CH-29 Correspondence – Kelly McDonagh
From: Kelly McDonagh [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 5:31 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Subject: March 21st City Council agenda item # 29
-EXTERNAL-
Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers,
I am a homeowner and resident of the North Long Beach neighborhood concerned about the development of the proposed warehouse project.
I am in favor of the appeal, and I request a full Environmental Impact Review for the warehouse development project at 5910 Cherry Ave 90805.
According to CalEnviroScreen, North Long Beach has high levels of air pollution that endanger human health by causing respiratory conditions such as asthma, wheezing, decreased lung function, increased likelihood of hospital visits, heart disease, and even early death.
Research shows these kinds of projects bring traffic, noise, and pollution to nearby neighborhoods, putting the health of the community in danger and diminishing the quality-of-life.
The city should ask for a plan EIR of the area and adopt a set of regulations to reduce/control pollution before approving these kinds of developments.
Having a plan EIR in place before the approval of new developments will identify the proper mitigation and conditions to protect the health of the community and facilitate the project’s approval while encouraging responsible developments.
Establishing regulations to reduce pollution will deliver much-needed health and air quality benefits to North Long Beach residents, and if done right, policymakers can help ensure that low-income communities of color are realizing these benefits as soon as possible without adverse impacts on their health.
Adopting policies to guide warehouse development in the city’s general plan will also help jurisdictions comply with their obligations under SB 1000. This requires local government general plans to identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks in disadvantaged communities, promote civil engagement in the public decision-making process, and prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of disadvantaged communities.This is not about just limiting the harmful PM emissions from trucks, but about mitigating long standing pollution in the air, land, and water, and improving the quality of life, as promised, in the communities most burdened by overall pollution.
I urge the city council to protect our health by approving the appeal and requesting a full EIR.
Sincerely,
Kelly McDonagh