Southgate council delays final decision on Alameda truck-yard appeals after hours of public testimony on contamination

Southgate — The City Council on Tuesday voted to continue three related public hearings about land use at 8530 Alameda Street to May 13 after the property owner’s attorney asked for time to meet with city staff and to consider withdrawing appeals. The items before the council concern whether metal processing and truck-trailer storage at the site are legal, nonconforming uses and whether the site should be removed from the Southgate College District through a zone change.

The request for a continuance came from Alfred Bridal, attorney for the applicant. Bridal told the council the applicant “would like to withdraw, explore the withdrawal of its appeals…in favor of a timely and reasonable termination of the current uses at the site.” He asked the council to direct city staff to meet and confer with the property owner and to continue the hearings to the council’s May 13 meeting to allow any agreement to be formalized.

The continuance came after more than two hours of public comment in a packed chamber and a flood of written letters, including dozens from Southgate High School students and neighborhood residents. Many speakers urged the council to uphold a unanimous decision by the Planning Commission that the…