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Council declares city parcels surplus under Surplus Land Act; residents press for soil data on Alondra site
Summary
The council approved a resolution rescinding a prior action and declaring multiple city parcels surplus to enable redevelopment; staff described the state notice requirements. Several residents and council members raised concerns about stormwater/soil sampling and methane on a successor‑agency parcel at Alondra and asked staff to provide reports and state coordination.
Cecil Florin, director of community development, told the council that rescinding the prior resolution and declaring certain parcels surplus is a procedural step under the Surplus Land Act that requires a 60‑day notice of availability to state agencies and a subsequent 90‑day negotiation window if state or public entities express interest.
Florin identified priority sites the city is preparing for disposition — the Compton Santa Fe (old KBK) site, Compton Central (about 2 acres), and 1117 South Long Beach — and said staff has received preliminary interest from coffee and quick‑serve restaurant operators and is continuing discussions with commercial and residential developers. He emphasized that without an updated general plan, the city remains constrained by state requirements tied to housing considerations.
Resident, environmental and successor‑agency concerns: during the successor‑agency portion of the hearing multiple residents — notably Mark Smith and other speakers — pressed for test results and public reports about contamination, methane emissions and stormwater/soil sampling at a large surplus parcel on West Alondra. City staff and the city manager said Public Works has a contract with an environmental firm (MB5) performing stormwater and some soil sampling and that staff will obtain and deliver those testing results to council and the public. The city manager said he had met with a state senator's office to seek resources for a comprehensive site assessment and remediation funding.
Council action and context: the council approved the clarifying surplus‑land resolution (motion passed 5–0). Staff said some parcels in the rescinded 2025 resolution required more specific language requested by the state and that declarations will be phased as packages. Councilmembers pressed staff for (1) an updated general plan to reduce process friction, (2) environmental data for the Alondra site, and (3) more targeted outreach about prospective uses for each parcel.
What residents asked for next: public commenters asked for (a) copies of stormwater/soil test results already collected, (b) clarity on who has site access (keys) and (c) a timeline for remediation and reuse planning. Staff agreed to produce prior sampling reports and to work with state agencies on a full site study.
