Preserve Our Neighborhood
and say NO to 50 New Units at 19th & Monterey/Loma
 

On June 20, 2023, the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission approved a plan that would allow development of 50 units on the St. Cross Church site at 19th & Monterey/Loma by rezoning the property to high density R3 and allowing consolidation of the lots.  This plan paves the way for an albatross project similar to the 79-unit Highrose El Porto at Rosecrans & Highland in Manhattan Beach, where the developer used inclusion of low income housing units to usurp local height limits and landed the city in litigation. (chillthebuild.com)

Development of the St. Cross site would destroy the character of the neighborhood, decrease surrounding property values, block views, block sunlight, increase traffic, reduce parking, negatively impact quality of life and endanger pedestrian safety for children and families walking to school.  In addition to these issues, our Police and Fire Departments are already understaffed and cannot handle any more!

Most residents are unaware. WE MUST ACT NOW TO STOP THIS!

What you Can Do:

To make your voices heard, please

• Sign this petition and include your comments to the City Council
• Post a link to this petition on social media
• Spread the word
• Attend and speak at the City Council Meeting on July 11 at 6pm (1315 Ardmore Avenue, HB).  Ask them to maintain the current zoning of the St. Cross Church site, remove lot consolidation from the Housing Element Plan and utilize other sites to meet state density mandates (see below).

Background:

The City is required by the State to provide a plan for adding 558 units by 2029.  To accomplish this, the City has created a new Housing Element Plan.  Most of the increased density will be met with a sensible plan to add mixed-use along commercial corridors like PCH, Aviation and Pier Avenue.  The exception is the church site.  

The St. Cross Church site comprises 15 lots:  9 are zoned R1; 6 are zoned R2. The City proposes to upzone the entire property to R3.  Think about this!  Nine lots would not only go from R1 to R2, but all the way up to R3. It would be an island of R3 entitlements surrounded by R1 and R2.  It would negatively impact the neighborhood and surrounding property values, especially those zoned R1 with lower height limits. 

Issues:

-19th & Monterey is NOT A COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR!  

-A large-scale residential development does not belong aside R1 zoned properties.

-The church site is not a solution. It could just cause more problems and litigation against the city if rezoned. 

-The church has had discussions with developers and recognizes that rezoning “creates more opportunity” for the property.  They hired a consultant to study the value of the property and opportunities (based on current zoning).Some people have asked if the church will actually do this.  If there's no intent, then why is the entire site being upzoned for high density?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Solutions:

Use other available commercial sites to meet the requirement:  

*Jack’s Surfshop (the whole block from 16th north on PCH to 18th includes Ocean Realty).  Recently for sale.

*Group of parcels at 22-58 11th St. near downtown HB 

*Car Dealership on 190th & PCH

*2200 PCH, 31 units of the existing 35 are listed with Newmark

*Ryla restaurant & adjoining parking lot is for sale

*1242 Hermosa Ave is for sale @ $7.9M The yoga studio, Paradise Bowl and the adjoining businesses 

*240 Pier Ave Abe’s liquor store (big corner lot) at Monterey & Pier was recently for sale (withdrawn in August 2021) and can still be purchased

*824 1st St is currently for sale at $6.3M. This is a 5100 sq ft lot with a commercial building on it.

*950 Hermosa Ave (Blue Reef Plaza) is available off market. This is a 6900 sq. foot corner lot

*Include more ADUs (accessory dwelling units) to meet the allocation.