Baldwin Park commission approves indoor/outdoor soccer training facility with limits on hours, events and parking

The Baldwin Park Planning Commission on March 26 approved a conditional use permit and associated design review for an indoor/outdoor soccer training facility at 14412 and 14424 Joan Bridge Street, finding the project exempt from CEQA under a Class 32 categorical exemption and attaching conditions to address neighbors’ concerns.

Planning staff told commissioners the project proposes to remodel an existing industrial building into a soccer training facility with an internal large field, smaller second-floor fields and meeting rooms, 39 parking spaces and perimeter fencing and padding. Staff said the maximum floor area ratio (FAR) for the industrial zone is 0.75 and the existing building’s FAR is 0.52, which is within limits. A photometric plan and a noise analysis were submitted with the application and reviewed by city staff and consultants, and staff recommended approval in PC Resolution PC 23-8 for CP23-005 and PR23-21.

The commission’s final approval includes limits added during deliberations: training must end by 9:30 p.m. (applicant agreed), all site operations must end and lights be off by 10:00 p.m., no tournaments or walk-ins, no outdoor amplified music, microphones, whistles or horns, and signage shall limit parking on the subject property to patrons (including guardians) and employees. The commission’s vote was 3–1–1 (Yes: Chair Pena, Commissioner Escobosa, Commissioner Miranda; No: Commissioner Rodriguez; Abstain: Vice Chair Gonzales). The staff report notes a 15-day appeal…