TO: Traffic Commission
SUBJECT: 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
MEETING DATE: February 12, 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Traffic Commission deny the blue curb request at 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb due to the property having an existing driveway of ample length (20 feet or more) or width (14 feet or more) that can be used for access by the physically challenged.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Commerce received an application from a resident at 4485 Lovett St, a multifamily residence, requesting an on-street physically challenged accessible parking space (blue curb) to be installed in front of their residence. The resident Antonio Lopez requests that City staff look at existing on-street parking conditions to see if his request for a blue curb could be granted. The application was evaluated following the Screening Criteria, which the property did not meet due to the property having a driveway of sufficient length x width (20- feet x 14-feet) to accommodate a handicapped vehicle. The applicant stated that he is unable to park in the driveway because he rents a room in one of the units, and the other residents occupy the available driveway space. As a result, he is required to park on the street. He further explained that when nearby street parking is unavailable, he must park around the block, which poses a challenge due to a previous injury on the right side of his body that left him with lingering pain in his back and leg. Since the location of the blue curb request is on a public street if the City were to install a blue curb, it would be available to anyone who has a placard and is not a designated parking space for the applicant. The applicant submitted the required blue curb request application along with signatures of neighboring residents, which can be seen in Attachment 1. The applicant, however, does not have a valid driver's license and only provided a copy of his identification.
Property Facts Explanation
Request Address Location 4485 Lovett St
Property Type per LA County Assessor Map Multi-Family Residential Number of Units per LA County Assessor Map 3 units
Land Use Light Multiple Residential
Speed Limit 25 mph
CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No. 2
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 02/12/2025 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
Street Width 30’ (feet)
Driveway (Width/Length) Driveway (18’ x 100’)
Lane Geometrics 1 lane in each direction
Alley No
Number of Vehicles in Household 3
Number of available parking spaces on property 2 parking space available on site assigned to the unit. Approximately 8
parking spaces available on property.
Can the driveway be used for access by the
disabled person’s vehicle?
Yes
Street Parking Availability Parking on both sides of the street On-site Parking Availability Yes.
Garage No Garage
Reason for Request The applicant is requesting a blue curb space because of a medical condition
that makes it difficult for to walk long
distances.
Figure 1: Vicinity Map
ANALYSIS:
To process an application for blue curbs, an applicant must complete and submit a “Resident On-Street Blue Curb Request From” application available at the City, please refer to Attachment 1 for the application. Each application will be reviewed following the screening LEGEND Applicant’s Property at
4485 Lovett St
Existing Available
Curb Space
4485 Lovett St
Marianna Ave
Lovett St
Existing Red
Curb Space
Eastern Ave
32’
68’
30’
32’
70’
32’
30’
30’
32’
36’
30’
70’
40’ 32’
50’ 50’
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 02/12/2025 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
criteria on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the Traffic Commission in a twostep process as follows:
Applicants are required to fill out and submit the “Resident On-Street Blue Curb Request Form” application available at the City, please refer to Attachment 1 for the application. This serves as an initial screening tool for applicants based on 9 criteria, if YES is answered to any of the questions listed below (questions 1 through 9 in the application) the request for a blue curb will be denied and not brought before the Traffic Commission, except for Question 9 where it meets the exceptions outlined in the section “Exceptions” of the Policy. The applicant may dispute the decision by submitting a “Request to Appeal to Traffic Commission” form.
Screening Criteria Question 1 through 9:
1. Does the request property have a driveway? (Yes)
2. Can at least one vehicle park in the driveway? (Yes)
3. Does the request property have a garage or carport? (Yes, carport)
4. Does the request property have access to a back alley where a car can park inside the property or along the alley? (No)
5. Is there an existing blue curb within 1 block that can be used? (No)
6. Is this request for an apartment with 5 or more units? (No)
7. Does the request property have on-site parking? (Yes)
8. Is this request for bus or van pick up use? (No)
9. Is this request for a business or commercial property? (No) The property has an existing driveway which is approximately 100-feet long and 18-feet wide. The driveway is of ample length (20-feet or more) and width (14-feet or more) and can be used for access by the physically challenged. A letter denying the blue curb request was mailed to the resident on December 9, 2024, subsequently, the resident submitted a “Request to Appeal to Traffic Commission” form which was received by the City on December 11, 2024.
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 02/12/2025 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
Figure 2: View of the front area of the applicant’s residence.
Figure 3: View of the driveway of the applicant’s residence. 4485 Lovett St
4485 Lovett St
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 02/12/2025 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
Figure 4. Map of Properties Where Signatures Were Collected.
The applicant collected signatures from neighboring properties as indicated by a red dot above. Applicant’s residence is indicated by a red star.
The Blue Curb Policy requires that the applicant collect 5 signatures of nearby residents/neighbors and all neighbors filling out the petition must live in the same block as the applicant. The applicant included a signature of a resident that lives on a different block and although not required specifically by the Policy the applicant did not collect any signatures of the adjacent neighbors which would be directly affected by the Blue Curb parking space.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve staff recommendation
2. Reject staff recommendation
3. Provide staff with further direction
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact if the Traffic Commission does not approve the installation of the disabled blue curb parking space. If the Traffic Commission approves the installation, the lump sum cost of painting the curb blue and installing the disabled person sign next to the blue curb is approximately $800.
Respectfully submitted,
Vilko Domic,
Assistant City Manager
Properties where signatures
were collected
1. 4487 Lovett St
2. 4470 Lovett St
3. 4401 ½ Lovett St
4. 4471 Lovett St
5. 4471 ½ Lovett St
1 2
5 4487
4470
4 4471
4471 ½
Marianna Ave
Lovett St
Eastern Ave
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 02/12/2025 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request
Recommended & prepared by:
Traffic Engineering
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 4485 Lovett St Blue Curb Request Completed Application
2. Valid Disabled Person Placard Identification Receipt and Identification Card
3. Blue Curb Appeal to the Traffic Commission
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 1: Completed Application (1 of 5)
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 1: Completed Application (2 of 5)
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 1: Completed Application (3 of 5)
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 1: Completed Application (4 of 5)
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 1: Completed Application (5 of 5)
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 2: Valid Disabled Person Placard Identification Card and Identification Card
Traffic Commission Agenda Report – Meeting of 07/12/2023 2355 Cowlin Avenue Blue Curb Request
Attachment 3: Blue Curb Appeal to the Traffic Commission