Gardena planning commission approves warehouse redevelopment at 1855 W. 130th St.

The Gardena Planning Commission on July 15 approved entitlements to redevelop an approximately 11-acre industrial site at 1855 West 130th Street into four warehouse buildings with 15 tenant spaces, voting 4-0 to adopt Resolution PC9-25 and related approvals.

Staff told commissioners the project would replace an existing single-tenant warehouse with a new configuration totaling 223,509 square feet and would merge eight parcels into one via a tentative parcel map. Staff said the city retained Kimberly Horne and Associates to prepare a CEQA compliance technical memorandum and to peer review the applicant’s traffic study; the city’s consultant concluded the project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines section 15302(b) as a Class 2 replacement or reconstruction and found no new significant impacts or unusual circumstances.

The redevelopment proposal includes four buildings (Buildings A1, A2, B/C joined by a common wall, and D), six trash enclosures, new walls and fencing up to 8 feet high, landscaping that exceeds minimum requirements, and 357 parking spaces where staff calculated a minimum of 323 spaces for warehouse with ancillary office use (an alternative manufacturing scenario would require 350 spaces). Site access will include five points: two emergency/business access points at St. Andrews Place and West 130th Street, relocated driveways on West 130th Street each meeting a 45-foot minimum width requirement, and a new driveway on Southwestern Avenue. Access on Western Avenue was conditioned to be for noncommercial vehicles only.

Applicant representative Hayes Graham of Bridal Realty Corp said the company has owned the site about 10 years and intends to hold the property long-term. “We plan to hold this project for the next 20 years,” Graham said, adding the developer intends to market smaller units aimed at local businesses and light users rather than large-scale distribution tenants. Graham estimated construction would take about 12 months and leasing another six to eight months.

Union representatives and local supporters spoke in favor of the project during public comment, citing local hiring and apprenticeship opportunities. Salvador George, a 20-year member of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, said the developer agreed to use a signatory general contractor and that the project would provide “safety, quality, apprenticeship opportunities, and fair wages.” Jose Garcia, a 34-year member of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, and other local labor representatives also urged approval.

A city consultant identified as James, who peer-reviewed the applicant’s traffic study, told the commission the forecasted trip generation for the proposed redevelopment is slightly lower than the existing use—about 33 fewer trips per day—because the new project totals roughly 10,000 square feet less than the existing building.

Planning staff recommended that the commission adopt Resolution PC9-25 approving EA 1524, CUP 5-24, SPR 3-24, and TPM 1-24, subject to the listed conditions of approval, and direct staff to file a notice of exemption. Commissioner roll call on the motion recorded Vice Chair Khan, Commissioner Henderson, Commissioner Sherman and Chair Ronald Reitschier as voting yes; the motion passed 4-0.

Next steps for the project include the applicant’s compliance with the conditions of approval, filing of the CEQA notice of exemption by city staff, and subsequent building permit and construction reviews as required by city regulations.