Measure G, the proposed harbor zoning supporters hope signals the beginning of harbor revitalization, swept to victory by a 52 to 48 percent margin at Tuesday’s polls.
The measure’s passage signifies the culmination of nearly nine years of debate over the future of harbor development that began with the city’s proposed Heart of the City plan in 2001. It also represents a major defeat for Building a Better Redondo, the “slow growth” citizen’s group that successfully sued the city to bring the zoning to a vote.
At a raucous party on election night, more than a 100 Measure G supporters toasted champagne and celebrated what many believe is a watershed vote in the city’s recent history, ending a decade of often bitter division that resulted in ongoing economic stagnation in the harbor.
“The people have spoken!” said Chris Cagle, amid loud cheers of G supporters at Delzano’s restaurant after midnight Tuesday. Cagle purposely echoed the words he spoke in June 2002 when he and an impromptu army of residents delivered more than 10,000 signatures to City Hall in a referendum movement that halted the Heart of the City, an ambitious plan proposed by the city that would have zoned for as many as 2998 residential units and 1.6 million square feet of commercial development in the harbor.
“This is an enormous watershed moment,” said Councilman Steve Diels. “Not only a watershed moment, a waterfront moment…The future of Redondo Beach was on the line. The negativity just could not win.”
BBR Chair Jim Light said that Measure G supporters “ran a good campaign” and expressed satisfaction that the matter had faced a public vetting.
“We asked for a public vote, and we got it,” Light said at relatively low-key election night party just across the street, at Splash restaurant in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, attended by a half dozen BBR supporters.
“The people have spoken,” said Councilman Bill Brand, a BBR supporter. “There’s going to be a lot of building coming forward. But I’ll keep an open mind.”
Cagle called the election victory the completion of a “full circle” in his unlikely political career, one that began with a letter to the editor seeking volunteers to defeat the Heart of the City and subsequently lead to six years as a city councilman in which his chief mission was to broker a compromise on harbor zoning.
Measure G, he argued, represented that compromise by implementing a harbor area zoning cap of 400,000 square feet of commercial development, removing all residential zoning, adding park zoning to the AES power plant site and amenities such as a public boat ramp and a 12 foot waterfront promenade.
“We needed to fully conclude this matter,” Cagle said. “It’s been like the World Series of local politics.”
Councilman Steve Aspel credited Cagle and the group Redondo Moms for Measure G – which consisted of 108 mothers who launched their own advocacy campaign – for the victory.
“At the end of the day, without Chris Cagle and the Moms, we would not have won,” Aspel said.
Councilman Matt Kilroy said that the urgency of this issue compelled most of the City Council to go out and knock door to door. Even Aspel, who is fighting cancer, went door-to-door in his district.
“We didn’t give up anything,” Kilroy said. “We fought for every precinct.”
The victory of Measure G means that the boutique, 45-room Shade Hotel proposed by Manhattan Beach entrepreneur Mike Zislis will go forward, as planned, possibly beginning construction early next year. The harbor’s longest and largest leaseholder, Les Guthrie of Marina Cove, also signaled Tuesday night that with the success of G he would proceed with a significant reinvestment in his properties.
“I think this puts a great responsibility on each of us that supported Measure G to do a better job for the community,” Guthrie said. “We have got to do more to bring the community back down to the harbor, to open it up for everyone and make it part of their lives…We have to pull off this vision.”
Guthrie, who is in his 80s, has battled serious health issues in recent years and uses a wheelchair. At one point, he pulled Mayor Mike Gin close to him. “You are a uniter,” he told the mayor. “I have seen a lot of people who divide in this city. But you unite people.”
Gin said Measure G was a victory for the entire community. He said BBR, in particular, had fought for many issues – such as park zoning – that ended up in the zoning documents.
“I don’t think there are any winners or losers tonight in our community,” Gin said. “Everyone won. I think a lot of credit should also go to Building a Better Redondo – a lot of the things they brought up have been incorporated in Measure G. It’s really a new beginning.”
Light also sounded a conciliatory note.
“It is time to move forward,” he said. “I think in the end both sides want what is best for Redondo. I have offered to help move forward should our opponents want my support.” ER
