El Segundo council receives student rezoning proposals; Period 1 wins civics-day competition

El Segundo City Council on Oct. 12 received and filed five student presentations on proposed changes to the city's general plan, covering rezoning for mixed-use housing, redevelopment of Smoky Hollow, transit and sustainability measures. Council members voted by consensus to "receive and file" the presentations. After a public tally and a council-only tiebreaker, Period 1 was selected as the winning class in the civics-day competition.

The student teams' proposals, prepared as short rezoning plans, emphasized mixed-use development across multiple parts of El Segundo. Period 1 recommended converting stretches of East Imperial Avenue and a small plaza near Main Street to mixed-use, creating housing above ground-floor businesses and adding an east-side circulator bus to link commercial corridors. Students noted the area's proximity to I-105 and LAX and said mixed-use zoning could serve airport employees and boost downtown foot traffic. Period 1 also urged hotels and vertically integrated lodging on Main Street to capture tourism related to large regional events.

Other teams proposed similar and complementary ideas. Multiple student groups recommended rezoning sections east of Pacific Coast Highway to allow mixed-use or limited residential development near job centers (students cited Boeing,…