Planning Commission expresses support for Rancho housing development
Hundreds of affordable homes could be built on Rancho’s abandoned south campus, a plan supported by Downey officials. (Photo by Eric Pierce)
DOWNEY – There was no official project for the Downey Planning Commission to approve for Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center’s south campus on Tuesday, but one thing remained clear: there were high hopes for affordable housing.
Development of the extensive Rancho south campus redevelopment specific plan has been funded in part by the Metro Transit Oriented Development Planning Grant Program. The specific plan consists of four sub-districts, including areas designated for flex tech/ bio medical, regional public facilities, transit-oriented development, and community service.
The project is unique in that it encompasses approximately 172 acres of Los Angeles County-owned land. Of that area, around 62.5 acres (37%) is currently uncommitted and available for potential development. This is planned and programmed for a mix of transit-oriented residential, retail, and office uses, and more specifically, would allow development of up to 700 homes and approximately 1,130,000 square-feet of new, nonresidential land uses.
While nothing has been officially decided yet, the city has made attempts to gain stakeholder feedback, specifically during two community workshops throughout the preparation of the Specific Plan.
It became clear early that several of Downey’s commissioners – specifically Chair Miguel Duarte and Commissioners Art Montoya and Horacio Ortiz - had their eyes set on tackling housing.
“I think it’s a great opportunity; I don’t want it to be missed, to actually include affordable housing in that area,” said Duarte. “If there’s anything we can do just to ensure that there’s some included in that area, that’s my only comment.”
Community Development Director Aldo Schindler said that “the best assurance we have right now” is through the inclusionary housing ordinance currently being worked on by the city.
According to Schindler, that ordinance will require a certain percentage of affordable housing units to be built in any housing project throughout the city.
There was some pushback, however, from some of the city’s South Gate neighbors whose homes border the project. They argued housing development would burden South Gate – not Downey – with the stressors of an increased population in the area.
“We in South Gate have worked in stride for many years to be able to afford a home with less density, less crime, adequate schools, and a decent quality of life,” said Virginia Johnson, of South Gate. “…We have all these homeless permanent housing, all these affordable housing all in South Gate, and Downey touching all the families in South Gate, not touching Downey residents.”
“Rancho South Campus wants to build 700-1,200 dwelling units, and possibly even a lot more,” she continued. “This is near Garfield and Gardendale, near South Gate residents, but not the Downey residents…This is putting all the density and concentration of extensive growth right here on the backs of South Gate.”
Still, the commission felt comfortable moving the process along and passing the torch off to the City Council.
“This decision is a balance test,” said Montoya. “We understand that there could be some detrimental impact, but there’s a lot of gains to get out of this potential project. I think when weighing all that, approving this [Rancho Los Amigos South Campus Specific Plan] would benefit the communities and surrounding areas as a whole.”
City Council hearings are anticipated to begin in August and September.