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Residents urge Baldwin Park Commission to reject rezoning of Florence Flanner campus, ask for park instead of condos
Summary
Multiple residents from the Bassett/La Puente area urged the Baldwin Park Planning Commission during public comment to reject a proposed rezoning that would allow Storm Properties to build 105 condominiums on the Florence Flanner school site, and to consider a park or community center instead.
Several residents addressed the Baldwin Park Planning Commission on April 9, asking commissioners to reject a proposed rezoning that would allow a private developer to build 105 condominiums on the Florence Flanner Elementary campus and to preserve the site for a park or community center.
The appeals came during the meeting's public comment period. Juanita Whitley said the community needs green space for children and seniors rather than "condos and builders." Yolanda Pompa told commissioners the proposal is "dangerous" because narrow streets cannot handle added traffic and parking. Multiple other speakers, including Jorge Carlos, Luis Vasquez, Aron Vasquez, Alonzo Rodriguez and others, echoed those concerns and asked the commission to reject rezoning and consider a park instead.
Why it matters: Speakers said the site serves a neighborhood that lacks open space and that adding 105 units would increase congestion and safety risks on narrow residential streets. Several speakers said they learned of the proposal only weeks earlier and described a 99-year lease mentioned by the developer's plan as effectively permanent for the community.
Commission and staff clarified that the item discussed by residents is not before the commission at this meeting. Staff said the property sits near the city boundary and that if or when a rezoning or related application is formally filed and scheduled, it will return to the Planning Commission for public hearings. No formal rezoning application or vote on the Bassett/Florence Flanner site occurred during this meeting.
Details from speakers (attributed): "We need it for our children. We need it for our senior citizen like me and others," Juanita Whitley said. "Please help us stop this development. Our community would like to see a park, a community center," Yolanda Pompa said. Luis Vasquez said the community's Main Street is a narrow two-way street that already allows only one car to pass at some points and that a proposed 99-year lease would "outlive me, it'll outlive you." Alonzo Rodriguez said the property is "literally in my backyard" and that many neighbors oppose the plan.
What the record shows: These remarks were public comments. Staff and the commission acknowledged the project's proximity to city boundaries and said it may come before the commission in a future meeting for formal review. No motion, vote, or official action on rezoning was taken at this meeting.
Looking ahead: Staff said the commission will monitor any formal submittal and that the matter would be scheduled for a public hearing if an application is filed. Residents requested city officials consider a park or community center as alternatives to residential development.
