Planning commission approves Rex Creamery expansion, including new tanks and wastewater system

The Santa Fe Springs Planning Commission on March 9 approved a development plan and modification permit for Rex Creamery, allowing new storage tanks, a cooling tower, refrigeration upgrades and a wastewater treatment canopy at the company’s 12809 Bush Place facility.

Planning consultant Caden Likens described the 3.88‑acre, M‑2‑zoned site and said the proposal includes a roughly 1,677‑square‑foot building alcove to partially screen six new storage tanks (two 3,500‑gallon tanks, two 10,000‑gallon tanks and two 20,000‑gallon tanks), foundations for three future tanks, a new cooling tower, a glycol system, an ammonia diffusion tank and refrigeration equipment upgrades. Likens said the tanks will be brushed stainless steel and that their locations preserve fire access, retain required parking and minimize visibility from Bush Place. The project site lies adjacent to the South Pacific Railroad and surrounding heavy industrial uses.

On wastewater, Likens said the project will add a new treatment system contained within a 1,219‑square‑foot canopy (26 feet tall) that will house three 16,500‑gallon wastewater tanks; openings on the north and east sides will provide access while the south side will be screened from Bush Place. Staff also reported the site currently has 105 parking stalls, the code requires 104, and the project would provide 106 stalls (75 standard, 26 compact, four accessible and one van‑accessible).

During commissioner questioning, the applicant’s representative, Joe (identified on the record as the COO of Rex Creamery), explained the ammonia diffusion tank ‘‘is just filled with water’’ under normal conditions and functions as an emergency containment; he said routine wastewater and cooling‑tower discharges will be managed as industrial waste and covered by an industrial waste permit. Joe also said the facility is shifting refrigeration away from R‑22 refrigerants toward ammonia, which he described as more energy efficient with lower environmental impact.

Staff made a preliminary CEQA determination that the project falls under categorical exemptions for ‘‘new construction of small structures’’ and ‘‘accessory structures’’ (transcript references to CEQA sections 15303 and 15311) and recommended the commission file a notice of exemption with the Los Angeles County Clerk and adopt Resolution No. 313‑2026. The public hearing produced no public speakers or written comments.

A motion to approve DPA Case No. 1017 and Modification Permit Case No. 1375 and adopt Resolution No. 313‑2026 passed on a roll‑call vote; Commissioners Cervantes, Flores, Vice Chair Ayala (record variants: Iyala/Iulo appear in the transcript) and Chair Jimenez voted "Aye." The commission announced a 14‑day appeal period.

The approval permits the described exterior improvements and requires compliance with conditions in Exhibit A of Resolution No. 313‑2026. The applicant will apply for separate permits for any future tanks beyond the current submittal.

Next procedural step: the 14‑day appeal period will lapse unless an appeal is filed.