South Gate planning commission backs rezoning of 9313 Rio Avenue to heavy manufacturing

The South Gate Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended that the City Council approve a zone change that would redesignate a rear portion of the property at 9313 Rio Avenue from Industrial Flex (IF) to M-3, heavy manufacturing.

Staff said the change would eliminate a split‑zoning condition that left the front of the parcel M-3 and the rear IF after the city's 2015 zoning update. Rodrigo (city planning staff) told commissioners the parcel had two assessor parcel numbers but is one legal lot and that the requested change would align the entire site under the M-3 district and allow an existing towing and impound yard to expand into the rear portion.

The rezone request was presented by Tom Wong of Commercial Development Resources, Inc., on behalf of Sees Towing and FUBAR Properties LLC. Wong said the rear portion is small and the applicant intends to “make it all one zone M-3” and to “beautify the front” with landscaping if the rezoning is approved. Mike Welsh, representing Sees Towing, said the business may show a short illustration of proposed frontage improvements.

Why it matters: The parcel was used by Cooper Drum Company from 1941 to 1992 and later was subject to EPA oversight and land‑use restrictions because of contamination. Staff and several commissioners emphasized that environmental oversight and site design remain separate issues from the…