La Verne beach parking lot to get new security gate, entry spikes to stop noisy, late-night activity
Residents say that nuisance activities in the public Belmont Shore parking lot have kept them up at night. New security features could block after-hours use.
A new security gate that could be installed at the La Verne beach parking lot would limit overnight use of the lot and make it harder for nuisance activities like motorcycle rallies that have disturbed nearby residents.
Long Beach’s zoning administrator approved a permit for the new security gate Monday afternoon. City officials say the gate will allow residents and visitors to use the lot during the day but keep people out of the lot after 10 p.m.
The project would install a series of bollards that will accompany a new concrete island that will hold a payment kiosk and security arm gate on the entry side of the parking lot, according to plans submitted to the city.
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The exit lane of the lot will have spike strips installed that would prohibit vehicles from driving the wrong way into the lot without risking tire damage.
The security gate is not expected to be put down until the lot closes at night and it will be raised when city beach lots reopen in the morning. There’s no expected change to the cost of parking at the La Verne beach lot and residents who have permits to use the lot overnight will still have access, according to Elvira Manzo of Public Works.
Residents have complained about the lot being abused by motorcyclists and others who have used the lot for stunts and other nuisance activities that have kept some neighboring residents up at night.
Some changes could still be in store for the project before it’s installed.
Scott Kinsey, a senior planner for the Community Development department and acting Zoning Administrator, said he’d like to see the spike strip widened or have bollards added around the spikes to prevent motorcycles and other smaller vehicles from circumventing the new security enhancements.
“We don’t want to go through all this trouble to find out we didn’t solve the problem,” Kinsey said.
Kinsey asked that the new security gate’s arm be strong enough to withstand someone trying to manually lift it to let vehicles pass beneath it. He also requested signs warning those who attempt to bypass the security gate by using the adjacent ADA access point.
Because of the project’s location in the Coastal Zone, Monday’s decision can be appealed to the California Coastal Commission.
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