J.1- Blue Folder — Redondo Beach City Council, July 12, 2022

BLUE FOLDER ITEM
Blue folder items are additional back up material to administrative reports and/or public comments received after the printing and distribution of the agenda packet for receive and file.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 12, 2022
J.1 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
From: Michelle LeFrancois
To: CityClerk
Subject: Term rotation
Date: Monday, July 11, 2022 3:56:16 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Hello city of Redondo Beach,
As a resident of this city you must
Any take over by another member is not representing the members of this city Regards,
Michelle Latson
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Sent from my iPhone
From: Frank Briganti
To: CityClerk
Subject: BCHD 15 yr Project
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 2:50:10 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

FOR PUBLIC RECORD
Attention to all RBC management , depts, Major, City Attorney , Council & Planning Comm.

DO NOT ISSUE ANY UNCONDITIONAL OR UNCONDITIONAL PERMITS FOR BCHD PROJECT!!!!!!! BCHD HAS FAILED to address all major concerns for the Project! REVIEW-ALL PREVIOUS MESSAGES SENT REGARDING BCHD***
* PROJECT TOO LARGE, INFRINGES ON SURROUNDING HOMES & SCHOOL.

HILLSIDE Ord, OPEN SKY(SUN LIGHT) ETC. out of existing landscape! EPA, water district, sewage , ground table, wild life, trees,etc****** Thanks Dr. Briganti
Sent from my iPad
From: Paul Lieberman
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: BCHD Commercial Development
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 10:14:03 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

Dr. Paul Lieberman, President
Lieberman Research Associates (LRA)
19815 Mildred Avenue
Torrance, CA 90503-1121
310.371.2198
[email protected]
From: Jim Childers
To: CityClerk
Subject: BCHD Overdevelopment
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 4:48:34 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sq.ft. and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE!
At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

RBMC Conditional Use, Design Review and Residential Guidelines and TMC Hillside Overlay all protect property values, privacy, use, character, quality-of-life and other important attributes of neighborhoods that BCHD is INTENT on DESTROYING.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

From: Joe Sonandres
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: BCHD
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 3:31:17 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET! In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110- feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities.

Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

CEO Bakaly has resorted to name calling concerned residents “vocal opponents [who] refuse to acknowledge that BCHD is listening to their concerns.”
In his recent public letter, CEO Bakaly claims that BCHD has acted to meet the concerns of the 1,200 signatories to the public petition, and the hundreds of negative comments concerning the BCHD proposed commercial development. IN TRUTH, BCHD has both ignored our comments, and acted opposite to our concerns.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace 2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering 2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp 2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond
2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8-inches Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Joe Sonandres & Family
Resident Home Owner
Torrance CA 90503
From: Doridays
To: CityClerk
Subject: BCHD
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 8:05:12 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear City Clerk,
As a lifelong resident of South Bay, it seems to me that the various city leaders are ruining the distinctive way of life in the beach cities and surrounding areas. This is not an area of huge complexes and yet that is what we're seeing built and proposed.

SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment)
Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET!
In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE!
If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace
2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering
2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp
2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond 2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8-inches
Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site
BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Dori Medina
From: LINDA Zelik
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: kevin@easyreadernew; [email protected]
Subject: BCHD"s proposed building at 615 Prospect, Redondo Beach.

Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 9:54:32 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Re: In opposition to the so called “Healthy Living Campus” We, the local residents, have voiced our unanimous opposition to this proposed massive over-building for years. We have written letters, attended countless meetings and emailed all the involved parties with our very serious and legitimate concerns. When meetings were in person, before COVID, the room was always filled to overflowing with every attendee AGAINST the project.

We even submitted petitions with over 1,200 signatures asking that they cancel or greatly decrease the proposal.

The following are some of the problems and concerns:

1. The proposed senior care facility is way too large and doesn’t belong in a residential neighborhood. Each year the proposals have gotten more massive and unacceptable. Now they want an 800,000 sq. foot complex, that is 108’ high (on top of a 30 foot hill), to house 325 seniors in an extremely expensive assisted living complex. This in addition to a 10 story parking structure!

2. The noise and toxic contaminants which will be released to the surrounding residents and schools (especially Towers Elementary and Beryl Heights Middle School) throughout the minimum of five to ten years of demolition and building. This will be dangerous especially to seniors and school children with asthma or COPD. Actually the Final EIR, Sec. 3.161 stated that the projected construction noise levels exceed FTA thresholds and the impact would remain significant and unavoidable during both Phases 1 & 2. Imagine the lawsuits!

3. The traffic congestion is already a problem, especially with six schools in close proximity, so adding this will create dangerous and unsustainable gridlock in both Redondo and Torrance neighborhoods, not to mention jeopardizing the safety of school children on bikes!

4. Why isn't this enormously expensive project being put to the Beach Cities residents for a vote?

5. The South Bay is saturated with unfilled assisted living facilities at 1/3 or less the cost of this one.

6. Who will be left paying the costs when they can’t find 325 very wealthy seniors to pay a minimum of $12,000/month rent? Perhaps the same locals who didn’t get to vote on it? How can they legally (or ethically) allow a for-profit company to have control of this Beach City’s property?

7. COVID has greatly diminished any desirability for large “petri dish” housing where residents can become like prisoners in their rooms.

8. Why is the BCHD board so hell-bent to ram this unwanted and expensive project through? And who gave them this much control?
I implore you to use your authority to convince the BCHD board to GREATLY DOWNSIZE this irresponsible, unnecessary, mammoth project to be in line with our residential neighborhoods. Please help them to see reason and do the right thing!
Respectfully, Linda and Joe Zelik,
37 year residents of north-west Torrance.

From: [email protected]
To: CityClerk
Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 8:27:00 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

I oppose the BCHD commercial development that is 108-feet, 8-inches tall, 792,520 square feet to be built on the far edges of the site up against residential neighborhoods. It is inconsistent with Redondo Beach and Torrance Municipal Codes. If it is to be built at all, the project must be moved to the center, downsized in height, and reduced in size.
this monster of a project should be stopped or dramatically reduced. mike woolsey, tomlee ave torrance
PS put the project on the western side of the property so it affects Redondo Beach if you are insistent on moving forward and disregarding the people of torrance wishes From: larry anderson
To: CityClerk
Subject: Monstrosity
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 6:09:46 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

We have lived in the neighborhood affected by the expansion of BCH for 45 years. We are protesting this expansion and will continue our opposition to it. Please do not allow this to happen.

Sincerely
Larry and Linda Anderson
Sent from my iPhone
From: Stop BCHD
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 3:42:19 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET!
In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

CEO Bakaly has resorted to name calling concerned residents “vocal opponents [who] refuse to acknowledge that BCHD is listening to their concerns.” In his recent public letter, CEO Bakaly claims that BCHD has acted to meet the concerns of the 1,200 signatories to the public petition, and the hundreds of negative comments concerning the BCHD proposed commercial development. IN TRUTH, BCHD has both ignored our comments, and acted opposite to our concerns.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace
2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering
2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp at Prospect & Diamond
2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond
2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8- inches
Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30- foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

StopBCHD.com
[email protected]
Redondo Beach
---
StopBCHD.com ([email protected]) is a Neighborhood Quality-of-Life Community concerned about the quality-of-life, health, and economic damages that BCHDs 110-foot above the street, 800,000 sqft commercial development will inflict for the next 50-100 years. Our neighborhoods have been burdened since 1960 by the failed South Bay Hospital project and have not received the benefit of the voterapproved acute care public hospital since 1984.Yet we still suffer 100% of the damages and we will suffer 100% of the damages of BCHDs proposal.

From: [email protected]
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 5:38:19 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, and Planning Commissions:

I OPPOSE the BCHD commercial development. I have addressed my reasons in other correspondence and it appears that those letters, along with the letters sent by other residents in opposition at the varied stages, were not read or considered in the current development.

I also attended the meetings where the initial plans were discussed and it was evident, as I see it, that the purpose of the meetings was for BCHD to document their attempt at a public meeting to share findings and provide an opportunity for discussion.

The building was initially a hospital. When the hospital closed, the building was transformed to medical office buildings. When I moved here in 1991, my doctors had offices in that building. I went there because it was convenient. SInce 1991, the area has changed. There is a lot of development and the neighborhoods have became very densely populated. A property that was once a single family dwelling now has two homes. The traffic has increased and the streets were not designed for traffic lanes, bike lanes and parking. This development will bring added traffic to an already congested neighborhood.

Furthermore, I am concerned about the accuracy of the information shared by BCHD. BCHD is not listening to the residents! All one needs to do is reference all the planning documents regarding this property. Since the inception, the height has changed, the size has changed, parking structure has changed! I question whether the building really needs to be demolished. At this point, it seems clear to me that a hospital funded by the Beach Cities, will not be utilized by Beach Cities residents. I, for one, have no intention of paying $12,000 a month to live in that building when I can remain in my home.

This topic has been addressed for many years; when is this nonsense going to stop! This property is located in Redondo Beach. This development and further discussion of this development needs to be resolved. The initial intent of BCHD is no longer valid! There is no hospital! Thank you for your support.

A concerned resident and taxpayer,
Marianne Teola
Redondo Beach
From: Brian Onizuka
To: CityClerk; Kevin Cody; Lisa Jacobs; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 2:10:00 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

STOP DESTROYING TORRANCE, build this damn monstrosity not on our city borders.

Build it in the heart of Redondo I can help you look for spots !!! I oppose the BCHD commercial development that is 108-feet, 8-inches tall, 792,520 square feet to be built on the far edges of the site up against residential neighborhoods. It is inconsistent with Redondo Beach and Torrance Municipal Codes. If it is to be built at all, the project must be moved to the center, downsized in height, and reduced in size.

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET!
In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

CEO Bakaly has resorted to name calling concerned residents “vocal opponents [who] refuse to acknowledge that BCHD is listening to their concerns.” In his recent public letter, CEO Bakaly claims that BCHD has acted to meet the concerns of the 1,200 signatories to the public petition, and the hundreds of negative comments concerning the BCHD proposed commercial development. IN TRUTH, BCHD has both ignored our comments, and acted opposite to our concerns.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace
2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering
2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp
2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond
2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8- inches
Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30- foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.
###
PS - If we owe you a sign or reply to a post or note, please be patient. Our small team has been both busy and on vacation during this short lull in the action. Thanks for all your support and we're pedalling as fast as we can!
--
StopBCHD.com ([email protected]) is a Neighborhood Quality-of-Life Community concerned about the quality-of-life, health, and economic damages that BCHDs 110-foot above the street, 800,000 sqft commercial development will inflict for the next 50-100 years.

Our neighborhoods have been burdened since 1960 by the failed South Bay Hospital project and have not received the benefit of the voter-approved acute care public hospital since 1984.Yet we still suffer 100% of the damages and we will suffer 100% of the damages of BCHDs proposal.

From: Stephen Parker
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Subject: STOP BCHD!!!!!!
Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 6:19:39 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Planning departments
I am opposed to the BCHD project
If our opposition fails then it must be moved to the center, downsized in height, and reduced in size CEO Bakaly is full of ..... baloney
And you can take that to the bank
George Stephen Parker
Redondo Beach
From: Tom McGarry
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 2:06:44 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Tom & Carol McGarry
Redondo Beach
From: Tim Ozenne
To: CityClerk; City Clerk; Lisa Jacobs; [email protected]; Kevin Cody Subject: SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2022 3:45:35 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

You are surely aware that Beach Cities Health District is proposing a huge increase in its existing Redondo Beach facilities on Noth Prospect Avenue. This increase will clearly harm BCHD neighbors, but that seems not to matter to BCHD leadership. However, along with many others, I oppose the development plan.

Since BCHD collects millions in tax revenues every year from Redondo, Manhattan, and Hermosa residents and can use those revenues to hire lawyers and other consultants to support its development plans, it has a huge advantage over its unfunded opponents. So I look to the affected cities and our courts to eventually turn this project around.

As you may know, the property at issue here was originally acquired in the 1950's specifically to construct and operate a hospital. However, that hospital failed and was closed more than two decades ago. No public use has ever replaced the hospital. There is a procedure in California law that BCHD should have followed to establish a new public use of the land, but it hasn't bothered.

Now, BCHD is asking area residents to host this huge residential facility atop a prominent hilltop. While the law recognizes several types of services and facilities that BCHD might legally accommodate on its property--a hospice, skilled nursing, a drug testing clinic, and so forth--BCHD plans none of that. Rather, it appears BCHD is primarily focused on how much net income it could obtain by housing more than 200 residents in apartments overlooking the ocean, Redondo, and Torrance. These apartments won't come cheap--monthly rents above $12,000 are planned. I dare say, very few residents near the property could afford these rents.

I know I couldn't.

Affordibility is a key issue here. To cram as many units as possible onto the available land, BCHD proposes to build a very large, nine-story residence very near its neighbors. Both Redondo and Torrance have development policies that require that any new building be compatible with its neighborhood, and there is no way anyone can claim that this proposed apartment building is compatible with the area. Still, BCHD persists. Now, to be fair, if the BCHD plan would house low-income individuals with few real options, perhaps the "compatibility" issue could be set aside because there are no good options for housing these people elsewhere. But that is not at all the case! Project residents will come largely from outside the cities that support BCHD, they will be very wealthy compared to local residents, and they have many options for less than $12,000 per month.

Moreover, BCHD seems intent on moving forward with this plan even though it needs--but doesn't have--authorizations from its Local Area Formation Commission and from the state Department of Health Care Services. Also, it is required to hold public hearings focused on the need for this private facility on public lands, the lack of better alternatives, and so forth. At least at this point, it is doing none of this!
Tim Ozenne
Torrance
From: Stop BCHD
To: Kevin Cody; CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Lisa Jacobs; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: For Immediate Release - Media Statement from StopBCHD.com Regarding BCHDs EasyReader Misrepresentation of July 7, 2022
Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 1:01:42 PM
Attachments: ER Bakaly 7-7-22.PNG
BCHD LTE TBRNews 7-7-22.PNG
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

We thank the media for their efforts to keep local resident opposition to BCHD's proposed 100-foot above the street, 800,000 sqft (larger than all the Beryl Heights homes added together) in the public eye. StopBCHD.com provided the ER with background material on the organization as reference for its article.

For Immediate Release from StopBCHD.com / [email protected] Media Statement from StopBCHD.com Regarding BCHDs EasyReader Misrepresentation of July 7, 2022
Yet again, Bakaly and BCHD misrepresent their actions with the so-called Healthy Living Campus. The 2019 BCHD proposal had roughly 700,000 sf of surface buildings and 160,000 sf of underground parking. For self-economic reasons, BCHD reduced the bed count of the assisted living, and at the same time, added an 8-10 story parking ramp, increasing surface buildings to nearly 800,000 sf. TALLER and BIGGER has been the BCHD response to public input from surrounding neighborhoods, and any other statement by BCHD is misrepresentation.

Bakaly and BCHD only seek to meet with any public groups in order to "check off the box" and then falsely claim the project was modified per the discussions. BCHD's track record of cooperation with the 1,200 petitioners and 300+ written commenters deserves an F grade at best. BCHD used Wood PLC, a UK-based oilfield services company to conduct the BCHD self-approved environmental impact analysis. That poor effort was not considered adequate, nor protective, of the health and safety of the neighbors.

BCHD is placing a 16,000V substation, a 4,000V transformer, a power plant and an explosive fuel storage supply on Diamond street, 50-100 feet from homes. That is not protective of the neighborhoods.

BCHD is fully aware of the neighborhoods' requests. BCHD need only look at The Kensington at PCH and Knob hill with 100+ units in 100,000 sqft on roughly 1.5 acres at under 35-feet tall to gain a FULL understanding of appropriate integration into the neighborhood.

BCHD's opulent, ocean view palaces are 220 units in a 300,000 sqft 6-story, 108-foot 8-inches above the street concrete compound. BCHD reports the 108+ foot building height in its official documents to the City, yet, continues with its 82-foot height misrepresentation in the media and its torrent of press releases.

BCHD also reports the current hospital is 76-feet tall. A single, 968 sqft (0.3% of floor space) is 76-feet tall. The other 99%+ of BCHD campus buildings are 52-feet or less. Furthermore, the "penthouse" at BCHD is located nearly dead center in the campus, making its visual height less than 3rd floor of the perimeter construction adjacent to homes that BCHD proposes at nearly 110-feet tall.

The cities, by Municipal Code, must protect the residents. BCHD has no such obligation, and has demonstrated its lack of cooperation with the surrounding residents. All indications are that BCHD plans to barrel ahead with the hope of spending Taxpayer-owner funds in litigation to bully the neighborhoods into submission. What's another $1M from Hermosa, Redondo, and Manhattan Beach residents for BCHD HLC legal fees? Perhaps BCHD should rename it the Wealthy Legal Campus?
###
For convenience, we have attached a recent comment from StopBCHD.com to the Cities, the Bakaly diatribe in the EasyReader (7/7/22) and the StopBCHD.com letter in the Beach Reporter (7/7/22).
cc: StopBCHD, Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions of Torrance and Redondo Beach, LALAFCO, Electeds
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Stop BCHD <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Jul 6, 2022 at 3:42 PM
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment)
To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET!
In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

CEO Bakaly has resorted to name calling concerned residents “vocal opponents [who] refuse to acknowledge that BCHD is listening to their concerns.” In his recent public letter, CEO Bakaly claims that BCHD has acted to meet the concerns of the 1,200 signatories to the public petition, and the hundreds of negative comments concerning the BCHD proposed commercial development. IN TRUTH, BCHD has both ignored our comments, and acted opposite to our concerns.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace
2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering
2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp at Prospect & Diamond
2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond
2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8- inches
Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30- foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

From: Sabrina Barakat
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; kevin@easyreadernews; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 9:39:11 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

We are fortunate to live in California, where environmentalism is taken seriously. Of course, that is thanks to the thoughtful action and determination of many people.

Therefore, I wish to thank you in advance for fulfilling your sacred duty as elected officials in considering the common good, safety and health of so many residents.

And in recognizing that the BCHD proposal serves the wants of the few --- at expense of the needs of many.

I also see my teenaged children becoming cynical and/or fearful regarding so many happenings at the national level. Please show them that adults still have the power to stand up for common sense and protection.

Finally, thanks to my diligent neighbors for their scholarship and energy. Thus, I agree with their points below:

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

In the spirit of hope and community,
Sabrina Barakat Kerch
From: Hamant and Robin Patel
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; Lisa Jacobs; Kevin Cody Cc: [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 10:42:57 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

We oppose the BCHD commercial development that is 108-feet, 8-inches tall, 792,520 square feet to be built on the far edges of the site up against residential neighborhoods. It is inconsistent with Redondo Beach and Torrance Municipal Codes. If it is to be built at all, the project must be moved to the center, downsized in height, and reduced in size.

In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. We have neighbors in our area that are original owners and moved over 50 years ago, when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. We moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings.

Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities.

Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984.

BCHD should not be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site, to build on the perimeter of the site, or to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined. Not only will the construction with such a large facility be disruptive for the neighboring areas (including elementary schools) but BCHD has demonstrated a complete lack of interest with the concerns and comments of the neighborhood and communities as demonstrated by their plans and communications over the past 5 years.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you.

Robin and Hamant Patel
From: Susan Oliver
To: [email protected]; [email protected]; CityClerk Cc: Stop BCHD
Subject: Opposition to BCHD Development (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 11:23:09 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear public officials:

My husband and I own a home located at 414 North Prospect Avenue, strongly oppose the BCHD commercial development that is 108-feet, 8-inches tall, 792,520 square feet to be built on the far edges of the site up against residential neighborhoods. It is inconsistent with Redondo Beach and Torrance Municipal Codes. At the very least, the project must be downsized both in height and size.

In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” Of course neighbors were aware of the EXISTING building when they purchased homes. This is not the issue, the issue is that we did not sign up for living near a 800,000 sft commercial development of this size and scope.

BCHD has has already already tripled in size since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly triple the square footage of the buildings on the site could not be reasonably be anticipated. Residents are not mind readers and were not given the opportunity to oppose the project in advance, saving time and money for all involved. The voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

CEO Bakaly has resorted to name calling concerned residents “vocal opponents [who] refuse to acknowledge that BCHD is listening to their concerns.” In his recent public letter, CEO Bakaly claims that BCHD has acted to meet the concerns of the 1,200 signatories to the public petition, and the hundreds of negative comments concerning the BCHD proposed commercial development. In actuality, BCHD has both ignored our comments, and acted opposite to our concerns.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace 2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering 2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp 2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond
2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8-inches Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been very clear they do not want additional development at the site.

Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site. We demand that the project:

1. Not allow buildings three times the height of surrounding properties on top of a 30-foot elevated site;

2. Not allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, significantly impacting the privacy, mass and visual impacts of the surrounding neighbors; and

3. Not allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Sue and Mark Oliver
Redondo Beach
From: Jacqueline Caro
To: CityClerk; City Clerk
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 3:21:06 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

SUBJECT:

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET! In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE!
If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities.

Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Jackie Ecklund
Torrance Resident
From: William Shanney
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Opposition to BCHD Development
Date: Thursday, July 7, 2022 9:49:28 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace
2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering
2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp
2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond 2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108- feet, 8-inches
Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, IN THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Sincerely,
William and Vivian Shanney
From: Barbara Kiyokane
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT
Date: Friday, July 8, 2022 10:07:50 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

We vehemently oppose the BCHD development. Our main objection is to the massiveness of the structure and their plan to situate the building along the perimeter of their property.

BCHD's insensitivity to the surrounding Redondo Beach and Torrance neighborhoods seems almost spiteful.

We have lived in our home on Towers Street since 1984, raised our three daughters here, and now babysit our grandchildren here. We and many of our neighbors thought this would be our forever home. A few have already moved away. That isn't an option for some of us, nor should it need to be.Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Sincerely,
Phil and Barbara Kiyokane
Torrance
From: Doug Field
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Stop BCHD; [email protected] Subject: OPPOSITION TO BCHD OVER DEVELOPMENT
Date: Friday, July 8, 2022 11:25:25 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear City Clerks, Planning Commissions, and Media:

I have concerns with the current proposal as a person that lives within walking distance to this projected development.

BCHD needs to be held to the Conditional Use Permit (CUP), Planning Commission Design Review (PCDR), and Residential Design Guidelines (RDG) criteria.

I am also concerned that Torrance residents be protected by BCHDs compliance to the intent of the Hillside Overlay Development Standards (HODS).

The HODS protect the privacy and other residential conditions of the many Torrance residents that surround this project.

BCHD should not be allowed to build to the perimeter of the site.

RBMC Conditional Use, Design Review and Residential Guidelines are in place to protect the character, quality-of-life and other important attributes of our neighborhood.

We should enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support,
Doug Field
From: [email protected]
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Stop the development
Date: Friday, July 8, 2022 10:34:47 AM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

I have been a resident/homeowner for over 50 years. This is NOT what was thought of and planned out back then. It is not what should be done now. This isn't helping the neighborhood residents, but only filling some people's pockets with money. Please speak up on our behalf and help us fight this so that we don't have something over built in our backyards. It will drastically effect the worth of our homes and our well being.

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET! In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE!
If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital. BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGAIN could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities.

Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Jennifer Sams
From: Stop BCHD
To: CityClerk; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Lisa Jacobs; Kevin Cody; [email protected] Subject: Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Comment - BCHD "Canceled" the Community Input Group and Did Not Incorporate Neighborhood Input Date: Monday, July 11, 2022 9:00:16 PM
Attachments: BCHD Popularity Contest 1.png
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Public Comment to Redondo Beach and Torrance Mayors, Councils, Planning Commissions Public Comment to LALAFCO Board Members and Alternates
Public Comment to Electeds
Media
Since 2017, various community members involved with StopBCHD.com have worked with BCHD in its Community Working Group. On December 7, 2020, BCHD canceled the CWG. Within the next 3 months, BCHD raised the height of its project by yet another 27-feet to 103-ft above the interior courtyard and 133.5-ft above adjacent homes. The former CWG membership was yet again blindsided by a BCHD act, as it was in June 2020 as well. From 2019 to 2021, BCHD raised the height of the project from 60-feet to 103-feet while neighborhoods called for no project, or shorter, smaller and away from the edges of the elevated site. BCHD was overtly antagonistic in its actions.

It was very clear that the BCHD CEO and Board viewed the CWG, and the surrounding thousands of neighbors, as an impediment to BCHDs desire to build their ultimate proposed 108-ft, 8-inch tall, 792,520-sq ft commercial development. The surrounding neighborhoods average under 25-feet tall and have 27 and 30-foot code height limits. The adjacent Beryl Heights neighborhood is only 650,000-sqft when ALL HOMES ARE ADDED TOGETHER. And surely, a 1955 Miami Beach hotel design is not the character of the neighborhoods. In short, BCHD has ignored the Redondo Beach and Torrance Municipal Codes.

The campus buildings on the failed South Bay Hospital District site have already been tripled in size since the 1960 opening of the 100 bed hospital. The hospital was doubled to over 200 rooms and two commercially leased office buildings were added in the 1970s and 80s after the surrounding neighborhoods were built out. BCHD's proposal would result in an 8-fold increase from what surrounding neighborhoods were subjected to until 1970, when the overwhelming majority of residential homes were already built.

StopBCHD.com sees no reason to meet with Tom Bakaly or BCHD beyond the roughly 1000 hours the group members have invested over 4 years in meetings, project analysis, project review, community communications, and formal legal comments - only to be canceled by BCHD. The CWG's local membership conveyed the positions of the surrounding neighborhoods to BCHD, and yet, BCHD increased the height of the project 3 times in direct opposition to continued neighborhood comments. BCHD even moved its high-voltage electric transformers, backup generator (diesel locomotive sized) and fuel storage tanks to within 100-ft of adjacent homes on Diamond St. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FOR A HEALTH DISTRICT OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITY, but ESPECIALLY for a HEALTH DISTRICT.

Tom Bakaly and BCHD are operating in Bad Faith with the surrounding neighborhoods and we will be forced to have our day in court at both Cities, forcing enforcement of the RBMC and TMC to the letter in order to protect the character, property values, and other attributes of our neighborhoods and safety of our children for generations. https://www.stopbchd.com/post/bchd-s-project-is-bad-for-taxpayer-owners --
StopBCHD.com ([email protected]) is a Neighborhood Quality-of-Life Community concerned about the quality-of-life, health, and economic damages that BCHDs 110-foot above the street, 800,000 sqft commercial development will inflict for the next 50-100 years. Our neighborhoods have been burdened since 1960 by the failed South Bay Hospital project and have not received the benefit of the voter-approved acute care public hospital since 1984.Yet we still suffer 100% of the damages and we will suffer 100% of the damages of BCHDs proposal.

From: Mark Nelson (Home Gmail)
To: CityClerk; CityClerk
Cc: Bruce Steele; Geoff Gilbert; Rosann Taylor; Mark Nelson (Gmail); [email protected]; Patrick Flannery; Kevin Cody; Lisa Jacobs
Subject: Public Comment from Local Neighborhood BCHD Community Working Group Members Regarding CEO Bakaly"s Misstatements in the Media
Date: Monday, July 11, 2022 6:52:16 PM
CAUTION: Email is from an external source; Stop, Look, and Think before opening attachments or links.

Dear Mayors, City Councilmembers, and Planning Commissioners:

BCHD’s CEO Tom Bakaly has recently gone to the media with claims that BCHD does not know the needs of surrounding neighborhoods with regard to the BCHD’s proposed 108’-8”, 792,520 square-foot campus building expansion.

As former members of the BCHD Community Working Group (CWG) we can unequivocally state that the CEO’s claims are not truthful.

The CWG operated from early 2017 until it was canceled by BCHD on December 7, 2020.

The neighborhood members provided ample, clear feedback to the BCHD CEO, Board and its myriad of consultants. The surrounding public and CWG members attended up to 50 BCHD public meetings of the Board, Finance Committee, Properties Committee, and the CWG’s monthly meetings. One-on-one and public workshop meetings were also attended and comments of the surrounding neighborhoods and CWG members were taken. Both the written and oral comments from the CWG and the surrounding neighborhoods are in the formal record of BCHD. BCHD has been FULLY INFORMED of the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and the views of the CWG members.

Over 1,200 signatories to a petition and hundreds (perhaps even thousands) of comments from neighbors and residents clearly stated that if the project is to be built at all, it must be SMALLER, SHORTER, and FURTHER FROM HOMES.

BCHD ignored neighborhood input. The project is taller, larger, and located as close to residential as possible.

BCHD increased the height of the project several times, from 60-feet (June 2019) to 76-feet (June 2020) to 103-feet (Mar 2021). BCHD increased the size of above ground buildings in the project when it removed 160,000 sqft of underground parking by adding an 8-10 story parking ramp above homes. None of these BCHD actions was consistent with the contemporaneous input it was receiving from surrounding neighborhoods or CWG members.

BCHD “canceled” the Community Working Group, thereby deliberately cutting off any further organized review by residents. Since then, BCHD has taken a number of damaging actions to surrounding residents and neighborhoods.

In March of 2021, BCHD increased the height of the project to 133-1/2 feet above Beryl & Flagler streets thereby further damaging the privacy of the surrounding residential areas.

Clearly, BCHD was aware of the objection of the surrounding neighborhoods, and BCHD likely canceled the CWG because it would never have supported such damage to surrounding residents.

BCHD has also proposed to site a 16,000V to 4,000V electric substation, a 2,000kW electricity generator, and an explosive fuel storage facility along Diamond street within 100- feet or less of homes, residents, and school children walking to school. BCHD refuses to even reveal the type of fossil-fueled generator, or the fuel, or the size of the storage tanks. This electricity transformation and explosion hazard are currently in the center of the BCHD site, well away from the public. BCHD chose to move this high risk activity next to homes without any discussion and CANNOT be allowed to do so. The buffer zone must be restored and BCHD must not be allowed to endanger the lives of residents and passersby with dangerous equipment placed next to homes and walkways.

As community members that collectively donated hundreds if not thousands of hours of effort to BCHD’s project development through the CWG, we believe it is important that our elected officials understand that BCHD is acting against the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods.

BCHD and CEO Bakaly are fully aware of the neighborhood concerns and have elected not only to ignore those needs, but in some cases, act directly against the needs of the neighborhoods.

We request that the Cities of Torrance and Redondo Beach enforce their municipal code protections on behalf of surrounding residents to the fullest extent. The BCHD project as proposed is incompatible, inconsistent, and out-of-scale with the surrounding properties and uses. Thank you for your consideration and this is a public comment under the Brown Act protections.

Former BCHD CWG Volunteer Members
Geoff Gilbert
Mark Nelson
Bruce Steele
Rosann Taylor
From: [email protected]
To: CityClerk; [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: Opposition to BCHD development
Date: Saturday, July 9, 2022 10:18:40 AM
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SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO BCHD DEVELOPMENT (Brown Act Non-Agenda Item Public Comment) Dear Mayors, City Councils, Planning Commissions, and Media:

BCHD has resorted to a strategy of SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS DESERVE WHAT THEY GET In BCHD’s FAQs, it states “neighbors were certainly aware the campus was nearby before they moved in.” IN TRUTH, some neighbors predate South Bay Hospital. Some moved before 1970 when the hospital was only 100 rooms. Some moved before 1984 when the public owned and funded South Bay Hospital failed and it was 200 rooms. Some moved before the land was leased for commercial development of the Medical Office Buildings. NO ONE EXPECTED 800,000 sqft and 110-feet over residential neighborhoods on the edge of the site! NO ONE! If BCHD were to tell the TRUTH, the square footage of buildings on the campus has already been TRIPLED since the original 100 room, 1960 public hospital.

BCHD’s proposal to nearly TRIPLE the square footage of the buildings on the site AGA N could never have been reasonably expected by homeowners. Voters only approved a public emergency hospital for the benefit of the beach cities. Neighbors no longer have the life-saving public emergency hospital that they deserve and paid for – it failed in 1984. And neighbors no longer have a privately operated emergency room on the site.

The Facts
2017 – BCHD committed to a buffer around the development area using parking and greenspace 2019 – BCHD proposed 60-feet tall all around the site with underground parking and no buffering 2020 – BCHD proposed 76-feet tall along Beryl and Flagler, and added an 8-10 story parking ramp 2021 – BCHD raised the height to 103-feet, kept the ramp, and added a mini-power plant and explosive fuel storage next to homes on Diamond 2022 – BCHD filed a Pre-CUP with Redondo Beach stating a new height of 108-feet, 8-inches Contrary to CEO Bakaly’s claims, BCHD has ignored residents, increased the height by nearly double, and increased the square footage of surface buildings by removing the 160,000 sqft of underground parking in the 2020 plan and replacing it with a 10-story ramp over the top of homes at Prospect and Beryl. There is no possible view of BCHD’s actions to suggest it has listened, or acted, to the needs of residents. Residents have been VERY CLEAR they want NO DEVELOPMENT or a SMALLER, SHORTER, N THE CENTER DEVELOPMENT. Residents have met with BCHD in public meetings and been ignored over and over.

At a Minimum, BCHD Must Downsize and Move to the Center of the Site BCHD cannot be allowed to build three times the height of surrounding homes on top of a 30-foot elevated site.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build on the perimeter of the site, maximizing the invasion of privacy, mass and visual impacts.

BCHD cannot be allowed to build a nearly 800,000 sqft development that is larger than all of the Beryl Heights homes combined.

Please enforce the municipal codes of both Cities and force BCHD to comply with SHORTER, SMALLER, and IN THE CENTER of the site.

Thank you for your support of residents and taxpayers.

Jerry M. Lake
West Torrance Resident for 38 years (adjacent to BCHD site) Reply Repl

Redondo Beach City CouncilJuly 12, 2022

Redondo Beach City Council
July 12, 2022