9E
Date: June 9, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
By: Michelle Ramirez, Community Development Director
Subject: Community Development – Conduct Public Hearing to Consider Approval of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement Originally Adopted on August 20, 2024, Under Ordinance No. 3934, Between the City of Torrance and Gable House, LLC for Property Located in the H-DA2 Zone at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard, Adopt ORDINANCE Approving the First Amendment to the Development Agreement, and Determine the Project’s Exemption Under California Environmental Quality Act.
Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Development Director that City Council:
1. Conduct a public hearing and consider approval of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement (“Amended Development Agreement”), originally adopted on August 20, 2024, under Ordinance No. 3934, between the City of Torrance and Gable House Development LLC, pertaining to a previously approved mixed-use development with density bonus comprised of 218 apartment units and 12,000 square feet of commercial floor area, on property located in the H-DA2 Zone at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard; and
2. Determine the project is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15378 and 15061(b)(3) of the California Code of Regulations; and
3. Adopt an ORDINANCE approving the Amended Development Agreement between the City of Torrance and Gable House Development LLC; and
4. Approve an Ordinance Summary for publication.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
On August 20, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3934 approving a Development Agreement with Gable House Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Applicant”), to adjust and defer payment of Development Impact Fees (“DIF”). The Development Agreement was approved in connection with a previously approved mixed-use, density bonus development consisting of 218 apartment units and 12,000 square feet of commercial floor area located at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard in the H-DA2 Zone. The Development Agreement also addressed the recording of a covenant deed restriction to provide affordable housing for 17 very low-income households; additional underground improvements along 226th Street; and the 1 1
City Council
June 9, 2026
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deferral of installation of electric vehicle (“EV”) parking spaces and electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”).
Pursuant to the original Development Agreement, a lump-sum DIF payment of $1,065,036.04 would become due upon the earlier of final building inspection approval or issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable development phase.
On May 1, 2026, the Applicant submitted a request to amend the Development Agreement to allow an additional 120-day deferral of DIF payment following the occurrence of one of the specified triggering events.
After careful consideration of the Applicant’s request, staff supports amending the Development Agreement to defer payment of the applicable fees owed to the City until 120 days after the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable phase receives a temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, or final building inspection approval, whichever occurs first.
As part of the proposed Amended Development Agreement, the Applicant and all affiliated subsidiaries would also be required to withdraw any pending Public Records Act requests and waive and release any existing or potential claims against the City, including any claims for fees or costs.
City staff along with the City Attorney’s Office have reviewed the proposed Amended Development Agreement and find that it complies with all applicable State and City regulations governing Development Agreements including the objectives, policies and programs specified in the General Plan, the related existing entitlements, applicable zoning, and all other applicable plans, rules, regulations and official policies of City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The ordinance was reviewed pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code§§ 21000, et seq., "CEQA") and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal.
Code of Regulations §§15000, et seq., the "CEQA Guidelines"). The ordinance is exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, because the activity undertaken involves general text amendments to a Development Agreement that would not cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and does not meet the definition of a "Project" under CEQA. The ordinance is also exempt from CEQA Guidelines under Section 15061(b)(3) because the Amended Development Agreement is purely administrative and creates no possibility that the ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment. Adoption of the ordinance will not have the effect of deleting or substantially changing any regulatory standards or required findings.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance
2. Ordinance Summary for Publication
3. Ordinance No. 3934
4. Proof of Publication
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1 ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A FIRST
AMENDMENT TO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF TORRANCE AND GABLE HOUSE
DEVELOPMENT LLC RELATED TO A DEVELOPMENT AT
22501 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD, TORRANCE,
CALIFORNIA (ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 7368-001-015)
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the City of Torrance (City) is a charter city under California law with a recognized mandate to preserve, protect, and enhance the general health and welfare of its residents; and WHEREAS, Section 65864 et seq. of the California Government Code authorizes cities to enter into Development Agreements with any person having a legal or equitable interest in real property for the development of such property; and
WHEREAS, Gable House Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Applicant), has applied to the City to enter into a Development Agreement, in conjunction with a Modification (MOD) 24-0004 of a previously approved Conditional Use Permit (CUP22-00001) to add a condition of approval related to the Development Agreement, pertaining to a previously approved mixed-use development with density bonus comprised of 218 apartment units and 12,000 square feet of commercial floor area, on property located in the H-DA2 Zone at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, California herein referred to as the “Project”; and WHEREAS, the Applicant is the owner of 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance, California; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, at a duly noticed public hearing, on June 15, 2022, approved CUP22-00001 and a Development Permit (DVP) 22-00001 in conjunction with the Project (Res. Nos. 22-046, 22-047) (the “Project”); and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, as part of the approval of CUP22-00001 and DVP22- 00001 determined the Project was Categorically Exempt from CEQA per Guidelines Section 15332 – Infill Development; and
WHEREAS, the Development Agreement will not result in any impacts on the environment other than the impacts that would already result from the 2022 approval of the Project; and WHEREAS, the Planning Commission, at a duly noticed public hearing, on July 24, 2024, recommended that the City Council approve the Development Agreement by and between the City and the Developer; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission has transmitted its findings and recommendations to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, at a duly noticed public hearing on August 13, 2024, has reviewed and considered the Development Agreement and the findings and recommendations of the Planning Commission; and
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WHEREAS, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3934 on August 20, 2026; and WHEREAS, on May 1, 2026, the Applicant submitted a request to City to amend the Development Agreement to allow an additional 120-day deferral of DIF payment following the occurrence of one of the specified triggering events; and WHEREAS, as part of the request, Owner offered to withdraw any pending Public Records Act (“PRA”) requests that have been submitted to the City and waive and release any existing or potential claims (i) against the City, (ii) relating and/or pertaining to the Gable House Apartments development (“Project”), (iii) based upon actions or omissions of the City, and (iv) occurring prior to the date of the final building inspection for the Project, as set forth below; and WHEREAS, the City and Applicant have agreed to amend the Development Agreement as described in the First Amendment to Development Agreement, which is attached hereto as “Exhibit A.”
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Torrance does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1
The City Council finds, with respect to the Development Agreement, that:
1. The findings from Ordinance No. 3934 are incorporated into these findings by this reference.
2. The recitals are incorporated into these findings by this reference.
3. State Government Code Section 65864 et seq. authorizes cities to enter into Development Agreements with any person having a legal or equitable interest in real property for the development of such property.
4. Applicant has requested that the City consider entering into a First Amendment to the Development Agreement. The Applicant initiated the development agreement process, and all proceedings have been taken in accordance with the City and State' s adopted procedures.
5. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement complies with all applicable City and State regulations governing Development Agreements.
6. Pursuant to Section 65867.5 of the Government Code, the proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement is consistent with the objectives, policies and programs specified in the General Plan, the related Existing Entitlements, applicable zoning, and all other applicable plans, rules, regulations and official policies of City.
7. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement encourages investment in and commitment to comprehensive planning, efficiently utilizing resources at the least economic cost to the public.
8. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement provides public benefits beyond those necessary to mitigate Project development, such as 4 4
3 a. additional revenues to the City, through the generation of additional property tax revenue and processing fees to fund public schools and City infrastructures; b. assistance in undergrounding of utilities along the 226 th Street frontage of the Project;
c. the redevelopment of an aging commercial property with a mixture of new commercial and residential uses, wrapped around a seven-level parking structure, in a site plan and design that promotes, encourages and attracts new consumers, including those from outside the City; and
d. continuing the redevelopment of uses along the Hawthorne Boulevard Corridor that promote the viability of commercial and residential uses along the most prominent arterial in the City consistent with the goals and objectives of the Hawthrone Boulevard Corridor Specific Plan.
9. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement will not be detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare, or adversely affect the surrounding properties.
10. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement strengthens the public planning process, encourages private participation in comprehensive planning, and reduces costs of development and government.
11. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement is consistent with the conditions of previous and concurrent discretionary approvals for the subject development, including but not limited to the existing entitlements.
12. The proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement contains all of the provisions, terms and conditions, which, in addition to those required by Government Code Section 65865.2, are deemed to be necessary and/or desirable to implement the City' s General Plan.
13. The terms and conditions of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement have undergone extensive review by the City and the City Council and have been found to be fair, just and reasonable.
14. Based upon the above findings, the proposed First Amendment to the Development Agreement is consistent with public necessity, convenience, general welfare and good zoning practice.
SECTION 2
The City Council hereby approves the First Amendment to the Development Agreement and authorizes and directs the Mayor to enter into the First Amendment to the Development Agreement in the name of the City of Torrance and, further directs the City Clerk to record the First Amendment to the Development Agreement and this ordinance with the County Recorder within ten (10) days of its effective date.
SECTION 3
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason deemed or held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of 5 5
4 competent jurisdiction, such decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council of the City of Torrance hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause phrase or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or other portions might subsequently be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4
The City Council finds, in its independent judgement, that all impacts on the environment that may result from the approval of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement were already considered during the approval of the Project (which is not being modified by this Agreement), and thus the approval of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement is also exempt from CEQA review pursuant to the Class 32 categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines § 15332) and no further CEQA review is required. The City Council further finds, in its independent judgement, that no unusual circumstances that create a reasonably possibility that the Project would result in a significant effect on the environment, and otherwise finds that no exceptions to the Class 32 exemption exist. No new or increased significant impacts would result from the approval of the First Amendment to the Development Agreement when compared to the 2022 project approval.
SECTION 5
This ordinance shall take effect 30 days after the date of its adoption. Within 15 days following adoption, this ordinance or a summary of this ordinance if authorized by the City Council, will be published at least once in the Daily Breeze, a newspaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the City of Torrance.
SECTION 6
If a third party brings a claim, lawsuit, action, or any other proceeding (collectively, a “Claim”) against the City attacking or otherwise challenging the approval of this ordinance, the Applicant shall, at its own expense, fully defend, indemnify, and hold harmless City, its agents, officers and employees from that Claim.
INTRODUCED and APPROVED this 9th day of June, 2026.
ADOPTED and PASSED this _____ day of ______, 2026.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
Mayor George Chen
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
By:________________________________
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
______________________________
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
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FIRST AMENDMENT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITYCITY OF
TORRANCE, A CALIFORNIA MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, AND GABLE HOUSE
DEVELOPMENT LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
This First Amendment to Development Agreement (the “First Amendment”) is made and entered into as of June 9, 2026, by and between the City of Torrance, a California municipal corporation (“City”), and Gable House Development, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Owner”).
RECITALS:
A. On August 20, 2024, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3934 approving a Development Agreement with Gable House Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
B. Pursuant to the Development Agreement, a lump-sum DIF payment $1,065,036.04 would become due upon the earlier of final building inspection approval or issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable development phase.
C. On May 1, 2026, the Owner submitted a request to City to amend the Development Agreement to allow an additional 120-day deferral of DIF payment following the occurrence of one of the specified triggering events.
D. As part of the request, Owner offered to withdraw any pending Public Records Act (“PRA”) requests that have been submitted to the City and waive and release any existing or potential claims (i) against the City, (ii) relating and/or pertaining to the Gable House Apartments development (“Project”), (iii) based upon actions or omissions of the City, and (iv) occurring prior to the date of the final building inspection for the Project, as set forth below.
E. Owner and City agree to amend the Development Agreement as described in this Frist Amendment.
AGREEMENT:
1. Paragraph 4.6, entitled “Timing of DIF Fee Payment”, is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“4.6. Timing of DIF Fee Payment . All DIF Fee payments must be paid 120 days after the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable phase receives a temporary certificate of occupancy, a certificate of occupancy, or a final building inspection approval, whichever comes first.” 7 7
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2. Paragraph 10.12, entitled “Release, Waiver, and Discharge” is added to read in its entirety as follows:
“10.12 Release, Waiver, and Discharge. In consideration of the deferment of fees owed to the City in Paragraph 4.6, Owner, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, agrees:
a. To withdraw all pending Public Records Act requests submitted to the City. b. To waive, release, and discharge any claims against the City which Owner or its subsidiaries now have (i) against the City, (ii) relating and/or pertaining to the Project or PRA requests, (iii) based upon actions or omissions of the City, and (iv) occurring prior to the final building inspection for the Project (collectively, “Released Claims”). Released Claims include, but are not limited to, claims for fees, costs, or payments made to the City on or before the date of the final building inspection for the Project, related to the Project, including, but not limited to, payments for construction tax, the dwelling unit tax, or the parks and recreation facilities tax.
c. That by making the releases set forth above, Owner waives any rights, statutory or otherwise, to assert in the future any Released Claims which may now exist, but which are not now known or expected to exist by Owner. Owner understands that the Civil Code of the State of California, Sec. 1542, provides:
“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS THAT THE
CREDITOR OR RELEASING PARTY DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT
TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE
RELEASE AND THAT, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER, WOULD HAVE
MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR OR RELEASED PARTY.”
Owner expressly waives the provisions of Civil Code Section 1542. d. Not to cause, institute, assist in instituting, or permit to be instituted any proceeding in any court, or any claim, complaint, or similar proceeding, against City, its insurers, officers, agents, servants, employees, or its predecessors, successors, subsidiaries, parents, assigns, or attorneys (“Releasees”), to charge it with any liability for or in any other way complain of its conduct based on or on account of any claims, controversies, actions, causes of action, demands, or liabilities of any nature whatsoever that are covered by this First Amendment, other than an action to enforce this First Amendment.
e. To defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Releasees from all costs, liabilities, expenses, and attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasees in defending against or prosecuting any claim, suit, or judgment by reason of the failure of Owner to comply with this Section 10.12d above.
f. That this First Amendment represents a compromise and settlement of all Released Claims, whether known, unknown, asserted, or unasserted, which Owner or its subsidiaries now have against the City.
Both Owner and the City agree that in entering into this First Amendment:
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a. Neither Party is making any admission or concession with respect to the Released Claims and nothing in this First Amendment shall constitute precedence or evidence in any other proceeding, except that this First Amendment shall be admissible evidence in any proceeding to enforce the terms of the First Amendment.
b. Each of the Parties (i) is relying on its own judgment and has taken the opportunity to seek the advice of its own legal counsel with respect to this First Amendment and (ii) assumes the risk of any mistake of fact(s) unknown to that Party relating in any way to this First Amendment.
c. This First Amendment contains the entire agreement between the Parties and that no statement, representation, promise, or inducement, implied or expressed, not contained within this First Amendment has influenced or induced either Party to execute this First Amendment.
In all other respects, except as modified by this First Amendment, the Development Agreement is ratified, reaffirmed, and remains in full force and effect.
City of Torrance,
a municipal corporation
_______________________________
George K. Chen, Mayor
Gable House Development, LLC.,
a Delaware limited liability company
By: ______________________
Name
Title
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Rebecca Poirier, MMC
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN
City Attorney
By: ____________________________
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ORDINANCE SUMMARY
On June 23, 2026, the City Council of the City of Torrance adopted Ordinance No. ______. “AN
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA,
APPROVING A FIRST AMENDMENT TO A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
CITY OF TORRANCE AND GABLE HOUSE DEVELOPMENT LLC RELATED TO A DEVELOPMENT AT 22501 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD, TORRANCE, CALIF ORNIA (ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NUMBER 7368 -001-015).” Ordinance No. ______ will take effect 30 days after the adoption date of June 23, 2026 . The following is a summary of Ordinance No. ______:
Development Agreement
It is the desire of the City of Torrance to enter into a First Amendment to an existing Development Agreement originally adopted by the Torrance City Council on August 20, 2024, under Ordinance No. 3934, with Gable House Development LLC, a Delaware limited liability company for the purpose of deferring payment of Development Impact Fees ( DIF) owed to the City pursuant to Section 4.6 of the original Development Agreement until 120 days after the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable phase receives a temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, or final building inspection approval, whichever occurs first. Additiona lly, under the amended Development Agreement, Gable House Development LLC and all affiliated subsidiaries agree to withdraw all pending Public Records Act requests and waive and release any current or potential claims against the City, including any claim for fees or costs.
Passed, Approved, and Adopted the 23rd day of June 2026, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
The full text of Ordinance No. 3934 is available for inspection during regular business hours at the City Clerk’s Office (3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, California 90503) Monday through Friday with alternating closed Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or at https://www.torranceca.gov/government/city-clerk.
DATED THIS 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026
Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
City of Torrance
3031 Torrance Boulevard
Torrance, California 90503
ATTACHMENT 2
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43 2615 Pacific Coast Highway #329
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
(310) 543-6635
[email protected]
City of Torrance
3031 Torrance Blvd
Torrance, California 90503
Account Number: 5007865
Ad Order Number: 0011795927
Customer's Reference/PO Number:
Publication: Daily Breeze
Publication Dates: 05/29/2026
Total Amount: $1275.04
Payment Amount: $0.00
Amount Due: $1275.04
Notice ID: IQjC3WNPtBdbP7fZhxmj
Invoice Text: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026, AT 6:30 PM IN THE LEROY J. JACKSON COUNCIL CHAMBER LOCATED AT 3031 TORRANCE BOULEVARD, TORRANCE,
CALIFORNIA, 90503, ON THE FOLLOWING MATTER: To consider approval of a First Amendment to an existing Development Agreement originally adopted on September 10, 2024, under Ordinance No. 3934, between the City of Torrance and Gable House Development, LLC (CUP22-00001), pertaining to a previously approved mixed-use development with density bonus comprised of 218 apartment units and 12,000 square feet of commercial floor area, on property located in the H-DA2 Zone at 22501 Hawthorne Boulevard and adopt California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption. The amendment would defer payment of fees owed to the City pursuant to Section 4.6 of the Development Agreement until 120 days after the first dwelling unit within the development or applicable phase receives a temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of occupancy, or final building inspection approval, whichever occurs first. Additionally, under the First Amendment to the existing Development Agreement, Gable House Development LLC and all affiliated subsidiaries agree to withdraw all pending Public Records Act requests and waive and release any current or potential claims against the City, including any claim for fees or costs. MEETING INFORMATION City Council meetings are held monthly on alternate Tuesdays at 6:30 pm in the LeRoy J. Jackson Council Chamber located at 3031 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503. A map of City Hall is available on the Gable House Public Notice 06-09-26 CC (Betty) - Page 1 of 2 44 ATTACHMENT 4
44 Daily Breeze
2615 Pacific Coast Highway #329
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
(310) 543-6635
0011795927
City of Torrance
3031 Torrance Blvd
Torrance, California 90503
PROOF OF PUBLICATION
(2015.5 C.C.P.)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
County of Los Angeles
I am a citizen of the United States and
a resident of the County aforesaid; I
am over the age of eighteen years,
and not party to or interested in the
above-entitled matter. I am the
principal clerk of the printer of Daily
Breeze, a newspaper of general
circulation, printed and published in
the City of Torrance*, County of Los
Angeles, and which newspaper has
been adjudged a newspaper of
general circulation by the Superior
Court of County of Los Angeles, State
of California, under the date of June
15, 1945, Decree No. Pomo C-606.
The notice, of which the annexed is a
printed copy (set in type not smaller
than nonpareil), has been published in
each regular and entire issue of said
newspaper and not in any supplement
thereof on the following dates, to wit:
05/29/2026
I certify (or declare) under the penalty
of perjury that the foregoing is true and
correct.
Dated at Hermosa Beach, California
On this 29th day of May, 2026.
______________________________
Signature
*Daily Breeze circulation includes the following
cities: Carson, Compton, Culver City, El
Segundo, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne,
Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale,
Lomita, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Manhattan
Beach, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Palos Verdes,
Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Palos Verdes
Estates, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, Santa
Monica, Torrance and Wilmington
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Gable House Public Notice 06-09-26 CC (Betty) - Page 2 of 2 46 46