The Cerritos Planning Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council certify a mitigated negative declaration and adopt Development Code Amendment 2025‑2, General Plan Amendment 2025‑2 and Development Map Amendment 2025‑2 to establish Area Development Plan 20 (ADP 20) for the commercial shopping center at the southwest corner of Bloomfield Avenue and South Street.

Advanced Planning Manager Sabrina Chan framed the item as a proactive rezoning to address potential effects of Assembly Bill 2011, telling the commission that "AB 20 11 allows for the development of eligible affordable housing on commercially zoned properties with limited ability by the city to impose development standards or allow for public review." Chan said the subject shopping center, which staff reported is largely vacant and owned by a single developer, met AB 2011 parcel criteria and therefore had one of the highest potentials for a ministerially approved affordable housing submittal if the property remained zoned commercial.

To retain local control over potential development and to protect surrounding residential neighborhoods, ADP 20 would establish site‑specific standards. Staff said the draft ADP 20 would limit density to a maximum of 21 units per acre, cap height at three stories and 40 feet, require a minimum 20‑foot setback from adjacent single‑family property lines, require dense landscaping buffers and restrict the placement of balconies and patios that face adjacent single‑family homes. ADP 20 would also require a traffic analysis and a parking management plan, require a minimum two‑car garage per unit plus on‑site guest parking, and propose that any residential development be gated. Staff said these measures are intended to produce low‑ to medium‑density townhome development while minimizing potential impacts that could arise if AB 2011 projects were proposed on the site.

Staff reported a draft initial study and mitigated negative declaration were prepared and circulated, noting standard construction mitigation measures (including tribal monitoring for disturbed soils) and that the city received one comment letter from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts on sewer service. Chan described robust community outreach, including two open houses (June 18 and Aug. 13, 2025) and a dedicated webpage.

Public comment included a statement from adjacent resident Donald Wilkie, who said he lives behind the shopping center and presented a petition of 1,223 signatures opposing the rezoning. Wilkie said residents were not adequately consulted and expressed skepticism about developer intentions. Another speaker, Catherine Pasquale, voiced support for housing that can accommodate families and noted household‑size trends.

Commissioner Chauhan moved to adopt staff recommendations and Commissioner Gaveri seconded. The motion carried 5‑0 on an electronic vote. Staff said the rezoning and MND would go to City Council on Dec. 11, 2025, with second reading and adoption on Jan. 12, 2026 if approved, and implementation scheduled for Feb. 11, 2026.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified in the meeting record and in the speakers list below.