4. Through implementing the guidelines of the ADSP and developing the Metro extension for the Southeast Gateway Line, Downtown Artesia can build upon and prepare for an enhanced transitoriented future through land use, zoning, and development standards. First and last mile infrastructure and programs, as outlined in Chapter 7 Section 3.3 should be implemented to support the existing and future transit network Downtown. This is especially important within a half-mile of the future Metro station on Pioneer Boulevard.
9.2.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
1. In partnership with Downtown businesses and property owners, intiate an assesment and feasbility study for establishing a Downtown Business Improvement Distric (BID) focused on Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd Street and 187th Street. The purpose and role of the BID should be on marketing, events, public safety and beautification.
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9.3 INCENTIVES AND BONUSES
The following community benefits have been identified as priorities to the City of Artesia and create the Downtown Density Bonus program. This section describes the intent of each benefit, the associated requirements and standards, and the corresponding development potential.
9.3.1 REVIEW AUTHORITY
According to standards outlined by the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan, additional development potential in exchange for community benefits will be granted to applicants by the City Council, following policies and procedures adopted by the City of Artesia. Applicants utilizing the Community Benefit program will require a statutory development agreement with the City or a covenant between the City and developer.
9.3.2 DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
Affordable housing, hotels, commercial uses, live/work uses and public open space are recognized as priority uses and are permitted additional development potential. If an applicant chooses to participate in the Community Benefit program, the project shall be eligible for additional height as measured in stories/feet and density as measured in Floor Area Ratio (FAR) or units/acre. Under no circumstances except in the application of Government Code Section 65915, et seq. (“SB1818 Affordable Housing Density Bonus Law”) shall any project exceed the maximum allowable height or floor.
Proposals that utilize the SB1818 bonus may not additionally apply the hotel, commercial use and/or public open space community benefit as described herein. Proposals utilizing the live/work community benefit described herein may additionally apply the SB1818 bonus.
9.3.3 PRIORITY USES
The following describes community benefit and development potential relationship for the following four priority uses.
1. Affordable Housing (SB1818)
a. COMMUNITY BENEFIT The State of California has a desire and need to increase affordable housing statewide, and
incentivizes its construction through California Government Code Section 65915 et seq. The law significantly modified 9-8 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
by and commonly referred to as SB 1818 Affordable Housing Density Bonus Law, allows for a maximum density bonus of 35 percent based on the mix and number of affordable units provided.
b. ALLOWABLE BONUS The maximum allowable height and/
or density bonus and concessions available for this priority use are as defined in California Government Code Section 65915 et seq. and Artesia Municipal Code
c. STANDARDS Applicable standards relative to use of the SB 1818 Affordable Housing Density Bonus Law bonuses and
incentives or concessions are defined in California Government Code Section 65915 et seq. and Artesia Municipal Code
2. Commercial Uses
a. COMMUNITY BENEFIT The City relies upon commercial
taxes to sustain City services. Therefore encouraging a robust business and retail environment is in the City’s interest. b. ALLOWABLE BONUS
i. Projects incorporating a minimum of 7,500 square feet of leasable retail and/or restaurant area are allowed the
maximum height allowed by district as defined in Table
6-A.
ii. Projects incorporating a minimum of 10,000 square feet of leasable retail and/or restaurant area are allowed the maximum height and density allowed by district as defined in Table 6-A.
c. STANDARDS Mixed-use developments shall incorporate
a minimum of 7,500 square feet of leasable retail and/or restaurant area to be eligible for this benefit.
3. Hotel
a. COMMUNITY BENEFIT Hotels are an important component
of a thriving business district, contribute to the City’s revenue income through transient occupancy tax, and often provide amenities which are available to the general public, including entertainment, restaurants, and meeting rooms.
b. ALLOWABLE BONUS Projects incorporating hotels are eligible for the maximum height and density allowed by district as defined in Table 6-A.
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c. STANDARDS
i. Hotels shall be operated at a three-star standard or higher. ii. The ground floor of hotels shall be designed to enhance the use, mix and level of pedestrian activity in the area for which they are proposed. This can be accomplished with
cafes and retail space along the street frontage, as well as public art and open space.
4. Live/Work
a. COMMUNITY BENEFIT The Artesia Downtown Specific
Plan encourages live/work units to integrate commercial and residential uses. Live/work units are a modern version of the traditional downtown living arrangement in which shopkeepers operated their businesses on the lower levels of a building while living in apartments above. As the cost of commuting increases, both monetarily and environmentally, more residents may consider a live/work unit a viable option allowing them to work and live in the same location. Live/work units vary from traditional home occupations, in which someone works out of their house or apartment, in that a live/work unit has a portion of the unit allocated for living and a separate portion in which to operate a business such as an office, gallery or studio that is accessible to the public like a commercial use.
A typical example of a live/work unit includes an office or studio space on the ground floor with a small living space in an upstairs or back portion of the unit. Live/Work units within the Downtown will promote pedestrian activity by creating additional downtown destinations, establish additional local tax base by promoting entrepreneurial businesses in the downtown, and create a day-time population to patronize downtown
businesses such as restaurants.
b. ALLOWABLE BONUS Projects incorporating live/work units are allowed for the maximum height and density allowed by district as defined in Table 6-A, provided live/work units are designed per the following standards.
c. STANDARDS Live/Work Units shall meet the standards
established by Section 5.2 and the following standards:
i. Number of Live/Work Units: The total number of live/ work units shall be at least seven (7) percent of the total number of residential units (inclusive of the live/work units) 9-10 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
provided in the development, or five (5) live/work units, whichever number is greater. When provided in a nonresidential development, the total square footage of the live/work units shall equal ten (10) percent of the total gross square footage of the development, or five (5) live/ work units, whichever number is greater.
5. Public Open Space
a. COMMUNITY BENEFIT Open space provides the significant public benefit of a place to rest, relax, and congregate in an urban environment. A well-designed plaza, courtyard, or other outdoor space provides a counterpoint to the built environment of streets and buildings and adds enhancements to the public experience of Downtown.
b. ALLOWABLE BONUS Projects incorporating publicly
accessible open space equal to fifteen (15) percent of the overall development parcel(s), inclusive of any easements, but not including any dedications, are allowed for the maximum height and density allowed by district as defined in Table 6-A. c. STANDARDS
i. Publicly accessible open space shall meet the requirements and the design standards of Section 6.3.
ii. Publicly accessible open space shall be located at sidewalk level and shall be open with no fences or other means of enclosure prohibiting physical or visual access and use of the space during open hours.
iii. A unique design element, consisting of a specimen tree, fountain, or public art element shall be provided. Any
unique design elements proposed to meet this standard,
other than those specified in this standard, shall be subject to approval by the design review authority.
iv. Seating is to be provided through the use of portable or fixed site furniture, such as cafe tables, benches, movable chairs, or edges along planters and/or fountains.
v. Publicly Accessible Open Space shall be “open to-public” at a minimum from 7am-10pm; public access hours shall be indicated on signage required.
vi. Signage shall indicate the open space is “Open to the Public.” Signage shall be visible from the public right-ofway and sidewalk.
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10-0 DOWNTOWN ARTESIA SPECIFIC PLAN
10 10 POLICY CONTEXT
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
10.1 GENERAL PLAN
To ensure consistency between the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and the city of Artesia General Plan, the General Plan will be amended concurrent with the adoption of this Plan to include a Downtown Specific Plan Land Use Designation to replace the General Plan designations for the area.
10.2 2021-2029 HOUSING ELEMENT
The Housing Element supports and plans for current and future housing needs in each jurisdiction in California. The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) identifies a Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA), in the form of housing units, to represent the state’s current and future housing needs for an eight-year period. The RHNA is divided among all California jurisdictions, based on various indicators such as transit access, population, and income. For the 2021-2028, 6th Cycle Housing Element, the City of Artesia was allocated 1,069 units. Using a mixed-use overlay zone that encompasses the Downtown Specific Plan Boundary, the City plans to accommodate an estimated 1,783 units at density ranges from 40 to 50 dwelling units per acre. To ensure the ADSP does not conflict with the City’s Housing Element goals and policies, the Specific Plan establishes densities above what is permitted in the overlay.
Thus, an individual parcel shall not accommodate, in any scenario, fewer units than assumed by the Housing Element, reducing the risk of shortfall and the need to identify new sites.
Figure 10.1 displays the Housing Element sites designated within the Downtown Specific Plan Boundary. There are 89 sites total designated in the Downtown Specific Plan Boundary, all of which are considered appropriate for moderate and above-moderate housing. Of the 89 sites 15 have been evaluated for very low- and low-income housing, these sites are symbolized on the map with black hatching. The ADSP does not designate specific sites for affordable housing, instead it relies on the analysis and recommendations of the City’s Housing Plan as well as the incentive afforded by the state and city to produce affordable housing.
10.3 ZONING ORDINANCE
CONSISTENCY
To ensure consistency between the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and the Artesia Zoning Code and Map, the Zoning Code and Map will be amended concurrent with the adoption of this Plan to include a Downtown 10-2 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
Roseton Ave
South St
186th St
185th St Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Proposed Zoning Districts
Chateau Estates
Metro Right of Way
Downtown Neighborhood
188th / Corby
Pioneer Blvd
Downtown South
Downtown North
Low and Very Low Income
Housing Element Sites
Housing Element SItes
Figure 10.1: Housing Element Sites
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN 10-3
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c::::J
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Specific Plan zone to replace the zoning for that area. Where land use regulations and/or development standards of the Artesia Zoning Code are inconsistent with this Specific Plan, the standards and regulations of the Specific Plan shall prevail. Any issue not specifically covered in the Specific Plan shall be subject to the regulations in the Zoning Code and/ or Municipal Code. Interpretations may be made by the Community Development Director if not specifically covered in the City’s existing regulations.
10.4 METRO SOUTHEAST GATEWAY LINE
FIRST LAST MILE PLAN
Metro released the Southeast Gateway Line First/Last Mile Plan (SGL FLM Plan) in 2024 to improve the public transit experience by enhancing first/last mile connections to and from nine stations along the Southeast Gateway Line (SGL), including Pioneer Station in Downtown Artesia.
The concept of first/last mile connectivity to transit is illustrated in Figure
10.2. The SGL FLM Plan provides an existing conditions analysis and recommends “walk” and “wheel” improvement projects within a half-mile and 3-mile radius of each station, respectively. The projects identified in the SGL FLM Plan aim to improve the safety, access, and comfort of public streets and sidewalks for people walking, biking, and rolling to stations.
10.5 METRO FIRST LAST MILE STRATEGIC
PLAN (2014)
The First/Last Mile Strategic Plan (FLM Strategic Plan) was released by Metro to set best practices for first/last mile planning within LA Metro jurisdiction. The document provided instructions to determine a pathway network within a 15-minute walkshed, or half-mile radius. The pathway network is made up of pathway arterials, direct routes to and from a Metro station, and pathway collectors, that feed into pathway arterials on lowervolume streets. These pathways provide direction for where first/last mile improvements are most appropriate. A pathway toolbox is included to compile a list of such improvements with goals, guidelines, and resources for each first/last mile element as well as how it integrates with the transit network.
In Downtown Artesia, the primary pathways are Pioneer Boulevard, 187th Street, and the SGL right-of-way, and the secondary are South Street and 183rd Street. These corridors are where most first/last mile improvements are proposed.
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Figure 10.2: First/Last Mile Diagram; Source: Metro
Figure 10.3: Pathway Network Identification Model; Source: FLM Strategic Plan, pg. 17 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN 10-5
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
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10.6 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
The Artesia Active Transportation Plan (ATP) was adopted by the City of Artesia in 2022. The ATP includes recommended projects, programs, and actions to support Artesia’s short-, mid-, and long-term goals as they relate to transportation, land use, and population growth. The recommendations included in the ATP are designed to provide safer and more enjoyable streets for all Artesia residents and visitors. While the ATP is a citywide planning document, it included several proposed improvements to the physical infrastructure within Downtown Artesia, including:
• Bicycle Facilities: The ATP proposed 1.44 miles of new bikeway projects in Downtown Artesia, including a Class I multi-use path along the railroad tracks; Class II bicycle lanes along 183rd Street; Class III bicycle routes along Alburtis Avenue and 187th Street; a combination of Class III and IV bicycle facilities along Pioneer Boulevard; and advisory bicycle lanes along 186th Street.
• Pedestrian Facilities: The ATP proposed ten priority projects that received corridor-specific, planning-level infrastructure recommendations. Three of the ten priority projects identified in the ATP have segments in Downtown Artesia, including Pioneer Boulevard, 183rd Street, and 186th Street. Proposed improvements varied by corridor and recommended pedestrian treatments such as high-visibility crosswalks, curb extensions, raised intersections and Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI).
Additionally, detailed design concepts were developed for Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd Street and 184th Street. • Curb Management: The ATP included tools to support new and emerging forms of mobility, such as docked bikeshare, electric scooters, and electric shuttles, carpool, and car sharing services.
As mobility continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it is critical to remain flexible and adapt to trends that have taken hold over the transportation landscape. To help facilitate the integration of new and old forms of mobility, the ATP created conceptual visualizations for “mobility mini hubs” in urban and semi-urban areas to demonstrate potential intersection configurations that could accommodate multiple modes of transportation. The mobility mini hub visualizations provided examples of what wellintegrated multimodal corridors might look in different settings to 10-6 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT - FEBRUARY 28, 2025
guide future street design.
• The proposed recommendations from the ATP have been
reviewed and incorporated into Chapter 7 of the ADSP, where feasible.
10.7 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING
STANDARDS CODE (CALGREEN)
In the State of California, all new projects must adhere to the California Green Building Standards Code. CALGreen, Part 11 of Title 24, was developed and implemented to meet State’s climate initiative goals.
The standards and requirements of the CALGreen Code implement the following goals:
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings
• Promoting environmentally responsible, cost-effective, healthier places to live and work
• Reducing energy and water consumption
• Responding to the environmental directives of the administration Artesia encourages All new developments, both residential and nonresidential, will adhere to the current Green Building Code standards as they are updated and implemented.
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10-8 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
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10.8 DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
The DSP-EIR evaluates the implications of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan through a series of technical analyses, as required by the California Environmental Quality Act. As necessary, the DSP-EIR also proposes mitigations of undesirable impacts of the ADSP.
Within Downtown Artesia, the SGL FLM Plan identified 21 prioritized and six non-prioritized “walk projects” to support walking to and from Pioneer Station. These walk projects include improvements like infilling shade trees, improving bus stops and pedestrian crossings at nearby intersections, implementing traffic calming projects, and more. The SGL FLM Plan also identified 11 prioritized and one non-prioritized “wheel projects” within Downtown Artesia to facilitate safe bicycling to and from Pioneer Station. These wheel projects include improvements, such as implementing traffic calming projects, installing new bicycle facilities, and more.
The walk and wheel projects proposed for Pioneer Station in Downtown Artesia have been reviewed and incorporated into Chapter 7 of the ADSP, where feasible.
10.8.1 POTENTIAL BUILDOUT
The vision for Downtown Artesia—described in the preceding chapters—represents a potential development of just under 2,000 new residential units and approximately 503,000 new non-residential square feet (Refer to Section 3.0 Project Description of the Draft EIR).
The Specific Plan does not mandate new development nor set particular targets. Rather, the Specific Plan anticipates a range of new investment or change that varies per Downtown district. This range of new investment, paired with the development standards of the Specific Plan, establish the projected development potential described in Table 3.3 Buildout of Units on Opportunity Sites (2045) of the Draft EIR.
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APPENDIX B
EXISTING CONDITIONS
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
The existing conditions analysis builds on the work and effort completed in 2018 by Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio. Previous analyses have been supplemented to include an expanded study area. 1-0 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT FEBRUARY 28, 2025
1-1
1 INTRODUCTION
The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan will dictate the scale of future development growth and opportunity in Artesia’s Downtown district, as well as curate community gathering spaces, enhance pedestrian and bicyclist experience, and create new housing opportunities.
In 2016 LA County voters passed Measure M. The Measure
is a no-sunset, half-cent sales tax measure that funds various projects and partially funds many Metro projects. Thanks to Measure M, Metro is undertaking one of the largest transportation infrastructure programs in US history and will double the size of the rail network in the next 40 years. As a part of this expansion, a focus on Transit Oriented Communities made various grant funds available to local jurisdictions within Metro project areas, Artesia included. In August of 2016, the City Council approved a grant agreement of $375,000 between the City and Metro to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan. In addition, the City also received $180,000 from the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Oriented Development Strategic Implementation Program (TOD SIP) program to fund the project.
In May of 2023, the City of Artesia kicked off efforts to develop the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan, referred to as ADSP, in anticipation of the arrival of the West Santa Ana Branch Line Metro station at Pioneer Boulevard. Upon the completion of the West Santa Ana Branch Line, Downtown Artesia will have a single-seat connection to Downtown Los Angeles. Pioneer Station will directly connect Artesia with major destinations and employment centers in the region—Downtown Los Angeles, Union Station, and South Los Angeles. Transferring at Union Station, passengers will be able to connect as far as Santa Monica, Pasadena, East Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, and LAX.
Artesia’s transit-oriented future will bring with it many opportunities that can be envisioned through the lens of other downtowns that experienced revitalization through the connection of a Metro station. Downtown Bellflower, Downtown South Pasadena, and Downtown Azusa all gained new opportunities for housing, retail and commercial, and entertainment with the development of a Metro station and connection to the greater LA region.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
INTRODUCTION
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1-3
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2-1
2 EXISTING CONDITIONS: LAND USE AND URBAN DESIGN
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
A UNIQUE DOWNTOWN
Downtown Artesia is a microcosm of Southern California
urbanism: on the one hand, there is a walkable main
street core that developed around the historic Artesia
Station; on the other, there are strip malls developed
around the convenience of the automobile. Beyond
the commercial Pioneer Blvd corridor, small apartment
complexes share street fronts with single-family homes.
All the traditional components of a Southern California city (though not the industrial warehouse complexes) can be found on the blocks that constitute Downtown Artesia.
As we look to the arrival of the West Santa Ana Branch
Corridor Metro Line in the mid-2030s, Downtown
already has much to offer by the way of transit-ready
urbanism. Its history as a railroad town imprinted
walkability in its DNA. The main street block between
186th and 187th Streets boasts an urban structure that
rivals some of the best commercial streets in the region.
Recent sidewalk improvements on Pioneer Boulevard put
the streetscape on par with nationally recognized best
practices.
Clustered around 183rd Street and South Street,
Downtown’s strip mall properties serve those getting
around by car. While their large parking lots, wide curb cuts, and removed commercial spaces do not conform
to the transit-oriented paradigm, it is easy to imagine that these large parcels with low development intensities could make way for walkable mixed-use urban
developments.
THE STUDY AREA
The Specific Plan study area focuses on the blocks
adjoining Pioneer Boulevard, beginning with the area
around the future Pioneer Blvd Station to the south and ending just beyond 183rd St to the north. To the east and west, the study area is bounded by Arline, Corby, and
Alburtis Avenues. The study area further extends south of the Future Pioneer Boulevard Station, within the City of Artesia, and includes the area between 188th Street and the Mobile Home Park, and Pioneer Boulevard to Jersey
Avenue.
The study area hosts primarily commercial and residential apartment properties. South of the railroad right-of-way, there are several light industrial properties along with a number of single-family homes. The single family homes
likely predate the current land use designation.
IDENTIFYING METRICS THAT CHARACTERIZE THE
DOWNTOWN
Wherever possible, this report identifies metrics that
correlate with high-quality transit-oriented urbanism.
These metrics will help identify the development
standards of the future Artesia Downtown Specific Plan. 2-2
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Future Metro Pioneer Station
Future Metro Rail
Legend
Downtown Artesia Specific Plan
2-3
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Note: Stated years refer to the maps and plans. Photos are from the same approximate time frame.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
Historic Development of Downtown
1902 1925
A map from 1902 shows a number
of buildings clustering around the
intersection of Pioneer and 186th.
By 1925 the Pacific Electric Red
Car had a station on Pioneer Blvd.
Distinctively, street-fronting main
street buildings line Pioneer between 186th and 187th streets. 8 Artesia Downtown Specific Plan
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF DOWNTOWN
A map from 1902 shows a number of
buildings clustering around the intersection
of Pioneer and 186th.
By 1925 the Pacific Electric Red Car had
a station on Pioneer Blvd. Distinctively,
street-fronting main street buildings line
Pioneer between 186th and 187th streets.
Note: Stated years refer to the maps and plans. Photos are from the same approximate time frame.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
Historic Development of Downtown
1902 1925
A map from 1902 shows a number
of buildings clustering around the
intersection of Pioneer and 186th.
By 1925 the Pacific Electric Red
Car had a station on Pioneer Blvd.
Distinctively, street-fronting main
street buildings line Pioneer between 186th and 187th streets. 8 Artesia Downtown Specific Plan
2-4 PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT FEBRUARY 28, 2025
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1945 1994
This 1945 map shows more de- tailed building footprints with denser infill development on
Arline Ave.
By 1994 the area north of 186th
has completely transformed. The
school and many other buildings
have been replaced with strip
malls. The main street remains.
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan 9
This 1945 map shows more detailed
building footprints with denser infill
development on Arline Ave.
By 1994 the area north of 186th has
completely transformed. The school and
many other buildings have been replaced
with strip malls. The main street remains.
1945 1994
This 1945 map shows more de- tailed building footprints with denser infill development on
Arline Ave.
By 1994 the area north of 186th
has completely transformed. The
school and many other buildings
have been replaced with strip
malls. The main street remains.
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan 9
2-5
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
A MIXED-USE DOWNTOWN
Downtown’s land use pattern is straightforward and
similar to many communities throughout Southern
California: commercial uses line main thoroughfares
(Pioneer Blvd ,183rd St and South St) with residential
uses beyond. In the residential neighborhoods
comparatively small scale multi-family residential
buildings create a transition from commercial uses to
single-family homes. This cross-section provides a logical progression from more active and denser uses to less
dense uses.
The study area has a mix of uses, a landuse pattern that can provide synergies between multiple uses and reduce
automobile trips. This mix of commercial, residential,
industrial, and civic uses largely takes place horizontally, meaning the different uses occupy different buildings
on separate sites. Mixed-use buildings (buildings that
integrate multiple uses) are limited to a handful of office over retail buildings.
73retail and commercial buildings located
within a half mile from Pioneer Station
2-6
1/2 mile radius
1/4 mile
radius
US Post Office
Frontier Communications
Artesia Cerritos United Methodist Church
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Commercial and Services
Facilities
Vacant
General Office
Industrial
Mixed Residential and Commercial
Mobile Homes and Trailer Parks
Multi-Family Residential
Single Family Residential
Existing Land Use
SCAG 2019
2-7
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
EXISTING ZONING
The map on the following page shows existing zoning
designations within the specific plan study area.
Commercial General zone designations are focused
along Pioneer Boulevard, 183rd Street, and South
Street. Light Manufacturing/Industrial zone designations are located south of the future rail station along Corby Avenue. Multi-family Residential designations are found along Corby Avenue and Airline Avenue. The area south
of South Street is designated as Commercial Planned
Development and South Street Specific Plan.
2-8
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Commercial Planned Development
Multiple-Family Residential
Existing Zoning
Commercial General
Light Manufacturing/Industrial
Service & Professional
South Street Specific Plan
2-9
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
COMMUNITY ASSETS
Community assets include civic institutions, religous
institutions, parks and green spaces, and schools.
Community assets provide key amenities and services
that contribute to healthy and functional neighborhoods.
Civic institutions within a 1/2 mile from the future
Pioneer Station include Artesia City Hall, Albert O. Little Community Center, Artesia Library, a fire station, and a post office. The post office is located at the northern end of the study area. All other civic institutions are located outside just outside the southeast boundary of the
study area. Artesia Park is the only park within walking distance (1/2 mile radius) from the future Metro station.
Artesia Park is across the street from City Hall and is integrated with the community center and library. Other green spaces include open space on school properties.
Three schools are located a few blocks away from the
study area, at the northeast, northwest, and southwest
corners.
2-10
1/2 mile radius
1/4 mile
radius
US Post Office
City Hall
Historical Museum
Old Fire Station
Community Center Library
Fire Station
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Civic Institutions
Parks and Green Space
Community Assets
Religious Institutions
School Buildings
Other Buildings
2-11
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
ACCOMMODATING CARS IN DOWNTOWN
Similar to many cities, a significant amount of land is dedicated to parking. In Artesia, parking is primarily
accommodated in surface parking lots. Surface lots
consume a considerable amount of land per parked
automobile when compared to structured parking.
Currently, parking occupies 23% of the total plan area.
Excluding the public right of way, surface parking
occupies 38% of all property lots.
The high use of land for parking is a result of codemandated parking minimums and real-estate economics.
Strip malls and similar low-intensity but high-parking
need development types are a typical result of cheap
commercial land and high parking requirements. This
reality is rapidly changing as scarce transit-adjacent
land is becoming more valuable and a declining parking
demand. Throughout Southern California, both parking
code changes and real estate economics are resulting in fewer parking spaces in new development.
In accordance to Assembly Bill 2097 (AB 2097),
California law prohibits public agencies or cities from imposing a minimum automobile parking requirement
on most development projects located within a halfmile radius of a major transit stop. The entirety of the Specific Plan study area falls within a half mile radius of the future Pioneer Boulevard station, therefore, any development within the study area would not have
parking requirements once the Metro station is complete, consistent with the requirements of AB 2097. Parking
standards should be reviewed in anticipation of the future Metro station.
38%
of all property lots are
surface parking lots
2-12
of total plan
area is surface 23% parking lots
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Parking Structure
Surface Parking
Parking
2-13
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
THE SCALE OF DOWNTOWN
One principle of good transit-oriented design is the
so-called human scale. Human-scale design refers to
buildings and streets that relate to the scale of a person.
That includes the aforementioned distance someone can
easily walk, or walkshed. It also refers to the height and length of building components, the elements of buildings visible from the sidewalk, the frequency of entries, the presence of windows – all elements of an environment
that is engaging to most people.
The scale of a neighborhood is primarily determined by
the scale of its lots, frontages, and buildings. When the lots and buildings are very large, the environment can
seem out of scale – the neighborhood components are
far apart and it is more tedious to walk. When buildings are large, have few entrances, and blank walls they
make a block feel less safe. Neighborhoods with smaller lots, frontages, and buildings are often more interesting and feel safe, largely as a result of their inherent human scale.
The following series of maps explores the existing scale of Downtown Artesia
2-14
400
SF
416,000
SF
107 LOTS OCCUPY
23%
25 LOTS OCCUPY
11%
20 LOTS OCCUPY
15%
17 LOTS OCCUPY
51%
SHARE OF
LOT SIZE: 0 - 10,000 SF PROJECT AREA
LOT SIZE: 10,000 - 20,000 SF
LOT SIZE: 20,000 - 30,000 SF
LOT SIZE: GREATER THAN 30,000 SF
1,584
SF
2-15
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11 ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
LOT SIZE
Lot size is a good indicator of the scale of development that occurs on it. Downtown Artesia has a significant
spectrum of lot sizes. The smallest lot size without any existing building is 400 square feet. Of the lots that
contain existing buildings, the smallest lot size is 1,583 square feet. The largest lot size is over 416,000 square feet. Interestingly, 107 of the smallest lots (lots less than or equal to 10,000 sf) occupy only 23 percent of the
developable land area. The next tier of lot sizes range from 10,000 sf - 20,000 sf with 25 lots occupying 11
percent of developable area. 20 lots range from 20,000
sf - 30,000 sf occupying only 15 percent of developable land area, while 17 of the largest lots (greater than
30,000 sf) occupy 51 percent of developable land area.
When comparing lot sizes, we find that lots north of
186th Street within the study area have an average lot
size of approximately 18,000 sf. Lot sizes in this area range from 6,000 sf commercial and residential lots to
large 70,000 sf commercial lots. Between 186th and
188th Streets, the average lot size is less than 10,000 sf.
Lots south of 188th Street. have an average lot size that is less than 27,000 sf.
This significant difference in average lot size is the
result of changing commercial development patterns.
Historically, commercial development clustered around
a short length of a main street, usually no more than two or three blocks. Land values at the main street core were high and resulted in very small lots.
With the advent of the automobile, the distance between stores became less important and visibility at busy street intersections more important. Around the intersections
of Pioneer Boulevard at 183rd Street and South Street,
we find Downtown’s largest sites with high visibility and extensive parking lots.
2-16
AVG LOT SIZE
18,000 sq. ft.
AVG LOT SIZE
10,000 sq. ft.
AVG LOT SIZE
27,000 sq. ft.
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
30,000 - 42,000 SF
10,000 - 20,000 SF
20,000 - 30,000 SF
400 - 10,000 SF
Lot Size
2-17
D
D --
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
FIGURE GROUND
The map to the right illustrates the building footprints for all structures within and around the study area.
Understanding the ways the existing structures articulate block form and frame the connective tissue of the public realm helps identify the degree to which corridors are
defined.
Along Pioneer Blvd, between 186th and 187th Street, the plan area is marked by a continuous building frontage.
The building frontage is continuous north on the east side of Pioneer Boulevard, but is set back from the sidewalk.
As you move north along Pioneer Boulevard, larger
disconnected building footprints are found. Shopping
centers and commercial uses on 183rd Street and
South Street are composed of larger building footprints surrounded by surface parking.
Corby Ave and Airline Ave, within the study area, is
composed of somewhat densely configured multi-family
residential buildings. The mobile home park at the
southern end of the study area includes a higher density configuration of small manufactured homes with little to no side setback.
2-18
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Buildings within the Study Area
Buildings outside the Study Area
Figure Ground
2-19
·,
Building footprint, by scale and size, are closely linked and dictated by lot size. Small lots only accommodate
small buildings while larger lots accommodate both
small and large buildings.
The area between 186th and 188th Streets have no
buildings greater than 20,000 sf, with an average
building footprint of 3,020 sf. The result is a series of commercial buildings that line the street and provide
significant activation of the sidewalk. The average
building footprint north of 186th Street is 5,240 sf. This area includes larger commercial strip malls and multifamily buildings. The area south of 188th Street has an average building footprint of 3,010 sf and includes
large commercial strip malls, and a mobile home park
with a concentration of smaller residential footprints. In comparison to the commercial uses, residential buildings have smaller footprints as they are divided into smaller areas.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
BUILDING FOOTPRINT
2-20
AVG BUILDING
FOOTPRINT
5,240 sq. ft.
AVG BUILDING
FOOTPRINT
3,020 sq. ft.
AVG BUILDING
FOOTPRINT
3,010 sq. ft.
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
20,000-40,000 sf
5,000-10,000 sf
10,000-20,000 sf
0-5,000 sf
Building Footprint
2-21
D
D --
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
LOT COVERAGE
The extent to which a lot is occupied by buildings
can help predict the urban quality of the resulting
development. Higher lot coverages correlate with a
denser and more urban experience. At the same time, a
high lot coverage by itself will not guarantee high quality development.
The lots north of 186th Street have an average lot
coverage of 42 percent. Lots between 186th Street
and 188th Street have an average lot coverage of 49
percent. South of 188th Street, the average lot coverage is 35 percent. The largest lots have lot coverages below 50%, largely a result of extensive surface parking lots. 2-22
AVG LOT
COVERAGE
42%
AVG LOT
COVERAGE
49%
AVG LOT
COVERAGE
35%
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Over 60&
Buildings
20-40%
40-60%
0-20%
Percent Lot Coverage
2-23
D
D --~
The lot width influences the perceived scale of a lot at the street frontage. The narrower the lot width is, the more buildings, stores, or entrances a pedestrian will pass on a given length of block. A commercial block with several narrower lots will be more interesting than the same
block with fewer wide lots.
Historically, the desirability of having a business on
main street and the desire to accommodate as many
businesses as possible, led to very narrow retail parcels.
This pattern is evident on the block of Pioneer between 186th and 188th Streets. The average lot width is only
72 feet.
With the wide adoption of the car, the logic of
commercial development changed. Distances were no
longer as important since the car easily overcame them.
Main street frontage became less important as less
people walked. Instead, parking and visibility became
primary concerns leading to wider lots. Lots north of
186th Street and south of 188th Street have a higher
average frontage lot width at 120 feet.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
FRONTAGE LOT WIDTH
2-24
AVG LOT
WIDTH
120 ft.
AVG LOT
WIDTH
72 ft.
AVG LOT
WIDTH
120 ft.
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
200-380 ft
50-100 ft
100-200 ft
0-50 ft
Commercial Lot Widths
2-25
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PERCIEVED STREET WIDTH
Street Width is generally defined as the distance of a
roadway from curb to curb. However, for this analysis,
street width is considered as the perceived area of
vehicle roadway by a pedestrian. The analysis evaluates how the perception of street scale and size influence the pedestrian experience in Downtown Artesia.
Streets, driveways, parking ltos and other roadways
influence the physical and perceived scale of the
street. Narrower street widths can help slow vehicular
traffic, and create a sense of enclosure that makes a
comfortable pedestrian environment. Wider street widths encourage higher traffic speeds, creating uncomfortable conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists. In both of these conditions, the urban realm is generally divided into
the amount of space dedicated to vehicles and space
dedicated for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The diagram to the right shows street widths measured
from building frontages on Pioneer Boulevard and South
Street. On Pioneer Boulevard, the area between 186th
and 187th Streets have the narrowest street widths in the study area, measuring between 70-85 ft. This section has one travel lane and one parking lane in each direction, wide sidewalks, and a consistent building frontage
adjacent to the sidewalk.
North of 186th Street, buildings are setback 60 feet with parking lots fronting the sidewalk, resulting in building to building streetwidths of up to 280 feet and an urban realm catered to the automobile. The shopping centers
on 183rd Street and South Street front the sidewalk with expansive surface lots and building to building frontage widths of over 280 feet, exemplifying a car dependent
culture. These areas present opportunities to reconsider street scape, parking and mobility in anticipation of the future Metro station.
2-26
STREET WIDTH
Unbounded
STREET WIDTH
70-85 ft
STREET WIDTH
Unbounded
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Unbounded
85 - 120 ft
120 - 280 ft
70-85 ft
Street Width
2-27
D
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L--·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·7
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
GROUND FLOOR ACTIVATION
A successful streetscape experience begins with
an active ground floor. An indicator for groundfloor activation is the frequency of sidewalk-fronting entrances. Entrances connect the sidewalk with activities and programs at the street level. For reference, consider the high number of entries in successful shopping
destinations such as 3rd Street Promenade or even
Disneyland’s Main Street.
Similar to previous analyses, the block between 186th
and 187th Streets demonstrates a high ground-floor
activation with 3.2 sidewalk entries per 100 ft. of street frontage. On average, there is a door to the sidewalk
every 33 feet. Between 183rd and 186th Streets the
number of sidewalk entries is halved to 1.4 per 100 ft. of street frontage – a significant reduction. The lower the rate of entires to distance, generally the less activated and engaging the street scape is.
2-28
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1 1 4 ENTRIES PER 100 FEET OF l • STREET FRONTAGE
1000 ft
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
RETAIL CORRIDOR COMPARISON
Between 186th and 187th Streets, Pioneer Boulevard
already has a built structure that is very similar to some of the most successful retail corridors in Los Angeles.
For example, Pasadena and Santa Monica are home
to some of the most successful retail corridors in the
greater Los Angeles area. Colorado Boulevard, in
Pasadena, and 3rd Street Promenade, in Santa Monica.
offer a diverse mix of uses, frequent building entrances, and pedestrian-oriented design. When these corridors
are compared to the existing retail block on Pioneer
Boulevard, all three locations present very similar
features relative to lot size, building size, and building frontage width.
Pioneer Boulevard average building and lot sizes
are slightly larger than those found on Colorado
Boulevard, but smaller than buildings found on 3rd
Street Promenade. Pioneer Boulevard is only 70 ft longer than the Colorado Boulevard block between Fair Oaks
Avenue and Raymond Avenue and promotes a similar
pedestrian experience with wide sidewalks, amenity
areas, and scramble crossings.
Overall, the three compared retail blocks are strikingly similar in their structure and point to the potential in the existing built form of Artesia’s main street block.
2-30
Pioneer Boulevard
Artesia
Avg l ot Size, 6,161 sq ft
Avg Bldg Footprint Size:
4,193 sq ft
Avg Frontage Width: 46 ft
Avg Lot Size: 7,952 sq ft
Avg Bldg Footprint Size:
7,765 sq ft
Avg Frontage Width: 57 ft
Avg Lot Size: 3,851 sq ft
Avg Bldg Footprint Size:
3,298 sq ft
Avg Frontage Width: 37 ft
Santa Monica
Pasadena
3rd Street Promenade
Colorado Boulevard
COLORADO BOULEVARD
3RD STREET PROMENADE
600 ft
400 ft
8/8/2018 3rd St - Google Maps
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0161105,-118.4965312,3a,75y,292h,97.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1swTKYYa99IFAWtRTBP75GRw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 1/2 Image capture: May 2017 © 2018 Google
3rd St
ARIZONA AVENUE
FAIR OAKS AVENUEN RAYMOND AVENUE
SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan 27
2-31
• N
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING TYPOLOGIES
There are five common residential typologies that exist in the residential areas of the specific plan area.
Building Type #1 - Townhouse
There are not many townhouses in the project area, but
when found they can be characterized by sidewalk
walk-up entrances, tucked garages, and multiple stories.
Majority of the townhouse developments within the
specific plan area were built in the past 10 years.
Building Type #2 - Bungalow Apartments
The bungalow apartments within the specific plan area
can be characterized as a dwelling unit that stands
as an individual building, with a shared communal
driveway between neighbors. Bungalow Apartments are
concentrated along Airline Ave
Building Type #3 - Courtyard Apartments
The courtyard apartment typology blends public and
private spaces, sharing green space and interaction
between residents. Built in the 1960s, these courtyard
apartments are still a popular living option for Southern California residents. Courtyard apartments are located
along Corby Ave within the Specific Plan Area.
Building Type #4 - Single Family Residential
Single family residential dwelling units are found in
the residential areas south of 187th Street and west of Pioneer Boulevard. This typology represents typical
suburban homes, with a one to two story main unit, a
front yard with driveway, and backyard. Typical lots are about 7,500 square feet.
Building Type #5 - Mobile Homes
La Belle Chateau Mobile Home Park is located at the
southern end of the Specific Plan area. Mobile homes,
or manufactured homes are prefabricated structures that are transported to a site. Mobile home units in this area are approximately 2,400 square feet, have little to no
side setback, and share a private road within the mobile home park for access.
2-32
Building Type #1 - Townhouse
Building Type #2 - Bungalow Apartments
Building Type #3 - Courtyard Apartments
Building Type #4 - Single Family Residential
Building Type #5 - Mobile Homes
(precedent photo)
2-33
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
Contiguous parcels with the same owner increases the
amount of potential developable land, providing more
options for development. Contiguous parcels with the
same owner are shown to the right. These parcels should be considered when determining development options.
Two parcels north of 183rd Street are owned by the City of Artesia and the US Post Office.
2-34
US Post Office
City of Artesia Owned
Frontier Communications
Artesia Cerritos United Methodist Church
Surface Parking Lot City Owned Surface Parking Lot
Surface Parking Lot Future Metro Parking Structure
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Contiguous Parcels with Same Owner
Property Ownership
2-35
L--·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·7
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3-0
3 EXISTING CONDITIONS: MOBILITY
3-1
3-2
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
EXISTING MOBILITY NETWORK
This section provides an overview of existing roadways, pedestrian infrastructure, bicycle facilities, and public transit in Downtown Artesia. Understanding the existing mobility network in Downtown Artesia helps to identify
areas in need of improvement and opportunities for
multimodal integration as the area changes over time.
The City of Artesia has already made strides to create
a positive pedestrian experience in Downtown Artesia
through wide sidewalks, pedestrian-scale lighting,
decorative pavement and crosswalks, landscaped
medians, street trees and furnishings, and more along
Pioneer Boulevard. While these streetscape elements
exist only along Pioneer Boulevard, they lay the
foundation for a distinct and walkable downtown
environment.
3-3
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
ROADWAY NETWORK
The roadway network in Downtown Artesia is comprised
of the following street types:
• Primary Arterial: Primary arterial roadways
provide access to important local destinations
and are multi-lane, high-volume, car-oriented
corridors with left-turn-only lanes or medians.
The Circulation Element defines primary
arterials to have an Average Daily Traffic
(ADT) capacity of 25,000. Artesia’s primary
arterials are characterized as mostly divided
four-lane roads, 80-foot right-of-way, with
intersections at grade and partial control of
access.
• Secondary Arterial: Secondary arterial
roadways connect primary arterial roadways
to collector streets and local roads. Primary
arterials tend to be multi-lane, moderate-tohigh volume, and car-oriented, with a capacity of 20,000 ADT. Artesia’s secondary arterials
are defined as undivided, four-lane roads with
intersections at grade and partial control of
access with a 20,000 ADT.
• Collector Road: Collector roads are local
roadways that connect neighborhoods
to arterials and can sometimes serve as
alternative routes to arterial roadways.
Collector roads tend to have lower volumes,
speeds, and numbers of lanes than arterial
roadways, with a capacity of 5,000 ADT.
• Local Road: Local roads provide direct access
to individual properties within residential areas
and tend to be two-lane, low-speed, and lowvolume corridors.
Figure 3.1 depicts the street classifications of the
roadway network in Downtown Artesia based on
the following categories: primary arterial, secondary
arterial, collector, and local streets. Local access to Downtown Artesia is provided by the primary arterial
roadways, Pioneer Boulevard and South Street. The
remaining roads help provide connections to primary
arterials and access to smaller destinations.
3-4
Figure 3.1: Street Classifications
Roseton Ave
South St
186th St
185th St Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Collector Road
Local Road
Secondary Arterial
Artesia Street Classification
Primary Arterial Southeast Gateway Line West Santa Ana Branch Corridor 3-5
·, ·, ·, ·---.:.
''-t.
·, ·, ·, ·, ·,.
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
POSTED SPEED LIMIT
Downtown Artesia’s high-volume corridors include
Pioneer Boulevard, 183rd Street, 186th Street, and South Street, as shown in Figure 3.2. None of the surface
streets in Downtown Artesia have posted speeds of 50
mph or above and all the collector and local streets have posted speed limits of 25 mph. The relatively low posted speed limits in Downtown Artesia create promising
conditions for a walkable and bikeable environment.
3-6
Figure 7.2: Posted Speed Limit
Roseton Ave
South St
186th St
185th St Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
35 mph
40 mph
25 mph
Artesia Street Classification
15 mph West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
Figure 3.2: Posted Speed Limit
Southeast Gateway Line
3-7
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE
Sidewalk Network
Downtown Artesia consists of a traditional grid of
streets with a complete network of sidewalks and curb
ramps, though many do not have ADA-detectable
warning surfaces. Sidewalk widths range from four
feet on calm, residential streets to 20 feet along the
Downtown core and vary in design elements. With a
complete sidewalk network, Downtown Artesia has
the fundamental infrastructure needed to facilitate safe off-street pedestrian connectivity. From here, standard sidewalks can be enhanced with streetscape elements
to support accessibility and walkability. For example,
many sidewalks in Downtown Artesia, particularly
along Pioneer Boulevard, are already enhanced with
meandering sidewalks, landscaping, street trees, street furnishings, and other decorative elements.
Curb Ramps
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments to provide curb ramps with
detectable warnings at pedestrian crossings and at
public transportation stops where walkways intersect
with a curb. A curb ramp is a short ramp that cuts through or is built up to a curb to facilitate access between a sidewalk and a roadway for people using wheelchairs,
walkers, strollers, skateboards, scooters, mobility
devices, or health-related mobility limitations. Detectable warnings consist of a series of small domes, also known as truncated domes, that contrast in color with the
surrounding sidewalk or street to alert pedestrians with vision impairments of an upcoming hazard. Curb ramps
are provided throughout Downtown Artesia; however,
several are missing detectable warnings, which presents an opportunity to improve accessibility as intersections are redeveloped.
Streetscape Enhancements
Streetscape enhancements refer to design features that
make the pedestrian experience more comfortable and
enjoyable. Streetscape enhancements include street
trees, public art, seating, pedestrian-scale lighting,
decorative pavement, and more. Some streets, such as
portions of Pioneer Boulevard, have enhanced sidewalks
with greater widths, pedestrian-scale lighting, decorative pavement, seating, trash receptacles, and street trees.
Other sidewalks, such as the northeast corner of
Pioneer Boulevard and 183rd Street, have meandering
sidewalks with landscaping, which provide shade and
natural scenery. These existing design elements help to distinguish Downtown Artesia from other neighborhoods.
3-8
Figure 3.3: Standard Sidewalk
Figure 3.4: Decorative Sidewalks with Streetscape
Enhancements
Figure 3.5: Meandering Sidewalks with Landscaping
and Street Trees
3-9
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
BICYCLE FACILITIES
Providing an interconnected network of bicycle
facilities is the first step to cultivating a bicycle-friendly Downtown. Bicycle facilities are defined as:
• Class I (Multi-use Path): Class I multi-use
paths (frequently referred to as “bicycle paths”)
are physically separated from motor vehicle
travel routes, with exclusive rights-of-way
for non-motorized users like bicyclists and
pedestrians.
• Class II (Bicycle Lane): Class II bicycle lanes
are one-way facilities that carry bicycle traffic
in the same direction as the adjacent motor
vehicle traffic. They are typically located along
the right side of the street between the adjacent
travel lane and the curb, road edge, or parking
lane.
• Class III (Bicycle Route): Class III bicycle
routes are suggested bicycle corridors marked
by signs designating a preferred street
between destinations. They are recommended
where traffic volumes and roadway speeds are
low (35 mph or less) since bicyclists and motor
vehicles share the road.
• Class IV (Separated Bikeway): Class IV
separated bikeways, also known as cycle
tracks, are physically separated from motor
vehicle traffic, and are designed to be distinct
from any adjoining sidewalk.
As shown in Figure 3.6, the existing bicycle facility
network in Downtown Artesia is minimal and consists of
0.3 miles of Class II bicycle lanes. Class II bicycle lanes currently exist along South Street (from the western and eastern boundary of Downtown Artesia) and along
Pioneer Boulevard (from 188th Street to the southern
boundary of Downtown Artesia).
3-10
Figure 3.6: Existing Bike Facilities Network Roseton Ave South St
186th St
185th St Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Artesia Active Transportation Plan Existing Bikeway Network Existing Bikeways
Class III: Bike Route
Class II: Bike Lane
Class I: Multi-Use Path Southeast Gateway Line West Santa Ana Branch Corridor 3-11
...
N
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Bus Stops and Routes
Artesia City Transit, Long Beach Transit, Metro, Norwalk Transit System, and Orange County Transit provide public transit service in Downtown Artesia. Local bus routes, displayed in Figure 3.7, provide service along Pioneer Boulevard, 183rd Street, and South Street. There are no existing passenger rail lines through Downtown Artesia. However, as previously mentioned, the planned Southeast Gateway Line by Metro will bisect Downtown Artesia and add a new light-rail station between Pioneer Boulevard and 187th Street. The addition of the Southeast Gateway Line and station to Downtown Artesia will expand multimodal transportation options for community members and support the use of public transit as a viable option for traveling to and from Downtown Artesia.
Bus Stops Amenities
Table 3.1 displays an inventory of existing amenities at bus stops in Downtown Artesia. This table can be used to identify opportunities for improving the transit rider experience through the installation of additional bus stop amenities, such as shelters, seating, trash receptacles, public art, and more for an improved rider experience.
Most bus stops in Downtown Artesia provide essential amenities like a bus pole and signage, seating, shelter, and trash receptacles. However, the bus stop at Pioneer Boulevard and 183rd Street only has a bus pole and signage, which presents an opportunity to consider installing additional amenities.
Table 3.1: Bus Stop Amenity Inventory
Bus Stop Direction Amenities
Pioneer Boulevard & 183rd Street Southbound Bus Pole and Signage 183rd Street & Alburtis Westbound Bus Pole and Signage and shelter with seating and shade 183rd Street & Alburtis Eastbound Bus Pole and Signage, shelter with seating and shade, and trash receptacle South Street & Pioneer Boulevard Westbound Bus Pole and Signage, trash receptacle South Street & Jersey Avenue Westbound Bus Pole and Signage, shelter with seating and shade, and trash receptacle South Street & Jersey Avenue Eastbound Bus Pole and Signage, shelter with seating and shade, and trash receptacle 3-12
Figure 3.7: Bus Routes and Stops
Roseton Ave
South St
186th St
185th St Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Artesia Transit Network
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor Transit
Bus Routes
Bus Stops
Southeast Gateway Line
3-13
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
SUMMARY OF MULTIMODAL FACILITIES
Table 3.2 summarizes the key characteristics of streets in Downtown Artesia. The foundational information
displayed in Table 3.2 was used to inform the contextspecific recommendations proposed in the Downtown Specific Plan.
3-14
Table 3.2: Key Characteristics of Existing Roadway Network Street Direction Street Class
Speed
Limit
(mph)
# of
Lanes
Taffic
Control
Bicycle
Facilities
(Y/N)
Bus
Stop
(Y/N)
Parking (Y/N) Land Use
183rd
Street
E-W Secondary 35 4 Signal N Y N (except for a
small segment)
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
184th
Street
E-W Local 25 2 Stop Sign N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
186th
Street
E-W Collector 25 2 Signal/
Stop Sign
N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
187th
Street
E-W Collector 25 2 Signal/
Stop Sign
N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential,
Light Manufacturing/
Industrial
188th
Street
E-W Local 25 2 Stop Sign N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential,
Light Manufacturing/
Industrial
Alburtis
Avenue
N-S Collector 25 2 Signal/
Stop Sign
N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
Arline
Avenue
N-S Local 25 2 Stop Sign N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
Corby
Avenue
N-S Local 25 2 Signal/
Stop Sign
N N
Y (most of
corridor)
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential,
Light Manufacturing/
Industrial
Jersey
Avenue
N-S Local 25 2 Signal/
Stop Sign
N N Y
Commercial General,
Multiple-Family Residential
Pioneer
Boulevard
N-S Primary 15-35 4-Feb Signal Y Y
Y (most of
corridor)
Professional, Commercial
General, Multiple-Family
Residential
South
Street
E-W Primary 40 4 Signal Y Y N
Commercial Planned
Development, South Street
Specific Plan
3-15
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
ARTESIA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
The Artesia Active Transportation Plan (ATP) was
adopted by the City of Artesia in 2022. The ATP includes recommended projects, programs and actions to support
Artesia’s short, mid, and long-term goals as they relate to transportation, land use, and population growth.
The diagram on the facing page shows the proposed
ATP bikeway network in relation to the Downtown
Speciific Plan study area. There are existing bike lanes on South Street and on Pioneer Boulevard south of
the future Metro station. An existing multi-use path is located along the future Metro Rail line from 183rd Street to 187th Streets. The ATP proposes a comprehensive
bike network thorughout the Specific Plan study area,
providing connections to Artesia Park, the future Metro station, transit stops, commercial uses along Pioneer
Boulevard, shopping centers, and other commercial and
residential uses. The proposed extension of the existing multi-use path along the future Metro line will provide the safest connection to the future Pioneer station. The ATP proposed bikeway network will be critical to support
bicycle connections to and from Downtown Artesia.
The ATP also includes design concepts for Pioneer
Boulevard, shown to the right and below. The concept
proposes intersection enhancements for pedestrian
safety, bike route signage, and roadway design for the
separated bike lane north of 183rd Street. Pioneer Boulevard Active Transportation Design Concept Pioneer Boulevard Active Transportation Design Concept
Artesia Active Transportation Plan FINAL
66 Install high
visibility
crosswalks
Install high
visibility
crosswalks
Install high
visibility
crosswalks
Coordinate with
LA Metro to shift
bus route 62
stop from southbound Pioneer
Boulevard to
westbound 183rd
Street.
Install green
conflict striping
across bus stop
area
Future signalized
intersection to
support first- and
last-mile travel
from future LRT
station
Install green
conflict/ transition striping
Reduce travel lane
widths to install
bike lane buffers
Reduce travel lane
widths to install
bike lane buffers
Install bike
route signage
and sharrows
See design
concept
for Pioneer
Boulevard
and 183rd St.
on Page 99
Consider
removing
all-way pedestrian crossing
and adding
decorative
crosswalks
and raised
intersection
Chapter 4: Recommendations
168TH STREET
PIONEER BOULEVARD
PIONEER BOULEVARD
SR-91
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
NEW ON-RAMP TO BE
CONSTRUCTED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DESIGN CONCEPT
ARTESIA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
PIONEER BOULEVARD AND SR 91 INTERCHANGE NORTH 168TH STREET
PIONEER BOULEVARD
PIONEER BOULEVARD
SR-91
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
NEW ON-RAMP TO BE
CONSTRUCTED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION DESIGN CONCEPT
ARTESIA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN
PIONEER BOULEVARD AND SR 91 INTERCHANGE NORTH
PIONEER BOULEVARD
183RD STREET
PIONEER BOULEVARD
168TH STREET
PIONEER BOULEVARD
PIONEER BOULEVARD
SR-91
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
NEW ON-RAMP TO BE
CONSTRUCTED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
EXISTING RAMP TO BE
DEMOLISHED PER
FUTURE CALTRANS
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
FIGURE 4-5: Pioneer Boulevard and CA SR 91 Interchange Active Transportation Design Concept 3-16
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Advisory Bike Lane
Class III: Bike Route
Class IV: Separated Bike Lane
Class II: Bike Lane
Artesia Active Transportation Plan Proposed BIkeway Network Proposed Bikeways Existing Bikeways
Class III: Bike Route
Class II: Bike Lane
Class I: Multi-Use Path Class I: Multi-Use Path
Transit
Bus Routes
Bus Stops
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
3-17
l.,
L--·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·7
-
-
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
FIRST/LAST MILE
First/Last Mile considers the experience of getting to and from transit station within a half or quarter mile radius.
This includes getting to a transit station and getting
off the transit station to your destination. A first/last mile network recommends key routes for first/last mile
improvements to enhance the experience for all users
getting to and from transit. The diagram to the right shows a first/last mile network within a quarter mile from the future Metro station. The first/last mile network aligns with Artesia’s Active Transportation Plan.
The first/last mile network is composed of three tiers:
arterial, collector, and local pathways.
Arterial pathways are routes that connect directly to the station. These pathways include Pioneer Boulevard and
the railroad right of way along the future Metro Line.
Arterial pathways should have the full suite of first/last mile enhancements, including enhanced bike facilities,
enhanced pedestrian crossings, wide sidewalks, street
trees, pedestrian scaled lighting, street furniture, and wayfinding signage. ATP recommendations on Pioneer
Boulevard and the multi-use path along the Metro Rail
line should be prioritized to ensure safe connections
to the future station. Pioneer Boulevard currently has
adequate pedestrian amenities such as lighting, wide
sidewalks and street trees. Wayfinding signage is
recommended on Pioneer Boulevard to guide visitors to
destinations and transit connections. Arterial first/last mile improvements should accompany the multi-use path
to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.
Collector pathways are key secondary routes that
connect to Arterial pathways. South Street is a major
thoroughfare that connects to Pioneer Boulevard and
is identified as a collector pathway. South Street also provides connections to key destinations such shopping
centers, Artesia Park, and bus connections, and would
benefit from the full suite of first/last mile improvements.
Bus stop enhancements such as seating, bus shelters, and real-time information signage would help enhance the
experience for transit users. First/last mile improvements support the ATP proposed bike lane on South Street.
Local pathways are typically low-stress residential streets that would provide connections to the future Metro
station. Bike facilities such as bike routes or sharrows are recommended for these pathways. Street tree infill, pedestrian scaled lighting, and wayfinding signage can
improve the cyclist and pedestrian experience along
these routes.
Enhanced intersections include improvements such as
high visibility crosswalks, leading pedestrian interval signals, bike boxes, and wayfinding signage. Enhanced
intersections are identified in the first/last mile network to ensure a continuous and safe pedestrian experience
for all users getting to and from the future Metro station.
Enhanced intersections along Pioneer Boulevard, along
the proposed multi-use path, and along South Street are critical to support first/last mile connections.
3-18
1/2 mile radius
1/4 mile radius
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
First/Last Mile Collector Pathways
First/Last Mile Local Pathways
Enhanced Intersections
First/Last Mile Arterial Pathways
First/Last Mile Network
3-19
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3-0 1
4 ASSESSMENT
4-1
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
To determine parcels that are most suited for
development, each parcel was given a development
opportunity score. Development opportunity scores were
determined by attributing points to each parcel, outlined in the table to the right.
Each parcel received points if it met the development
opportunity criteria. The development opportunity
score is the sum of all development opportunity criteria points the parcel received. The maximum development
opportunity score is 6. A parcel with a score of 6 means it met all of the development opportunity criteria and has high development opportunity. A total score of 0 or 1
means very little development opportunity.
Parcels near the intersection of 183rd Street and Pioneer Boulevard, and south of South Street have the highest
development opportunity. These parcels received at
least four points, generally have larger lot sizes with low lot coverage, and have commercial uses. Residential
areas are likely to retain their uses and have very low development opportunity.
Includes existing office, commercial, or vacant uses
Is a contiguous parcel with the same owner
Has lot width greater than 200 ft
Has a lot size greater than 20,000 sf and lot
coverage below 40%
Ratio of assessed value of improvements to
assessed value of land is less than 1
1 1
1 2
6 1
Development Opportunity Criteria
Max Development Opportunity Score
(Sum of Development Opportunity Criteria Points)
Points
4-2
Surface Parking Lot City Owned Surface Parking Lot
Surface Parking Lot Future Metro Parking Structure
City Owned Property
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
4-6 2
Development Opportunity Score 310
4-3
-·-
---
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
OPPORTUNITY AND CONSTRAINTS
A analysis of urban form and development for
Downtown Artesia is highlighted on the facing page. An
existing high quality pedestrian urban form is present
on Pioneer Boulevard between 186th Street and 187th
Street. A continuous active street frontage of commercial buildings with wide sidewalks, street trees, pedestrianscaled lighting, and street furniture contribute to a comfortable and safe pedestrian experience.
In the downtown study area, areas that are likely to
remain include residential areas, recent commercial
development, and the US Post Office. Areas that have
high development opportunity potential include areas
adjacent to the future Metro Station, along South
Street, and commercial areas at the 183rd Street and
Pioneer Boulevard intersection. Additionally, the future Metro Parking structure will provide opportunity for
ground floor retail directly across from the station.
High development opportunity areas were guided by
a development opportunity analysis, detailed on the
following pages.
Lots facing South Street and Pioneer Boulevard north of 186th Street have large setbacks with frontages typically dominated by parking. New development in these areas
has an opportunity to create a continuous street wall to create interest and enhance the pedestrian scale and
environment in the public right-of-way.
The city boundary at the southeast edge of downtown
poses a constraint. Coordination with the City of Cerritos is required to develop a cohesive and planned urban
environment along Pioneer Boulevard along the city
boundary.
4-4
US Post Office
City Hall
Historical Museum
Old Fire Station
Parking Structure
Surface Parking Lot
Community Center Library
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center
West Santa Ana Branch Corridor
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Opportunity and Constraints
Urban Form and Development
High Development
Opportunity Potential
Areas likely to remain
Jurisdictional Barrier
Metro Potential Laydown Area
and Future Station Parking
Structure
Existing Pedestrian Oriented
Urban Form
Continuous Street Wall Opportunity
4-5
-
■■■■■
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ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN
OPPORTUNITY AND CONSTRAINTS
The map on the facing page shows opportunity and
constraints in the project area related to mobility. The major arterial vehicle routes in Downtown Artesia are
183rd Street, South Street, and Pioneer Boulevard.
Streets highlighted as key pedestrian and bike routes
are streets that provide connections to key destinations throughout the study area and would benefit from
streetscape improvements to provide a safe and
comfortable experience for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Potential pedestrian cut-throughs are pedestrian-only
paths that would break up long blocks and enhance
connectivity for pedestrians.
Access barriers include areas that limit or block
continuous access, such as where Corby Avenue dead
ends into a closed gate at 184th Street. The future Metro station parking lot will close 188th Street between
Corby Avenue and Pioneer Boulevard. Any streetscape
improvements on Pioneer Boulevard south of 187th Street will require coordination with the City of Cerritos.
Potential gateways are opportunities to signify entrances to downtown Artesia. Potential gateways are identified
at key intersections and adjacent to the future Metro
station.
4-6
1/2 mile radius
1/4 mile radius
US Post Office
City Hall
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Old Fire Station
Parking Structure
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Community Center Library
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
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Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
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Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
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Shopping Center
Mobile Home Park Bragg
Elementary
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Cerritos Promenade
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1 RESOLUTION NO. 25-3059
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARTESIA APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL
PLAN ESTABLISHING THE ARTESIA DOWNTOWN
SPECIFIC PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION AND
AMENDING RELATED TABLES, TEXT, AND LAND USE
MAP OF THE GENERAL PLAN
WHEREAS, the Artesia City Council, on August 22, 2016, approved a grant agreement between the City of Artesia and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“Metro”) to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan (“Plan”). A second grant was approved on November 8, 2021, between the City and Metro, as the original boundary of the proposed Plan area was expanded.
WHEREAS, the Plan would implement new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia’s Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The Plan, in conjunction with amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code, constitutes the “Project.”
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65350 provides that cities shall amend general plans and elements of those general plans in the manner provided in Article 6 (Sections 65350–-65362) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65353(a) provides that “[w]hen the city has a planning commission authorized by local ordinance or resolution to review and recommend action on proposed amendments to the general plan, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing before approving a recommendation on the amendment of a general plan.
WHEREAS, Government Code Section 65354 provides that the “planning commission shall make a written recommendation on the amendment of a general plan.
A recommendation for approval shall be made by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total membership of the commission and the planning commission shall send its recommendation to the legislative body.”
WHEREAS, on July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing in accordance with California Government Code Sections 65090 and 65091 to consider the proposed amendments to the General Plan, including its text and land use map, and following the receipt of public testimony, closed the public hearing.
WHEREAS, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000 et seq., “CEQA”), the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations §§ 15000 et seq., the CEQA Guidelines the City prepared an Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024020999) (“EIR”), that analyzed the proposed Project’s environmental impacts. Resolution No. 25-3058 adopted the Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, the MMRP, and certified the FEIR, 2 among other things, properly assesses the environmental impact of the Project in accordance with CEQA. This Resolution incorporates by reference the environmental findings and analysis set forth in Resolution No. 25-3058, including the FEIR, as if fully set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA HEREBY FINDS, DETERMINES, ORDERS AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Based on all evidence in the record, the City Council finds that the proposed amendments to the General Plan are appropriate for the following reasons:
A. Changing the land use designation of the area covered by the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan from City Center Mixed Use, High Density Residential and South Street Gateway Commercial to the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is in the public interest because this would create the opportunity for mixed-use residential development within the core downtown area of the City subject to development standards which will encourage the development and redevelopment of a contemporary mix of commercial retail, offices and residential uses that will expand economic vibrancy and livability in the areas. The proposed project would allow for the development of a mixed-use transit-oriented community with a mix of highdensity residential uses and commercial retail uses and serve the public interest.
B. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation is consistent with the General Plan 2030 goal of a well planned community with sufficient land uses and intensities to meet the needs of anticipated growth and achieve the community’s vision (Community Goal LU 1) by creating opportunities for mixed land-use patter that will foster a strong community identify, provide new employment, housing, shopping and entertainment opportunities, and strengthen the City’s tax base.
C. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will not adversely affect or be detrimental to adjacent properties, as it includes measures that adhere to all required City standards for circulation, noise, setbacks, buffer areas, landscaping, and architecture, ensuring compatibility between different uses. Moreover, the Plan identifies development standards that would enhance the surrounding neighborhood and prevent deterioration of surrounding uses, including single-family residences, while also ensuring that it does not adversely impact the safety and residential character of the neighborhood.
D. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation is consistent with the following community policies and policy actions in the General Plan 2030 Community Policy Program:
1. Community Policy LU 1.1 and Policy Action LU 1.1.1 encourage the identification of appropriate locations for residential and non-residential development to accommodate growth through the year 2030. The proposed Specific Plan land use designation enables re-purposing of under-utilized 3 parcels and facilitates vibrant mixed-use developments, which will contribute to accommodating the City’s housing demand through the year 2030; and
2. Community Policy LU 1.2 and Policy Action LU 1.2.1 encourage a wide variety of commercial services in appropriate locations by analyzing the current inventory of developed and undeveloped commercial sites in the City in order to assess which are economically viable commercial developments that can be supported. The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will enable mixed-use projects that incorporate commercial uses alongside residential uses, thereby enhancing commercial viability by positioning customers and services near one another; and
3. Community Policy LU 1.3 and Policy Action LU 1.3.1 encourage active and inviting pedestrian-friendly street environments that include a variety of uses within commercial and mixed-use areas by enhancing access, safety and the streetscape experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders; and that focus improvements in areas with the highest need. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will enable a mixed-use projects; and
4. Housing Sub-Element Policy HE 1.3 encourage mixed-use (residential/commercial) development on existing commercial zoned land.
The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation would permit infill development of mixed uses comprising of high-density residential and commercial retail; and
5. Community Policy LU 1.4 and Policy Action LU 1.4.1 and 1.4.2, which ensures that mixed use developments are integrated with surrounding uses to become part of the neighborhood by utilizing cohesive architecture, lively streetscapes, interesting urban spaces and attractive landscaping. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation would facilitate mixed-use developments and ensure such developments are integrated with surrounding uses with the imposition of development standards including but not limited to setbacks, stepbacks, open space, height and landscaping.
SECTION 2. Based on the findings contained in Sections 1 above, and all other evidence in the record, the City Council hereby approves the General Plan Land Use Sub-Element Amendment and Map Amendment to change the land use designations within the boundary of the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan form City Center Mixed Use, High Density Residential and South Street Gateway Commercial to Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and amend the text of the General Plan by modifying Land Use Sub-Element Table LU-3 and Table LU-4 of the General Plan to reflect the changes resulting from the establishment of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation. The amended text and map is attached hereto as Exhibit “A” (for the text) and Exhibit “B” (for the map), which are incorporated herein by reference.. 4 SECTION 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the passage, approval, and adoption of this Resolution.
SECTION 4. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify the adoption of this Resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of July 2025. _____________________________
ALI SAJJAD TAJ, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JENNIFER ALDERETE, CITY CLERK
5 EXHIBIT “A”
Amended text of the General Plan
6 EXHIBIT “B”
Amended Map of the General Plan
6 EXHIBIT “A”
AMENDED GENERAL PLAN TEXT
LAND USE SUB-ELEMENT
Artesia General Plan LU-10
activities in a safe, attractive, and comfortable environment. Open Space facilities include parks and recreational trails.
Pioneer Boulevard Commercial
The Pioneer Boulevard Commercial designation encourages locally serving commercial retail development that enhances functional integration and buffering of adjacent single family neighborhoods. Integrated, mixed-use commercial and residential development that provides residential development and complimentary, pedestrian-friendly retail activities are encouraged.
Gateway Community Commercial
The Gateway Community Commercial designation provides for a complimentary mix of job-creating industrial, manufacturing uses and local/regional-serving commercial retail and office uses. The Gateway Community Commercial designation encourages enhancement and expansion of manufacturing and industrial job-creating enterprise to attract higher wage, high skilled employment opportunities. Commercial retail development is encouraged adjacent to the Artesia Boulevard and Pioneer Boulevard corridors to enhance local and regionally-serving commercial activity. Well designed, functionally integrated retail development is encouraged at primary intersections.
City Center Mixed Use
The City Center Mixed Use designation encourages the development and redevelopment of a complementary mix of commercial retail, office and residential uses to expand economic vibrancy and livability in the City's core commercial area. The City Center Mixed Use designation is intended to serve as the City's core. The City Center Mixed Use designations encourage physical and functional integration of adjacent residential areas to ensure the protection and enhancement of adjacent residential neighborhoods. Residential density under the City Center Mixed Use designation may exceed 70 dwelling units per acre subject to the approval of a Specific Plan.
South Street Gateway Commercial
The South Street Gateway Commercial designation provides for the enhancement of retail and service uses along the South Street corridor. The South Street Gateway Commercial area is envisioned as a commercial node that enhances functional connectivity with the City Center Mixed Use area. Higher intensity, integrated developments area encouraged. Complimentary urban design and streetscape improvements are envisioned to enhance the area’s function and a southern gateway to the City.
Norwalk Boulevard Commercial
The Norwalk Boulevard Commercial designations encourages neighborhood serving commercial and retail uses to provide greater accessibility to local services for residents in the southwest portion of the City. Street-oriented commercial retail uses are encouraged to provide a higher quality pedestrian environment for local patrons and ensure adjacent residential neighborhoods are buffered from potential
LAND USE SUB-ELEMENT
Artesia General Plan LU-10.1
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan
The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan implements new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). It establishes strategic land use designations to connect the community to housing, jobs, and recreation; create a connected business district to facilitate new economic opportunities; build a vibrant and scenic downtown reflective of a diverse community; beautify downtown through building design, landscape, and art, and enhance streetscapes to increase multimodal accessibility and safety. It creates opportunities for mixed-use development, as well as stand-alone commercial and residential development.
Amended per Resolution No.
Table LU-3
2030 General Plan Land Use Summary
Intensity/Density Standard
Land Use Designation Acres Floor Area Ratio1 Dwelling Units Per Acre2 Low Density Residential
(7 du/ac) 413.93 AC N/A 7 du/ac
High Density Residential
(30 du/ac)
56.63 AC
59.67AC N/A 30 du/ac
Commercial General 13.25 AC 1.0 FAR N/A
Light Manufacturing and
Industrial 4.47 AC 1.0 FAR N/A
City Center Mixed Use 18.46 AC
59.65 AC 2.0 FAR 70 du/ac
Gateway Community
Commercial 77.32 AC 1.0 FAR N/A
Norwalk Boulevard
Commercial 12.50 AC 0.5 FAR N/A
Pioneer Boulevard Commercial 11.90 AC 1.5 FAR 30 du/ac
South Street Gateway
Commercial
10.19 AC
43.93 AC 1.5 FAR N/A
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan 70.8 AC 1.5 – 3.0 FAR 11 – 85 du/ac Institutional 61.65 AC N/A N/A
Open Space 23.05 AC N/A N/A
Right-of-Way 255.36
TOTAL 1,032.55 AC
1,036.68 AC
Notes:
1 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) is an expression of non-residential land use intensity. The FAR is calculated by dividing the total gross floor area of all buildings on a lot by the total area of that lot. 2 Residential density is described in terms of dwelling units per gross acre (du/ac). A dwelling unit is a building or a portion of a building used for human habitation and may vary considerable in size. Residential acreage is defined as the area developed for residential use, exclusive of local serving streets, alleys, or arterials.
Amended per Resolution No.
Table LU-4
2030 General Plan Buildout Analysis
Land Use Designation Acres
NonResidential
Development
Potential (SF)
Residential
Development
Potential (DU’s)
Low Density Residential
(7 du/ac) 413.93 AC -- 3,513 DU
High Density Residential
(30 du/ac)
56.63 AC
59.67 AC -- 540 DU
568 DU
Commercial General 13.25 AC 220,135 SF 18 DU
Light Manufacturing and
Industrial 4.47 AC 28,295 SF 5 DU
City Center Mixed Use 18.46 AC
59.65 AC
253,067 SF
816,345 SF
156 DU
378 DU
Gateway Community
Commercial 77.32 AC 1,124,778 SF 265 DU
Norwalk Boulevard
Commercial 12.50 AC 143,247 SF 16 DU
Pioneer Boulevard Commercial 11.90 AC 217,534 SF 41 DU
South Street Gateway
Commercial
10.19 AC
43.93 AC
71,238 SF
247,042 DU
28 DU
146 DU
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan 70.8 AC 502,919 SF 1,981 DU Institutional 61.65 AC 129,333 SF --
Open Space 23.05 AC -- --
Right-of-Way 255.36 -- --
TOTAL 1,032.55 AC
1,036.68 AC
2,690,546 SF
2,926,709 AC
6,563 DU
4,949 DU
Amended per Resolution No.
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
South St
186th St
185th St
Roseton Ave
Jersey Ave
183rd St
Ashworth St
Alburtis Ave
Arline Ave
187th St
180th St
178th St
188th St
Corby Ave
Gridley Rd
Jersey Ave
Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd Pioneer Blvd
Clarkdale Ave
Seine Ave
Devlin Ave
Elaine Ave
Lincoln Station
Shopping Center
Bragg
Elementary
School
Artesia Park
Cerritos Promenade
Mobile Home Park
Shopping
Center
Shopping
Center Southeast Gateway Line
City of Artesia
City of Cerritos
Low Density Residential
General Plan Land Use
High Density Residential
General Commercial
Open Space
Institutional
South St. Gateway Commercial
City Center Mixed Use
PlaceWorks
ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN DRAFT EIR
CITY OF ARTESIA
Figure 3-5 - Existing General Plan Land Use Map
Source: Generated using ArcMap 2023.
0 Scale (Feet)
735 Downtown Artesia Specific Plan Boundary
City Boundary
Future Metro Rail
Future Metro
Pioneer Station
CITY OF ARTESIA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION N0. 2025-17P
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ARTESIA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT A MITIGATION MONITORING AND
REPORTING PROGRAM, A STATEMENT OF
OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS AND CERTIFY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT STATE
CLEARINGHOUSE (SCH) No. 2024020999) RELATED TO
THE ADOPTION OF THE ARTESIA DOWNTOWN
SPECIFIC PLAN, AND THE RELATED AMENDMENTS TO
THE GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING CODE PURSUANT TO
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
(CEQA) (CASE N0. 2024-06)
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Artesia City Council, on August 22, 2016, approved a grant agreement between the City of Artesia and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro") to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan ("Plan"). A second grant was approved on November 8, 2021, between the City and Metro, as the original boundary of the proposed Plan area was expanded.
SECTION 2. The Plan would implement new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The Plan, in conjunction with amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code, constitutes the "Project".
SECTION 3. Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") (Public Res. Code § 21000 et seq.), the State CEQA Guidelines (14 CCR § 1500 et seq.), the City of Artesia (the "City") is the lead agency for the Project, as the public agency with general governmental powers.
SECTION 4. The City, as lead agency, determined that an Environmental Impact Report ("EIR") should be prepared pursuant to CEQA in order to analyze all potential adverse environmental impacts of the Plan.
SECTION 5. The City issued a Notice of Preparation ("NOP") of a Draft EIR on February 27, 2024, and circulated the NOP to the State Clearinghouse, public agencies, 1 B. Revisions have been appropriately made to the Draft EIR, and such revisions, including responses to comments, and other documents related to the Draft EIR have been made a part of and incorporated into the Final EIR as shown in Exhibit A, incorporated herein.
C. The revisions made to the Draft EIR and incorporated into the Final EIR do not require recirculation of the Draft EIR because no significant new information has been added that would deprive the public of a meaningful opportunity to comment on a substantive adverse environmental effect of the project.
D. Economic, planning, social, aesthetic, and environmental benefits of the Project against the Project's unavoidable adverse impacts outweigh the potential unavoidable adverse impacts and recommends City Council adopt a Statement of Overriding Considerations (Exhibit B Findings of Fact) for the Project.
E. The Planning Commission recommends City Council direct staff to file a Notice of Determination with the Los Angeles County Clerk and the Governor's Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation within five (5) working days of approval of the Project.
F. The custodian of records for the Final EIR, MMRP and all other materials which constitute the record of proceedings upon which the Planning Commission's decision is based upon, is the Planning Department of the City of Artesia. Those documents are available for public review in the Planning Department of the City of Artesia, located at 18747 Clarkdale Avenue, California 90701, telephone (562) 865-6262.
SECTION 15 The Interim Community Development Director shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall forward a copy of it to the City Clerk and to the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this ls' day of July 2025.
Victor Manalo, Chairperson
ATTESTSalv or pez, li'\ ((m7unity Development Director ROLL CALL VOTE:
3 4
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Manalo, Barcelos, Pantoja
Patel
Diaz
CITY OF ARTESIA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION N0. 2025-1 8P
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ARTESIA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL
PLAN AND ESTABLISH THE ARTESIA DOWNTOWN
SPECIFIC PLAN LAND USE DESIGNATION AND AMEND
RELATED TABLES, TEXT, AND LAND USE MAP OF THE
GENERAL PLAN. (CASE N0. 2024-06).
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITI OF ARTESIA DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION "1. The Artesia City Council, on August 22, 2016, approved a grant agreement between the City of Artesia and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro") to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan ("Plan"). A second grant was approved on November 8, 2021, between the City and Metro, as the original boundary of the proposed Plan area was expanded.
SECTION 2. The Plan would implement new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The Plan, in conjunction with amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code, constitutes the "Project."
SECTION 3. Government Code Section 65350 provides that cities shall amend general plans and elements of those general plans in the manner provided in Article 6 (Sections 65350-65362) of Chapter 3 of Division 1 of Title 7 of the Government Code.
SECTION 4. Government Code Section 65353(a) provides that "[w]hen the city has a planning commission authorized by local ordinance or resolution to review and recommend action on proposed amendments to the general plan, the commission shall hold at least one public hearing before approving a recommendation on the amendment of a general plan.
SECTION 5. Government Code Section 65354 provides that the "planning commission shall make a written recommendation on the amendment of a general plan.
A recommendation for approval shall be made by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the total membership of the commission. The planning commission shall send its recommendation to the legislative body."
SECTION 6. On June 17, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing in accordance with California Government Code Sections 65090 1 and 65091 to consider the proposed amendments to the General Plan, including its text and land use map, and following the receipt of public testimony, closed the public hearing and continued the hearing to July 1, 2025
SECTION 7. .On July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Final EIR, the proposed Project (the Plan), and all other relevant information contained in the administrative record regarding the Project, including all oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings SECTION 8. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000 et seq., "CEQA"), the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations §§ 15000 et seq., the CEQA Guidelines the City prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024020999) ("DEIR"), that analyzed the proposed Project's environmental impacts. The DEIR was made available for public review from February 28, 2025, through April 14, 2025. On June 9, 2025, the City completed the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), which comprises of the Draff Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), comments received on the DEIR, and responses to those comments. On June 17, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing and considered the entire administrative record (as of that date), including staff reports, the FEIR, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations and oral and written testimony from interested persons, all of whom were given an opportunity to be heard. Resolution No. 2025-17P recommends adoption of the Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, the MMRP, and certification of the FEIR, among other things, properly assesses the environmental impact of the Project in accordance with CEQA. This Resolution incorporates by reference the environmental findings and analysis set forth in Resolution No. 2025-1 7P, including the FEIR, as if fully set Forth herein:
SECTION 9. Based on all evidence in the record, the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council find that the proposed amendments to the General Plan are appropriate for the following reasons:
A. Changing the land use designation of the area covered by the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan from City Center Mixed Use, High Density Residential and South Street Gateway Commercial to the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is in the public interest because this would create the opportunity for mixed-use residential development within the core downtown area of the City subject to development standards which will encourage the development and redevelopment of a contemporary mix of commercial retail, offices and residential uses that will expand economic vibrancy and livability in the areas. The proposed project would allow for the development of a mixed-use transit-oriented community with a mix of higOdensity residential uses and commercial retail uses and serve the public interest.
B. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation is consistent with the General Plan 2030 goal of a well planned community with sufficient land uses and intensities to meet the needs of anticipated growth and achieve the community's vision (Community Goal LU 1) by creating opportunities for mixed 2 land-use patter that will foster a strong community identify, provide new employment, housing, shopping and entertainment opportunities, and strengthen the City's tax base.
C. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will not adversely affect or be detrimental to adjacent properties, as it includes measures that adhere to all required City standards for circulation, noise, setbacks, buffer areas, landscaping, and architecture, ensuring compatibility between different uses. Moreover, the Plan identifies development standards that would enhance the surrounding neighborhood and prevent deterioration of surrounding uses, including single-family residences, while also ensuring that it does not adversely impact the safety and residential character of the neighborhood.
D. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation is consistent with the following community policies and policy actions in the General Plan 2030 Community Policy Program:
1. Community Policy LU 1.1 and Policy Action LU 1.1.1 encourage the identification of appropriate locations for residential and non-residential development to accommodate growth through the year 2030. The proposed Specific Plan land use designation enables re-purposing of under-utilized parcels and facilitates vibrant mixed-use developments, which will contribute to accommodating the City's housing demand through the year 2030; and
2. Community Policy LU 1.2 and Policy Action LU 1.2.1 encourage a wide variety of commercial services in appropriate locations by analyzing the current inventory of developed and undeveloped commercial sites in the City in order to assess which are economically viable commercial developments that can be supported. The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will enable mixed-use projects that incorporate commercial uses alongside residential uses, thereby enhancing commercial viability by positioning customers and services near one another; and
3. Community Policy LU 1.3 and Policy Action LU 1.3.1 encourage active and inviting pedestrian-friendly street environments that include a variety of uses within commercial and mixed-use areas by enhancing access, safety and the streetscape experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders; and that focus improvements in areas with the highest need. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation will enable a mixed-use projects; and
4. Housing Sub-Element Policy HE 1.3 encourage mixed-use (residential/commercial) development on existing commercial zoned land.
The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation would permit infill development of mixed uses comprising of high-density residential and commercial retail; and
3 5. Community Policy LU 1.4 and Policy Action LU 1.4.1 and 1.4.2, which ensures that mixed use developments are integrated with surrounding uses to become part of the neighborhood by utilizing cohesive architecture, lively streetscapes, interesting urban spaces and attractive landscaping. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation would facilitate mixed-use developments and ensure such developments are integrated with surrounding uses with the imposition of development standards including but not limited to setbacks, stepbacks, open space, height and landscaping.
SECTION 10. Based on the findings contained in Sections 7 and 8 above, and all other evidence in the record, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council approve the General Plan Land Use Sub-Element Amendment and Map Amendment to change the land use designations within the boundary of the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan form City Center Mixed use, High Density Residential and South Street Gateway Commercial to Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and amend the text of the General Plan by modifying Land Use Sub-Element Table LU-3 and Table LU-4 of the General Plan to reflect the changes resulting from the establishment of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan land use designation. The amended text and map is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" (for the text) and Exhibit "B" (for the map), which are incorporated herein by reference..
SECTION 11. The Interim Community Development Director shall certify to the adoption or this Resolution and shall forward a copy of it to the City Clerk and to the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this Ist day of July 2025. i
Victor Manalo, Chairperson
<t
Interim Community Development Director
4 5
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS:
NOES: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS:
ABSTAIN: COMMISSIONERS:
Manalo, Pantoja, Barcelos
Patel
Diaz
CITY OF ARTESIA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION N0. 2025-19P
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ARTESIA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT ORDINANCE N0. 25-971
ESTABLISHING THE ARTESIA DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC
PLAN (CASE N0. 2024-06).
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Artesia City Council, on August 22, 2016, approved a grant agreement between the City of Artesia and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro") to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan ("Plan"). A second grant was approved on November 8, 2021, between the City and Metro, as the original boundary of the proposed Plan area was expanded.
SECTION 2. The Plan would implement new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The Plan, in conjunction with amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code, constitutes the "Project."
SECTION 3. Government Code Section 65353(a) provides that "[w]hen the city or county has a planning commission authorized by local ordinance or resolution to review and recommend action on a proposed general plan ... the commission shall hold at least one public hearing before approving a recommendation on the adoption ... of a general plan. Notice of the hearing shall be given pursuant to Section 65090." Further, Section 65353(b) provides that "[i]f a proposed general plan would affect the permitted uses or intensity of uses of real property, notice of the hearing shall also be given pursuant to paragraphs (1 ) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 65091." SECTION 4, Government Code Section 65453(a) provides that "[a] specific plan shall be prepared, adopted, and amended in the same manner as a general plan, except that a specific plan may be adopted by resolution or by ordinance and may be amended as often as deemed necessary by the legislative body."
SECTION 5. Government Code Section 65454 provides that "[nlo specific plan may be adopted ... unless the proposed plan ... is consistent with the general plan." SECTION 6. On June 17, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing in accordance with California Government Code Sections 65090 1 and 65091 to consider the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan, and following the receipt of public testimony, closed the public hearing and continued the hearing to July 1 ,2025.
SECTION 7. On July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Final EIR, the proposed Project (the Plan), and all other relevant information contained in the administrative record regarding the Project, including all oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings SECTION 8. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§ 21000 et seq., "CEQA"), the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations §§ 15000 et seq., the CEQA Guidelines the City prepared a Drafi Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024020999) ("DEIR"), that analyzed the proposed Project's environmental impacts. The DEIR was made available for public review from February 28, 2025, through April 14, 2025. On June 9, 2025, the City completed the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), which comprises of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), comments received on the DEIR, and responses to those comments. On July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing and considered the entire administrative record (as of that date), including staff reports, the FEIR, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations and oral and written testimony from interested persons, all of whom were given an opportunity to be heard. Resolution No. 2025-17P recommends adoption of the Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, the MMRP, and certification or the FEIR, among other things, properly assesSeS the environmental impact of the Project in accordance with CEQA. This Resolution incorporates by reference the environmental findings and analysis set forth in Resolution No. 2025-1 7P, including the FEIR, as if fully set forth herein:
SECTION 9. Based on all evidence in the record, the Planning Commission recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 25-971 to establish the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan as shown in Exhibit A, attached hereto, and incorporated herein by reference for the following reasons:
A. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is consistent with the General Plan 2030 Community Policy LU 1.4, which calls for ensuring that mixed-use developments are integrated with surrounding uses to become part of the neighborhood by utilizing cohesive architecture, lively streetscape, interesting urban spaces, and attractive landscaping. The proposed project identifies permitted uses and development standards that are intended to integrate future development within the project site with the surrounding community. Additionally, the proposed project includes complementary designs and uses that are compatible with existing surrounding neighborhoods by continuing active groundlevel retail. The proposed project also identifies landscaping standards that conform to the City's Urban Forestry Manual, ensuring attractive and cohesive landscaping. Therefore, the proposed project would not conflict with this policy. 2 B. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is consistent with the proposed General Plan Amendment, which will establish a new Land Use Designation called the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan.
C. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan will not adversely affect or be detrimental to adjacent properties, as it includes measures that adhere to all required City standards for circulation, noise, setbacks, buffer areas, landscaping, and architecture, ensuring compatibility between different uses. Moreover, the Plan identifies development standards that would enhance the surrounding neighborhood and prevent deterioration of surrounding uses, including singlefamily residences, while also ensuring that it does not adversely impact the safety and residential character of the neighborhood
D. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is consistent with the following community policies and policy actions in the General Plan 2030 Community Policy Program:
1. Community Policy LU 1.1 and Policy Action LU 1.1.1 encourage the identification of appropriate locations for residential and non-residential development to accommodate growth through the year 2030 by evaluating amendments to the General Plan Land Use Map to consider the effect that such amendments will have on the City's ability to achieve its goals of a well planned community. The proposed Specific Plan enables re-purposing of under-utilized parcels and facilitates vibrant mixed-use developments, which will contribute to accommodating the City's housing demand through the year 2030.
2. Community Policy LU 1.2 and Policy Action LU 1.2.1 encourage a wide variety of commercial services in appropriate locations by analyzing the current inventory of developed and undeveloped commercial sites in the City in order to assess which are economically viable commercial developments that can be supported. The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan will enable mixed-use projects that incorporate commercial uses alongside residential uses, thereby enhancing commercial viability by positioning customers and services near one another.
3. Community Policy LU 1.3 and Policy Action LU 1.3.1 encourage active and inviting pedestrian-friendly street environments that include a variety of uses within commercial and mixed-use areas by enhancing access, safety and the streetscape experience for pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders; and that focus improvements in areas with the highest need. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan will enable a mixed-use projects.
4. Housing Sub-Element Policy HE 1.3 encourage mixed-use (residential/commercial) development on existing commercial zoned land.
The project site is currently zoned Commercial General, Multi-Family 3 Residential, Light Manufacturing/Industrial, Commercial Planned Development, and South Street Specific Plan. The proposed project would include a zone change to change the project site's existing zoning to Specific Plan. The proposed project would permit infill development of mixed uses comprising of high-density residential and commercial retail.
SECTION 10. Based on the findings contained in Sections 7 and 8 above, and all other evidence in the record, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. 25-971 (attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference), establishing the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan.
SECTION 11. The Interim Community Development Director shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall forward a copy of it to the City Clerk and to the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this Ist day of July 2025.
Victor Manalo, Chairperson
ATTEST:
Salvad Lq z, Interim Community Development Director
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
4 Manalo, Barcelos, Pantoja
Patel
Diaz
CITY OF ARTESIA
PLANNING COMMISSION
RESOLUTION N0. 2025-20P
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF ARTESIA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL ADOPT ORDINANCE N0. 25-972 TO APPROVE
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF ARTESIA ZONING
CODE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROPOSED ARTESIA
DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN AND ESTABLISH A
SPECIFIC PLAN ZONE FOR THE PROPOSED ARTESIA
DOWNTOWN SPECIFIC PLAN (CASE N0. 2024-06).
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Artesia City Council, on August 22, 2016, approved a grant agreement between the City of Artesia and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ("Metro") to fund the preparation of the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan ("Plan"). A second grant was approved on November 8, 2021, between the City and Metro, as the original boundary of the proposed Plan area was expanded.
SECTION 2. The Plan would implement new land use, zoning, and development standards to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The Plan, in conjunction with amendments to the General Plan and the Zoning Code, constitutes the "Project."
SECTION 3. Amendment to the City of Artesia Zoning Code is necessary to acknowledge the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan and establish a specific plan zone for the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan by amending Artesia Municipal Code Section 9-2.3453 (Specific Plan Zones and Zoning Map Designations) to add the "Artesia Downtown Specific Plan" as an approved and established Specific Plan Zone.
The amended Zoning Code Section would state the following:
Artesia Downtown Specific Plan. The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan, a copy or which is on file in the Office or the City Clerk, has been prepared to guide the scale of future development and growth in Artesia's Downtown districts as the City prepares for the planned expansion of a new Metro light rail line (Southeast Gateway Line). The 70.8-acre Plan area includes the blocks adjoining Pioneer Boulevard, beginning with the area around the future Pioneer Station to the south and ending just beyond 4 83rd Street to the north. To the east and west, the area is bounded by Arline, Corby, and Alburtis Avenues. The area further extends south along Pioneer Boulevard within the City of Artesia and includes the area between 188'h Street and the Le Belle Chateau Estates Mobile Home Park, and Pioneer 1 Boulevard to Jersey Avenue. The area covered by the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan shall be established as the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan (ADSP) Zone, and shall be designated on the Zoning Map by the designation "ADSP." Properties within the ADSP Zone shall be subject to specific plan recovery fees, as set forth by City Council resolution and authorized by Chapter 7 (Specific Plan Recovery Fees) of Title 3 (Finance) of the Artesia Municipal Code. (Ord. 666, § 1 2; Ord. 12- 778, § 12; Ord. 16-834 § 11.)
SECTION 4. Amendment to the City of Artesia Zoning Map will change the zoning classification of properties covered by the proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan from Commercial General, Commercial Planned Development, Light Manufacturing and Industrial, Multiple-Family Residential, Service & Professional, and South Street Specific Plan to Artesia Downtown Specific Plan. The proposed Zoning Map is attached to Ordinance No. 25-972 as Exhibit "A."
SECTION 5. Artesia Municipal Code Section 9-2.3452(a) provides that "[tlhe adoption of a specific plan shall be accompanied by an amendment to the Artesia Municipal Code to acknowledge the approved specific plan and to establish a Specific Plan Zone for the approved specific plan."
SECTION 6. California Government Code Section 65853 provides that "an amendment to a zoning ordinance, which amendment changes any property from one zone to another orimposes any regulation listed in Section 65850 not theretoTore imposed or removes or modifies any such regulation theretoTore imposed shall be adopted in the manner set forth in Sections 65854 to 65857, inclusive." SECTION 7. California Government Code Section 65855 provides that "the planning commission shall render its decision in the form of a written recommendation to the legislative body. Such recommendation shall include the reasons for the recommendation, the relationship of the proposed amendment to applicable general and specific plans, and shall be transmitted to the legislative body in such form and manner as may be specified by the legislative body."
SECTION 8. Artesia Municipal Code Section 9-2.3452(b) provides that "[t]he adoption of a specific plan shall be accompanied by an amendment to the Zoning Map of the City of Artesia to change the zoning classification of the area covered by the specific plan to the designated Specific Plan Zone."
SECTION 9. On June 17, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing in accordance with California Government Code Sections 65090 and 65091 to consider the proposed amendments to the Zoning Code, including the Zoning Map, and following the receipt oT public testimony, closed the public hearing and continued the hearing to July 1, 2025.
SECTION 10. On July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing to consider the Final EIR, the proposed Project (the Plan), and all 2 other relevant information contained in the administrative record regarding the Project, including all oral and written evidence presented to it during all meetings and hearings SECTION 11, In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code, §§21000 et seq., "CEQA"), the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regulations §§ 15000 et seq., the CEQA Guidelines the City prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH #2024020999) ("DEIR"), that analyzed the proposed Project's environmental impacts. The DEIR was made available for public review from February 28, 2025, through April 14, 2025. On June 9, 2025, the City completed the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), which comprises of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), comments received on the DEIR, and responses to those comments. On July 1, 2025, the Planning Commission conducted a duly noticed public hearing and considered the entire administrative record (as of that date), including staff reports, the FEIR, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations and oral and written testimony from interested persons, all of whom were given an opportunity to be heard.
Resolution No. 2025-17P recommends adoption of the Findings of Fact, Statement of Overriding Considerations, the MMRP, and certification of the FEIR, among other things, properly assesses the environmental impact of the Project in accordance with CEQA.
This Resolution incorporates by reference the environmental findings and analysis set forth in Resolution No. 2025-1 7P, including the FEIR, as if fully set forth herein:
SECTION 12. Based on all evidence in the record, the Planning Commission finds that the proposed Zoning Code and Map Amendments are appropriate for the following reasons:
A. Changing the Zoning designation or the subject properties from Commercial General, Commercial Planned Development, Light Manufacturing and Industrial, Multiple-Family Residential, Service & Professional, and South Street Specific Plan to Artesia Downtown Specific Plan is in the publicinterest because this would create the opportunity for mixed-use residential development within the core downtown area of the City subject to development standards which will encourage the development and redevelopment of a contemporary mix of commercial retail, offices and residential uses that will expand economic vibrancy and livability in the areas. The proposed project would allow for the development of a mixed-use transit-oriented community with a mix of high-density residential uses and commercial retail uses and serve the public interest.
B. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan Zone is consistent with the proposed General Plan Amendment, which will establish a new Land use Designation called the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan.
C. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zoning designation is consistent with the General Plan 2030 goal of a well-planned community with sufficient land uses and intensities to meet the needs or anticipated growth and achieve the community's vision (Community Goal LU 1) by creating opportunities for mixed 3 land-use patter that will foster a strong community identify, provide new employment, housing, shopping and entertainment opportunities, and strengthen the City's tax base.
D. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zoning designation will not adversely affect or be detrimental to adjacent properties, as it includes measures that adhere to all required City standards for circulation, noise, setbacks, buffer areas, landscaping, and architecture, ensuring compatibility between different uses. Moreover, the Plan identifies development standards that would enhance the surrounding neighborhood and prevent deterioration of surrounding uses, including single-family residences, while also ensuring that it does not adversely impact the safety and residential character of the neighborhood.
E. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zoning designation is consistent with the following community policies and policy actions in the General Plan 2030 Community Policy Program:
1. Community Policy LU 1.1 and Policy Action LU 1.1.1 encourage the identification of appropriate locations for residential and non-residential development to accommodate growth through the year 2030. The proposed Specific Plan zone enables re-purposing of under-utilized parcels and facilitates vibrant mixed-use developments, which will contribute to accommodating the City's housing demand through the year 2030; and
2. Community Policy LU 1.2 and Policy Action LU 1.2.1 encourage a wide variety of commercial services in appropriate locations by analyzing the current inventory of developed and undeveloped commercial sites in the City in order to assesS which are economically viable commercial developments that can be supported. The Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zone will enable mixed-use projects that incorporate commercial uses alongside residential uses, thereby enhancing commercial viability by positioning customers and services near one another; and
3. Community Policy LU 1.3 and Policy Action LU 1.3.1 encourage active and inviting pedestrian-friendly street environments that include a variety of uses within commercial and mixed-use areas by enhancing access, safety and the streetscape experiencefor pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders; and that focus improvements in areas with the highest need. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zone will enable a mixed-use projects; and
4. Housing Sub-Element Policy HE 1.3 encourage mixed-use (residential/commercial) development on existing commercial zoned land.
The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zone would permit infill development of mixed uses comprising of high-density residential and commercial retail; and
4 5. Community Policy LU 1.4 and Policy Action LU 1.4.1 and 1.4.2, which ensures that mixed use developments are integrated with surrounding uses to become part of the neighborhood by utilizing cohesive architecture, lively streetscapes, interesting urban spaces and attractive landscaping. The proposed Artesia Downtown Specific Plan zone would facilitate mixed-use developments and ensure such developments are integrated with surrounding uses with the imposition of development standards including but not limited to setbacks, stepbacks, open space, height and landscaping.
SECTION 13. Based on the findings contained in Sections 10 and 1 'I above, and all other evidence in the record, the Planning Commission hereby recommends that the City Council introduce adopt Ordinance No. 25-972, which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by reference, establishing the Artesia Downtown Specific Plan Zone.
SECTION 14. The Interim Community Development Director shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall forward a copy of it to the City Clerk and to the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this Ist day of July 2025.
Victor Manalo, Chairperson
€ t:'co"":yoeveiopmentoirector
ROLL CALL VOTE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
COMMISSIONERS:
5 Manalo, Barcelos, Pantoja
Diaz
Patel
EXHIBIT A
DRAFT ORD NANCE NO 25- 972 TO AMEND THE ZONING
CODE INCLUDING TEXT AND MAP
6 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 14, 2025 ITEM NO: 11A.
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: Resolution to Adopt a Revised City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy
FROM: Melissa Burke, Deputy City Manager
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Jamie Murguia, Finance Manager
HongDao Nguyen, City Attorney
Abel Avalos, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council, by motion, adopt Resolution No. 25-3056, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Artesia, California, Amending the City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy and Repealing Resolution 24-2970.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council originally adopted a Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy ("Policy") in February 2006 by Resolution No. 1959 in compliance with Government Code §§ 53232.2 and 53232.3. The Policy has been updated eight times since 2006, with the most recent update in February 2024 by Resolution No. 24-2970. The total allocation of monies for City Council travel and expenses was set at $37,300 in 2017. While the Council has made adjustments to how the total allocation was utilized and distributed between the Council Members, the total allocation has not changed since 2017.
ANALYSIS:
Attendance at educational conferences, seminars, and legislative advocacy programs are important tools for the City Council to ensure that the City of Artesia ("City") remains current on new state and federal laws, learn about how other communities are addressing similar concerns, and advocate on important topics of importance to the City, to our State and Federal elected officials. These programs are also good places to learn and understand what resources are available to the City when needs arise. Due to the rising costs of conference registration and related expenses, such as hotel stays and in some cases, airfare, the total allocation of $37,300 for all five members of the City Council in a twelve month period has limited the amount of conferences and programs the City Council can attend. As a result, Staff is proposing updating the Policy to reflect current needs.
Funding Updates
To address the issue of constantly rising costs to participate in conferences and programs, the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget includes a total allocation of $67,300 for all City Council travel and expenses in a Fiscal Year. This allocation includes a Pooled Travel Account of $30,000 which enables all five members of the City Council to attend three of the important educational and legislative programs offered by the League of California Cities and the California Contract Cities Association. Specifically, the pooled travel account can be used for the costs including registration, hotel accommodations, and airfare, if necessary, for the following three conferences:
1. League of California Cities Fall Conference
2. California Contract Cities Association Spring Seminar
3. California Contract Cities Association Sacramento Legislative Tour The remainder of the total allocation is for the individual Council Member travel accounts, which is $7,360, for each of the five Council Members. These funds may be used by each Council Member to attend any other conference or program, as outlined in the Policy, which will benefit the City. Adopting the proposed Policy will formalize the action the City Council took when approving the allocation in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget.
Administrative Updates
The draft also includes administrative updates to the Policy to help clarify the eligible and ineligible use of funds, align funding allocations to run concurrently with the Fiscal Year, update the Consumer Price Index (CPI) language to match the fiscal year, update language to reflect reflect current travel resources such as ride-shares and the fact that free internet is provided by hotels and conference centers, update reimbursable meal amounts, and update language to reflect the City's new practice of reporting use of public funds through the written AB 1234 agenda report.
The Policy updates the "Authorized Use" to specifically call out attending events, conferences and meetings with external groups as eligible expenses, while removing items which are actually funded through other City accounts such as sponsoring events or purchasing a retirement gift for an outgoing staff member. Language was added to clarify what the personal portion of a trip means, and what kind of "family expenses" are ineligible when attending conferences with a Council Member.
The Policy proposes to change the current allocation period from December 1 through November 30 to instead coincide with the fiscal year. The Policy also makes a change to ensure that CPI increases included in the policy reflect the new allocation period of July 1 to June 30. Having funding allocations which match the fiscal year leads to more clear and transparent budgeting practices.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost associated with adopting Resolution No. 25-3056 is included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Staff recommends the City Council, by motion, adopt Resolution No. 25-3056, A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Artesia, California, Amending the City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy and Repealing Resolution 24-2970.
Attachments
Resolution No. 25-3056
City Council Written Expense and Travel Policy (Revision 9).pdf 1 RESOLUTION NO. 25-3056
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS
OF THE CITY’S ESTABLISHED WRITTEN EXPENSE
REIMBURSEMENT AND TRAVEL POLICY FOR CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF OTHER
LEGISLATIVE BODIES OF THE CITY AND REPEALING
RESOLUTION NO. 24-2970.
WHEREAS, in 2006, state law was amended to mandate that cities adopt written expense reimbursement policies that apply to members of the City Council and members of other legislative bodies of the City (AB 1234 (effective January 1, 2006); Government Code §§ 53232.2 and 53232.3);
WHEREAS, the City of Artesia has a history and practice of limiting expenses that may be incurred by the City Council members and employees for travel and related conference expenses through annual budget limits on councilmember travel expenses.
In addition, the City has always required such expenses to be reasonably incurred in the conduct of the City’s business, as required by previously existing law; WHEREAS, the City Council finds that Council travel and meetings inside and outside of the City have benefits to the City, and there are benefits to the City to reimburse Councilmember and members of other legislative bodies of the City for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the conduct of the City’s business; WHEREAS, the following general categories of travel and meetings represent a public benefit to the City: meetings to discuss the community’s concerns with federal, state, and/or local officials; participation in national, state, and regional organizations’ activities which benefit and affect the City; attendance at educational seminars designed to improve officials’ skills and information levels through continuing education and information sharing with other public officials; and promotion of public service and morale by recognizing such service;
WHEREAS, the policy established by this Resolution is intended to provide guidance to elected and appointed members of legislative bodies of the City on the appropriate use and expenditure of City resources, as well as the standards against which those expenditures will be measured. This policy is intended to satisfy the requirements of Government Code Sections 53232.2 and 53233.3. It is also intended to supplement the definition of actual and necessary expenses for purposes of applicable State laws relating to permissible uses of public resources and the definition of necessary and reasonable expenses for purposes of federal and state income tax laws. This policy is also intended to apply to any charges made to a City credit card, the use of cash advances or other line of credit for the expenses of any City Councilmember and any member of a legislative body of the City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a written reimbursement policy in 2 compliance with Government Code Section 53232.2 and 53232.3 on February 13, 2006 by way of City Council Resolution No. 1959, which policy has been amended several times since, most recently on February 12, 2024 by way of Resolution No. 24-2970.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARTESIA, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, ORDER AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Artesia hereby approves the revised Written Expense Policy attached as “Attachment A,” and incorporated as part of the Resolution, as Revision No. 9 to the City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy.
SECTION 3. Revision No. 9 to the City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy shall supersede the City Council Written Expense Reimbursement Policy previously approved by the Council pursuant to Resolution 24-2970.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 14
th day of July, 2025.
________________________________
ALI SAJJAD TAJ, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_____________________________________
JENNIFER ALDERETE, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________
CITY ATTORNEY
BEST, BEST AND KRIEGER
1 City Council Written Expense Reimbursement and Travel Policy Revision No. 9 Total Pages: 7
Resolution No. 25-3056 Date Accepted: 7/14/2025
Delegating Authority: Finance Department
Section 1. Findings.
A. Purpose: The purpose of this Policy is to establish written guidance to elected and appointed members of legislative bodies of the City on the appropriate use and expenditure of City resources, as well as the standards against which those expenditures will be measured.
B. Authority: Government Code § 53232.2 and 53232.3).
Section 2. Statement of Policy.
A. Applicability. This policy shall apply to the use of city funds and the reimbursement of expenses incurred by members of the City Council and members of other legislative bodies of the City (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “public officials”). This policy does not apply to other public officials and employees of the City who are not members of legislative bodies of the City.
B. Authorized Expenses. City funds, equipment, supplies (including letterhead), titles, and staff time must only be used for authorized business of the City of Artesia, except as otherwise authorized in prior resolutions or by action of the City Council. Expenses incurred by City Councilmembers in connection with the following types of activities generally constitute authorized expenses, and may be paid for with City credit cards or reimbursed by the City as long as the other requirements of this policy are met:
1. Serving the needs of the residents, businesses and visitors of the City of Artesia by attending events, conferences and meetings with external groups;
2. Meeting with representatives of regional, state and national government on City policy positions;
3. Attending educational seminars designed to improve public officials’ skill, knowledge, and information levels;
4. Participating in regional, state and national organizations whose activities benefit or affect the City’s interests;
2 5. Attending City, community, regional and other events;
6. Gathering facts and information regarding City projects, issues and priorities in other jurisdictions;
7. Implementing a City-initiated strategy for attracting or retaining businesses to the City; and
8. Attending meetings such as those listed above for which a meeting stipend is expressly authorized under this policy.
The reimbursement of an expense in excess of the amounts authorized for this purpose in the City’s annual budget shall require prior approval by the City Council.
The following expenditures also require prior City Council approval:
1. Payments for international travel; and
2. Expenses which exceed the annual limits established for each office holder.
Examples of personal expenses that the City will not reimburse include, but are not limited to:
1. The personal portion of any trip, including extended front or back end travel days for City business;
2. Political or charitable contributions, including sponsorship of events for charitable or community organizations;
3. Family expenses, including partner’s expenses, such as airfare, food and any registration or ticket costs related to attending program events, when accompanying official on agency-related business, as well as children or pet-related expenses;
4. Entertainment expenses, including theater, movies (either in-room or at the theater), recreational events not related to City business (including gym or massage expenses), cultural events not related to City business;
5. Non-mileage personal automobile expenses, including repairs, traffic citations, insurance or gasoline;
6. Personal losses incurred while on City business; and
7. Any alcohol or bar expenses.
Any questions regarding the propriety of a particular type of expense should be resolved by the approving authority before the expense is incurred.
C. Cost Control
3 1. General Requirements.
Members of the City Council and members of other legislative bodies of the City should adhere to these guidelines to conserve City resources and keep expenses within community standards. In the event that expenses are incurred which exceed these guidelines, the cost borne or reimbursed by the City will be limited to the costs that fall within the guidelines, unless such excess amounts have been approved in advance by the City Council.
2. Councilmember Travel Expenses and Budgets.
a. Individual Councilmember Travel Budget.
Unless otherwise specified in each year’s annual fiscal year budget, each member of the City Council shall be allocated $7,360 per year for Councilmember travel and meeting expenses. This allocation shall be called the Individual Councilmember Travel Budget and funds in that Budget may be used to pay for or reimburse the Councilmember for authorized expenses under Section 2.B. of this Policy, including travel for the Councilmember to attend conferences, meetings and seminars. The annual allocation shall be made as part of the fiscal year budget and shall be effective from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Any unused amount from the allocation shall not be carried over into the new fiscal year .
Such amounts will be annually increased without further action by the City Council to reflect changes in the cost of living in accordance with statistics published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, or any successor index.
The amount of the travel budget shall be adjusted annually as of July 1 st of each year, commencing
July 1, 2026, by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. All Urban Consumers, for the Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside statistical area during the twelve (12) month period ending on March 31st of the same year. (The annual adjustment will be based on this area whether travel is within the area or not.)
b. Councilmember Pooled Travel Account.
Unless otherwise specified in each year’s annual fiscal year budget, pooled travel account available for use by all Councilmembers shall be established with a total amount of $30,000. This pooled travel budget shall be reserved for use by Councilmembers to attend the following annual conferences:
i. League of California Cities Fall Conference
ii. California Contract Cities Association Spring Seminar iii. California Contract Cities Association Sacramento Legislative Tour This pooled account shall be called the Councilmember Pooled Travel Account. Travel expenses paid from this pooled account shall be available for all five Councilmembers to attend all three eligible conferences referenced above. All registration and travel costs incurred under the Councilmember Pooled Travel Account must be made through the City’s Executive Assistant.
Councilmembers may not separately register or incur travel expenses from this account on the City’s credit card issued to the Councilmember. Unused funds from this account will return to the 4 General Fund at the close of the fiscal year.
D. Transportation
The most economical mode and class of transportation reasonably consistent with scheduling needs, the public official’s time constraints, and cargo space requirements must be used, using the most direct and time-efficient route. Charges for rental vehicles may be paid for with City credit cards or reimbursed under this provision if more than one City official is attending an out of town conference, and it is determined that sharing a rental vehicle is more economical than other forms of transportation. In making such determination, the cost of the rental vehicle, parking and gasoline will be compared to the combined cost of such other forms of transportation. Government and group rates must be used when available. The City Council recognizes and acknowledges that some public officials are part-time volunteers, and that personal, employment and other commitments may impact the economy of available travel arrangements.
1. Airfare. Airfares that are equal or less than those available through the Enhanced Local Government Airfare Program offered through the League of California Cities (www.cacities.org/travel), the California State Association of Counties and the State of California shall be, in most normal circumstances, presumed to be the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy. The City Council recognizes and acknowledges that such airfares are not always practicable or available in certain limited circumstances, and finds that higher airfares may be appropriate in individual cases.
2. Automobile. The City Council finds that the use of an automobile is essential to the performance of the functions of a member of a legislative body in the City of Artesia. In order to ensure that members of the City Council maintain an automobile, and pursuant to Government Code Section 1223, the City shall reimburse Councilmembers on a monthly basis, upon submittal of such a request on the Councilmember’s monthly reimbursement form, a flat $150 per month amount to cover the expenses of maintaining a vehicle and driving that vehicle within Los Angeles County to both City meetings and functions and to meetings of organizations to which the City is a member. This $150 amount is sufficient to cover approximately 200 miles per month at the standard 70 cents per mile reimbursement rate currently established by the IRS.
This amount is determined to be the reasonable estimate of monthly mileage amount incurred by Councilmembers in performing their duties within Artesia and within Los Angeles County.
Personal automobile travel for Councilmembers outside the County of Los Angeles, and personal automobile travel for all other members of legislative bodies in the City, shall be reimbursed based on the number of miles traveled and at Internal Revenue Service rates presently in effect (see www.irs.gov). These rates are designed to compensate the driver for gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and other expenses associated with operating the vehicle. This amount does not include bridge and road tolls, which are also reimbursable. The Internal Revenue Service rates will not be paid for rental vehicles; only receipted fuel expenses will be reimbursed.
3. Car Rental. Rental rates that are equal or less than those available through the State of California’s website (http://www.catravelsmart.com/default.htm) shall be considered the most economical and reasonable for purposes of reimbursement under this policy. 5 4. Taxis/Rideshare/Shuttles. Taxis, rideshare, or shuttles fares may be reimbursed, including a 20 percent gratuity per fare, when the cost of such fares is equal or less than the cost of car rentals, gasoline and parking combined, or when such transportation is necessary for time-efficiency.
E. Lodging
Lodging expenses will be reimbursed or paid for when travel on official City business reasonably requires an overnight stay.
1. Conferences/Meetings. If such lodging is in connection with a conference, lodging expenses must not exceed the group rate published by the conference sponsor for the meeting in question, if such rates are available at the time of booking. If the group rate is not available, see next section.
2. Other Lodging. Travelers must request government lodging rates, when available. A listing of hotels offering government rates in different areas is available at http://www.catravelsmart.com/lodguideframes.htm. Lodging rates that are equal or less to government rates are presumed to be reasonable and hence reimbursable for purposes of this policy. In the event that government rates are not available at a given time or in a given area, lodging rates that do not exceed the median retail price for lodging for that area listed on websites like www.hotels.com, www.expedia.com or an equivalent service shall be considered reasonable and hence reimbursable if, given the circumstances of the travel, such comparable rates can be found. In unique circumstances, the City Manager may approve the reimbursement of reasonable lodging costs that exceed the two standards above, if necessary under the particular circumstances.
F. Meals
Public officials shall, when available, take meals that are provided as part of a seminar or conference registration fee. Reimbursable meal expenses and associated gratuities shall not exceed the following rates per person:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
$19.96
$33.29
$53.28
Such amounts will be annually adjusted without further action by the City Council to reflect changes in the cost of living in accordance with statistics published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. The amount of the meal reimbursement rates shall be adjusted annually as of July 1 st of each year, commencing July 1,
2026, by the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index. All Urban Consumers, for the Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside statistical area during the twelve (12) month period ending on March 31st of the same year. (The annual adjustment will be based on this area whether travel is within the area or not.) The City will not reimburse any alcohol or bar expenses.
G. Telephone
6 Officials will be reimbursed for all actual telephone expenses incurred on City business. Telephone bills should identify which calls were made on City business.
I. Airport and Other Parking Charges
The City will reimburse parking costs based on actual costs of short or long-term parking rates used for travel or attending to local City business.
J. Other
Baggage handling fees and reasonable gratuities will be reimbursed. Expenses for which City officials receive reimbursement from another agency are not reimbursable.
L. Credit Card Use Policy
City Councilmembers may use a City-issued credit card, if one has been issued, for such purposes as outlined in this policy and the City Council Credit Card Policy adopted by Resolution No. 23- 2957. Receipts documenting expenses incurred on the City credit card and compliance with this policy must be submitted in accordance with the City Council Credit Card Policy. City credit cards may not be used at any time for personal expenses, even if the Councilmember subsequently reimburses the City.
M. Expense Report Content and Submission Deadline
All cash advance expenditures, credit card expenditures and expense reimbursement requests must be submitted on an expense report form provided by the City. This form shall include the following advisory:
All expenses reported on this form must comply with the City’s policies relating to expenses and use of public resources. The information submitted on this form is a public record.
Penalties for misusing public resources and violating the City’s policies may include loss of credit card and/or reimbursement privileges, restitution, civil and criminal penalties as well as additional income tax liability.
Expense reports must document that the expense in question meet the requirements of this policy.
Except as required sooner by this policy, public officials must submit their expense reports in accordance with the City Council Credit Card Policy, accompanied by receipts documenting each expense. All travel receipts, in addition to any credit card receipts, are also part of the necessary documentation. The inability to provide such documentation in a timely fashion may result in the expense being borne by the official.
N. Verification of Expense Reports
7 All expenses are subject to verification that they comply with this policy. The City Council and/or the City Manager or his/her designee may request additional documentation or explanation of individual expenditures for which reimbursement is requested by a public official.
O. Reports to the Public
At a subsequent City Council meeting, each public official shall briefly report in writing on the standard AB 1234 agenda report, any meetings attended at City expense. If multiple officials attended an event, a joint report or individual report on behalf of all attendees may be made.
P. Compliance with Laws
City officials should keep in mind that some expenditures could be subject to reporting under the Political Reform Act and other laws. Records of all City expenditures and documentation regarding expense reimbursements are public records subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act.
Q. Violation of this Policy
Use of public resources or falsifying expense reports in violation of this policy may result in any or all of the following: 1) loss of City-issued credit card, 2) loss of reimbursement privileges, 3) a demand for restitution to the City, 4) the agency’s reporting the expenses as income to the elected official to state and federal tax authorities, 5) civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day and three times the value of the resources used, and 6) prosecution for misuse of public resources.