Long Beach port to break five-year development moratorium
Commissioners for the Port of Long Beach Commissioners Monday are to release environmental documents for a major terminal development.
The move is a large step toward kick-starting major development at the port that has been stalled by a self-imposed moratorium for nearly five years.
The $750 million Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, which started life nearly a decade ago as part of the port's several billion-dollar mega-terminal development plan, would see the consolidation of two adjacent terminals on the port's Piers D, E and F into a single 345-acre container terminal. The project would also include creation of nearly 55 acres of new land with landfill.
New environmental guidelines for terminal development required that the port update the project's Environmental Impact Report originally approved by the port in 2001. The project now requires a state-mandated EIR as well as a similar federal Environmental Impact Statement.
The five-member port commission will consider releasing the port-developed report to the public and starting a 45-day public comment period. If the project moves forward, it would be the first such major development at Long Beach since concerns over environmental litigation halted development more than three years ago. The Long Beach port's self-imposed moratorium followed shortly after a 2002 lawsuit and subsequent settlement against the neighboring Port of Los Angeles that halted development in Los Angeles over fears of additional legal actions.
Long Beach port to break five-year development moratorium
