R-32 Correspondence – David Hansen
From: David Hansen [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 10:56 AM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Suzie Price <[email protected]>; Lisa West <[email protected]> Subject: Public comment on Agenda item #32; submission in support of extension of Temporary Parklet permit at Belmont Brewing Company
-EXTERNAL-
Dear City Council,
I am writing in support of extending the temporary parklet permit for Belmont Brewing Company.
Photos of the parklett are attached.. The parklet area does not take up parking spaces, or involve public safety or traffic hazard issues as this portion of 39th Place is not open to through traffic. In fact, Public Works has received approved plans to place bollards across 39th Place on the landward edge of the building to prevent any vehicle access as a part of an improvement plan for the Plaza area (which includes badly needed lighting). The City Council has already closed that portion of 39th Place adjacent to Belmont Brewing Company's patio but north of the Chapter 138 line. Resolution No. C-2591 and C- 25792, attached.
Belmont Brewing Company has been a part of the City's attempt to revitalize this area and increase public use of the area.for 32 years. Legitimate business activity is critical to that revitalization. The area needs more commercial activity, not less. The parklet provides this. As Councilman and former Commander of the Long Beach Police Department noted in his 1995 letter (attached) supporting expansion of BBC's patio:
"Expansion of this and other visitor serving commercial uses that bring the public to the Belmont pier area at dusk and after dark is of vital interest to help insure public safety. ....
At one point, crime, including murder, became so rampant that the City was forced to close the pier to the public at dusk"
Unfortunately, since Councilman Drummond wrote that letter 17 years ago there is even less legitimate activity in the area: the Belmont Pool is gone, La Palapa restaurant is gone, and Aqualink service to Belmont Pier is gone. The area suffers from perhaps even more crime, homeless encampments (tents on the beach now and an encampment under the Pier) and mentally ill people harassing our customers.
Maintaining this parklet also provides a greatly demanded dog friendly outside dining area for the public (per Long Beach Health Department rules, our existing patio can only accommodate service animals) as a part of the operation.
Extending the temporary permit for BBC's Parklet will enable Belmont Brewing Company to work with Public Works, the Planning Commission and the City Council to reach acceptable conditions for a more permanent parklet term.
Thanks for your consideration.
David Hansen
Belmont Brewing Company
The Hansen Family Trust