Gardena Planning Commission recommends Normandy Crossing project, forwards EIR and entitlements to City Council

The Gardena Planning Commission on Dec. 3 voted to recommend City Council action on the Normandy Crossing housing project, forwarding certification of the revised Final Environmental Impact Report and the project’s entitlements — including a general plan amendment, specific plan, zone changes, site plan review and a vesting tentative tract map — to the City Council.

The recommendation came after staff and the city’s EIR consultant presented a revised proposal that reduces the scale and scope of a previously proposed project. Amanda (city planner/staff) said the revised plan covers about 5.25 acres and breaks the site into two subareas: a multifamily apartment building and a cluster of for‑sale townhomes. James Thomas, the city’s EIR consultant, told the commission the updated EIR found most environmental issue areas would be either no impact or less than significant with mitigation, but that construction noise remained a significant unavoidable impact.

Developer representatives described the smaller project as responsive to neighbor concerns. Steven Ludwig, one of the developers, said the team reduced building height and unit count after community input: “we're back tonight to share with you a modified and smaller project that we believe reflects a response to some of these concerns,” he said. Dana Sales, representing the applicant, summarized changes including a reduction of about 70 apartment units (from roughly 328 to 258) and a lowering of the apartment building from 7 stories to 5 stories. Sales added the project now totals 333 units overall (258 apartments plus 75 townhomes), provides one subterranean parking level for the apartment building, increases the apartment parking ratio to about 1.5 spaces per unit, and includes nearly an acre of common open space and on‑site amenities.

The applicant also highlighted a set of community benefits in the development agreement: the revised proposal would provide seven moderate‑income units (down from the original 20 lower‑income units the earlier proposal had included), sidewalk and railroad crossing improvements, a local hiring and local buying program, and a one‑year free monthly transit pass for apartment residents. The development team estimated roughly $3,100,000 in one‑time impact fees and about $450,000 annual new tax revenue, and further described approximately $1,000,000 in infrastructure investments.

Public comment at the hearing was split. Dozens of speakers addressed the commission. Supporters — including local business owners and residents who said they had been priced out of Gardena — said the project would add needed housing and economic activity. Tal (business owner) said the proposal “will provide much needed housing options for our residents” and would support local businesses and employees.

Union representatives and construction trade speakers urged stronger, enforceable labor and local‑hire commitments. Khalil Betty Finnerson, a carpenter and union member, demanded binding agreements to ensure local union hires and protections for undocumented workers. Salvador George of the Carpenters local asked the commission to require enforceable apprenticeship and local hire provisions before recommending approval.

Opponents raised concerns about traffic, parking, public‑safety impacts and potential soil and dust contamination from construction. Tish McCauley, a longtime neighbor, said the five‑story building would shadow single‑family yards and that “good planning practices would have seen that this project just simply doesn't fit in this space.” Several residents warned that the project’s parking and traffic assumptions would spill into adjacent residential streets, and others asked for stricter construction curfews and mitigations.

On motions prepared by staff, the commission voted to forward the EIR certification, the general plan amendment and the entitlements to City Council. The commission’s recommendation does not approve the project; it sends the matter to the City Council for final decisions, scheduled for Jan. 14.

What’s next: The Planning Commission’s votes were recommendations. The City Council will review the EIR and the proposed Norman Crossing entitlements at a January meeting, where it can approve, modify or deny the requested actions.