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Torrance council denies CEQA appeal, upholds approval of 449‑unit Hawthorne Boulevard project
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Summary
After a contested public hearing, the Torrance City Council denied an environmental appeal and upheld Planning Commission approvals for a 449‑unit residential project at 3610 Torrance Boulevard, finding the project qualified for a Class 32 infill exemption; opponents argued the builder’s commitment to Tier 4 construction equipment functions as mitigation and precludes the exemption.
The Torrance City Council on Jan. 27 denied an appeal and upheld Planning Commission approvals for a proposed 449‑unit residential development at 3610 Torrance Boulevard, sustaining the city’s determination that the project is categorically exempt from further CEQA review under the Class 32 infill exemption.
City planning associate Luis Velasquez presented staff’s analysis, telling the council the project sits on an approximately 4.03‑acre parcel within the Hawthorne Boulevard corridor specific plan and that staff had determined the project met the five Class 32 criteria (consistency with plan and zoning, parcel size under five acres, not habitat for protected species, technical studies showing no significant impacts, and existing services). Velasquez said the Planning Commission approved the project on a 5–1 vote and that staff found no evidence requiring further environmental review.
Haley Uno, a law clerk representing the appellants Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), urged the council to grant the appeal, arguing the city improperly relied on the Class 32 exemption because the project includes a commitment to use Tier 4 construction equipment to limit air emissions. "The project's incorporation of Tier 4 equipment is, in effect, a mitigation measure," Uno said, adding that CEQA prohibits reliance on categorical exemptions when an agency is imposing mitigation measures to avoid significant impacts.
Proponent Doug Moppin, representing Vista Homes, and the project team defended the exemption and the project design. Moppin said the project includes 44 affordable units and described the proposal as a significant private investment in Torrance. He asked the council to uphold the exemption so the project could proceed.
During public comment, residents raised both support for more housing and concerns about parking, density and the number of affordable units. City staff stated the project would provide 815 parking spaces on site and noted design features to reduce perceived scale along street frontages.
After questions, rebuttals and council discussion, Council member Sheikh moved to deny the appeal and adopt the resolutions upholding the Planning Commission’s conditional use permit and development permit approvals; the motion was seconded and carried with Mayor Chen absent. The council adopted resolutions 2026‑14 and 2026‑15 confirming the approvals for CUP 25‑003 and DVP 25‑0001 and the CEQA determination.
Next steps for the applicant will follow normal permitting and entitlement processes consistent with the city’s approvals; the council did not direct staff to prepare additional environmental review.
Reporters' notes: project materials presented to staff and the Planning Commission, the appellants’ filing, staff’s supplemental notice of exemption and council resolutions were cited on the record during the hearing.
