ORDINANCE NO. 25-1765
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NORWALK ADOPTING ZONE
CHANGE NO. 2025-02 TO AMEND SEVERAL ZONING DESIGNATIONS TO SPECIFIC PLAN AREA NO. 18, THE “HEART OF NORWALK
SPECIFIC PLAN”
WHEREAS, the City has initiated Zoning Change No. 2025-02, to amend several existing zoning designations to Specific Plan Area No. 18 (SPA No. 18) for the Heart of Norwalk Specific Plan. Under the SPA No. 18, the following is anticipated: (i) 3,087 residential units and a net increase of 2,285,418 square feet of residential development; (ii) 275,747 square foot reduction in commercial uses; (iii) 18,310 square feet reduction in industrial uses; and 53,011 square feet reduction in institutional uses. The Specific Plan area consists of approximately 615 acres, roughly bounded by Imperial Highway to the north; I-5 Freeway to the east; Rosecrans Avenue to the south; and Pioneer Boulevard to the west. Regional access to the Specific Plan Area is provided by I-5, I-605, I-105, and U.S. Route 91. Local access is provided by Imperial Highway, Pioneer Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Norwalk Boulevard / San Antonio Drive; and WHEREAS, General Plan Amendment No. 2025-02, General Plan Amendment No. 2025-03, and Zoning Text Amendment No. 2025-04 to establish SPA No. 18, and Environmental Impact Report SCH No. 2024040140 were initiated in conjunction with Zone Change No. 2025-02 (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, once the City adopts its general plan, it may prepare specific plans for the systematic implementation of the general plan for all or a part of the area covered by the general plan pursuant to Government Code §65450; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code §65454, a Specific Plan must be consistent with the City’s general plan; and
WHEREAS, SPA No. 18, the “Heart of Norwalk Specific Plan,” would allow for the redevelopment of several sites within the Project area and allow for additional development opportunities to current sites within the Project. The proposed plan introduces new land uses and development standards that will enhance the central core of the city by introducing mixed-uses and open spaces; and WHEREAS, Zoning Change No. 2025-02 establishing SPA No. 18, the “Heart of Norwalk Specific Plan,” is consistent with the goals and policies in the City’s General Plan; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Specific Plan is consistent with the 6th Cycle Housing Element Program 1.1, which requires the completion of zoning code amendments and rezoning to help the City accomplish its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) of 5,034 units. The Housing Element accounted for many of the sites within the Heart of Norwalk area as residential inventory sites available for development. Therefore, the Ordinance No. 25-1765 Page 2 of 5
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Housing Element contains a program that commits to adopting SPA No. 18, the “Heart of Norwalk Specific Plan”, which would allow residential use at higher density; and WHEREAS, pursuant to §17.02.260.C of the Norwalk Municipal Code, on November 12, 2025, the Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing and voted to recommend that City Council approve Zone Change No. 2025-02; and WHEREAS, the Project requires an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to be certified and a Statement of Overriding Considerations and Findings of Fact be adopted for significant and unavoidable impacts pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, the EIR for the proposed Project, including Zoning Change No. 2025- 02, was certified by the City of Norwalk City Council on December 2, 2025, through City Council Resolution No. 25-58; and
WHEREAS, on December 2, 2025, the City Council held a duly noticed public hearing on this ordinance and considered all oral and documentary evidence presented thereto.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby incorporated as substantive findings in this Ordinance.
Section 2. The City Council certified the Final EIR on December 2, 2025 through City Council Resolution No. 25-58.
Section 3. The City Council hereby adopt Zone Change No. 2025-02 as indicated in Exhibit “A”.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, or otherwise invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases may be declared unconstitutional.
Section 5. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be published or posted as required by law.
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 16th day of December 2025. __________________________
JENNIFER PEREZ
MAYOR
ATTEST:
_____________________
THERESA DEVOY, CMC
CITY CLERK
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EXHIBIT "A"
PROPOSED ZONING
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HEART OF NORWALK SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICTS