The Redondo Beach measure to rezone the decades-old power plant site, removing the massive gray structures from the waterfront for good, failed Tuesday in what many have called one of the most contentious campaigns in the city’s history.
With all precincts and vote-by-mail ballots in, Measure B was narrowly defeated — with 51.9 percent of the vote against and 48.1 percent in favor.
The measure would have rezoned the site on Harbor Drive from industrial to mixed-use, allowing 600 residential units, 85,000 square feet of commercial space, a 250-room hotel and 10 acres of open space in place of the AES power plant.
“The public is saying AES should come back to the public and council to work on rezoning that’s more balanced and benefits everyone so we can all move forward,” said Councilman Bill Brand, a vocal opponent of the measure. “Enough with the initiatives. It’s time for AES to work with the community toward a plan that better balances our quality of life.”
According to the city clerk, there are still more than 1,500 provisional and vote-by-mail ballots to be counted Monday.
“I think (Measure B) would be a historic event for the city. There’s been a power plant here for over 100 years,” AES spokesman Eric Pendergraft said Tuesday as the ballots were counted. “It’s amazing to think of the potential of the waterfront without a big, hulking structure on it.”
Despite numerous initiatives in recent years aiming to rezone or phase out the power plant, including Measure A in 2013, Measure B was the only one brought forward and supported by the property owner itself.
Once it gained enough signatures to qualify for the March ballot — in just one short month — the controversial ballot measure polarized the community, pitting friends against each other and stirring up drama on social media and among City Council members.
AES pumped more than $800,000 into the Yes on B campaign, showering residents with door hangers, TV ads, billboards, mailers and more.
Supporters of the measure argued it is the only way to rid the town of the century-old “eyesore” at the water for good, as AES could continue to seek out numerous industrial options for the site.
Opponents have argued that the proposed development will oversaturate the already cramped harbor area with traffic in line with Pacific Coast Highway levels. Even without Measure B, critics say, the power plant is dead because AES did not secure a long-term power contract, and the current plant must be torn down or rebuilt by 2020.
The No on B faction, while much more grass-roots, was nonetheless effective, rallying those against “overdevelopment” at the water through social media, letters to the editor and town halls. The group leading the No on B campaign, Redondo Residents for Responsible Revitalization, spent about $16,000 throughout the campaign.
Brand argued that the Measure B development, paired with the $300 million overhaul of the waterfront, would be a nightmare for the harbor area.
“(AES) will argue that the proposals are complementing each other,” Brand said. “No, what you’re going to do is create gridlock — 500,000 square feet of development, a sixth hotel in King Harbor — the impacts are going to be overwhelming. It’s just flat too much.”
