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Planning commission recommends City Council approve Lancaster East Side annexation and IS/MND
Summary
The commission voted 6-0 to recommend City Council approval of the Lancaster East Side annexation (over 630 acres) and associated pre‑zoning to RR‑2.5; the environmental review was an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration addressing farmland, species and air quality issues.
The Lancaster City Planning Commission on a 6-0 vote recommended that the City Council approve the Lancaster East Side annexation (Annexation No. 24001) and associated pre‑zoning (Prezone No. 25001), and adopt the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
Kendall Brecky, senior planner, described the annexation area as more than 630 acres generally bounded by Avenue I, Avenue J, 50th Street East and 60th Street East. Under county zoning the site is designated heavy agricultural (A-2.5); the proposed pre‑zone would apply a rural residential zoning (RR‑2.5) consistent with the city’s general plan non‑urban designation. No specific development is proposed with the annexation; Brecky said the RR‑2.5 zone would allow large‑lot residential uses and other common uses and that any future solar facility indicated in the environmental document would require a separate conditional use permit and return to the commission.
Staff said the IS/MND addressed issues raised in five comment letters, including prime farmland, special‑status species and air quality; only minor changes to mitigation wording resulted. The document also references potential soil sampling consistent with Department of Toxic Substances Control guidance if future development identifies contamination concerns; staff explained that sampling would be performed at the time of future development to confirm site conditions.
One written comment was received and provided to commissioners; no speakers signed up to speak at the public hearing. David Paul later spoke during public business to express general support for annexation and encourage continued participation. Commissioners moved to adopt Resolution No. 25-18 recommending City Council approval of the annexation, pre‑zone and IS/MND; the motion passed 6-0 with one commission member absent.
If the City Council approves the annexation, staff said the annexation would proceed to the Los Angeles Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for finalization and that future development proposals would be processed and reviewed under applicable codes and environmental review.
