Cerritos planning commission approves new two-story home at 19200 Bouchard Avenue

The Cerritos Planning Commission on April 2 approved Precise Plan 2025-4 to demolish a single-story residence at 19200 Bouchard Avenue and replace it with a two-story, 9,694-square-foot home. The commission voted 4-0 to adopt the resolution approving the precise plan and its conditions of approval.

Staff told the commission that the existing property includes unpermitted awnings, an enclosed patio and a detached garage that has been converted into a dwelling unit; all structures will be demolished as part of the project. Associate Planner Mitre Anthony said the proposal includes construction of a two-story residence with two separate garages — described in the staff presentation as a 664-square-foot two-car garage and a 424-square-foot one-car garage — and that the project meets the city's setback and lot-coverage standards.

The project requires several public-improvement and mitigation measures. The applicant must dedicate a sidewalk and parkway easement, install a public pedestrian sidewalk and plant a parkway tree subject to the city arborist's approval. Overhead electrical lines at the property must be placed underground in coordination with Southern California Edison, staff said. The plans also require obscured glass for the rear balcony railings so objects on the balcony are not visible from adjacent properties.

Commissioners asked about construction controls and neighborhood impacts. Commissioner Au praised the applicants and said the current house is 'quite dilapidated' compared with neighboring homes and that the new project would improve the block. Commissioner Au said, "I applaud the owners of this property for this project." Staff noted standard conditions restricting construction hours (including no work on Sundays and city-observed holidays), fencing and dust control. A commissioner questioned a noise metric listed in the conditions (shown in the staff packet as "7.4 B"); staff described that notation as an industry standard metric used in their templates for air-conditioner noise control.

No members of the public spoke on the item, and staff said no public comments had been received in response to the mailed and posted notice. Staff also advised the commission that the project is categorically exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The commission adopted the resolution approving Precise Plan 2025-4 by roll call: Commissioner Ault (Aye), Commissioner Chohan (Aye), Vice Chair Reyes (Aye) and Chair Polito (Aye). The conditions require recordation of sidewalk and parkway easements and compliance with all standard construction and landscaping conditions before issuance of building permits.