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Council approves first reading of ordinance to ease rules for small warehouses
Summary
The Baldwin Park City Council on April 2 introduced Ordinance No. 1517 to revise municipal code definitions and allow small-scale warehouse uses by right in industrial zones, a change staff said would regularize many properties made nonconforming by a 2012 zoning update.
Baldwin Park — The City Council on April 2 voted 5-0 to introduce by first reading Ordinance No. 1517, an update to the Baldwin Park Municipal Code that redefines and reclassifies warehouse and wholesale uses so small-scale warehouses can operate by right in Industrial (I) and Industrial Commercial (IC) zones.
The revision splits warehouse uses into two categories — small-scale (building area under 10,000 square feet) and large-scale (greater than 10,000 square feet) — and would allow the smaller category as a permitted use while retaining a conditional use permit requirement for larger facilities.
Associate Planner Jesus Historic Arrigos told the council the change responds to a 2012 zoning update that recategorized many properties and left a substantial number of existing warehouse businesses as nonconforming. “Staff recommends that the city council introduce by first reading Ordinance 1517 for the amendment of the Baldwin Park Municipal Code pertaining to warehouses,” Arrigos said during the presentation.
Staff said it audited applications since 2012 and found 19 requests to establish warehouse uses; 16 were approved by the planning commission and none resulted in appeals to the council. Staff also surveyed nearby cities and reported the surveyed jurisdictions generally allow warehousing as a permitted use in at least one industrial zone.
During public comment Matt Nichols of Allen Matkins, speaking for property owner Crest Capital Partners, endorsed the update but asked the council to consider raising the small-scale threshold from 10,000 to 14,000–15,000 square feet to cover more existing multi-tenant industrial sites. Staff said its recommendation for 10,000 was based on comparative research and the intent to keep more impactful facilities subject to discretionary review.
Mayor Pro Tem Daniel “Danny” Damien moved approval of the ordinance for introduction; Mayor Alejandra Avila seconded. The motion passed 5-0 with Councilmembers Gina Ayala, Emmanuel Estrada and Manuel Lozano voting yes.
No final adoption occurred; the council approved the ordinance on first reading and closed the public hearing at the same meeting. Further hearings, adoption procedures, or additional amendments would follow the city’s ordinance adoption process.
Ending — The change is designed to reduce regulatory uncertainty for smaller, established warehouse tenants while preserving review for larger facilities that may have greater neighborhood impacts. Ordinance 1517 was introduced by first reading; the council recorded a unanimous vote to move it forward.
