Cerritos planning commission recommends approval for five-home Clarkdale development with ADUs

The City of Cerritos Planning Commission voted 5-0 on May 8, 2025 to recommend that the City Council approve Precise Plan 02/2025-5, a proposal from Clarkdale Estate Homes to develop five two‑story single‑family residences and five detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on five adjacent parcels at 17200–17224 Clarkdale Avenue.

Senior Planner Jeremy Lowe told commissioners the proposal includes two mirror floor-plan types, each with three-car garages: Plan 1 lists 1,398 square feet on the first floor and 1,536 square feet on the second; Plan 2 lists 1,354 square feet and 1,502 square feet, respectively. The applicant proposes one detached ADU per lot; staff said each ADU is proposed at about 1,000 square feet and noted the maximum ADU size allowed in typical circumstances is 1,200 square feet.

Lowe said, "Accessory dwelling units are required to be reviewed administratively at a staff level." Planning staff and the city attorney emphasized that under state housing law ADUs are not subject to discretionary review by the Planning Commission or City Council and that the commission's action tonight concerned only the five primary residences under Precise Plan 02/2025-5. Staff also reported that the project was found exempt from CEQA under Section 15332 (infill development).

Staff presentation described required public‑infrastructure work: connection to an existing sewer system in the adjacent neighborhood, relocation of a reclaimed water line that lies under a…