Building a Better Redondo (BBR) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of resident quality of the life in Redondo Beach and the South Bay area.
We
are a grass-roots, 501(c)(4) as determined by the IRS, made up of residents who are concerned with rampant over-development, re-industrialization of our waterfront, the loss of business in Redondo, and the lack of park space. Through online reports and fact finding, editorial on our BBR No Power Plant Blog, Facebook Page, email blasts and our ongoing events, BBR keeps the community up to date on issues that affect our quality of life.
Our current efforts are focused on educating the public on the AES plans to build a new power plant on our waterfront, and what we can do to stop it.
We care about Redondo and want to help preserve the quality of life now and for future generations. We are happy to tell you more about us, so please email at: info@buildingabetterredondo.org
History of BBR: In the Beginning
After the Heart of the City development was stopped by Redondo residents (via referendum), discussions naturally led many of us to explore ideas about how to stop the rampant overdevelopment happening in Redondo.
Downzoning, caps, and infrastructure adequacy were discussed as methods of controlling overdevelopment but voting seemed to have the most positive outcome for today and into the future - and it resonated with Redondo residents.
In 2006, after the City reversed the Planning Commission’s recommendation and increased the housing density for a part of the old Heart of the City area east of Catalina Avenue, the Building a Better Redondo PAC was formed.
At this point the City’s overdevelopment tactics became clear – make major land use changes small enough so that it will not cause residents to submit another city-wide referendum. These small dense developments equal one thing: overdevelopment.
BBR original formation as a Political Action Committee
BBR was originally formed as a political action committee (PAC) whose mission was to develop an initiative that would give residents the right to vote on major zoning changes that would have an impact on resident quality of life. The initiative was meant to level the playing field since the current City processes did not adequately consider resident impacts and vision for Redondo Beach. This initiative became Measure DD.
In parallel, BBR analyzed the environmental impact study on the rezoning of Torrance Boulevard for nearly 200 condos. BBR found significant flaws with this study and produced a 60 page document illustrating all the flaws in the environmental impact report. The City shelved the zoning actions, but did not vote against it.
With the completion of Measure DD and the success stopping the rezoning of Torrance Blvd, BBR turned its attention to organizing the signature drive required to place Measure DD on the ballot. After our first signature drive failed due to too many rejected or invalid signatures, we attempted to negotiate a compromise with City officials. Our intent was to place checks and balances into the City’s zoning processes. However, when the City could not arrange a second meeting and without any indication from City officials on which areas they were willing to compromise, BBR initiated a second signature drive. This one completed in 2008 was successful.
BBR activities then turned from signature gathering on Measure DD to campaigning. Despite a competing measure (Measure EE) placed on the ballot by our City Council and a counter campaign by “Save Redondo”, a political action group made up of developers, councilmen, key members of the Chamber of Commerce, realtor political action groups, and property and lease holders in the harbor area, Measure DD won just under 60% of the vote. This is quite amazing since “Save Redondo” spent ten times the budget of BBR on their campaign.
It is also interesting to note that this Measure won in the '08 presidential election which turned out more voters than any other in recent history. Measure DD received more votes than any Councilman in their district and more than the Mayor across the whole city by margins of 2:1 to 5:1.
After Measure DD was placed in the City Charter as Article XXVII, BBR formally closed our doors as a political action committee.
BBR Archive of Initiative & Measure DD
Timeline of the Initiative History 2002-2008 here.
Rebirth of Building a Better Redondo as a Not-for-Profit Corporation
In 2009, the City continued to move forward on their huge harbor upzoning as though Article XXVII never existed. This upzoning included 400,000 square feet of new development in our quaint harbor and allowed three story development including time shares. The zoning change did not adequately protect views and boater access to the harbor. The Council also endorsed the flawed environmental impact study that said only two intersections would be impacted by the massive upzoning. This impact report relied entirely on the outdated, and flawed Heart of the City Environmental Impact Report.
Members of the community who were part of the Growth and Traffic Management Committee were presented a city traffic study that showed gridlock conditions in and around the harbor with this proposed new zoning. When approached by members of the committee, City Staff and City Council refused to redo their impact assessment of the massive harbor upzoning. At the same time City staff presented a plan that showed a parking lot over a significant portion of the Seaside Lagoon, drastically eating into its usable open space. Research showed this parking lot matched a plan being developed by harbor leaseholder, Decron.
Decron’s plan showed a 200,000 square foot waterfront mall development that eliminated most of the trailer parking and access to the hand launch boat ramp, and largely created a wall of development that narrowed harbor views to small slivers called view corridors. This plan places a multi story parking lot on the Seaside Lagoon property. City staff said parking lots are an allowable use of public open space.
With the City again moving forward on development without regard to resident impacts
and concerns, residents needed an organization to monitor, educate and represent their
best interests.
Based on these activities by the City, BBR reformed as a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization. Our first actions have been to educate the public on harbor rezoning and represent and defend the public’s desire to vote on this massive upzoning.
Our latest efforts have been to educate the public on the AES plans to build a new power plant on our waterfront, and what we can do to stop it.
Building a Better Redondo - All Rights Reserved
Contact Us at info@buildingabetterredondo.org
Building a Better Redondo (BBR) is a not-for-profit, 501(C)(4) organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of resident quality of the life in Redondo Beach and the South Bay area.