Norwalk Council Approves 138,972-SF Warehouse at 14830 Carmenita Road Over Environmental Appeal

Norwalk City Council voted on Jan. 20 to uphold the Planning Commission’s approval of a mitigated negative declaration (MND) and Precise Development Plan 2023-06 for a proposed 138,972-square-foot warehouse at 14830 Carmenita Road.

Mayor Jennifer Perez moved to adopt Resolution No. 25-63 to uphold the commission’s action; the roll call vote was Zayela Aye, Ramirez No, Valencia Aye, Vice Mayor Rios Aye, Mayor Perez Aye, carrying the motion 4–1.

The project, presented by Rexford Industrial, proposes demolition of two existing industrial buildings and construction of a modern, LEED Gold–standard warehouse with 22 loading docks (staff confirmed 15 existing dock doors on the site). Rexford representatives said the building would include rooftop solar sized to supply up to 85% of tenant power needs and estimated a 15–18 month construction-document phase before building. The developer also said fencing would be installed near City Hall Jan. 27 and a groundbreaking was scheduled for Feb. 7.

An appellant, CREED LA, urged the council to require a full Environmental Impact Report. Aden Marshall argued the MND omitted key analyses — a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) study, nighttime noise measurements, a quantitative fire flow analysis and a cumulative health-risk assessment — and said expert findings show the project could generate substantially more daily passenger trips than the MND assumes and create meaningful air quality and noise impacts. "We re asking the council to once again uphold our appeal and require an EIR for this project," Marshall said.

The applicant and the MND preparer disputed those claims. Luis Gomez of Rexford Industrial acknowledged the project will add truck activity but said the site is close to freeway access and that his team—stimated 86 new truck trips; the environmental consultant Megan Truman (EPD Solutions) said the MND used the South Coast Air Quality Management District thresholds and that modeled health risks were below adopted SCAQMD thresholds. Truman also noted that the city added a condition forbidding use as a high-cube fulfillment center or parcel hub without a conditional use permit, which would trigger additional review.

Staff had presented three options: adopt a resolution to uphold the appeal and deny the PDP, adopt a resolution to uphold the Planning Commission ecision and approve the MND and PDP, or continue the item. After public testimony from both supporters who cited job creation and unions advocating for construction work and opponents raising CEQA concerns, the council selected approval of the MND and PDP.

Key project details discussed during the hearing include the proposed building footprint of 138,972 square feet, an increase from 15 existing dock doors to 22 proposed doors, and the Planning Commission—onditions of approval that require additional discretionary review for certain high-intensity logistics uses.

Next steps: with council approval, the project proceeds under the adopted MND and conditions of approval; uses expressly prohibited or requiring a conditional use permit would require separate review. The council record shows a noted schedule for early construction activity (fence Jan. 27, groundbreaking Feb. 7), and community outreach by the developer was described as ongoing.