across the subway tracks from Los Cerritos Elementary School, Los Cerritos Park, and a residential neighborhood.
Lawyers for Artesia Acquisition Co. LLC and property owner Insite Property Group argued in court papers that the softened negative declaration adopted by the city council was sufficient and an EIR was not required. They also said the proposed self-storage project would take full advantage of the site’s clunky layout and develop a site that had been vacant for a long time.
Petitioners argued that the parcel has long been promised to communities west of Long Beach as a future river park and nature reserve.
Bruce Reznik, Executive Director of LA Waterkeeper, said:
