Project EIR, Specific Plan, Housing Element Amendment, Environmental Justice Element Item 13-D
9030 Somerset Boulevard
1 Subject Property
Formerly a golf course and open space
Approximately 22 acres
Currently under lease to Hollywood Sports Park as an outdoor recreation opportunity to residents of the community and surrounding areas. 9030 Somerset Boulevard
2 Background
25 Year term of current lease with three 10-year options to extend by tenant
Under consideration by METRO for potential Maintenance Service Facility (MSF)
City Council initially expressed opposition to the MSF concerns regarding a lack of open space in the community and other issues.
In 2018 (Resolution No. 18-67) the City expressed the specific conditions under which it could support METRO’s acquisition of the property and establishment of the MSF on the site. 1) “…the Light Rail Maintenance Facility will be developed as an aesthetically pleasing, state of the art yard that meets all current noise, air quality, and traffic mitigation measures and coexists harmoniously with the surrounding business and residential communities;
2) the MTA will develop a valid "Bellflower First" hiring policy when staffing the facility;
3) the purchase price paid for the property will be based on the fair market and will be sufficient to offset the cost of establishing adequate supplemental and/or replacement open space opportunities within the City of Bellflower;
4) the establishment of a rail maintenance facility at the Lakewood/Somerset site will satisfy completely the MTA's "3% Local Match" in funding from each City along the light rail construction route;
5) the MTA will set aside and develop a location of not less than 1.5 acres of active "open space" within or adjacent to the proposed light rail maintenance facility site to serve the residential community living on Somerset Boulevard and the Bellflower Community as a whole in a manner to be approved by the Bellflower City Council;
6) upon development of the facility, MTA will be solely responsible for compensation and relocation, if necessary, of the long-term leaseholder currently operating a paintball facility at the Lakewood/Somerset Site.”
3 Housing Need
The State of California has determined that there is a significant regional and statewide need for housing available to various income levels
Local plans have identified a significant need to maintain and create more open space in the community
Bellflower is required to plan for 3,735 Housing Units by 2029
State has mandated “No Net Loss” provisions
City Council Adopted, and the State Certified the City’s 2021-2029 Housing Element in September 2022 including a planned buffer over and above it’s RHNA requirements
81% of residents identified a lack of affordable housing as a very or somewhat serious problem facing Bellflower
4 Potential Housing Site
The City intends to consider amendments to its General Plan and Zoning Code to rezone the site to maintain the ability to meet the community’s most pressing needs in the future.
The rezone would allow for alternative uses in the future to include mixed uses, such as high density residential and open spaces uses
Addresses the priorities of our residents by allowing for the development of housing units affordable to working families
Would assist the City in meeting its State mandated obligations under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (“RHNA”) in the future.
Would secure the City’s ability to maintain open space and recreational opportunities in Bellflower No specific development project proposed at this time
5 Project EIR
The appropriate CEQA document for the General Plan Amendments and Zone Change is a Project Environmental Impact Report
On April 8, 2024, the City Council authorized the City Manager to release the NOP and conduct a scoping meeting, which is the first step in the process of preparing an EIR
The purpose of the NOP and scoping meeting is to seek public comments on what should be addressed in the scope of the EIR
90-day public comment period for the NOP: April 26, 2024 – July 25, 2024. The scoping meeting was held on July 10, 2024
Following completion of the NOP and scoping meeting, Dudek prepared an updated scope and budget (estimated at $320,000)
Task Order No. 7 was prepared since the estimated cost to complete the EIR exceeds the amount allowed under the existing agreement
6 Specific Plan & General Plan
Amendments
Zone Change: Changing the current zone from O-S (Open Space) to Specific Plan
General Plan Amendments:
1. Land Use Element: Revising the Land Use Plan in the Land Use Element from Open Space to Mixed Use
2. Housing Element: Amending the Certified 2021-2029 Housing Element for consistency
3. Environmental Justice Element: Since two elements of the General Plan will be amended concurrently, a new Environmental Justice Element is required
De Novo Planning Group will prepare the Specific Plan, amendments to the Housing Element, and a new Environmental Justice Element at an estimated cost of $390,000
Agreement No. 805.1 was prepared
7 Tonight’s Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute Task Order No. 7 with Dudek for preparation of the EIR; and
Authorize the City Manager to execute Agreement File No. 805.1, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with De Novo Planning Group for preparation of a Specific Plan, Housing Element Amendment, and Environmental Justice Element; and
Approve a budget amendment to allocate $710,000 for contract services in Account No. 542-42054-4132; or
Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
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