October 14, 2024

Get Involved: YOU can help safeguard & preserve our Programs & Services

Your voice matters! Support a 1.25 FAR and fair treatment from the city and save BCHD's programs:

1) Attend the City Council Meetings:

• Attend the City Council meetings in person
• Make or submit a comment OR just attend to show your support by wearing a BCHD t-shirt!
• Attend the meeting via Zoom and comment. (Zoom instructions are available on the meeting agenda)

Dates: Tuesdays, October 15 and October 29

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: City Council Chambers, 415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach

2) Submit a Comment:

• E-comments may be submitted before and during the City Council meeting. eCOMMENT: Comments may be entered directly on the City's website at: https://redondo.granicusideas.com/meetings

Check the box "OPPOSE.”

Here is suggested text for your comment: "Regarding Agenda Item L1, I OPPOSE a 0.50 and 0.75 FAR for BCHD and support a 1.25 uniform FAR for all public institutions, including BCHD. I SUPPORT the Staff recommendation to analyze a 1.25 FAR for BCHD and all public institutions in the EIR." You can also tell the City Council what BCHD Programs and Services mean the most to you.

1. Public comments can be entered before and during the meeting.
2. Select a SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM to enter your comment; (L1 is the Item regarding BCHD and the General Plan update)
3. Public will be prompted to Sign-Up to create a free personal account (one-time) and then comments may be added to each Agenda item of interest.
4. Public comments entered into eComment (up to 2200 characters; equal to approximately 3 minutes of oral comments) will become part of the official meeting record. Comments may be read out loud during the meeting.

3) Email the Redondo Beach City Clerk and City Council:

Tell them you support keeping public institutional land uses the same for BCHD and the City with a 1.25 FAR in the General Plan update.

EMAIL: To participate by written communication, EMAILS MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 3:00 P.M. THE DAY OF THE MEETING. Public comments may be submitted by email to cityclerk@redondo.org. In addition to emailing the City Clerk, cc: the Mayor and City Council members on your comments:

Mayor Jim Light: james.light@redondo.org

District 1: Council Member Nils Nehrenheim: nils.nehrenheim@redondo.org

District 2: Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member Todd Loewenstein: todd.loewenstein@redondo.org

District 3: Council Member Paige Kaluderovic: paige.kaluderovic@redondo.org

District 4: Council Member Zein Obagi, Jr.: Zein.Obagi@redondo.org

District 5: Council Member Scott Behrendt: scott.behrendt@redondo.org

Here is suggested text for your comment: "Regarding Agenda Item L1, I OPPOSE a 0.50 and 0.75 FAR for BCHD and support a 1.25 uniform FAR for all public institutions, including BCHD. I SUPPORT the Staff recommendation to analyze a 1.25 FAR for BCHD and all public institutions in the EIR." You can also tell the City Council what BCHD Programs and Services mean the most to you.

Save Your Public Health Services - Redondo Beach City Council meets again Tuesday, Oct. 15

Keep Public Institutional Use Levels the Same for the Health District and City - Support a 1.25 Floor Area Ratio

The Redondo Beach City Council will meet Tuesday evening with an agenda item that could directly impact Beach Cities Health District. The Planning Commission made a change to the proposed City of Redondo Beach General Plan that could significantly reduce BCHD’s programs and services, proposing a dramatic reduction in the Floor Area Ratio for select public property, targeting BCHD.  

The programs you use, know and love are under attack, including: 

• The Center for Health & Fitness 
• Social Workers for disabled and older adults 
• allcove Beach Cities – youth wellness center 
• Blue Zones Project 
• Summer Free Fitness
• LiveWell Kids and BCHD’s numerous other free programs and services 

Initially, a 0.75 FAR was considered for BCHD’s campus by the Planning Commission, where they recently recommended a further reduction–without being studied–to 0.50, while select City of Redondo Beach properties, which have the same land use designation, are allowed a 1.25 FAR.  

The General Plan update will be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Redondo Beach City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 415 Diamond Street in Redondo Beach.

Funding & BCHD’s Budget 

Forty-two percent of BCHD’s revenues that fund programs and services come from leases on BCHD’s campus and public-private partnerships. Limiting BCHD’s ability to utilize the campus to generate revenue through leases for medical offices, memory care for the elderly and other health-related services would decrease BCHD’s budget and limit its ability to provide its current programs and services.  

What is a Floor Area Ratio? 

Floor Area Ratio (or FAR) – is a technical planning term that determines how much can be built on parcels throughout the city. It is calculated by dividing the gross floor area of a building by the total lot size.   

Healthy Living Campus Facts

Beach Cities Health District has been working closely with the community since 2017 to reimagine our medical campus – home to our 64-year-old former hospital building located at 514 North Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach – into a Healthy Living Campus for all ages. Since May 2017, BCHD has held more than 60 meetings, drawing more than 1,000 comments regarding the modernization of its property.

For accurate information regarding the Healthy Living Campus project, visit https://www.bchdcampus.org/.

acres of active green space in Campus Plan