________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
VoL. 36 No. 5
LBPD getting some upgrades
Students deliver care packages
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JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2025
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Council moves forward with planning board Beach.” The new board will review and approve site plans, subdiviIn the interest of more effi- sions and large development ciently managing development projects, focusing on their in Long Beach, the City Council design as well as their impact continues its plans to create a on traffic and the environment. planning board, something the Unlike the Zoning Board of Appeals, which handles indicity has never had. At its meeting on Jan. 21, the vidual variances, the planning board will take a council approved broader approach amendments to the t o d eve l o p m e n t . city char ter and Smaller residential local ordinances to projects will not fall establish the board. under its purview. The move is intendThe board will ed to ensure that also include an future development architectural reprojects have greatview panel, which er oversight and will assess architeclong-ter m vision. tural designs and The decision fol- BRENDAN FINN lows years of dis- City Council president specifications. As a result, the planning cussions about balboard will handle ancing g rowth, infrastructure demands and all aspects of the review process, helping to ensure consispreserving the city’s character. “I was just really happy with tency and give proposals a this legislation,” Councilman more comprehensive analysis Chris Fiumara said, “because it — and its decisions more stops the overdevelopment in administrative heft. The city Long Beach and allows things plans to establish a 62-day limit to not just go through the zon- on board reviews. “Sometimes it appears that ing board anymore, but have a plan and go with people from the city is being taken advanthe community on the planning tage of,” Council President board to see if a project fits the Brendan Finn said. “I feel that vision of the residents of Long Continued on page 10
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLo
azingariello@liherald.com
Courtesy Long Beach Public Schools
The sun came out at LBMS The Long Beach Middle School Drama Club presented ‘Annie Jr.’ for family and friends in the middle school auditorium in two evening performances on Jan. 23 and 24. The production featured 16 musical numbers, and Mira Mordetsky, far left, took a star turn as Annie. Story, more photos, Page 2.
Board of Education decides that East School will remain open By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLo azingariello@liherald.com
At its meeting on Monday night, the Long Beach Board of Education made a long-awaited decision, voting to keep East Elementary School open, after over a year of deliberation and community debate. The board’s decision not to repurpose East Elementary was made after extensive deliberation. While community advocacy played a significant role in the discussions, trustees emphasized that their decision was based on thorough research and careful consideration of a number of factors.
“I do appreciate the administration putting together plans and giving us the opportunity to take the time,” board Vice President Alexis Pace said. “That’s what we did. That’s what the community asked us to do — to take time and to think it through. So ultimately, the school stays open, but I really . . . hope and pray that we can rebuild some sort of culture and some sort of mutual respect and collaboration.” The potential repurposing of East Elementary was initially discussed as part of a broader effort to address the district’s financial challenges, but an anticipated cut in state foundation aid, which had prompted the exploration of consoliContinued on page 10
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he planning board will be something that will really be helpful.