Long Beach is already growing, but if land use ordinances change that rate could explode in the coming years.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram recently dug into the pitfalls of a denser city. Should the ordinances go through, adjustments would include allotments for 10-story buildings along Long Beach Boulevard, six-story buildings around the Traffic Circle, and structures as high as five stories in many other portions of the city.

Luxury Condo Development / Courtesy of KTGY

According to the article, part of this is to keep up with state standards. California’s goal for the city is 783 new units per year, but Long Beach’s average hasn’t topped 675 in recent years. Adding 3,200 residents annually means that rate doesn’t match up at all. And it’s just exacerbating the city’s housing — especially affordable housing — crisis.

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is committed to slowing down the process of adjusting ordinances, especially at the risk of creating overly dense neighborhoods too quickly. The city’s Blue Line transportation system is available, but that doesn’t mean cars will just vanish overnight — especially in one of the country’s most car-heavy counties (Los Angeles). 

It’s a critical time for Long Beach as it plays a key role in plans for the 2028 Olympic Games. Recent findings show the Belmont Pier must be replaced in advance of that event, while changes are coming to the Queen Mary and new communities pop up near downtown. The growth path it takes will shape the next couple decades (until ordinances are revisited in 2040). For current residents, that means a lot at stake in this debate.