[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6310540,"mediaKeyId","2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a","parentId",2400538,"title","Council hears strong opposition to proposed East Avenue R gas station; ordinance introduced then tabled for district councilmember","audioSeconds",1956,"startMs",904000,"endMs",2860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a&start=904&end=2860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a/thumbnail_904000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310540/Palmdale-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Council-hears-strong-opposition-to-proposed-East-Avenue-R-gas-station-ordinance-introduced-then-tabled-for-district-councilmember","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310540-19bfca3ce9ab1faa6b91309a2b4b899e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168891&Signature=ixwMlQE56jzGn8O3ZsVmoBUJRt2ebQB85-GX0LaDMMHpOG7sancR1DX4puphOrDqwPeK3axlN3tn-XlSX6WaLzhWzYx1vX53JfGs8w9TR-H6bz6bqyuNeFYDwwQONZfqaKOhl6a1ilqRy5~2mOQLwmo3nnuKC4ra~FUdLeuWka29hD2lX2dRPxu58a9P6S4ToQNtaBEYNTB88dhWtPtgoGE23tDpSZKzlhyy-KdRDbR2nveepx6qY1qy2VtPAb-g0iz6Ah04ELSxd3B5zVH-T3TYDZpc9cmEeysTIq8VGGhP7CKoedMJJvCho7GxMrz2Sf6-pj2naKPMrEBzwlw0XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CityofPalmdale","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Palmdale City Council heard extended public comment opposing a proposed zone change and development that would allow a 10-island fueling station, market and drivethrough car wash on the northwest corner of East Avenue R and 20th Street East, a site adjacent to Palmdale High School.

Residents, teachers and other public commenters raised health, traffic and safety concerns for students and nearby apartments. \"I don't believe a gas station next to a high school is something proper,\" said Mabel Flowers, who identified herself as a Palmdale High School employee. Monica Dobson, a Palmdale resident and teacher, cited respiratory and groundwater concerns and said the project could increase local crime and homelessness around the campus. \"Placing a gas station next door to the school will potentially increase their presence along with the presence of drug dealers and theft right next to the school,\" Dobson said.

Staff planning manager Brenda Magana told the council the project is notable because it would include hydrogen fueling and that the applicant will not sell alcohol or tobacco. \"This project includes hydrogen fueling stations, and will not be selling any alcohol or tobacco products,\" Magana said. She said the proposed fueling station would operate 24 hours a day and the proposed car wash from sunrise to sunset.

Applicant representative Michael Ramirez, for Beyond Foodmart, said the company operates about 40 locations and will include vapor-recovery systems, sealed underground tanks, security camera feeds shared with law enforcement and hourly property checks. \"Part of our security plan allows us to share ... the video equipment inside and outside the store ... and we share it with the local police agency,\" Ramirez said, describing security and operational measures.

Staff and the applicant pointed to environmental review and regulatory oversight. Magana and Ramirez said the CEQA analysis and Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District review found project emissions below applicable significance thresholds. Magana noted the project's traffic study found vehicle additions were negligible and that the site plan includes an entrance and exit on both 20th Street East and East Avenue R; staff also noted parcel two directly abutting the high school is not part of the current development and would require separate entitlements.

Councilmembers and the applicant responded to residents' safety and equity concerns. One speaker at the hearing alleged the project was proposed because the property is on the east side of Palmdale and said that would be discriminatory; the applicant denied any discriminatory motive and said driveway movements at the site will be right-in/right-out operations. A councilmember asked whether bike lanes exist on the adjacent streets; staff answered that bike lanes are present.

Council action proceeded in two phases. The council first introduced ordinance number 1652 to approve zone change 23-00003, a general plan amendment and related approvals to allow the project; the introduction was made by motion and brief voice vote. Later in the meeting, after public comment and council discussion, a motion to table the matter until the councilmember representing the district (District 5) could participate passed by voice vote; the transcript records the motion to table as passing. Council staff said the item will be rescheduled for a future council meeting when the district member is present and noted each continuance will be re-noticed at least 10 days in advance.

The project's entitlements listed in staff materials include: ordinance 1652, zone change 23-00003, general plan amendment 23-00003, tentative parcel map 84001, conditional use permit 202-006 and site plan review 22-007; the staff packet included a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting program prepared for the project.

The council did not adopt the ordinance or take final action at this meeting; the item is scheduled to return for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Palmdale City Council Meeting - February 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and school staff urged the Palmdale City Council to stop a proposed 10-island fueling station, market and drive-through car wash at East Avenue R and 20th Street East, adjacent to Palmdale High School; the council introduced the ordinance and later voted to table further action until the district councilmember can participate.","taxTitle","Palmdale City, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",12481,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310545,"Palmdale council approves application for $7.13 million Section 108 loan to expand SAVES food bank",194,481000,675000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a&start=481&end=675","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a/thumbnail_481000.jpg","/articles/6310545/Palmdale-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Palmdale-council-approves-application-for-713-million-Section-108-loan-to-expand-SAVES-food-bank","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310545-2355eee682abd71ee7a651b68fa29629/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168891&Signature=igr6-F14vHu8gkxJMUojhKKXu5LN3gimuSXooqOmvq4wto3PfGLjmJX2ijt4kKT4N5HaW-FUN~QkmQ5RGv-qgtr-4Q8GN4~BGItnZKEXez4Tuu02~JUVYhofeB7yBQscECBMT-D9AJau65C3A6bfbmdzcTv-2ULohQ811-giCgQMQCF~Wwb34R3FODnS03CKZTMZWEhQuBcELWCWgbsCDt70Xos-H4e95HF9PXnguFSTayWEElnSaY3K~D7-DlNLII317laEujueGibE6l4DAervazaxfaLudRRMinJTe06OPstP1F3E81pNPZ9bIDczNZxDlPy7iU4L5af8Vz~gaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palmdale City Council voted to authorize submission of a Section 108 loan guarantee application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and adopted a resolution authorizing the application for a new SAVES facility at Third Street East and East Avenue Q.

The action, introduced during a public hearing, was presented by Sophia Reyes, director of housing, who said the city is requesting a Section 108 loan of $7,134,000 to fund tenant improvements at SAVES’ new location and would effect the expenditure through a substantial amendment to the 2024–25 action plan. \"We are requesting to apply for CDBG section 108 loans of 7,134,000,\" Reyes said, and asked the council to adopt resolution CC 2024-0007 and authorize submittal of the application.

The loan would be combined with other local funding sources already identified by staff: $16,000 in existing CDBG funds, $633,000 in ARPA for design previously approved, and $1,199,600 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds converted to CDBG for construction and related soft costs. Reyes described the total capital plan as roughly $8,982,600 in combined construction and soft costs and proposed a 20-year repayment schedule drawing from annual CDBG allocations; she said current annual CDBG entitlement is about $1,500,000 and estimated the Section 108 repayment portion at approximately $575,400 per year. Proposed collateral listed in staff materials included the SAVES-improved facility and adjoining parcels, with an estimated collateral valuation above $8 million.

Public comment included David Laird, who said SAVES has partnered with local churches for more than 20 years and described rising demand at the organization’s distribution site: \"When we first began 20 years ago, we had about 80 on average. Now, we have 364 coming out to our place in Pear Blossom,\" Laird said, urging council support for the expansion. Council discussion emphasized the role of SAVES in serving the Antelope Valley; one councilmember noted SAVES assists more than 6,000 residents annually and that the current facility is at capacity.

After a motion and second on the item, the council voted to approve the staff recommendation; the meeting record shows the motion passed. No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

The council directed staff to submit the Section 108 loan application, process the required amendment to the 2024–25 CDBG action plan, and coordinate financing and reporting consistent with HUD and CDBG requirements. Staff said the project’s public notice had appeared in the Antelope Valley Press and on city social media and that no written comments had been received prior to the hearing.

The proposed renovations listed by staff include removal of temporary rooms, added ADA-compliant restrooms, replacement of roll-up doors, HVAC upgrades, improved parking access, the addition of solar energy and EV charging for SAVES vehicles, and other tenant improvements. Staff and public comments stressed that the project is intended to increase capacity for food distribution and related services for residents of the Antelope Valley.

Council action was limited to authorizing the loan application and adopting the resolution; specific construction contracts, final financing documents, and detailed repayment schedules remain to be approved in subsequent administrative steps.

The city clerk’s record identifies adoption of the resolution and authorization to submit the application as the formal council action on item 7.1.","The City of Palmdale authorized submission of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 108 loan application and adopted a related resolution to fund a new SAVES facility with tenant improvements, with loan repayment to come from future CDBG allocations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6310536,"Palmdale council approves Ritter Ranch Phase 1B: 75 acres, 135 detached homes now; up to 627 units over plan",1656,2951000,4607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a&start=2951&end=4607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2400538-37faa0ea31fb4c50fee55e775e87295a/thumbnail_2951000.jpg","/articles/6310536/Palmdale-City/Los-Angeles-County/California/Palmdale-council-approves-Ritter-Ranch-Phase-1B-75-acres-135-detached-homes-now-up-to-627-units-over-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310536-b0a1552812ac529a0c81a27ff1cb6a2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168891&Signature=O7cEBmfm53zJKKlctzM94zMnkDcLLHGPLmqh1u6H~absqObVWr3S8sNwK3ojtPz1I175XF1xQzxVandW2FKmFy1~8GUDF4i-jiut7czSURm69ktgV8xOH-~a9EDHtAztWx9~go0w9VmtRFCIGgYx5-P62eGgF2ckOHwXdMKTT0Fceg2tQBAccT3by3qwZNkQ37Xg2tgdsJf8JawodCnj9ZZtgXFtfwW2NrHz~7K1LibngDjcJ5xkmbQ5J4BeF2vcZVLCDolXCHk~m5tcOsZwtwpzuwHNHvGrkUl2WhCGRtXSae1MLeqkoyeoqw4A3hGgMJRiFVw0RpPbkzglRHIJaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palmdale City Council voted to approve Phase 1B of the Ritter Ranch specific plan, clearing entitlements for development of roughly 75 acres and infrastructure to support the Ritter Ranch neighborhood.

Megan Taggart, interim director of economic and community development, told the council the Phase 1B approval includes two tentative maps, a planned development document and a conditional use permit to allow cohesive development across the site. Although the specific plan allows up to 627 dwelling units on the parcel, Taggart said only 135 single-family detached units are proposed for this phase; the remaining approximately 492 units—planned as condominiums and townhomes—will come forward later. Staff prepared an addendum to the previously certified environmental impact report (EIR) and concluded that Phase 1B presents no new or more significant impacts than those analyzed in the original EIR.

Applicants and representatives for RDR Development, including Peter Gutierrez and Ramiro Alberon, described Phase 1B as complementary to previously approved Phase 1A and said the proposal adds about 12 acres of parks and trails to the community. Gutierrez described the project as part of the region’s housing response and said the detailed water-supply analysis relied on Water Works District 40’s urban water management plan; he said the addendum demonstrates adequate water supply for Phase 1B. \"The detailed report looks at water supply, water infrastructure...and there's ample evidence in the addendum and in the water supply report to demonstrate that there is adequate water supply to serve the project,\" Gutierrez said.

Council discussion focused on lot sizes, public safety and fire protection. An applicant representative told councilmembers the proposed detached lots average about 5,000 square feet, and staff confirmed homes will include modern fire mitigation measures, including fire sprinkler systems and fire-resistant construction materials. Councilmembers and the applicant also discussed the need for a fire pumper truck and water infrastructure improvements; staff and the applicant said a pumper truck and fire mitigation fees are required by the fire department and that new water infrastructure, including a water tank, will be part of the improvements.

A motion to approve the Phase 1B entitlements passed after council discussion and public comment. The council directed staff and the applicant to continue coordination with the fire department and sheriff’s office on evacuation and emergency response planning, and to ensure required water and fire mitigation measures are implemented before issuance of certificates of occupancy.

The approval includes an addendum to the Ritter Ranch EIR, approval of planned development documents and tentative tract maps (VTTM 51508-03 and related map numbers listed in staff materials), and conditions of approval that incorporate edits made after Planning Commission recommendations. Staff recommended and the council approved the conditions included in the packet, with final conditions to be reflected in the administrative record.","The council approved Phase 1B of the Ritter Ranch specific plan, allowing development of 75 acres with infrastructure, parks and up to 627 units under the specific plan; the immediate action authorizes about 135 single-family detached homes with the remainder to return later.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears strong opposition to proposed East Avenue R gas station; ordinance introduced then tabled for district councilmember

Palmdale council approves application for $7.13 million Section 108 loan to expand SAVES food bank

Palmdale council approves Ritter Ranch Phase 1B: 75 acres, 135 detached homes now; up to 627 units over plan