PLAN Hermosa - Archived Documents | City of Hermosa Beach

PLAN Hermosa, the City's General Plan, was adopted by the City Council on August 22, 2017. Supporting documentation, public meetings, input and other records accumulated during the PLAN Hermosa development and approval process are saved below.

PLAN Hermosa

Final Environmental Impact Report

The 2017 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Hermosa Beach has also been incorporated by reference into the Public Safety Element of PLAN Hermosa to support the concurrent identification, evaluation, and mitigation of hazards in the City of Hermosa Beach.

2017 Hermosa Beach Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Public Meetings & Approvals

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City Council - Public Hearings & Study Sessions

The City Council held their first study session for PLAN Hermosa on April 20, 2017. The City Council also discussed the key topics of PLAN Hermosa during study sessions on May 23, May 31, and June 13, 2017. Additionally, Public Hearings were held on July 11 and July 17, 2017. The meeting agendas and videos can be viewed below:

Thursday April 20, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video
Tuesday May 23, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video
Wednesday May 31, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video
Tuesday June 13, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video
Tuesday July 11, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video
Monday July 17, 2017 - Meeting Agenda/Video

Planning Commission - Public Hearings

The Planning Commission held meetings on February 22, 23, and 27, and again on March 13, 21, and 27, 2017 to consider making a recommendation to the City Council on the Final Environmental Impact Report and the Draft of PLAN Hermosa with proposed modifications. The Planning Commission completed their review on March 27, 2017.

February 22, 2017- Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 1 - Meeting Agenda/Video
February 23, 2017- Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 2 - Meeting Agenda/Video
February 27, 2017- Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 3 - Meeting Agenda/Video
March 13, 2017- Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 4 - Meeting Agenda/Video
March 21, 2017 - Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 5 - Meeting Agenda/Video (begins at 2:11)
March 27, 2017 - Planning Commission Public Hearing Part 6 (Final Action) - Meeting Agenda/Video

Study Sessions & Community Workshops

November 21, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session ( Draft EIR + Carbon Neutrality) -Meeting Agenda/Video
June 21, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Public Safety Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
June 20, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Governance, Parks + Open Space, Infrastructure Elements) - Meeting Agenda/Video
June 15, 2016 - Public Works Commission Meeting (Infrastructure, Public Safety Elements) - Meeting Agenda/Video
May 18, 2016 - Public Works Commission Meeting (Mobility Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
May 16, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Sustainability + Conservation) - Meeting Agenda/Video
May 9, 2016 - EPAC Meeting (Public Safety Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
April 25, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Mobility Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
April 19, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Mobility Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
April 18, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Land Use + Design Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
April 5, 2016 - Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting (Parks + Open Space Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
March 28, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Land Use + Design Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
March 15, 2016 - Planning Commission Study Session (Land Use + Design Element) - Meeting Agenda/Video
February 5-6, 2016 – Community Open House + Walking Tours

January 26, 2016 (6 PM) – City Council Study Session Meeting Agenda and Video
January 25, 2016 (7 PM) – Joint Commissions Study Session Meeting Agenda and Video
July 16, 2015: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session.

On July 16, City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session to review and discuss the preferred policy direction on land use and transportation options. The General Plan focuses most prominently on the physical aspects of the city, and land use and transportation are essential components. This direction will assist in the next step, creating the policy framework for the updated General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan, and establishing the preferred policy direction to be evaluated in the EIR. Meeting Agenda and Video

May 11, 2015: Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session.

On May 11th, City Council and Planning Commission held a joint study session to review and discuss potential policy direction on land use and transportation options. The General Plan focuses most prominently on the physical aspects of the city, and land use and transportation are essential components. This direction will assist in the next step, creating the policy framework for the updated General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan. Meeting Agenda and Video

March 28, 2015: Neighborhood & District Walking Tours.

On March 28 the City sponsored Community Walking Tours on land use and circulation.
Walking Routes and Stops: These are the routes and a series of questions to evoke discussion during the tour. Districts Information: The city was broken down into a variety of districts. Information was provided as a basis for input on the look and feel of each of these areas. People referred to this information along the tours. Many people made notes and turned them in at the end of the tour.

Community Engagement Summary

December 16, 2014 City Council/Planning Commission Study Session: Vision & Guiding Principles Meeting Agenda and Video
November 6, 2014 Community Workshop: Vision, Guiding Principles & Way Forward
- Workshop Summary
- Workshop Summary (Online Results)
Spring 2014 Workshops: Key Issues
General Plan Kick-off! Educational Series
Summer Celebration 2013
- Intro to Planning Projects: General Plan & Downtown Plan

Project Documents & Files

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August 22, 2017 Public Hearing Documents

The following documents summarize and incorporate the changes discussed by the City Council during their Study Sessions and Public Hearings since April 2017. These materials were considered for adoption by the City Council at a Public Hearing on August 22, 2017. All documents listed below were previously presented/made available for review and these versions reflect the changes discussed by the Planning Commission and City Council.

PLAN Hermosa City Council Review Draft - August 2017

These documents are also provided on the Agendas/Minutes/Video page for the August 22, 2017 City Council Meeting.

May 17, 2017 Proposed Land Use Changes

PLAN Hermosa addresses all land within the City. Some parcels are proposed to change names (i.e. from General Commercial to Community Commercial) or change categories (i.e. from commercial to residential).

All proposed changes are highlighted in the following maps:

Map of Parcels with Changes Proposed	Map of all PLAN Hermosa Proposed Land Uses

Description of Proposed Land Use Designations

A larger map and details of all proposed parcel changes are available at the Community Development Department at City Hall (1315 Valley Drive).

While every attempt has been made to confirm the accuracy of the data provided by the LA County Assessor parcel data, potential inconsistencies in address or use data associated with a parcel may exist. If you have any questions or believe there is inconsistent information associated with your property, please contact the City of Hermosa Beach Community Development Department at 310-318-0242.

March 27, 2017 Planning Commission Recommended Materials

On March 27, 2017 the Planning Commission completed their review of PLAN Hermosa, the Implementation Actions, and associated Environmental Impact Report. The final materials recommended by the Planning Commission are provided here:

Planning Commission Resolution on PLAN Hermosa
Attachment 2A - PLAN Hermosa Planning Commission Recommended Draft - PLAN Hermosa
Attachment 2B - Planning Commission Recommended Implementation Actions

Planning Commission Resolution on PLAN Hermosa EIR

Attachment 1A - 2.0 Responses to Comments
Attachment 1B - 3.0 Revisions to DEIR
Attachment 1C - 4.0 Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
Attachment 1D - PLAN Hermosa Draft Findings and Statement of Overriding Considerations
Attachment 1E - PLAN Hermosa Draft Environmental Impact Report

These materials were presented to the City Council for input, review, and discussion. A revised final draft was prepared in advance of the City Council conducting public hearings.

February 19, 2017 Final EIR

October 26, 2016 Draft EIR and Implementation Actions

Complete Document of the Draft EIR

PLAN Hermosa - Draft Environmental Impact Report (Full Document)

Individual Sections of the Draft EIR

Appendices to the Draft EIR

PLAN Hermosa - Draft Implementation Actions (October 26, 2016)

PLAN Hermosa - Draft Implementation Actions

Draft Documents

July 19, 2016 - PLAN Hermosa Commission Notes on Public Review Draft PDF Download

Between March and June 2016, the Planning Commission, Public Works Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission held meetings and study sessions to review, ask questions, and provide input on the Public Review Draft of PLAN Hermosa. The link above provides a compilation of the notes and input provided by the Commissions.

December 15, 2015 – Public Review Draft Web Viewer | PDF Download

Existing Conditions and Technical Papers

The assessment of existing conditions and identification of the key issues facing the community provided an on-the-ground understanding of activities in the city today. By reviewing historic trends and changes or comparing community attributes to other similar communities in the region, a sense of what makes Hermosa Beach unique or different began to emerge. The following documents provide input and additional information that supports the goals, policies, and actions identified in PLAN Hermosa and informs the topics for evaluation in the Environmental Impact Report.

Referenced Plans

The following documents are related to or have been referenced in PLAN Hermosa. Clicking on the image of each document cover will open a full-copy of the plan selected.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan (1990)
		The City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan fulfills the City’s obligation to provide guidance for the orderly development of parks, recreation, and open space facilities and programs. The plan includes baseline data and provides clear recommendations on how to meet the demands for future recreational, programming, and maintenance needs. The last comprehensive plan was completed in 1990, therefore needing an update to reflect the new demographic and open space changes.
Sustainability Plan (2011)
		Created by Hermosa Beach’s Green Task Force, the Sustainability Plan sets goals to reduce human impact on the environment. The Sustainability Plan includes topics on water, waste, transportation, buildings, energy, and marine/coastal issues, with goals to reduce man-made greenhouse gas emissions and protect the City’s beach culture and coastal environment. Strategies to achieve these goals include providing transportation alternatives to reduce automobile travel, supporting beach and ocean-friendly initiatives to protect beach culture and local economy, reducing water consumption and improve water quality consistent with State goals, integrating energy efficiency and renewable energy measures into the built environment, and achieving higher rates of recycling and decrease the volume of landfilled waste. The Green Task Force worked closely with community members, building citywide support throughout the process.
South Bay Cities Bicycle Master Plan (2011)
		The South Bay Bicycle Master Plan is intended to guide the development and maintenance of a comprehensive bicycle network and set of programs and policies throughout the cities of El Segundo, Gardena, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Torrance for the next 20 years. As the first ever multi-jurisdictional bike plan, it has a unique focus on cross-city consistency and connectivity that is often lacking in singular city bike plans. Upon plan adoption, each participating city will be eligible for grant funding sources which they are not currently receiving. The Bicycle Master Plan is the result of a unique partnership between long-standing bicycle advocacy non-profit, Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition (LACBC), and local LACBC chapter – the South Bay Bicycle Coalition (SBBC). The two groups came together with the common goal of improving the safety and convenience of bicycling in Los Angeles County, and specifically in the South Bay Region. Goals in this plan include creating a bicycle-friendly South Bay and safer bicycling environment and ensuring an enduring bicycling culture. Strategies to achieve these goals include designing an expanded bikeway network, supporting consistent design and engineering for bicycles, increasing mobility through bicycle-transit integration, providing convenient and consistent parking facilities, increasing bicycle education, maintaining roads for safe and consistent bikeability, and expanding enforcement for improved cycling safety.
Living Streets Policy (2012)
		Hermosa Beach’s Living Streets Policy reflects the City’s commitment to creating streets that are safe, accessible, sustainable, and inviting. The policy was crafted in conjunction with the Blue Zones Project and was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission in December, 2012. The policy provides a checklist of issues to consider and procedures to evaluate street projects through a comprehensive ‘sustainability’ lens. It ensures that the various segments of the community are considered when determining how to use and improve the public right-of-way. The policy includes policies on street network/connectivity, design, jurisdiction, exceptions, and context sensitivity.
Aviation Boulevard Master Plan (2012)
		The Aviation Boulevard Master Plan was created to transform Aviation Boulevard into a thriving corridor that will act as a gateway when entering the city of Hermosa Beach. The inconsistent zoning along Aviation Boulevard has contributed to the area’s lack of activity. The plan will create a new identity for the area and includes individual toolkits to address the parking, traffic, pedestrian, maintenance, and land use and zoning issues in the area. Some solutions include planted medians, decreasing widths of traffic lanes, new sidewalk and landscape amenities, establishing a business improvement district and other incentives for new investment, new zoning or design guidelines, and implementing a street tree and beautification.
PCH Aviation Boulevard Streetscape Improvements (2013)
		Adopted in 2013, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Streetscape Master Plan is the City’s strategy to improve economic development through revitalized Downtown and Entry Corridors along the Pacific Coast Highway. This corridor is vehicular-oriented, and lacks pedestrian safety, green open space, medians, street trees, and an overall sense of identity. To alleviate these challenges, Katherine Spitz Associates developed concept plans that include innovative design elements. In addition, design goals were created to revitalize the corridors. These include increasing pedestrian safety and accessibility, creating physical and visual connection across PCH, beautifying the street with sustainable, cohesive landscaping, creating a memorable identity for the area, designing walkable streets with access to retail, dining and entertainment, and encouraging pedestrian use through new lighting and crosswalks.
Beach Cities Livability Plan (2013)
		The Beach Cities Livability Plan was developed to improve livability and well being in Los Angeles County beach cities. The plan strives to support active living by enhancing both land use and transportation systems throughout the cities. In order to achieve this goal, the plan highlights ways that will encourage community members to become more active in their communities. This includes a complete network of streets and public spaces to support active living, safe, natural and enjoyable walking and biking conditions, and sustainable transportation choices. Strategies to achieve this goal of healthier, happier people in the city includes adopting a Complete Streets policies and incorporate Complete Streets policy language into all beach cities planning documents, creating and adopting street design guidelines, developing a regional pedestrian master plan, increasing enforcement for pedestrian safety, and increasing enforcement for pedestrian safety.
Community Dialogue (2014)
		The City of Hermosa Beach recognizes the importance to include the community throughout the planning process. Community members and government officials worked together during 2013 and 2014 to provide the following comments and visions for the city. Hermosa Beach is a small-town friendly beach community. Hermosa is a health conscious city where people walk, jog, and bike to get from place to place, but also has a reputation for being a party town. The City government is accessible, with council meetings that are televised and open to the public, as well as City council members office hours for questions or suggestions. The crime rate in Hermosa is very low and the schools are in the top 10 percentile of State rankings. The community participates in major fundraisers to offset state shortfalls in the education system. The City is a green city that is striving for a carbon neutral footprint. Some steps to achieve this goal include storm drain filtration systems, smoke-free zones, banned styrofoam food containers, and the use of solar panels alternative energy source. Hermosa wants to attempt to have colleges/universities invest in technology projects in the area, seek out movie/TV filming projects, encourage volunteerism for projects, and attract small businesses in order to maintain its unique character without any added costs. Hermosa Beach, with the help of its citizens, would like to continue its environmental friendly operation and promote an economically strong small business image over the next 20 years in order to live up to its slogan “the best little beach city.”
LA Metro First Last Mile Strategic Plan (2015)
		The goal of the LA Metro First Last Mile Strategic Plan is to better coordinate infrastructure investments in station areas to extend the reach of transit, with the ultimate goal of increasing ridership. The plan includes guidelines that begin outlining specific infrastructure improvement strategies to facilitate easy, safe, and efficient access to the Metro system. In addition, they introduce a concept referred to as ‘the Path’, and provide direction on the layout of Path networks and components within Metro Rail and fixed route Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station areas. They serve as a resource for Metro and the many public and private organizations throughout the region working to update programs, land use plans, planning guidelines, business models, entitlement processes, and other tools that take advantage of LA County’s significant investment in the public transportation network. Strategies will need to be organized to contend with widely varying environments throughout the county; yet will aim to improve the user experience by supporting intuitive, safe and recognizable routes to and from transit stations.
Downtown Core Revitalization Strategy (2015)
		The Downtown Core Revitalization Strategy for Hermosa Beach is a comprehensive approach for increasing the vitality of the downtown including assessing the role of the key private sites and utilizing City assets to achieve City goals. The Downtown Core Revitalization Strategy and the Market and Economic Analysis were developed by Roma Design Group and Economic Planning Systems respectively, and reviewed by Council thereafter. This Strategy is to utilize strategically located land resources to strengthen the economic vitality of the area and enhance the quality of life in the community as a whole. The Downtown Core will require both public and private initiatives including capital improvement projects, changes to parking and zoning, and parking requirements involving private development. Potential outcomes of the proposed Strategy are two catalyst hotel developments and improvements along Hermosa Avenue. Also, revising zoning will promote ground floor retail, reducing the parking requirements and providing consolidated publicly managed facilities at the civic center or community center. This will facilitate the much needed daytime occupancies and foot traffic by spurring additional second floor office and service uses.
Hermosa Beach Carbon Neutral Scoping Plan (2015)
		Hermosa Beach’s commitment to carbon neutrality is shown in the City’s Carbon Neutral Scoping Plan. At the time it was created, this plan sets carbon neutrality as a primary goal for the City and includes a pathway of achieving this goal. In addition to observing demographics, culture, and political background of Hermosa Beach, the plan includes a comprehensive model to determine emission levels in respective sectors based on different implementation measures. This model creates three potential outcomes to lead the city towards its goal. While the shift to carbon neutrality will not occur immediately, this plan includes recommendations and suggestions to help the City streamline the process.
Hermosa Beach Municipal Carbon Neutral Plan (2015)
		The plan explores the actions that can be taken by the City of Hermosa Beach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from activities or facilities owned or managed by the City of Hermosa Beach to reach the goal of carbon neutrality. With the adoption of the Municipal Carbon Neutral Plan in February 2015, Hermosa Beach became the fourth city in America to choose to codify their carbon neutral plans, setting a goal of municipal carbon neutrality by 2020. In doing so, Hermosa Beach joined the cities of Davis, Austin and South Miami as early adoptees of carbon neutrality. An Executive Summary is also available.
Emergency Operations Plan (2016)
		The City of Hermosa Beach Emergency Operations Plan establishes a comprehensive, all hazards approach to natural, man-made, and technological disasters. The plan provides an overview of operational concepts, identifies components of the City's emergency management organization, and describes the overall responsibilities of federal, state, county, and local entities to protect life and property and ensure the overall well being of the population. The plan establishes a system for coordinating the prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation phases of emergency management in Hermosa Beach. One function of the City of Hermosa Beach Emergency Operations Plan is to identify emergency evacuation protocols. The City also has a tsunami evacuation plan and has posted permanent tsunami evacuation signage at appropriate locations in the city. The City's evacuation plan for all other hazards stresses operational flexibility. The City does not have a publicly accessible all-hazards evacuation plan, nor does it post permanent evacuation route signs for any hazard other than tsunami.
Beach Cities Enhanced Watershed Management Program (2016)
		A Beach Cities Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) has been prepared for the Beach Cities Watershed Management Area, which covers the Santa Monica Bay and Dominguez Channel watersheds. The City of Hermosa Beach, along with the Cities of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, formed the Watershed Management Group and developed the plan. The plan summarizes watershed-specific water quality priorities; outlines a plan program consisting of specific strategies, control measures, and best management practices (BMPs) necessary to achieve water quality targets; and describes the quantitative analyses completed to support target achievement and permit compliance. The EWMP also includes guidance for best management practices, specifically the development of policies related to low impact development and local green streets. Two structural BMPs have already been planned in Hermosa Beach, which will be used to meet the total Santa Monica Bay reduction goals for pollutant reductions. These projects include Hermosa Beach Greenbelt Infiltration and the Hermosa Beach Infiltration Trench.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (2017)
		The City's Local Mitigation Plan (LHMP), approved by FEMA and adopted by the Hermosa Beach City Council in March 2018, fulfills Hermosa Beach's obligation to prepare plans that identify community hazards and risks and create appropriate mitigation actions and projects pursuant to the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA). With a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certified mitigation plan in place, the City is eligible for federal and state hazard mitigation funds. Additional funds are available for jurisdictions whose hazard mitigation plans and general plan safety elements are integrated. Hazard mitigation plans must be updated every five years to remain eligible for funding. The 2017 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Hermosa Beach has also been incorporated by reference into the Public Safety Element of PLAN Hermosa to support the concurrent identification, evaluation, and mitigation of hazards in the City of Hermosa Beach.