History of Public Outreach and City Council Action
Date Event(s) Action(s) Taken
February 13, 2024 City Council Meeting Directed staff to evaluate redevelopment options for Parking Lot 3:
- Potential commercial development (including hotel)
- Relocation of parking to an alternate site downtown
Summer 2024 City Staff Action(s) Parking Lot 3 parking structure closed indefinitely due to seismic concerns September 3, 2024 City Council Meeting Declared local state of emergency and authorized demolition of Parking Lot 3 parking structure
December 9, 2024 City Council Meeting Directed staff to conduct additional research:
- Costs associated with subterranean and above-ground parking structures - Self-park
- Automated garage
- Use of subterranean rights-of-way
- Evaluation of available financing through Measure MBB - Other potential parking solutions in downtown
- Full impact of the Surplus Land Act
April 1, 2025 City Council Meeting City Council authorized the purchase of 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard May 6, 2025 City Council Meeting Authorized interim uses for 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard - Overflow merchant permit parking
- Installation of bicycle racks along Manhattan Beach Boulevard May 21, 2025 Community Outreach
Event
City staff provided an overview of the properties and obtained input on potential redevelopment options
August 26, 2025 City Council Meeting Staff presented additional research related to automated parking structures and the Surplus Land Act, discussed community input provided at the May 21, 2025, community outreach event, and presented a robust public engagement program.
City Council provided the following direction:
- Explore potential amendments to development regulations to allow a maximum height of 30 feet (current allowance is 26 feet) - Remove automated parking garage from consideration
- Replace library annex with community space as a potential use of the property
- Carry out the proposed public engagement program
Fall 2025 Community Outreach Staff conducted the first phase of the public engagement program and obtained feedback from the community on redevelopment options through the following means:
- Booth at Hometown Fair
- Booth at Farmers’ Market
- Community Opinion Survey
- Focus Groups (residents and businesses separately)
- Community Partner Meetings (DBPA, North MB BID, Chamber of Commerce)
January 20, 2026 City Council Meeting Staff provided an update on the public engagement program.
City Council provided the following direction:
- Explore potential redevelopment options for Parking Lot 3:
- Parking structure
- Subterranean parking with mixed-use (commercial and open space) above
- Explore similar mixed-use (commercial, open space, and potential parking configurations)
- Authorized contracting with an engineering firm to provide conceptual schematics and cost estimates
March 11, 2026 Planning Commission
Meeting
Planning Commission conducted a study session and provided input on potential redevelopment options
- Public input focused on the need for more parking
- Primary Planning Commission input was to consider an all-parking option for the Parking Lot 3 property.
April 21, 2026 City Council Meeting Staff provided an update on the public engagement program, including feedback received at the March 11, 2026, Planning Commission Meeting, previewed the upcoming public engagement activities, and provided information on potential code amendments to allow increased height.
City Council provided the following direction:
- Initiate code amendments to increase maximum allowable height - Increase 26 feet to 30 feet
- Include parking structure (at-grade or subterranean)
- Allow exceptions to the maximum height for minor architectural elements such as elevator shafts, lighting, and safety barriers - Explore the following two concepts for Parking Lot 3 at the upcoming design workshops with a 30-foot height limit:
- Mixed use with commercial and open space above-ground and up to three levels of underground parking
- Parking structure with up to three levels of underground parking, two levels of above-ground parking, and community meeting space on the top floor
- Explore options for implementing paid public parking as an interim use for 400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Spring/Summer 2026 Community Outreach Staff facilitated additional community input on potential projects at the following events:
- Older Adults Program (Lunch Bunch)
- FlashVote survey
- Community Design Charrettes
- Design preview open house
- Survey and Focus Group (primarily related to pedestrian plaza concept)