City Council Agenda Report
November 18, 2025
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Alex Hamilton, Interim Director of Community Development SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 25-54 - UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S
DECISION TO ADOPT THE RECIRCULATED INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION (STATE CLEARING HOUSE NO. 2024101066) AND
MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PLAN AND APPROVE
PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN NO. 2023-06 AT 14830 CARMENITA ROAD Background:
On October 8, 2025, at a duly noticed public hearing, the Planning Commission (PC) reviewed Precise Development Plan (PDP) No. 2023-06 (Attachment Nos. 2 and 3). After public testimony, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to:
1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) with the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MMRP) contained therein; and
2. Adopt Resolution No. 25-13, approving PDP No. 2023-06 subject to Conditions of Approval contained in Exhibit “A” and Exhibit “B” which contained the MMRP.
Findings for approval of the project include compatibility with surrounding uses and the vision for the area, enhancement of surrounding areas by revitalizing an underutilized site, and consistency with the General Plan for enhancing the economic viability of an industrial property, maintaining a high caliber of industrial development through the improvement of an industrial property, and providing adequate buffers between industrial and residential uses.
On October 17, 2025, Alaura McGuire from Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, on behalf of the Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA), submitted an appeal of the PC’s action (Attachment No. 5) stating the action taken by the PC did not comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or applicable land uses laws. Per §17.02.205.E (Decision, Transmittal, Appeal) of the Norwalk Municipal Code (“NMC”), City
City Council November 18, 2025
Resolution No. 25-54 – Upholding the Planning
Commission Decision and Approving PDP No. 2023-
06 for 14830 Carmenita Road
Page No. 2
1 4
6 3
Council has the authority to uphold, modify, or reverse the PC’s decision. Therefore, the project is before City Council for consideration.
Discussion
In December 2023, Ben Martin (“Applicant”), on behalf of Rexford Industrial Realty LP, the property owner, submitted an application for PDP No. 2023-06, requesting approval to demolish two existing multi-tenant industrial warehouse buildings totaling 89,870 square feet to construct a new 138,972± square foot industrial warehouse building at 14830 Carmenita Road (“Subject Property”). The Subject Property, at 7.03 acres in size, has a General Plan land use designation of Heavy Industrial and zoning classification of Heavy Manufacturing (M-2). It is situated on Carmenita Road, between Excelsior Drive to the south and Pumice Street to the North (also known as Assessor’s Parcel Number “APN” 8069-002-085).
The Subject Site is bounded by Heavy Manufacturing (M-2) zone to the north, south, and west.
Properties to the east are within the City of Santa Fe Springs city limits and are zoned Heavy Manufacturing (M-2). The proposed 138,972± SF industrial warehouse building will consist of 132,227 square feet of warehouse space, 3,715 square feet of ground-floor office space, and 3,030 square feet of mezzanine office space. The new building is single-story with a mezzanine and has a maximum height of 45 feet at the top of the parapet wall. In addition, the project will feature 22 loading dock doors along the southern side of the building and provide 141 off-street parking spaces and landscape improvements to the site (“Proposed Project”).
Pursuant to the CEQA, an Initial Study (IS)/Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND), with a related Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program (MMRP) was prepared for the proposed project. Based on the City’s Environmental Checklist Form and supporting environmental analysis, the project would have no impact or less than significant impact concerning all environmental issue areas, except in the area of Cultural Resources and Tribal Cultural Resources, for which the project would have a less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated. The 20-day public comment period for the MND began on October 24, 2024, and ended on November 12, 2024.
During the public review period, public comments were received from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts on November 5, 2024 and from CREED LA on November 12, 2024.
Comments received were addressed with responses to comments incorporated in the IS/MND and related MMRP. The item was noticed for the December 11, 2024 Planning Commission meeting.
On December 11, 2024, Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of CREED LA provided written comments that there is a need for an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to be prepared for the Proposed Project. A written response was prepared by EPD Solutions, an authorized representative of the Applicant. The response included analysis which concluded that none of the issues that were raised by CREED LA would require preparation of an EIR pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064 and 15065. At the request of the applicant, the item was City Council November 18, 2025
Resolution No. 25-54 – Upholding the Planning
Commission Decision and Approving PDP No. 2023-
06 for 14830 Carmenita Road
Page No. 3
1 4
6 3
continued to January 8, 2025. Subsequently, the item was continued to February 12, 2025, then tabled to an undetermined future date.
Since the item was continued to a date uncertain on February 12, 2025, the applicant notified staff in July 2025 that they were ready to move forward. Out of an abundance of caution and to reaffirm staff’s position on the Proposed Project’s impacts to address any changed conditions, the IS/MND was revised.
Pursuant to the CEQA and the CEQA Guidelines of the City, the IS/MND was recirculated for a secondary public review due to refinements to the previously circulated document. The 20-day public comment period began on September 12, 2025 and ended on October 1, 2025. The purpose of the recirculation was to clarify the construction stages for the project which included crushing as part of demolition activities, to address Air Quality and Health Risk Assessment modeling revisions made in response to the public comments received, and to address the request for mitigation received from the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians- Kizh Nation.
During the review period, one public comment was received from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on October 1, 2025. Comments received have been addressed and incorporated in the Final IS/MND.
The PC reviewed PDP No. 2023-06, at a duly noticed public hearing, on October 8, 2025 (Attachment Nos. 2 and 3). A letter of concern was sent to the PC from Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of CREED LA on the same day (Attachment No. 4).
During the hearing, two speakers on behalf of Laborers Local 1309 LiUNA (in which a group of members were seated in the audience) spoke in favor of the project, citing support from the union. Specifically, it was stated that the project would create union jobs and the union members would ensure that the project is built to the high standards.
One representative, on behalf of CREED LA, spoke in opposition and requested that the PC continue the hearing so that an EIR can be prepared as the IS/MND is insufficient in analyzing the environmental impacts.
A representative from EPD Solutions addressed questions and comments from the PC during public comment and the PC adopted the recirculated MND and MMRP and adopted Resolution No. 25-13 approving PDP No. 2023-06 with a 5-0 vote.
Appeal
The Appellant asserts that the project may have several significant and unmitigated impacts which would require the City to prepare an EIR to comply with CEQA. The appellant also states that approval of the project in reliance on a deficient MND may result in significant, unmitigated air quality, public health, transportation, energy, and public utility impacts.
City Council November 18, 2025
Resolution No. 25-54 – Upholding the Planning
Commission Decision and Approving PDP No. 2023-
06 for 14830 Carmenita Road
Page No. 4
1 4
6 3
A written response to the appeal has been prepared by EPD Solutions (Attachment No. 6). In the response, the analysis upholds the conclusion that none of the conditions that arose would require preparation of an EIR pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064,15065, or 15002. No significant environmental impact would result from the proposed project after implementation of existing regulations and mitigation measure proposed to be implemented. No substantial evidence supporting the fair argument of any new significant environment impacts that would result from the proposed project or from a new mitigation measure proposed to be implemented has been brought forward in these comments. Thus, preparation of an EIR is not required.
Pursuant to Section 17.02.205.A of the NMC, a PDP may be granted if the proposed project is consistent with the character of the community, is not detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare, and does not adversely affect property values. The General Plan has objectives and policies to enhance the economic viability of industrial properties and to maintain a high caliber of industrial development through the improvement of industrial properties in Norwalk.
The proposed project will enhance the surrounding area by revitalizing an underutilized site and introducing use that is compatible with the surrounding area. The project complies with applicable city codes; and based on submitted reports and recommended conditions of approval, it provides adequate parking, vehicular circulation, and pedestrian access. The development will create visual interest along a major street corridor, attract new businesses to support the City’s economic growth, and promote jobs for the community.
The analysis provided by the applicant’s authorized representative, EPD Solutions upholds the conclusion that none of the conditions set forth in the appeal letter require preparation of an EIR pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15064, 15065, or 15002. Furthermore, the PC’s action was based on information submitted and raised during the public hearing including the compatibility of the use with the desired vision for the corridor, revitalization of an underutilized site, promotion of industrial development through improvement of an industrial property, and provision of adequate buffers between industrial and residential uses.
Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Citizens Advised:
Notice of this public hearing was published in The Norwalk Patriot and posted at the City’s three designated posting sites and the City Website on November 7, 2025, as well as mailed to 59 property owners and interested parties within 500 feet of the property on November 7, 2025.
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
City Council November 18, 2025
Resolution No. 25-54 – Upholding the Planning
Commission Decision and Approving PDP No. 2023-
06 for 14830 Carmenita Road
Page No. 5
1 4
6 3
Goal 3 – Create and sustain a resilient and economically prosperous City. Objective 2 – Diversity and grow the economy.
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-54, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK SETTING FORTH ITS FINDINGS OF FACT AND DECISION OF UPHOLDING THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO ADOPT THE
RECIRCULATED INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION (STATE CLEARING HOUSE NO. 2024101066) AND MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PLAN AND APPROVE PRECISE DEVELOPMENT PLAN NO. 2023-06 AT 14830 CARMENITA ROAD.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 25-54
2. PDP No. 2023-06 Planning Commission Agenda Report dated 10/8/2025
3. Planning Commission minutes of 10/8/2025
4. 10/8/2025 CREED LA comment letter to Planning Commission
5. 10/17/2025 Appeal filed by CREED LA
6. Response to Appeal prepared by EPD Solutions dated 11/4/2025