Pico Rivera enacts moratorium on select outdoor industrial uses, advances interest in pro soccer stadium

The Pico Rivera City Council on Feb. 11 adopted a moratorium prohibiting the establishment, expansion or modification of building-materials sales and storage, contracting equipment storage, and rental-yard uses, and separately approved a letter of interest with the United Soccer League (USL) to explore a stadium-related partnership.

The moratorium was approved 5-0 after a motion by Council Member Lutz and a second by Council Member Laura. The council later approved a letter of interest with the USL, also on a 5-0 roll call; Mayor Pro Tem Camacho moved the item and Council Member Laura seconded the motion.

The moratorium (Item 14 on the agenda) is intended to pause new or expanded outdoor building-materials and equipment-storage uses while staff evaluates potential regulatory or zoning changes. Council members did not state a sunset date during the meeting; minutes and staff reports were not specific about duration or other implementation details.

Dan Holman, chief operating officer of the United Soccer League, told the council the USL operates professional, pre-professional and youth leagues nationwide and said the league sees stadium-anchored development as a tool for community revitalization. “We are present in over 200 communities nationwide,” Holman said, adding that the league looks for multiuse, community-focused projects that can host games, concerts and other events.

Assistant City Manager Javier Hernandez introduced the USL presentation and staff said the city is positioning a broader Community Revitalization Program (PR2035) to attract private and civic investment. Mayor Pro Tem Camacho and other council members described the city’s freeway and transit connections as assets that could make Pico Rivera a regional entertainment destination.

Council members emphasized that the letter of interest is an exploratory step. Staff and the presenter said the next steps include continued outreach, feasibility analysis and follow-up reports to the council; no binding stadium contract or development agreement was approved at the meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Items 2–13: Motion to approve items 2 through 13 carried 5-0 (roll call recorded). Specifics of each item were not detailed on the public transcript and are listed in the packet.

- Item 14 (Moratorium on certain outdoor industrial uses): Moved by Council Member Lutz; seconded by Council Member Laura. Roll call: Council Member Laura — yes; Council Member Lutz — yes; Council Member Dr. Sanchez — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Camacho — yes; Mayor Garcia — yes. Outcome: Passed, 5-0.

- Item 15 (Letter of interest with United Soccer League): Moved by Mayor Pro Tem Camacho; seconded by Council Member Laura. Roll call: Council Member Laura — yes; Council Member Lutz — yes; Council Member Dr. Sanchez — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Camacho — yes; Mayor Garcia — yes. Outcome: Passed, 5-0.

The council did not adopt any ordinances or budget appropriations tied directly to the USL proposal at this meeting. City staff said they will return with any required reports, analyses or proposed implementing actions.

Proper names and related context mentioned at the meeting included the United Soccer League, the city’s PR2035 Community Revitalization Program, and references to potential multiuse stadium models elsewhere in the USL footprint. The council also noted prior adoption of a resolution designating Pico Rivera as a cultural celebration hub and said staff is using that designation in outreach to sporting bodies and regional organizations.

The city manager and staff will prepare any follow-up materials for future council consideration; no timeline for those next reports was specified in the public record.