City approves plans for 12 new townhomes

A rendering of the new townhomes that will be built at 7224 Florence Ave.

DOWNEY – Downey’s Planning Commission approved plans on Wednesday to construct a 12-unit multifamily development at 7224 Florence Ave.

Currently, the site consists of six separate housing units, varying in size with the smallest being 776 square feet and the largest at 956 square feet. The development currently calls for the demolition of these buildings.

The new rental units will be located within six separate three-story buildings, each with two side-by-side 1,701 sq. ft. housing units. Each unit includes a 400-sq. ft. two-car garage, 110-sq. ft. of storage, and a 67-sq. ft. balcony.

The project will also include 6,094 square feet of landscape area, two separate recreational areas with amenities, and six guest parking spaces (30 parking spaces overall).

The commission approved the plans unanimously. An added requirement that the project include conduits within garages and throughout the project site for future installation of electric vehicle charging stations was also approved, albeit on a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Jimmy Spathopoulos and Nolveris Frometa in opposition.

7-ELEVEN: Plans for a new 7-Eleven convenience store were also approved at Wednesday’s meeting.

The site – formerly a used car lot – sits on an 18,879 sq. ft. corner parcel at 13034 Downey Ave., on the corner of Downey Avenue and Gardendale Street.

Current plans call for the deconstruction of an existing building on the property, with a new 2,800 square foot building taking its place.

The store will operate 24 hours a day, with beer and wine sales taking place between 6 am and 2 am daily, as is consistent with state law.

DAYCARE: An appeal to overturn an administrative decision to deny the operation of a large family daycare within a single-family residential property was postponed to a later date.

On April 16, Sandra P Castro Magallon submitted an application for a permit to operate a daycare for up to 14 children at 7542 Suva St.

The property is 6,022 sq. ft. in area and is located on the south side of Suva, between Guatemala and Wiley Burke avenues.

The home itself is 1,759 square feet, however, activities are expected to expand to outdoor play areas to accommodate for both indoor and outdoor activities for children of varying ages.

Magallon is requesting that the daycare be able to operate from 5 am to 9 pm, seven days per week.

Several neighborhood residents opposed the request, citing concerns over traffic and noise.

Staff was unable to disprove any potential negative effects to the surrounding area, therefore denying the proposal.