Hawthorne planning commission backs broad parking rewrite, sends ordinance to city council

Hawthorne — The Planning Commission on Nov. 5 recommended that the City Council consider a sweeping rewrite of the municipal parking chapter intended to ease commercial vacancies and reduce construction costs for housing.

Planning Director Greg McLean presented zone text amendment ZA-2025-0002, saying the rules would apply primarily to new construction and some change-of-use cases. “All of the changes that we're proposing with this ordinance will only apply to new construction,” McLean said, adding that legally established, nonconforming sites would be grandfathered.

The amendment would replace numerous, specialized commercial parking standards with a smaller set of uniform ratios, allow nearby public parking—such as curbside or median spaces—to be counted as credits in required-parking calculations, and reduce required parking for certain residential unit types. McLean said the city’s current complexity obliges owners to provide more parking than is practical in many infill properties and that a uniform approach would allow restaurants and other small businesses to occupy storefronts that are currently vacant.

In examples shown to the commission, McLean said some sites have far more paved area than they need in practice. He cited a Carl’s Jr. with about 60 spaces largely unused at midday and an El Pollo Loco with roughly 66 spaces where 20 would probably suffice, describing the extra pavement as “an entire developable lot that's just sitting there as an unused parking lot right now.” The draft ordinance would, among other measures, permit a 10% credit for curbside spaces on the same block, a 25% credit for a public lot or median within 100 feet, and a 50% reduction for restaurants with drive-through lanes.

On residential parking, McLean proposed allowing single-family lots to satisfy on-site requirements with two paved spaces while making garages optional. For multifamily, the draft reduces several minimums (for example, some unit types would drop one required on-site space and guest parking would change from 1 per 2 units back toward 1 per 4 units). McLean framed the changes as a way to reduce construction costs that push overall housing prices higher while freeing land for landscaping or amenities.

McLean also warned that state laws and density-bonus provisions already limit local control in some areas, particularly within a half-mile of transit stations under SB 79, and said lowering local minima could reduce developers’ incentive to seek density bonuses that otherwise grant larger reductions.

Public commenters offered mixed reactions. Reuben, of the North Hawthorne Community Association, welcomed attention to parking but urged stronger street-parking enforcement, asking the city to “just reduce it from 48 hours to to 24 hours” for mark-and-enforce rules so abandoned or stored vehicles stop occupying curb space. Jesse, a property owner and member of the General Plan Advisory Committee, thanked staff and said the amendment was “essential” for city growth.

After discussion, the commission voted to approve a resolution recommending that City Council adopt the ordinance, with one modification: changing the trigger for requiring a two-way driveway on residential lots from five to ten parking spaces. The record shows affirmative votes from Commissioner Norman, Commissioner Suomi, Commissioner Talada and Vice Chairperson Collins; the motion was recorded as approved and will be transmitted to the City Council for final action.

If adopted by the City Council, staff said most of the changes would apply only to new construction or when a property’s use changes; existing legally established properties would remain grandfathered. The ordinance text and staff report are available for public review; the Planning Commission indicated it may return to any narrower technical edits later.

The Planning Commission adjourned at 7:33 p.m.; the next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025.