city of gardena general plan 2020 draft technical ...s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/€¦ · city...

City of Gardena GENERAL PLAN 2020

DRAFT Technical Background Report

Prepared for City of Gardena

Prepared by USC Center for Economic Development

School of Policy, Planning, and Development University of Southern California

City of Gardena General Plan

City Council

• Terrence "Terry" S. Terauchi, Mayor • Steven C. Bradford, Mayor Pro Tem • Ronald Ikejiri, Councilman • Grant J. Nakaoka, Councilman • Paul K. Tanaka, Councilman

City Planning Commission

• George Inouye, Chairman • Bertrum M. CeDillos, Vice Chairman • Paulette C. Francis, Commissioner • Alan Mimaki, Commissioner • Robert Spates, Commissioner

City Staff Mitchell G. Lansdell, City Manager Kathy Ikari, Community Development Director Jack Messerlian, Planning Administrator Dennis Banks, Planning Assistant Other City Staff: D. Christine Hach, Administrator of Services Director/ Asst. City Manager Bernie Paine, Public Works Director Yvonne Mallory, Economic Development Manager Michael Skogh, Chief of Police Tom Monson, Captain Police Department John Alkema, Asst Fire Chief Kelly Fujio, Recreation Services Manager/Human Services Manager Whitman Ballenger, Transportation Director

1

Table of Contents Gardena General Plan Technical Background Report

Land Use Element Page 2 Circulation and Infrastructure Element Page 24 Safety Element Page 46 Open Space and Conservation Element Page 53 Economic Development Element Page 72 Appendices Page 86

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2 SCHOOL OF POLICY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT

City of Gardena LAND USE

Technical Background Report

Technical Background Report Land Use


1 Introduction The Land Use portion of the Technical Background Report provides a thorough explanation of existing characteristics and conditions in the City of Gardena as they pertain to Land Use. The background information included in this report is the basis or for the Land Use Element of the General Plan. The Land Use Element of the General Plan will designate the “proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of the land” for all categories of public and private uses of land in the City of Gardena, as mandated by Section 65302(a) of the Government Code. In conformance with the Government Code Section 65302(a), the General Plan Land Use designations also include standards of population density and building intensity recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the plan. The purpose of the Land Use Element, consistent with state law and guidelines, is to improve the use of the land and the relationships between uses in the best interest of the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the general public. The Land Use Element fulfills a central, coordinating role in the General Plan as it correlates all land use issues into a coherent set of development policies. It is, therefore, the foundation of the General Plan. 2 Setting and Existing Conditions To understand existing Land Use in the City, the demographic, socioeconomic, and housing characteristics need to be identified and analyzed. Demographic attributes determine the market demand for each type of land use, including single and multi-family residential, retail, office, industrial, entertainment and recreational uses. For example, changing demographic characteristics of a city influence the demand for quantity, type, size and affordability levels of housing. Demographic components such as population trends, age, sex, race, income, employment, and household factors illustrate the differing needs of Gardena City residents. This section provides data and analysis of current demographic conditions in the City, offering insight to the evolving needs of the Gardena Community. 2.1 Population Trends

It should be noted that unfortunately this does not reflected changes in the current demographic attributes that are the result of the 211 market rate housing units that became occupied after the 2000 census. The City of Gardena has a population of 57,746 living within 5.95 square miles. Gardena has experienced moderate, steady population growth over the past 30 years. In both the 1970s and 1980s the total population increased 10% per decade, while a 16% rate of population increase was experienced in the 1990s. The population has increased a total of 41% since 1970, above Los Angeles County’s growth of 35%. A portion of Gardena’s population increase is a result of its changing boundaries. The physical boundaries of the City of Gardena have



expanded since 1975 as a result of annexations of the Rosecrans Corridor and West Gardena. These two annexations added approximately 4,000 residents to the City. Even when discounting the population effects of these two physical land additions, the City has still increased by over 12,000 residents (20%) since 1970. In comparison, Gardena’s population is smaller than that of neighbors Torrance (137,946), Carson (89,730), and Hawthorne (84,112) (Figure LU-1). However, its growth rate has exceeded that of Carson and Torrance while lagging behind the population surge of Hawthorne (Table LU-1).

Figure LU-1: Population Change (1970-2000)

Sources: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 Census 2.2 Age Age is directly related to the specific types of land uses demanded by citizens. For instance, age groups more likely to have children require housing with more rooms than do the elderly. Gardena’s population has slowly been aging, reflected by the City’s median age, which has increased from 31 in 1980, to 33 in 1990, to 34 in 2000. The percentage of persons over the age

Table LU-1: Population Trends, 1970-2000 Population Percent Change

Jurisdiction 1970 1980 1990 2000 1970-2000 1980-1990 1990-2000Gardena 41,090 45,165 49,847 57,746 40.5 10.4 15.8Carson 71,626 81,221 83,995 89,730 25.3 3.4 6.8Hawthorne 53,221 56,447 71,349 84,112 58.0 26.4 17.9Torrance 134,507 129,881 133,107 137,946 2.6 2.5 3.6LA County 7,036,463 7,477,503 8,863,164 9,519,338 35.3 18.5 7.4Sources: 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 Census



of 64 is 12.4 in 2000, up from 9.4 in 1980. The population 15 to 24 years of age has declined by more than 5% over the same time period.

Figure LU-2: Age Distribution (1980-2000)

Sources: 1980, 1990, 2000 Census 2.3 Race and Ethnic Composition Gardena’s diversity distinguishes it from other Southern California cities. In 2000, Latino’s made up the largest share of the population (33%), followed by Asian and Pacific Islanders (28%), Non-Hispanic African-American (26%), and Non-Hispanic Whites (13%). Gardena’s racial composition has been remarkably stable over time, while many cities have transitioned from a majority of one racial group to another. In 2000, Gardena is one of only 9 cities with a four-way ethnic split (each of the 4 ethnic groups over 10% of the population). The other cities in the five-county Southern California area where each of the four major racial and ethnic groups (Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Black, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic) comprise at least 10% of its total population are Bellflower, Carson, Culver City, Gardena, Lawndale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Signal Hill. Of those nine cities, along with nearby neighbor Carson, Gardena is the only to have maintained this balance since 1980. Although, each group has maintained at least 10% of the populace from 1980 to 2000, the one major demographic shift has been from Non-Hispanic White to Latino. The Non-Hispanic White share has dropped from 31% to 13%, while the Latino share has increased from 17% to 32% of the population. This last trend may have implications for housing and land-use within the City of Gardena. This is because the average household size for Whites is lower than that of Latinos. 1990 Census numbers from Gardena show that White households are nearly one-half (1.97 persons per owner occupied unit, and 1.95 per renter occupied unit) the size of Hispanic households (3.64 and 3.87, respectively). Latino’s may need more rooms per unit to avoid overcrowding conditions.

0 %

2 0 %

4 0 %

6 0 %

8 0 %

1 0 0 %

1 9 8 0 1 9 9 0 2 0 0 0

6 5 +4 5 t o 6 42 5 t o 4 42 0 t o 2 41 5 t o 1 95 t o 1 4U n d e r 5



Source: Racially Balanced Cities in Southern California, 1980-2000, Myers & Park Paralleling the change in ethnic composition is the increase in the percentage of the population that is foreign born. In 1970, 12% of Gardena’s population was born outside of the US, compared to 29% in 1990. While 2000 data are not yet available, based upon the continued increase in Latino residents, the current percentage that are foreign born could be even higher. 2.4 Employment Between 1980 and 1990, the employment rate within the City of Gardena increased from 4.2% to 5.9%. The increased unemployment rate is closely related to the increase in population in that the employment rate increases steadily as the City’s population increases. According to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) estimates for 1990, there were approximately 32,000 jobs within the City of Gardena. The majority of the Gardena population is employed in managerial/professional jobs. In 1980, 19.0% of the City’s population held positions within this employment sector. The percentage increased between 1980 and 1990 with 22.2% of the total population earning a living within a managerial/professional job. The increase in population in addition to the increase in the number of residents possessing higher degrees may have impacted the number of residents with managerial/professional jobs.

0 %

2 0 %

4 0 %

6 0 %

8 0 %

1 0 0 %

1 9 8 0 1 9 9 0 2 0 0 0

H is p a n icA s ia n P IN H B la c kN H W h ite

Figure LU-3: Ethnic and Racial Composition (1980-2000)



Table LU-2: Occupation of Residents, 1980 and 1990

1980 1990 Occupation Employed % of Total Employed % of Total Managerial/Professional 4,587 19.0% 5,694 22.2%Sales, Tech, Admin Support 8,493 35.3% 9,599 37.5%Service Occupations 3,024 12.6% 3,024 11.8%Farming, Forestry, Fishing 341 1.4% 281 1.1%Precision Production/Craft/Repair 3,205 13.3% 3,234 12.6%Operators/Fabricators/Laborers 4,435 18.4% 3,777 14.7%Total 24,085 100.0% 25,609 100.0%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 1980 and 1990 Gardena’s major employers in 1990 were retail businesses 56%, manufacturing 20%, service 10%, wholesale 9%, transportation and construction related businesses 5%.

Figure LU-4: Major City Employers

2.5 Educational Attainment In 1990, high school graduates comprised the largest portion of the population. This is also true of the educational attainment rates for 1980. In 1980 10,162 persons were high school graduates. 6,024 had some college education or earned their associate degree, 3,760 individuals were College graduates or recipients of advanced degrees.

20%

10%9% 5%

56%

Retail Businesses

Manufacturing

Service

Wholesale

Transportation andConstruction RelatedBusinesses

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 1990



In 1990, 9,039 Gardena residents were high school graduates, 6,960 had some college education but no degree and 3017 received an associate degree, 4,271 received their college degrees and 1233 received a graduate or professional degree. Overall the numbers for each educational category increased between 1980 and 1990, as shown in Table LU-3. The population growth within the City may have had an impact upon the increase in educational attainment rates.

Table LU-3: Educational Attainment, Persons 25 and Older 1980 1990

No. Percent of Total No. Percent of TotalLess than 9th Grade 3,975 14.2% 3,385 10.1%9th to 12th grade, no diploma 3,995 14.3% 5,519 16.5%High School Graduate 10,162 36.4% 9,039 27.0%Some College/Associate Degree 6,024 21.6% 9,977 29.8%College or Advanced Degree 3,760 13.5% 5,504 16.5%Total 27,916 100.0% 33,424 100.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 1980 and 1990 2.6 Household Characteristics According to the U.S. Census statistics, a household is defined as all persons including single persons, families, or unrelated persons sharing living quarters occupying a housing unit. Household characteristics in the community need to be identified, in order to understand the housing trends and future needs and trends in the City of Gardena. Household characteristics that impact the type of housing needed in the community are household type, tenure, size, and income levels. Nearly 70 percent of the 20,324 households in Gardena are family households, whereas single person households comprise 26 percent of the total households in the City. The figure below identifies families as being the largest household occupant type in Gardena. The percentage of family households in the City has been increasing over time, which demonstrates the need for the availability of family housing in Gardena. The total of family households in 1980 was 11,492, which increased to 14,031 in 2000.



Figure LU-5: Household Composition (2000)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 2.7 Household Size According to the 2000 U.S. Census data, the average household size in Gardena is 2.8 persons per household. Since 1980, the City’s average household size has increased from 2.65 persons per household and 2.7 persons per household in 1990. In comparison to surrounding jurisdictions, the City of Gardena has a smaller household ratio than Carson and Hawthorne, as illustrated in Table LU-5.

Table LU-4: Average Household Size 2000

Gardena 2.80 Carson 3.59 Hawthorne 2.93 Torrance 2.51 Los Angeles County 2.98

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 The household size in the City differs slightly between owners and renters. The 2000 Census data reports 2.85 persons per household in owned dwellings, while there are 2.76 persons per household in rented dwellings.

Table LU-5: Household Size by Tenure

Owner 2.85 Renter 2.76

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000.

Households that are rented tend to have fewer persons per household than owned housing. According to Census 2000, the total number of owner occupied housing units in the City is 47.3 percent compared to renter occupied housing units at 52.7 percent. In addition, the homeowner vacancy rate in the City is 1.2%, whereas the renter vacancy rate is 3.3%.

Fam ily H ouseho lds

68%

S ingle P erson

26%

O ther6%



2.8 Household Income The 1990 Census data is used for this particular section, because the 2000 Census data for household income in Gardena is not currently accessible. Figure LU-6 shows the comparison of median household income in Gardena and median household income in surrounding jurisdictions.

Figure LU-6: Median Household Income

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1990 The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) created five income categories by grouping households based on the Median Family Income (MFI), to provide for the analysis of income data. The five income categories are as follows:

• Extremely Low: 30% or less of MFI • Very Low: 30 – 50% of MFI • Low: 50 – 80% of MFI • Moderate: 80 – 95% of MFI • Above Moderate: more than 95% of MFI

1990 Census data revealed that 45 percent of Gardena households fell below 80 percent of the County median and were therefore identified as low-income. This percentage indicates a need for the continuation of affordable housing programs in the City. It is apparent that the household income varies by household type. The 1990 Census reports that the Median Family Income in Gardena is $37,000, which is higher than the Median Household Income of $33,000. Senior households earn less than $25,000, categorizing them as low to very low-income households.

4 7 ,2 0 4 4 3 ,8 8 2

3 0 ,9 6 73 3 ,06 3

01 0 ,0 0 02 0 ,0 0 03 0 ,0 0 04 0 ,0 0 05 0 ,0 0 0

G a rd e n a H a w th o rn e T o rra n ce C a rso n

J u ris d ic tio n

Med

ian

Inco

me

($)



2.9 Housing Vacancy Within the City of Gardena, the vacancy rates in 1980 and 1990 increased by 52%. The vacancy rates between 1990 and 2000 decreased by 21%. The decrease in vacancy rates may be attributable to the population influx between 1990 and 2000. Due to the recession in the early 1990’s, the City’s vacancy rates increased from 596 to 911, an overall percentage increase of 52%. The recent market recovery is relative to the lowered vacancy rates seen between the years 1990-2000 where the vacancy rate was 911 in 1990 and 717 in 2000. This reflects an overall decrease by 21%.

Table LU-6: Housing Vacancy Rates by Tenure, 2000 City Owner Renter

Gardena 1.2 3.3 Carson 1.1 2.6 Hawthorne 1.4 3.3 Torrance 1 2.4 Los Angeles County 1.6 3.3

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000

2.1 Building Permits Table LU-8 shows the number of building permits (for residential, commercial and industrial construction projects only) issued between January 1980 and May 2001. According to the table, the overall number of permits issued between the period of 1990 and 1999 was less than half the amount of permits issued between the period of 1980 and 1989. This lowered amount may be attributable to the shortage of vacant land available within the city of Gardena. It may also be correlated to the economic recession that occurred during the early 1990’s where the demand for new structures was low.

Table LU-7: Building Permits Year(s) No. of Permits Issued January 1980-December 1989 580 January 1990-December 1999 201 January 2000-May 2001 29

Source: Gardena City Planning Department

3 Existing Land Uses A Land Use survey was complete and described the section 3.2.1 by the School of Policy, Planning and Development. At the completion of the survey, complete graphic and text



description of current land allocation in the City of Gardena will be included in the Technical Background Report. 3.1 Description of City Boundaries The City of Gardena encompasses approximately 5.95 square miles (3,808 acres) and is bounded by El Segundo Boulevard on the north and Vermont Avenue to the east. Portions of Crenshaw Boulevard, Gramercy Place, and Western Avenue form the western boundary, and portions of 182nd Street, Artesia Boulevard, and Redondo Beach Boulevard form the southern boundary of the City (please refer to Figure LU-7). The City’s current physical size includes three of the four proposed annexation areas set forth in the City’s 1975 General Plan: the Rosecrans Corridor, the primarily residential area south of Rosecrans and east of Crenshaw, the corner of Redondo Beach Boulevard and Crenshaw, and a portion of the Norman Precinct at the corner of Vermont and 182nd Street. These areas of previously unincorporated Los Angeles County land represent a total of 441 acres. The remaining portion of the 1975 Plan’s fourth proposed annexation area still remains under the purview of the Los Angeles City. Figure LU-7 represents the current physical boundaries of the City and the areas of land annexed since the l975 City of Gardena General Plan. The last time the City of Gardena undertook a survey of vacant land was in 1995⎯see Table LU-9 for a summary of that survey.

Source: City of Gardena

Table LU-8: Overview of Vacant Lots (1995) Address Area (Acres) Zoning/General Plan

2010 El Segundo Blvd. 0.63 C-2/Highway Commercial1157 Gardena Blvd. 0.15 C-R/Commercial Residential14000 Halldale 1.38 M-1/Light Industrial2101 Rosecrans 4.07 M-2/Heavy Industrial16532 Normandie 0.21 M-1/Highway Commercial15625 Vermont Ave. 0.74 C-P/Highway Commercial17923 Vermont Ave. 0.50 C-3/Highway Commercial14800 Western Ave. 1.11 C-3/Highway Commercial15727 Western Ave. 0.22 C-3/Highway Commercial15930 Western Ave. 0.23 C-3/Highway Commercial16710 Western Ave. 0.30 M-1/Light Industrial1435 W. 139th St. 3.51 M-1/Light Industrial

Total 12.05



Figure LU-7: Existing Land Use Map



Table LU-9: Summary of Existing Land Uses Land Use Category Acres Percent of City LandLow Residential Density 1109.2 29.1%Medium Residential Density 499.8 13.1%High Residential Density 41.0 1.1%Commercial-Residential 55.0 1.4%Residential Sub-total 1705.0 44.8%Neighborhood Commercial 31.8 0.8%Community Commercial 178.7 4.7%Highway Commercial 156.0 4.1%Light Industrial 119.0 3.1%General Industrial 463.8 12.2%Residential Business 0.0 0.0%Public Facilities 193.6 5.1%(Vacant Lot) (71.3) (1.9%)(Roads) (888.7) (23.3%)TOTAL 3,808 100.0%

Source: USC Land Use Survey (2001) 3.2 Inventory of Land Uses 3.2.1 Land Use Designations There are currently eleven General Plan land use classifications in the City of Gardena. Table LU-10 describes the City’s land use categories. As shown in Table LU-10, over 40 percent of the total acreage in Gardena is designated for residential use.

Table LU-10: Proposed Land Use (adopted Land Use Policy Map)

Land Use Category Acres Percent of City LandLow Residential Density 980.3 25.7%Medium Residential Density 523.2 13.7%High Residential Density 74.0 1.9%Commercial-Residential 41.9 1.1%

Residential Sub-total 1,619.4 42.5%Neighborhood Commercial 0.0 0.0%Community Commercial 104.7 2.7%Highway Commercial 264.2 6.9%Light Industrial 195.7 5.1%General Industrial 524.9 13.8%Residential Business 0.0 0.0%Public Facilities 210.4 5.5%(Vacant Lot) (0.0) (0.0%)(Roads) (888.7) (23.3%)Total 3,808 100.0%

Source: City of Gardena Definitions of the various land use categories are as follows:



– Low Residential Density: Single-family residences with a density between 4 to 7.8 dwelling

units per acre. – Medium Residential Density: Single homes, duplexes, and multiple-family residences with a

density between 9 to 27.2 dwelling units per net acre. – High Residential Density: Primarily multi-family developments with 31 dwelling units or

more net per acre. – Commercial-Residential: An area of mixed single-family residential and business and

industrial uses of limited size and intensity. – Neighborhood Commercial: An area where retail and convenience commercial uses are

grouped together and generally serve adjacent and nearby residential neighborhoods. – Community Commercial: An area where retail uses such as supermarkets and junior

department stores, and administrative and professional offices and convenience commercial uses are grouped together.

– Highway Commercial: A grouping together of retail and general commercial uses oriented

to the automobile and the traveling public. – Light Industrial: Light manufacturing, storage warehousing and manufacturing uses that are

relatively quiet and free of dust and odor. Excludes heavy, hazardous and obnoxious industrial activities.

– General Industrial: Consists of medium to heavy industrial uses, except those uses which are

dangerous and hazardous and cause excessive environmental pollution. – Residential Business: An area of mixed single-family residential and business and industrial

uses of limited size and intensity. – Public Facilities: Indicates an area occupied by a variety of public facilities, including

schools, libraries, police and fire stations, hospitals, clinics, and public parks.



3.3 Zoning Standards, Building Intensity and Population Density The following section summarizes the zoning categories contained in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Gardena. Figure LU-2 is the current Gardena Zoning Map. A summary is given of the permitted uses, building intensity and population densities allowable under each zoning category, where relevant. 3.3.1 Purpose of the Zoning Ordinance The type, location, density and scale of developments in a city are regulated primarily through a city’s Zoning Ordinances. Zoning ordinances are designed to protect and promote the health, safety and welfare of local residents. The Zoning Ordinance of the City of Gardena has the following specific objectives, as per Section 18.02.020 of the Municipal Code: – To encourage, classify, designate, regulate, restrict and segregate the highest and best

location and use of buildings and structures for residence, commerce, trade, industry, water conservation or other purposes in appropriate places;

– To regulate and limit the height, number of stories and size of buildings and other structures; – To regulate and determine the size of yards and other open spaces; – To regulate and limit the density of population; – To provide for adequate off-street parking and loading spaces; – To encourage the most appropriate use of land; – To conserve and stabilize the value of property; – To provide adequate open spaces for light and air; – To prevent and fight fires; – To prevent undue concentration of population; – To lessen congestion on streets; – To facilitate adequate provisions for community utilities, such as transportation, water,

sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; – To promote the public health, safety and general welfare. Single-Family Residential (R-1) – Purpose and Intent: The R-1 Single-Family Residential Zone is intended as a low-density

residential district of single-family homes with one dwelling per lot and customary accessory buildings considered harmonious with low-density residential development.

– Uses Permitted: Besides single-family dwellings, other uses permitted under R-1 are home

occupations covered by Section 18.56 of the Municipal Code; parks, playgrounds and public buildings; family day care homes, subject to a permit as per Section 18.56 of the Municipal Code; and certified mobile homes. Further uses permitted, subject to a conditional use permit, include public and private schools; churches and related facilities; utility sub-stations; and one granny unit per primary unit, according to Section 18.04.210 of the Municipal Code.



Figure LU-8: Gardena Zoning Map



– Property Development Standards: The minimum lot size is 5,000 square feet. Density is

limited to one dwelling unit per lot, or 8.7 units per acre. There are no floor to area ratio prescriptions; however there is a maximum of 50% lot coverage by structures. Maximum building height is 25 feet.

Low-Density Multiple Family Residential (R-2): – Purpose and Intent: The R-2 Low-Density Multiple Family Residential zone is intended as a

low-density residential district of single-family detached dwellings, duplexes and triplexes. – Uses Permitted: All uses permitted in the R-1 zone are also permitted in the R-2 zone. In

addition, multiple family units and condominiums and stock cooperative apartments are allowed. Uses permitted subject to a conditional use permit include all those covered in the R-1 zone, except granny units; off-street parking lots, subject to certain provisions contained in Section 18.14.030 of the Municipal Code; and boarding houses and lodging houses.


limited to one dwelling unit per 2,500 square feet of lot area, or 17.4 units per acre, with a maximum of three dwelling units per structure. The maximum floor to area ratio is 0.65. Maximum building height is 30 feet.

Medium-Density/High-Density Multiple Family Residential (R-3/R-4): – Purpose and Intent: The R-3 and R-4 Medium and High-Density Multiple Family

Residential zones are intended as medium to high-density residential districts of multiple family dwellings, such as apartments and condominiums.

– Uses Permitted: Uses permitted include all those covered in the R-1 and R-2 zones as well as

community care facilities. Uses permitted subject to a conditional use permit include all those covered in the R-1 and R-2 zones, except granny units, in addition to day care facilities; group care facilities; and mobile home parks as subject to provisions contained in Section 18.46.030 of the Municipal Code.


limited to one dwelling unit per 1,600 square feet of lot area, or 27.2 units per acre. The maximum floor to area ratio is 0.65. Maximum building height is 35 feet.

Commercial-Residential (C-R): – Purpose and Intent: The C-R zone is intended as a mixed-use zone to permit residential uses

of limited size and intensity to be located on lots occupied by commercial and office structures. The commercial character of the C-R zones must be maintained by restricting residential dwelling units above or to the rear of commercial structures.



– Uses Permitted: C-R zones can accommodate the following uses: offices of a business, professional and administrative nature; art galleries and studios; limited retail stores and shops; medical and dental clinics and labs; markets and delicatessens; restaurants and coffee shops; home appliance sales and repair shops; and academies for music, vocal instruction and dance. Uses requiring a conditional use permit include single-family dwellings; multiple-family dwellings; certified mobile home parks; combinations of commercial and residential uses; amusement arcades; lodges and meeting halls; vocational and trade schools; and churches. For a more complete list of permitted uses under the C-R zone, consult Section 18.20.020 of the Municipal Code.

– Property Development Standards: The minimum permitted lot size is 7,500 square feet. The

maximum permitted density is 27.2 units per acre. Maximum building height is 45 feet. Home Business (H-B): – Purpose and Intent: The H-B zone is a mixed-use zone intended to permit business and

industrial uses of limited size and intensity to be located on lots occupied by single-family residential structures. Where there are existing residential structures on a lot, the character of the Home Business zone must be maintained by restricting non-residential uses to a separate building or area located to the rear of such structures.

– Uses Permitted: Permitted uses in the H-B zones include single-family dwellings; home

occupations subject to the provisions of Section 18.56 of the Municipal Code; certified mobile homes occupied for residential purposes only; and family day care homes, subject to a permit as per Section 18.56 of the Municipal Code. Additional uses subject to a conditional use permit include plant nurseries; appliance and small equipment repairs, but excluding the retail sales of repaired storage; building contractor’s offices and related storage yards; machine shops; retail sales of products produced on the premises; printing, photocopying and film processing; data processing and research and development laboratories; light manufacturing, processing or assembly of goods; one granny unit per primary unit, according to Section 18.04.210 of the Municipal Code; and dog kennels. Dog kennels are restricted to the area bounded by 178th Street to the north, 182nd street to the south, Denker Avenue to the east, and the alley between La Salle Avenue and Harvard Boulevard to the west. The Commission and Council may approve other uses subject to a conditional use permit. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.28.030 of the Municipal Code.


limited to one dwelling unit per lot. There are no floor to area ratio prescriptions. Maximum building height is 35 feet.

Business and Professional Office (C-P) – Purpose and Intent: The C-P zone is intended to accommodate integrated office and

professional uses, with limited retail.



– Uses Permitted: Permitted uses comprise offices of a business, professional and administrative character; community care facilities; educational facilities; art galleries; medical and dental clinics and labs; markets and delicatessens; restaurants and coffee shops. Retail commercial uses are limited to barber and beauty shops; confectionery stores; florists and gift shops. With a conditional use permit, additional uses are amusement arcades; office supply stores; public parking lots; lodges and meeting halls; museums; day care facilities; group care facilities; urgent care centers; health facilities and hospitals; churches and related facilities; and certified mobile home parks according to Section 18.46.030 of the Municipal Code. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.26.020 of the Municipal Code.

– Property Development Standards: The minimum lot size is 5,000 square feet. The maximum

permissible floor to area ratio is 7:1. Maximum building height is 35 feet. Building height is restricted to 35 feet within 100 feet of a R-1/R-2 zone or 45 feet within 100 feet of a R-3/R-4 zone.

Commercial (C-2) – Purpose and Intent: The C-2 zone is intended for retail commercial uses, community

commercial uses and supporting services. – Uses Permitted: Permissible uses comprise offices of a business and professional nature;

banks and savings and loans institutions; department stores; retail stores for new merchandise only; retail confectioners, bakeries and delicatessens; retail services such as shoe repair, watch repair, tailors and dry-cleaners; markets; adult businesses and massage establishments; and theaters. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.30.020 of the Municipal Code. Uses permitted subject to a conditional use permit are the same as under the C-P zone.

– Property Development Standards: The minimum lot size is 7,500 square feet. The maximum permissible floor to area ratio is 7:1. Maximum building height is 35 feet. Building height is restricted to 35 feet within 100 feet of a R-1/R-2 zone or 45 feet within 100 feet of a R-3/R-4 zone.

General Commercial (C-3) – Purpose and Intent: The C-3 General Commercial zone is intended for general retail and

commercial uses. – Uses Permitted: Permissible uses include all those covered in the C-2 zone, in addition to

such uses as automobile repair and body shops; automobile sales; bowling alleys; gymnasiums; legal card clubs; mortuaries; music and vocal instruction; services stations; and union and labor halls. With a conditional use permit, the same activities as under the C-2 zone are permitted, in addition to such activities as car washes; hotels and motels; RV storage facilities; urgent care centers; group care facilities; health facilities; and vocational colleges. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.32.020 of the Municipal Code.



– Property Development Standards: The minimum lot size is 7,500 square feet. The maximum permissible floor to area ratio is 7:1. Maximum building height is 35 feet. Building height is restricted to 35 feet within 100 feet of a R-1/R-2 zone or 45 feet within 100 feet of a R-3/R-4 zone.

Heavy Commercial (C-4) – Purpose and Intent: The C-4 Heavy Commercial zone is intended for highway-related uses. – Uses Permitted: Any uses permitted under zones C-2 and C-3 are permitted under C-4, in

addition to such uses as boat, trailer and motorcycle sales; drive-in theaters; golf driving ranges and gold courses; off-street parking lots; skating rinks; and vocational and trade schools. Uses permitted subject to a conditional use permit are the same as those under the C-3 zone. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.34.020 of the Municipal Code.

– Property Development Standards: The minimum lot size is 7,500 square feet. The maximum

permissible floor to area ratio is 7:1. Maximum building height is 35 feet. Building height is restricted to 35 feet within 100 feet of a R-1/R-2 zone or 45 feet within 100 feet of a R-3/R-4 zone.

Light Industrial and General Industrial (M-1/M-2) – Purpose and Intent: The M-1 and M-2 zones accommodate light and general industrial

activities. – Uses Permitted: The M-1 and M-2 industrial zones have identical permissible uses. These

include administrative and commercial uses related to the services or operation of the permitted industrial uses; research and development; manufacturing and assembly; wholesale processing and distribution; storage and warehousing; printing and photocopying services; restaurants; maintenance services; machine shops; adult businesses; equipment rentals; building materials yards; and automobile repair, body shops and services. Uses permitted with a conditional use permit include automobile dismantling and wrecking; foundries; hotels and motels; mobile home parks; recreational vehicle storage facilities; vehicle storage yards and other outside operations; vehicle dispatching services; ambulance services; and towing and impound yards. For a more detailed list of permitted uses, consult Section 18.36.020 of the Municipal Code.

– Property Development Standards: The maximum permissible floor to area ratio is 7:1.

Maximum building height is 165 feet. Building height is restricted to 35 feet within 100 feet of a R-1/R-2 zone or 45 feet within 100 feet of a R-3/R-4 zone.



3.4 Public Services and Community Facilities Land devoted to public facilities in the City of Gardena, includes the following uses: Schools Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Local District K currently enrolls roughly 12,500 students in the City of Gardena. There are a total of 11 public schools in the L.A. U.S.D. system in Gardena, occupying a total of 127.85 acres. Private schools in the City of Gardena include Calvary Baptist, Gardena Valley Christian, Inklings, Junipero Serra High School, Maria Regina, Montessori Children’s World, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Anthony’s Day Nursery. Libraries The City of Gardena is served by two public libraries, the Masao W. Satow Library and Gardena Mayme Dear Library. Both facilities are part of the Los Angeles County Public Library system. The Masao W. Satow Library is located at 14433 South Crenshaw Boulevard. The library was dedicated in 1977 after the West Gardena Library was destroyed by fire in 1969. The facilities include a 7,000 square foot library and meeting room complex that holds 47,639 books, 133 periodicals, 5,037 audio-visual resources, and special collections. The Gardena Mayme Dear Library is located at 1731 West Gardena Boulevard. The 16,429 square foot facility was dedicated 1964. Fire and Medical Facilities The County of Los Angeles has been contracted to provide fire protection services in the City of Gardena. The Gardena Fire Station is located at 1650 West 162nd Street. Emergency medical response is coordinated between paramedic units, Gardena Memorial Hospital and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The emergency base station is located at Harbor-UCLA and operates 24 hours a day. The South Bay Regional Public Communication Authority, the organization that supplies dispatch services, is a Joint Powers Authority serving the cities of El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, and Manhattan Beach as a multi-jurisdictional emergency system. Police The Gardena Police Department serves the City of Gardena. The Department is organized into four divisions: transit security, parking compliance, operations and support. The Gardena Police Department currently has 109 full-time and 19 part-time employees, 87 of which are sworn officers. The Gardena Police Department is located at 1718 West 162nd Street. Parks and Recreational Facilities Over 16 acres of land in the City of Gardena is devoted to parks and recreational spaces. The location and size of these facilities is provided in Table LU-11.



Table LU-11: Parks and Recreational Spaces Site Location Size (Acres)

Bell Park 14708 S. Halldale Ave. 1.9Freeman Park 2100 W. 154th Place 3.0Nakaoka Center 1670 W. 162nd St. n/aPrimm Pool 1650 W. 160th St. n/aMas Fukai Park 15800 S. Brighton Ave. 4.9Rowley Park 13220 S. Van Ness Ave. 18.7Rush Gymnasium 1651 W. 162nd St. n/aSouth Gardena Park 1200 W. 170th St. 6.8Thornburg Park 2320 W. 149th St. 2.5Harvard Parkette 160th and Harvard Blvd. 0.15

Total Acreage 37.95n/a = not applicable. These are facilities.


City of Gardena CIRCULATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE


Technical Background Report Circulation and Infrastructure


1 Introduction The intention of an infrastructure and utilities capacity evaluation is to describe the City’s infrastructure systems, including public and private utilities, drawing on existing data sources such as master facility plans, capital improvement plans or program documents, utility company plans, and other documents on the City’s infrastructure.

2 Setting and Existing Conditions 2.1 Roadways Gardena is strategically located near regional highways, and has a fully developed system of local roads. The circulation system consists of the following: Freeways: Although no freeways are within the City, the City is served by the following:

• I-110 (Harbor Freeway): The Harbor Freeway provides north-south regional access, running from the I-10 (San Bernardino Freeway) in Downtown Los Angeles south to San Pedro and continues as SR-110 on Gaffey St. in San Pedro. I-110 is the same route as SR-110, which terminates in the north in Pasadena.

• I-405 (San Diego Freeway): Interstate 405 is the backbone of the region's transportation

system, it provides north-south access and runs from the I-5 (Golden State Freeway) in Sylmar and then reconnects with I-5 (San Diego Freeway) at the “El Toro Y” in Irvine. This freeway provides a bypass of Downtown Los Angeles.

• I-105 (Century/Glen Anderson Freeway): This interstate provides east-west access from

Los Angeles International Airport (the western terminus of the route) to the City of Norwalk to the east. The LAMTA operates the Green Line, a light-rail system, in the median of the freeway.

• SR-91 (Artesia Freeway): This state route provides east-west regional access from the

SR-60/SR-91/I-215 interchange in Riverside in the east to Vermont Ave.

In addition, the City is served by the following major arterials:

• El Segundo Blvd.: provides east-west access from the City of Lynwood in the east to the LAX area. LAMTA Metro line 124 operates on El Segundo Blvd. through the City of Gardena. Torrance Transit also runs the T-2 line along El Segundo Blvd within the City.

• Rosecrans Blvd.: provides east-west access from the City of Fullerton in the east to the

City of Manhattan Beach, it is an integral part of the MTA Rosecrans Transit Center which located blocks east of the City of Gardena. LAMTA Metro line 125, as well as other local transit lines, operates on Rosecrans Blvd. within the City.



• Redondo Beach Blvd.: provides east-west access from the City of Compton in the east to

the City of Redondo Beach, the road runs in a north-east to south-west direction within the City of Gardena. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines number GA-3 operates on Redondo Beach Blvd. within the City.

• Artesia Blvd.: provides east-west access from the terminus of SR-91 (Artesia Freeway) in

the east to the Pacific Coast Highway (SR-1) in Hermosa Beach, it is an integral part of the MTA Artesia Transit Center which is located in the south-east corner of the City of Gardena. LAMTA Metro lines 130, 210, 310 and 444 and Gardena Municipal Bus Lines number GA-2 as well as Torrance Transit line T-2, operate on Artesia Blvd. within the City.

• Vermont Ave.: provides north-south access roughly paralleling the I-110 (Harbor

Freeway) from the Harbor City district of the City of Los Angeles in the south to the Los Feliz district of the City of Los Angeles. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines numbers GA-1, GA-2 and GA-3 as well as Torrance Transit line T-1 operate on Vermont Ave within the City.

• Western Ave.: provides north-south access from the San Pedro district of the City of Los

Angeles in the south to the Los Feliz district of the City of Los Angeles. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines numbers GA-1 and GA-2 operate on Western Ave. within the City.

• Crenshaw Blvd.: provides north-south access from the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in

the south to the Hancock Park district of the City of Los Angeles. LAMTA Metro lines 210 and 310 as well as Torrance Transit lines T-1 and T-5 operate on Crenshaw Blvd. within the City.

• Normandie Ave.: provides north-south access from the Harbor City district of the City of

Los Angeles in the south to the Los Feliz district of the City of Los Angeles. LAMTA Metro line 209, as well as Gardena Municipal Bus Lines numbers GA-2 and GA-4, operates on Normandie Ave. within the City.

• Others: Manhattan Beach Blvd. and 161st St. also provide major arterial functions for

City of Gardena. Other roadways serving the City include the following:

• 135th St.: connects major north-south arterials, it provides east-west access from the City of Compton in the east to the City of Hawthorne. LAMTA Metro line 209 operates on 135th St. within the City.

• Marine Ave.: connects major north-south arterials, it provides east-west access from

Vermont Ave. in the east to Manhattan State Beach. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines number GA-1 operates on Marine Ave. within the City.



• Gardena Blvd.: connects major north-south arterials, it provides east-west access from the City of Compton in the east to S. Normandie Ave. in the City of Gardena. Gardena Municipal Bus Lines number GA-1 operates on Gardena Blvd. within the City.

• 182nd St.: connects major north-south arterials, it provides east-west access from Figueroa

Street near the SR-91 (Artesia Freeway) and I-110 (Harbor Freeway) interchange in the City of Los Angeles in the east to the City of Hermosa Beach.

• Van Ness Ave.: provides north-south access from the City of Torrance in the south to the

Hollywood district of the City of Los Angeles. LAMTA Metro line 209, and Gardena Municipal Bus Lines number GA-4 as well as Torrance Transit line T-5, operates on Van Ness Ave. within the City.

• Others: 158th St., and 162nd St., also provide major connection functions for the City of

Gardena. The location of these principal roadways is shown in Figure CI-1.



Figure CI-1: Street System

Arterial Collector Local City Boundaries



2.2 Public Transit A comprehensive system for the movement of persons within the city and throughout the region is a necessary component of any community. Viable alternatives to personal vehicles should provide citizens with opportunities for travel to various points within the Los Angeles region. The City of Gardena is served by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), Gardena Municipal Bus Lines (GMBL), and by Torrance Transit. Table CI-1 and Figure CI-2 summarize the bus routes that provide service to the City.

Table CI-1: Public Transit Routes Serving Gardena Service Provider Route General Characteristic

MTA 124 El Segundo Blvd./Santa Fe Ave./Imperial/Wilmington/ Rosa Parks Metro Rail Station

125 Rosecrans Ave. 126 Yukon Ave./Manhattan Beach Blvd 130 Artesia Blvd. 209 Van Ness Ave./Arlington Ave. 210 Vine St./Crenshaw Blvd./South Bay Galleria Transit Center 310 Vine St./Wilshire Blvd./Western Metro Rail Station/Crenshaw

Blvd./South Bay Galleria Transit Center Limited 444 Rancho Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills Estates/ Torrance/Patsaouras

Transit Plaza/Union Station Express Gardena Municipal Bus Line (GMBL)

1 Gardena to Los Angeles

2 Western Local/North on Vermont Ave./South on Western Ave. 3 Compton/Gardena/South Bay Galleria Transit Center 4 El Camino College/Gardena Torrance Transit 1 Los Angeles via Gardena 2 Los Angeles via South Bay Galleria Transit Center 5 Los Angeles via South Bay Galleria Transit Center

Source: http://www.mta.net)



Figure CI-2: Transit Routes



2.2.1 Gardena Municipal Bus Lines (GMBL) In addition to operating primarily as an intra-city transit system, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines provides service to downtown Los Angeles and to areas surrounding Gardena. To serve the over 400 stops in Gardena, (GMBL) provides the following bus lines: GA1, GA 2, GA 3, and GA 4. The Gardena Municipal Bus Lines manages 49 full-size diesel buses and 10 demand response vehicles, which act as a bus service for the disabled and for senior citizens. Utilizing 39 peak hour buses, the GMBL is an integral part of the Los Angeles regional transit system. GMBL provides low-cost, easily accessible public transportation for 18,000 riders on an average weekday. 2.2.2 Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority (LAMTA) The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) provides regional transportation services for the greater Los Angeles region. Over 1.1 million passengers are served daily on approximately 2,000 buses to 18,500 stops throughout Los Angeles County. For those residing in Gardena, the MTA offers connections to all points beyond the City. MTA routes serving the City are as follows: MTA 124, MTA 125, MTA 126, MTA 130, MTA 209, MTA 210, MTA 310, and MTA 444. 2.2.3 Torrance Transit Torrance Transit operates much in the same capacity as the Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, and does offer limited service within Gardena. The lines are as follows: T1, T2, and T5. 2.2.4 Other Regional Transit • Metro Blue Line: LAMTA operates a light-rail line which is located approximately three

miles east of the City of Gardena; the line runs from Downtown Los Angeles to the City of Long Beach.

• Metro Green Line: LAMTA operates another light-rail line, which is located just north of the City of Gardena; the line runs from LAX to Norwalk. Both lines operate trains at 15-minute intervals and both are only a short distance from the City limits.

• Union Pacific Rail Line: Union Pacific Railroad operates a freight rail line through the City of Gardena that runs from the Watts-El Segundo line north of the City, south to the City of Torrance. The line includes a spur line that runs into the center of the City.



2.3 Airports Although no airport is located within Gardena’s boundaries, several local and regional airports serve the City:

• Los Angeles International: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is ranked third in the world for number of passengers handled, and its usage shows no sign of decreasing. It is located just northwest of the City of Gardena, 10 minutes driving time on either the I-405 (San Diego Freeway) or I-105 (Century/Glen Anderson Freeway). LAX handles 75 percent of the passengers, 78 percent of the air cargo and virtually 100 percent of the international passengers and cargo traffic in the five-county Southern California region. Approximately 328,000 jobs in Los Angeles County link directly to LAX. Los Angeles County benefits from about $49 billion in economic output resulting from the airport. In the next two decades, the demand for commercial aviation will rise sharply in the five counties served by LAX – to 180% of the current level. To meet the projected needs of travelers and cargo shippers, the region must find capacity for an additional 77 million passengers per year. If those needs are not met, Los Angeles County could miss out on as many as 80,000 new jobs and $30 billion in economic activity.

• Long Beach Municipal: Long Beach Airport (LGB) is a hub of corporate activity as well

as one of the world’s busiest general aviation airports. It is located southeast of the City of Gardena in the City of Long Beach. The airport is well situated halfway between the major business and tourism areas of Orange and Los Angeles Counties.

• Compton Airport: Compton Airport (CPM) is a general aviation airport, which is located

east of the City of Gardena in the City of Compton. The airport provides flying lessons, aircraft rentals and aviation products and services.

• Torrance Airport: Torrance Airport (TOA) is a general aviation airport, which is located

southwest of the City of Gardena in the City of Torrance. The airport provides flying lessons, aircraft rentals and aviation products and services.

• Hawthorne Municipal Airport: Hawthorne Airport (HHR) is a general aviation airport,

which is located northwest of the City of Gardena in the City of Hawthorne. The airport provides flying clubs, aircraft rentals, a museum of flight, and aviation products and services.

• Santa Monica Municipal Airport: Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is a general aviation

airport, which is located northwest of the City of Gardena in the City of Santa Monica. The airport provides flying clubs and lessons, aircraft rentals, the Museum of Flying, and aviation products and services.

The location of these principal airports is shown in Figure CI-3.



Figure CI-3: Surrounding Area Major Transportation Facilities



2.4 Utilities Any increase in population strains existing infrastructure and facilities; without proper maintenance and regular investments through improvements and upkeep, the needs of residents and community visitors cannot be adequately addressed. This portion of the Circulation and Infrastructure Element focuses on maintenance of the existing infrastructure and utilities and the establishment of new projects and programs designed to extend better services to the community. The nature of future infrastructure requirement is related to future developments. The Infrastructure and Utilities element provides policies, which emphasize the need for maintenance of the existing infrastructure to meet the existing as well as the future requirements of the City of Gardena. 2.4.1 Water Supply The purpose of a water supply system is to provide water for urban, agricultural and industrial uses. Through its subsidiary, Southern California Water Company's (SCWC) the American States Water Company provides water delivery, wastewater treatment, customer billing, 24-hour customer support, and meter reading services to the City of Gardena. Southern California Water Company supplies approximately 165 million gallons of water daily to customers throughout California. Gardena falls in the region II – Southwest District Customer Service Area of the company (source: www.aswater.com). Water delivered to customers in the Southwest system, of which Gardena is a part, is a blend of groundwater pumped from the West Coast Groundwater Basin, and imported water from the Colorado River Aqueduct and the State Water Project in Northern California. The West Coast Groundwater Basin stretches southwest from the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone between the Baldwin Hills and Orange County to the Pacific Ocean. Water Quality Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the layers in the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal or human activity. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily mean water may be a health risk. The water delivered to Gardena meets the standard required by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the State Department of Health Services (DHS) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). In some cases, SCWC goes beyond what is required to monitor for constituents, which have known health risks. The Company uses only independent, state-certified water quality laboratories for testing (source: Southern California Water Company 1999 Water Quality Report for the Southwest System.



2.4.2 Storm Drains The purpose of a storm drain system is to prevent environmental damage from flooding, stream erosion, and water pollution. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works - Flood Control District, maintains storm drains in the City of Gardena. The storm drain system is a part of the 2,500 miles of underground storm drains network of the County of Los Angeles. In addition as part of the flood control function, the County operates and maintains 15 major dams, about 450 miles of open channel, 70,000 street drains, about 280 sediment entrapment basins and 218 concrete stream bed stabilization structures, 33 pumping plants, as well as numerous support facilities throughout the County (source: www.co.la.ca.us ). There are more than 50 miles of storm drain in the City of Gardena. Construction and maintenance of the storm drain system is financed through the General Funds of participating cities, Benefit Assessment taxes, and other developer/tax revenues. 2.4.3 Sewers and Solid Waste The purpose of a sewerage facility is to collect wastewater from residential, commercial, and industrial establishments and transport it to a treatment plant, where the harmful constituents of wastewater are removed before discharging it into a watercourse. In Gardena, sanitary sewers were first installed in the 1920’s and the system has been expanding ever since. Today, there are over 70 miles of sanitary sewer owned and operated by the City of Gardena. The Department of Public Works, City of Gardena conducted a study in 1975 to analyze the sanitary sewer system in the City. The flow coefficients, that is, the volume of sewage per unit area, which could be expected for different land uses, were determined to be as follows:

Table CI-2: Sewage Flow Coefficients for the City of Gardena Land Use Sewage Flow

Low and Medium Density Residential (R-1 & 2) 0.008 c.f.s./acre Peak High Density Residential (R-3 & 4) 0.012 c.f.s./acre Peak Commercial 0.016 c.f.s./acre Peak Manufacturing 0.020 c.f.s./acre Peak

Source: City of Gardena Sanitary Sewer System Study, Department of Public Works-Engineering Division, July 1975 The City also maintains detail maps of the drainage area, which shows the section of the cities of Los Angeles, Torrance and Hawthorne as well as unincorporated Los Angeles County from which their sewage drains through the City of Gardena. This sewage drainage is almost entirely carried by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District trunk sanitary sewers. In all, the City maintains the following drawings: • Sewage Flow Area, Gardena and Vicinity • Sanitary Sewer System, Flow Analysis • Sanitary Sewer System, Flow Analysis and Capacity Deficiencies • Trunk Sewer System, Proposed Projects



Source: www.co.la.ca.us

Gardena is within LA County’s Sanitation District #5. The County Sanitation Districts are a confederation of independent special districts serving the wastewater and solid waste management needs of about 5.3 million people in Los Angeles County.

The Sanitation Districts constructs, operates, and maintain facilities to collect, treat, and dispose of sewage and industrial wastes and provides for disposal and management of solid wastes, including refuse transfer and resource recovery. Maintenance of the local sewers and laterals that connect to the Districts' trunk sewer lines are the responsibility of the City of Gardena. The Districts also operate a comprehensive solid waste management system serving the needs of a large portion of Los Angeles County. This system includes three active sanitary landfills, two recycle centers, a materials recovery facility

(MRF), a transfer station, and three gas-to-energy facilities (source: co. la.ca.us). In addition, the Districts maintain three former sanitary landfill sites.

Figure CI-4: Solid Waste Facilities in Los Angeles County



2.4.4 Electricity and Natural Gas Southern California Edison (SCE) supplies electricity to the City under its baseline region 10 (source: www.sce.com). At present, SCE provides electric service to more than 4.2 million business and residential customers over a 50,000 square mile service area in coastal, central, and southern California. However, the current power crisis has not excluded Gardena and it falls in various rotating outage groups of SCE. The Southern California Gas Company provides natural gas to the City of Gardena. Gardena falls under their Climate Zone 1. The Gas Company divides their service into two main categories, Business and Residential.

Figure CI-5: Southern California Gas Company– Service Territory

Source: www.socalgas.com



Southern California Gas Company has about 45,000 miles of transmission and distribution pipelines providing natural gas service to 5 million meters and benefiting a population of about 18 million, most of whom rely on natural gas for heating, cooking, water heating and many other household uses.

Figure CI-6: Southern California Gas Company– Major Pipeline Facilities

Source: www.socalgas.com



Telecommunications Cable TV, Video, and Fiber Optic The AOL Time Warner Corporation under their company’s South Bay Region district serves the City of Gardena. AOL Time Warner provides digital, analog, pay-per-view, TV programming, and fiber optic services. Digital cable from AOL Time Warner delivers up to 200 channels, including 40 commercial-free music channels, 39 screens of Digital Home Theater and up to 25 premium networks (source: access.warner.com). AOL Time Warner also provides fiber optic service throughout the City of Gardena. AOL Time Warner also provides “Cable In The Classroom” service, which provides the areas schools with over 500 hours of free educational programming every month. The service includes:

• Basic cable service and more than 500 hours of commercial-free educational television programming every month.

• Cable in the Classroom magazine and a local monthly newsletter to schools in its service area.

• Copyright free programs relevant to school curriculum. • Support materials such as outlines, workbooks and study guides are some of the resources

available (source: access.warner.com).

In addition to AOL Time Warner, RCN Corporation was granted, in June 2000, the first regulatory approval to provide bundled phone, cable and Internet service to the City of Gardena. Internet Service AOL Time Warner provides Internet Service to the City of Gardena. The service, Road RunnerTM High Speed Online, is a cable Internet connection. The service uses the same fiber optic cable lines that bring cable channels and enables the user to access the Internet at higher speeds. RCN also provides a super-fast cable modem connection utilizing RCN's MegabandTM network as well as a high-speed 56K dial-up service. With either service, customers have access to email, news, chat and other services.



Figure CI-7: Time Warner Fiber Optic and Internet Service in the South Bay Region

Source: www.accesstimewarner.com



2.4.5 Revenue and Expenditure on Infrastructure and Utilities The City’s adopted Fiscal year 2001-2002 Budget projects the City’s Utility User Tax will be 9.07% of the City’s total revenue and the Sewer Use Fee will be 2.31% of total revenue. Transfers from other funds are estimated to be 12.96%, which are also a revenue source for infrastructure and utilities. Other revenue sources include State Gas Tax Fund, Consolidated Lighting Fund, and Capital Improvement Fund.

Figure CI-8: Distribution of General Fund Revenues

0 5 10 15 20 25

Sales and Use Tax

Transfers from Other Funds

Card Club Gross Revenue Fees

Property Taxes

Utility User Tax

Motor Vehicle In-Lieu Taxes

Business Licence Taxes

Franchise Taxes

Current Service Charges

Sewer Use Fees

Other Government Agencies

All Other

Source: City of Gardena, Fiscal year 2001-2002 Budget The Utility User Tax is one of the top five general fund sources for the City. With significant growth in the City, due to the increase in housing and a number of economic developments currently underway, utility user tax revenue is expected to increase (source: City of Gardena Fiscal Year 2000-2001 Budget). The City’s Utility User Tax of 4 percent is assessed upon electricity, gas, water, and telephone services. The City plans an expenditure of 13.32% of the 2001-2002 expenditure budget on Public Works projects related to infrastructure and utilities. The City has invested in technology via implementation of a citywide computer network system.



Figure CI-9: Distribution of General Fund Expenditures

0 10 20 30 40

Police

Non-Departmental

Public Works

Recreation and Human Sevices

Administrative Services/ Cable TV

City Managers Office

Fire

City Clerk/Treasurer/Attorney

Community Development

City Council/ Community Promo/ Sanitation

Source: City of Gardena, Fiscal year 2001-2002 Budget 2.5 Public Services and Community Facilities The Gardena Public Works Department is responsible for all maintenance functions of the City including public parks; streets and City owned property and facilities. Services to businesses include permits, graffiti removal, street tree trimming and maintenance, and infrastructure management (source: www.ci.gardena.ca.us). 2.5.1 Schools Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Local District K currently enrolls roughly 12, 500 students. Based on increasing student enrollment trends, LAUSD is anticipating significant increases in enrollment over the next several years (Figure CI-10). As such, the District is considering numerous options for accommodating future student enrollment. Table CI-3 provides a list of public schools in the area, their location, acreage, and enrollment figures for the 2000-2001 school year. Private schools in the City of Gardena include: Bible Baptist School, Calvary Christian Academy, Gardena Valley Christian School, Gardena Christian Academy, Junipero Serra High School, Maria Regina Elementary School, Montessori Children’s World, St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School, and St. Anthony’s Day Nursery.



Figure CI-10: LAUSD Enrollment Trends

695,885710,007

667,305647,612680,430

500,000

550,000

600,000

650,000

700,000

750,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Year

Tota

l Enr

ollm

ent

Source: California Department of Education, 1995-1999.

The City of Gardena also has two public libraries, the Masao W. Satow Library and Gardena Mayme Dear Library. Both facilities are part of the Los Angeles County Public Library system. In 1996-1997, the County of Los Angeles had a total circulation of 14,913,713 volumes and per capita circulation of 4.42 (source: California State Library, Los Angeles County Public Library System, Public Library Statistics, Fiscal Year 1996-1997). The Masao W. Satow Library is located at 14433 South Crenshaw Boulevard just outside of the City boundaries. The library was dedicated in 1977 after the West Gardena Library was destroyed by fire in 1969. The facilities include a 7,000 square foot library and meeting room complex that holds 47,639 books, 133 periodicals, 5,037 audio-visual resources, and special collections. The Gardena Mayme Dear Library is located at 1731 West Gardena Boulevard. The 16,429 square foot facility was dedicated 1964. Its current collection holds 100,000 volumes including 3,000 audio recordings, 2,000 videocassettes, 195 periodicals and newspapers and a unique microfilm collection with information on the Japanese-American internment during World War II. Facilities also include an enclosed Japanese Garden with a 150-year-old lantern donated by Gardena’s sister city, Ichikawa, Japan.

Libraries



Table CI-3: Public Schools in the City of Gardena

Name of School Acreage 2000-2001 Average Student Enrollment

Amestoy Elementary 4.77 Acres 1,008 1048 W. 149th St. Chapman Elementary 3.71 Acres 500 1947 Marine Ave. Denker Avenue Elementary 7.20 Acres 1,055 1620 W. 162nd St. Gardena Elementary 4.50 Acres 800 647 W. Gardena Blvd. . Gardena Senior High 57.5 Acres 3,080 1301 W. 182nd St. One-Hundred Eighty-Sixth St. Elementary 8.33 Acres 980 1581 W. 186th St. One-Hundred Fifty-Sixth St. Elementary 5.43 Acres 400 2100 W. 156th St. One-Hundred Fifty-Third St. Elementary 6.00 Acres 752 1605 W. 153rd St. One-Hundred Thirty-Fifth St. Elementary 5.99 Acres 1,044 801 W. 135th St. Peary (Robert E.) Junior High 17.51 Acres 2,187 1415 W. Gardena Blvd. Purche Avenue Elementary 6.91 Acres 710

13210 Purche Ave.

TOTAL 127.85 Acres 12,516 Sources: Los Angeles Unified School District, Real Estate Office, 2001. Self-Reported Data from Schools names above, 2001.


City of Gardena SAFETY


Technical Background Report Safety

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 46SCHOOL OF POLICY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT

1 Introduction Since the city adopted the General Plan in 1975, the city’s population has increased from 46,000 to 58,000 residents; businesses in the city have increased from 4,200 to roughly 6,500 employers. The growth in the city illustrates the need for the city to plan for ensuring the safety of life and property in the city as well as for an adequate supply of infrastructure and utilities to the residents. 1.1 Purpose A review of the public services and community facilities in the city of Gardena is intended to summarize conditions, identify and define programs to protect the community from fire and geologic dangers, and provide for the protection of human life and property. The background report focuses on features necessary for community safety such as water supply requirements, clearance around structures. In addition, it provides a review of recreation and open space including parks and other facilities including community centers, administrative offices, cultural facilities, government offices, and school. The effectiveness of the general plan depends upon the understanding of the mutual inter-relationship among the elements of the general plan. A particularly strong inter-relationship exists between the Safety Element and the Land Use, Economic Development, and Conservation elements. Likewise, an evaluation of existing recreational facilities is necessary for the completion of the Conservation and Open Space elements. Land use planning exercises a direct influence on safety and is an extremely effective tool for the regulation of land uses in potentially hazardous areas. It can also aid in the achievement of the objectives of the Safety Element. Through restrictions on the density and replacement or rejuvenation of older structures, the Land Use Element supplements the programs and policies of the Safety Element. The Open Space and Conservation Element of this Technical Background Report describes the lack of natural landscapes within the city. Therefore, it concentrates on the dynamic physical uses of urban lands and services required by the city. Its major concern is the protection and preservation of life and property and the prevention of economic loss. Therefore, the goals and policies of the two elements (Open Space Conservation Element Conservation and Safety Element) are interrelated. 1.2 Relevant Issues To equip the city with the capacity to meet service demands, the following issues should be addressed:



• Assess the adequacy and availability of existing community water, sewer, and drainage facilities and the need for expansion and improvements.

• Assess existing and projected capacity of treatment plants and trunk lines. • Examine trends in peak and average daily flows. • Inventory and location of existing and proposed power plants, oil and natural gas

pipelines, and major electric transmission lines and corridors. • Assess current power plant development and potential future development.

Consider such factors as the demand for transmission facilities, the transport and storage of hazardous materials, and local transportation impacts of current and future power plant developments (source: Antero Rivasplata and Gregg McKenzie, State of California General Plan Guidelines, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, November 1998, page 43). 2 Setting and Existing Conditions The city is land locked, resting on a flood plain, and surrounded by other communities in various stages of development. Mean elevation is 50 feet. The climate is moderate and rainfall averages are slightly higher than the city of Los Angeles. As part of the Los Angeles basin air quality district Gardena shares similar problems of air pollution with the surrounding area. Gardena’s geographic location near the interchange of the San Diego and Harbor Freeways makes commuter, access from the Los Angeles metropolitan area easy; it is in this way that Gardena developed into a commuter-oriented community. A relatively significant industrial base was encouraged due to freeway access, as well as proximity of Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles Harbor, and various railroad spur lines. Police and Crime The Gardena Police Department serves the City of Gardena. The Department is currently organized into four divisions:

• Transit Security: This division is responsible for law enforcement services on Gardena municipal buses within and outside the city limits.

• Parking Compliance: This division is responsible for monitoring an assuring

compliance with the state vehicle code and laws of the city regarding the stopping, standing, or parking of vehicles.

• Operations: This division is responsible for the deployment and management of

resources in the field to improve the quality of life and safety in the community. Operations personnel include uniformed patrol, traffic, and canine officers. Duties include solving community issues related to the quality of life and other community-oriented policing functions.



• Support: This division is responsible for providing support services to the

department with an emphasis upon the Community Oriented Policing philosophy. Support personnel include police specialist and civilian members. Support specialist functions of this division include recruitment, in-service and civilian training, communications, safety equipment maintenance, fleet readiness, youth education programs, grant management, emergency preparedness, and volunteer resources.

The police department, under the direction of the police chief, emphasizes Community Oriented Policing and aims to maintain the quality of life and safety of the community. Table S-1 provides statistical information on violent crime in cities with populations similar to Gardena. Figure S-1 provides a graphical depiction of these numbers. Property crime rates are also relatively higher in the city of Gardena, although some cities with similar population sizes have comparable property crime numbers. Table S-2 provides information on property crime in Gardena and Figure S-2 provides an illustration of these numbers. Overall, violent crime in Gardena has consistently decreased since 1994 while property crimes initially decreased and stabilized. Figures S-2 and S-3 illustrate these trends.

Table S-1: Violent Crimes, 2000

2000 Population Willful

Homicide Forcible

Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault

Total Violent Crimes

Lawndale 31,711 2 10 118 185 315Gardena 57,746 3 14 376 268 661Hawthorne 84,112 8 22 346 896 1272Carson 89,730 17 22 179 616 834Inglewood 112,580 23 52 575 726 1376Torrance 137,946 2 14 175 274 465Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 California Crime Index



Figure S-1 Violent Crimes by City, 2000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

Lawndale

Paramount

Gardena

Hawthorne

Carson

Inglewood

Torrance

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 California Crime Index

Table S-2: Property Crimes, 2000

2000 Population Burglary

Motor Vehicle Theft

Total Property Crimes

Lawndale 31,711 213 152 365Gardena 57,746 541 484 1025Hawthorne 84,112 596 599 1195Carson 89,730 552 627 1179Inglewood 112,580 803 913 1716Torrance 137,946 686 676 1362Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 California Crime Index

Figure S-2: Property Crimes by City, 2000

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000

Lawndale

Paramount

Gardena

Hawthorne

Carson

Inglewood

Torrance




Figure S-3: Total Violent Crimes in Gardena by Year

0100200300400500600700800900

1000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000


Figure S-4: Total Property Crimes in Gardena by Year

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 2000 California Crime Index The Gardena Police Department currently has 109 full-time and 19 part-time employees, 87 of which are sworn officers. Seven of the sworn officer positions were made possible by a grant from the Federal COPS Program. These positions will be funded for three years. The city also obtained a waiver for $800,000 of the fund matching requirements. Additionally, seized asset funds will be used to replace seven detective vehicles and two motorcycles. Efforts are being made to identify additional state and federal grant sources to assist the city in the replacement of equipment and the employment of additional personnel. The Gardena Police Department is located at 1718 West 162nd Street.



Fire Protection Services The County of Los Angeles has been contracted to provide fire protection services in the city of Gardena. The September 2000 consolidation was the result of Measure A, a March 1999 ballot measure that merged the Gardena Fire Department with the Consolidated Fire Protection District of Los Angeles County. The city budget indicates that funding needs for fire protection services has been cut by 82.8% (from $4,532,652 in the 1999-2000 fiscal year to $778,007 in the 2000-2001 fiscal year) by the contractual agreement with the County. The Los Angeles County Fire Department serves 57 district cities and provides services to all of the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The department answers roughly 234,000 emergency calls each year. In October 2001, Gardena’s City Council is expected to undertake a review of fire fighting and emergency medical services since consolidation. With 157 fire stations, 163 Engine Companies, 31 Truck Companies, and 79 paramedic units, the Los Angeles County Fire Department provides protection to 1.1 million housing units located throughout the department’s 2,278 square mile coverage area. The Gardena Fire Station is located at 1650 West 162nd Street. Fire protection services in the city of Gardena are divided into three areas:

• Fire suppression: Responsible for response to all reported fires within the City limits; for performance of fire prevention activities which include the checking of plans for all construction (except single family homes); routine inspection of businesses to insure compliance with minimum fire and safety standards; investigation for cause and origin of fires; and public education programs.

• Paramedic/rescue: Responsible for emergency medical response in conjunction with Memorial Hospital of Gardena and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center; response to emergency medical aid calls within minutes to anywhere within the city of Gardena; and response with fire suppression units to fire incidents within the city.

• Dispatch: Police, Fire, and Paramedic dispatch services for emergency and non-emergency incidents are supplied to city of Gardena residents and businesses by the South Bay Regional Public Communications Authority.

Emergency medical response is coordinated between paramedic units, Gardena Memorial Hospital and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The emergency base station is located at Harbor-UCLA and is operation 24 hours a day. The South Bay Regional Public Communication Authority – the organization that supplies dispatch services – is a Joint Powers Authority serving the cities of El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, and Manhattan Beach as a multi-jurisdictional emergency system.


City of Gardena OPEN SPACE AND

CONSERVATION Technical Background Report

Technical Background Report Open Space and Conservation


1. Introduction For all intents and purposes, the City of Gardena is a totally developed community. At the time that the previous Conservation Element was adopted in 1973, the City had approximately 6% or 209 acres of vacant land. By 1995, this figure was reduced substantially to 12.05 acres. The Technical Background Report shows that Gardena does not have an abundance of open space or natural resources, therefore the Open Space and Conservation Element focuses on conserving the City’s existing open space and its cultural and historical resources. In accordance with the State’s General Plan Guidelines, this Element will also focus on important environmental considerations such as “flood control, land reclamation, prevention and control of pollution of water resources, and prevention and control of erosion of soils.” (Source: State General Plan Guidelines, 1998). Government Code Section 65302(e) states the general plan shall include an open space element. State planning law requires the preparation of a local open space plan for the comprehensive and long-range preservation and conservation of open space land within its jurisdiction along with a program for its implementation. Open space for Gardena exists only for recreational purposes, therefore recreation is included as a co-element of Open Space for the City of Gardena. The legislative intent of the law is to ensure that cities and counties recognize that open space land is a valuable limited resource that must be protected wherever possible. 2. Setting and Existing Conditions

The City of Gardena is one small part of the South Bay. It is impossible to establish the direction for Gardena’s future without examining the larger area of which it is a part. Gardena benefits from regional assets such as, recreational amenities, access to freeways, and proximity to the ocean and the Port of Los Angeles. 2.1 Regional Recreation and Park Facilities There are several parks and recreation facilities in close proximity to the City of Gardena: • To the east is the Rosecrans Recreation Center in Los Angeles at S. Vermont and

W.149th St. Is 10.54 acres and contains 3 baseball diamonds, 1 soccer field, 2 basketball courts, 1 volleyball court, 1 paddle tennis court, ½ mile jogging trail, and scattered playground areas and a recreation center with a gymnasium and auditorium, classrooms and conference room.

• To the northeast is Helen Keller Park in Los Angeles at W.125th Street and S.

Vermont Avenue. It contains outdoor basketball courts, a football/soccer field, picnic and barbecue areas, play equipment, a swimming pool, and a community building.



• To the west is Alondra Park and Golf Course in Torrance at 16400 S. Prairie Avenue Its facilities include a regulation 18 hole golf course and a par 3, 18 hole golf course as well as ball diamonds, lake fishing, football/soccer facilities, picnic and barbecue area, play equipment, swimming pool and a community building.

• To the north is Chester L. Washington Golf Course at 1930 W. 120th St in

Hawthorne. It is a regulation 18-hole golf course. Also at this location is Holly Park at 120th and Van Ness. It contains outdoor basketball courts and two baseball diamonds.

In addition to these nearby parks, a Regional Bicycle Master Plan was completed by the MTA for the South Bay area in 1995. According to the plan the existing bicycle network in the South Bay region is “incomplete and discontinuous” (source: LAMTA South Bay Area Bicycle Master Plan, 1995). The bicycle routes that have been developed do not form a continuous system that can be used to reach regional activity centers such as employment or transportation centers. The South Bay Area currently has 65 miles of Class I bike trails and 67 miles of Class II bike routes. The purpose of the Bicycle Plan is to add to the already existing system to make it more contiguous which would provide bicycle access to the identified regionally significant activity centers such as retail centers, employment centers, universities, high schools, major health care facilities, transit centers and major parks and recreation centers. Figure OSC-1 shows the existing bikeways and illustrates how the new plan will connect the already existing pathways. The proposed system provides for a connected north/south and east/west network that would serve major activity centers. The regional system would provide an additional 24 miles of Class I bike paths and 171 miles of Class II bike lanes.



Figure OSC-1: Master Plan of Regionally Significant Bikeways

Source: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, South Bay Area Regional Bicycle Master Plan Report, June 1995. 2.2 Water Resources

2.21 Harbors Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors together form the second busiest port in the world, with only Hong Kong moving greater tonnage in imports and exports. In addition to these major commercial ports, King Harbor in Redondo Beach with over 1,450 slips and Marina Del Rey on Santa Monica Bay, one of the largest man made harbors in the world, are home to most of the regions small craft. In addition, the two harbors on Catalina Island are a major tourist draw. 2.22 Rivers The region contains many different waterways from the channeled Los Angeles River and Dominguez Channel to Compton Creek, the Palos Verdes Reservoir, Harbor Lake (Machado Lake) and other perennial and intermittent blue line streams.



2.23 Beaches The City of Gardena itself is landlocked, but it is within five miles of several beaches on the Pacific Ocean including El Segundo, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, these add an important recreational amenity to the City. 2.3 Environmental Issues 2.3.1 Willows Wetland The wetland is located in the far southeast portion of the city, north of Artesia Boulevard and west of the Harbor Freeway. This site is the last approximately 8 acres left of a larger lake which once occupied the area. The area is vegetated with a number of different species some native and others that are considered “escaped exotics and garden waifs” (source: Willows Wetland Jurisdictional Delineation, Envicom Corporation, 1994. Area vegetation includes willows, elms, peach, avocado, Brazilian-pepper tree and palms. The under-canopy consists of water primrose, cypreus, spikerush, willow weed, mugwort and other species. The full list of plant species is included as an appendix. Wildlife in the area is aided in diversity by the quality of the habitat and its relative isolation. The area is especially attractive to insects, rodents, some amphibians, birds and some domesticated or feral animals, such as domestic rabbit and cat, which visit or inhabit the wetlands. The isolation of the wetlands from other similar areas and the level of pollution make the habitat undesirable for certain amphibians and mammals. However, the habitat is good for breeding or transitory habitat for other species. The Willows Wetland area has implications not just for the City of Gardena, but also for the South Bay region, as it is one of four natural wetlands that remain after the draining of the lake that was formed by the Laguna Dominguez Slough. It is home to many different species of animal including two sensitive species, the red-shouldered hawk and the yellow warbler. In addition to the natural resources preserved here, this is an important link to the history of Gardena and, additionally, provides precious open space in this urbanized community. The most significant risks to the wetland come from manmade hazards such as pollution through runoff and dumping and encroachment of the built environment. There is a strong connection between the wetlands and surrounding areas and it is necessary to protect this relationship. 2.3.2 Regional Water Quality Management

The quantity and quality of water available will always be a regional issue. No one city can pollute, deplete, or for that matter, conserve and protect water resources by concentrating within its own municipal boundaries. For this reason, water quality is a regional issue handled and adjudicated by regional bodies. Reliable water sources cannot



be maintained or achieved by depending on natural replenishment or state water projects. Conservation over the region is a requirement for the entire Los Angeles Basin. Pollution is a major detriment to available water in the region. Groundwater resources are at risk from encroachment of seawater and contaminates, entering the water supply from storm drains. 2.3.3 Regional Air Quality Management Similar to water quality management, air quality is by nature a regional issue. The Los Angeles area has improved the quality of air by reducing the number of toxic air pollutants through proactive steps to reduce emissions, and reduce the number of polluting automobiles and industries. Because of these measures, Los Angeles is no longer the smoggiest city in the nation (source: Southern California. Association of Governments, “State of the Region, 2001). Pollution is still an issue in the region. In general, the shape of the Los Angeles Basin and prevailing winds coming from the ocean, and mountains blocking the eastern boundary set up conditions conducive to smog collecting in the basin. The pollution levels naturally increase during the warmer months with winter and spring being the most pollution free. 2.4 Regional Flood Control The creation of concrete channels for the Dominguez Slough and Los Angeles River are two of the most important flood control measures in the region. There is an extensive system of storm drains in various states of repair most of which drain directly to the ocean. Because rainfall in the area varies according to local topography, the region can expect anywhere from seven to fourteen inches of rain a year with the amount of rain varying form place to place and year to year. 3 Existing Conditions 3.1 Open Space Open space land in Gardena is divided into six categories: local parks and recreation facilities, school outdoor areas, municipally serviced areas, flood control channels and storm drains, railroad right of ways, and utility easements. There is a total of 149.57 acres of open space within the City. Table OSC-1 indicates the amount and percentage of open space in each category. Of the approximately 150 acres of open space in the City, almost half of the open space in the City is comprised of parks, recreation facilities and school playgrounds. These facilities are meant for both structured and unstructured sports and recreation activities, as well as



family events such as picnics. Just less than one-third of the open space land is in the form of flood control channels and storm drains. While these may not be available for active recreational uses, they could be created into pathways for use by cyclists or pedestrians. Finally, the City maintains approximately 10 percent in median strips and landscaping and the remainder is comprised of a utility corridor. Figure OSC-2 and OSC-3 display the geographic locations within the City to illustrate just how these categories are distributed throughout the City.

Table OSC–1: Existing Open Space

Category Acres Percentage of Total Open Space

Parks and Recreation Facilities 35.95 25.76 School Outdoor Areas 23.10 16.55 Municipally Serviced Areas 16.02 11.48 Flood Control Channels and Storm Drains 46.50 33.32 Utility Easement 18.00 12.89 Totals 139.57 100

Source: 1973 Open Space and Recreation Element and City of Gardena Public Works Department



Figure OSC-2: Existing Open Space



Figure OSC–3: Local Parks and Recreation Facilities



The 1973 Open Space and Recreation Element indicated there was 29.5 acres of park land, 54.1 acres of school playgrounds owned and operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District, and 53.2 acres of other open space including median strips, flood channels, greenbelts, railroad right of ways and utility easements. (Private school playgrounds were not included due to complicated usage agreements. This does not preclude the use of these private playgrounds in the future.) Table OSC–2 highlights the change in open space from 1973 to today. In the 28 years since its last General Plan update, Gardena has gained an additional 16.45 acres of park space primarily due to the addition of South Gardena Park and the inclusion of the Willows Wetland into the City’s park inventory. In addition, the City has also experienced a net gain in other open space that appears to be due to an increase in landscaping along the City’s main thoroughfares. On the other hand, the City has lost 31 acres of school outdoor areas primarily due to the addition of new classrooms and other facilities onto its schools and the exclusion of Gardena High School from the inventory because it is not actually within Gardena’s City limits.

Table OSC–2: Change in Open Space (1973-2001)

Open Space Type 1973 2001 Net Change (in acres)

% Change

Local Parks 29.50 35.95 + 6.45 +55.8 School Outdoor Areas 54.10 23.10 - 1.00 -57.3 Other 73.20 80.52 + .32 +10.0 Total 156.80 149.57 -7.23 -4.61

Source: 1973 Open Space and Recreation Element and City of Gardena Public Works Department The open space within the City’s jurisdiction has seen an overall net increase. To maintain this positive direction, it is important that the City continue to implement policies that will aid in conserving the existing open space as well as add to the open space system in the future. 3.2 Local Parks and Development Standards As previously mentioned, the City has 45.95 acres of parks and 23.1 acres of school playgrounds. Figure OSC-3 shows that the parks and school facilities are distributed fairly evenly throughout the City, with the exception of the northeast part. While the majority of that part of the City is zoned as industrial land, there are multi-family and single-family residential homes in that area, whose residents need a local park. In fact, the City as a whole lacks the local parks and recreation facilities needed for a city of its size. A Citywide analysis from the 1973 Open Space and Recreation Element indicated that the city would need an additional 445 acres of open space in the form of parkland to meet the National Recreation and Parks Association standard of 10 acres per 1,000 population. This standard included 6 acres for regional parks, 2.5 acres for school playgrounds and 1.5 acres for local parks and playgrounds. Using the prevailing, and lower, standard set



by the State of California of 3 acres per 1,000 for local parks and playgrounds, and the city’s population of 57,746, the City would need approximately 173 acres of park land to meet this standard. This calculation indicates the City is still very deficient in park space and would need an additional 127 acres of parkland. Including the school playgrounds, the City would still be deficient by 104 acres. This shortage in parkland is for both local and regional park facilities. Most parks in Gardena are relatively small with the average size at 5.75 acres. They range in size from the largest (Rowley) at 18.7 acres and the smallest (Harvard) at 0.15 acres. The city is in need of some larger parks greater than 20 acres in size as well as more local parks in the residential neighborhoods. The presence of plentiful and well-designed parks and recreation facilities contributes to the quality of life in a community. The need for more parks and open space in Gardena is evident in that it is not able to satisfy even today’s low standard of 3 acres per 1,000 population. While some of this deficiency can be off-set by the use of school yards after school hours, or through the close proximity to Gardena of regional and local parks in other jurisdictional boundaries such as Rosecrans Park, Alondra Park, Helen Keller Park, and Chester L. Washington Golf Course, the City needs to find ways to secure additional parks and open space. At present, the only way to add to the existing inventory appears to be through demolition and redevelopment, imposing more stringent development standards regarding setbacks and open space requirements, such as the application of a park fee for all new development projects, irrespective of type. This new fee would require developers to provide open space or cash in lieu for their projects that would allow the City to acquire additional land or create a fund to purchase available land to develop new parks. 3.3 Recreation Facilities and Opportunities Currently Gardena has 6 parks with community buildings, 1 large two-story community center, 1 municipal pool, 1 parkette and 2 gymnasiums. As displayed in Table OSC-3 there are different amenities and recreation facilities at each location allowing for different programming opportunities at each location. • South Park – pistol range, recreation building and classroom, multi-purpose field, 2

basketball courts, 4 tennis courts, picnic shelter, playground area, handball court. • Bell Park – recreation building and classroom, ball diamond, basketball court,

handball court, 2 picnic shelters, 2 playground equipment areas, multi-purpose field. • Rowley Park – auditorium, weight room, 2 classrooms, (inoperable) kitchen, handball

court, gymnasium, 4 ball diamonds, 2 basketball courts, 4 tennis courts, 2 picnic shelters, 2 playground equipment areas, (inoperable) wading pool.

• Thornburg Park – recreation building, classroom, ball diamond, multi-purpose field, 2 basketball courts, handball court, 2 picnic shelters, playground area, horseshoe pitch, tumbling room.

• Freeman Park – 2 classrooms, ball diamond, basketball court, picnic shelter, playing field, playground equipment, multi-purpose field, tennis court.



• Fukai Park – 3 classrooms, 2 ball diamonds, 2 basketball courts, handball court, picnic shelter, playground equipment.

• Harvard Parkette – playground equipment, picnic area • Ken Nakaoka Community Center – 6 meeting rooms, auditorium, kitchen, stage

Table OSC-3: Parks and Recreation Facilities Park Name

Acr

es

Play

grou

nd

Bal

l D

iam

ond

Socc

er

Ten

nis

Picn

ic A

rea

Bas

ebal

l

Gym

Pool

Wad

ing

Pool

Com

m./

Rec

Cen

ter

Mtg

. Roo

m

Bas

ketb

all

S. Gardena 6.80 1 1 1 4 1 1 2

Bell 1.90 2 1 2 1 1 1

Rowley 18.70 2 4 4 2 4 1 1 2 2

Thornburg 2.50 1 1 2 1 2 2

Freeman 3.00 1 1 1 1 1 2 1

Fukai 4.90 1 2 1 2 3 2

Harvard 0.15 1 1

Willows 8.00

Nakaoka Comm. Center

1 6

Primm Pool 1

Rush Gym 1 3

Total 45.9 9 10 1 9 10 9 2 1 0 2 17 13

Source: City of Gardena Public Works Department and Recreation Department The Recreation and Human Services Department of the City of Gardena is responsible for programming the city’s parks and recreation facilities. Activities are divided into 10 categories: adult sports, aquatics, children’s day care, city-wide special events, contract classes, developmentally disabled programming, facility reservations, Nakaoka Community Center programming, park programming and youth sports. These categories provide well over 400 programs to the community including senior citizen activities such as exercise classes, Tai Chi, and dancing; youth sports leagues in flag football, basketball, softball, baseball, and track and field; and adult sports programs such as volleyball, basketball, and slow pitch softball. In 1994 the City’s Recreation Department reported 162 youth teams registered in its flag football, softball, baseball, volleyball and basketball leagues. This was an increase in 52 teams from 1992. In adult leagues, there were 32 men’s basketball teams, while the co-ed volleyball leagues attracted 36 teams and adult softball leagues had 120 teams in various skill levels.



Community-based programs are assisted through reservations for use of 11 park classrooms, 6 community center classrooms, 2 auditoriums, 10 picnic shelters, 10 ball diamonds, 9 tennis courts, 13 basketball courts and 1 swimming pool. 3.4 Bicycle Routes Since the park space in the City is at a premium, the City could increase its resident’s recreation and commuting options by adding more bicycle routes, especially the Class I and Class II types that separate the cyclist from motor vehicle traffic. Bicycle routes within the city are currently all Class III (on-street) routes with no bicycle lane. The only exception is a Class I route (off-street bicycle path) in the northwest that follows the Dominguez Channel from El Segundo Blvd. to Rosecrans Ave. Figure OSC-4 shows the existing and proposed bicycle paths for the City. The MTA’s South Bay Area Regional Bicycle Master Plan proposes a regional path along Vermont from the southern city limits to the northern city limits. This path would be most accessible if a bike lane were added in each direction making it a Class II route. Other proposed paths include a regional Class I (off-street) path in the south along the Dominguez Channel from Gramercy to Vermont. In addition, providing another Class II route along Redondo Beach Blvd. would feed into the regional system and provide a connected circulation system for commuter or recreational cycling. 3.5 Flood Control The City is in a generally flat area trending northeast within the Los Angeles Basin. The natural contour combined with well draining soils minimizes Gardena’s issues with flood control. The Dominguez Channel and existing retention basins meet the City’s basic needs for flood control. However, in 1998 the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) added an additional flood zone to Los Angeles County (source: hud.gov/local/los/losflod.html). This new AR Zone indicates that there are large areas for which current flood control measures may not be sufficient protection against 100 or 500-year floods. Within the boundaries of Gardena, this new flood zone affects the southeast portion of the city, surrounding the Willows Wetland and South Gardena Park. FEMA is establishing new building criteria for the AR Zone but because Gardena is already built in this area, there is no immediate impact to development in the area. New development would be required to meet the new zone requirements and flood insurance may be required within the zone.



Figure OSC-4: Bicycle Routes



3.6 Geologic Conditions Earthquakes in California are caused by the movement of the Pacific and North American plates, between which the San Andreas Fault is the boundary. An earthquake happens when movement of the plates relative to each other causes movement or friction. Some degree of risk from natural disasters is inevitable and cannot be predicted with certainty. The knowledge and technology to control risk is constantly evolving. While the San Andreas Fault system dominates the area, over 200 other faults in Southern California can produce an earthquake above magnitude 6 (source: Southern California Earthquake Center). The City of Gardena is located within a seismically active region. The dominant seismic feature affecting the planning area is the Newport-Inglewood fault. Technically, this is part of the San Andreas Fault system but it is less likely then the other faults in the system to produce an earthquake. Aside from ground shaking and ground surface rupture, earthquake hazards include the fissuring or cracking of bedrock, landslides, liquefaction and ground settlement. Structures most likely to be affected by earthquakes are those that are old or near earthquake faults in areas that may be prone to liquefaction. (See Figure OSC-5.) The Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zones Act was signed into law on December 22, 1972 and went into effect on March 7, 1973. Under this act, the State Geologist is required to delineate “special studies zones” along known active faults, fault where an earthquake has occurred within the last 11,000 years. The purpose of this act is to prohibit the construction of new buildings across the trace of active faults. Cities and counties affected by the provisions of this act must regulate development within the special studies zones through zoning controls, geologic studies, or other measures. The Alquist-Priolo Act and the fault zones delineated by the State Geologist address surface rupture hazards. Ground shaking and other seismic hazards are not addressed by the creation of these zones (source: Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zone Act). Earthquakes affect areas several miles away from the epicenter and continue to elude predication. The only presently known measures to minimize the hazards involve structural reinforcement, physical separation, and emergency preparedness.



Figure OSC-5: Liquefaction Map

LEGEND

Liquifaction Area



3.6.1 Water In certain areas, the deposition of sediments has resulted in impervious layers, which block the downward movement of irrigation and recharge toward the aquifers. This impervious sedimentary layer has resulted in a perched water condition where irrigation-recharge water is retained above the water table. Ground water in Gardena averages between 30-40 feet and 70-80 feet above sea level in the planning area. Perched groundwater is an issue in the southern portion of the planning area and is more prevalent after heavy rainfall. The chemical quality of the groundwater within the planning area is generally satisfactory for domestic use. Although the present quality is satisfactory, there may be a trend toward poorer groundwater due to urban runoff, declining water tables, and saline intrusion in the future. Although there is a desire to recharge and replenish the supply of groundwater, the continued reliance on groundwater to meet current and increasing demand may lower the water table continuously. Los Angeles County Department of Public Works has considered establishing a recharge program in the region. There are some surface water sources within the area. The Willows Wetland serves as runoff catchment and provides recreational opportunities to the public. Surface waters in the planning area serve as biological habitats and recreational resources. 3.6.2 Soils The soils within the planning area consist of loams, sandy loams, clay loam and clay adobe. Most of the soil in the area drains well and exhibits good percolation. The soils within the project area are expansive, but standard City practices are in place to control expansive soils. The potential for soil to expand when wet and shrink when dry depends on the type and amount of clay in the soils. Soils with certain types of clay tend to swell or expand when its water content is increased. They also shrink disproportionately when dry. Highly expansive soils can cause structural damage to foundations and roads. Landscape irrigation could concentrate subsurface water and subsequent soil expansion could cause land slippage and structural damage. High shrink/swell potential makes a site less suitable for building, however special grading and construction techniques can mitigate the problems with expansive soils. Ground subsidence is caused by decreasing subsurface pressure and can be traced to pumping of groundwater, natural gas, or oil. The substantial loss of ground fluid creates a vacuum that gradually causes the sinking to the ground. Subsidence may adversely impact development, as well as cause damage to underground utilities.



The City and the surrounding area is subject to subsidence, a gradual sinking of an area due to subsurface pressures mainly caused by oil and gas extraction within the planning area. Subsidence is limited to a few inches over several decades and standard building practices mitigate the impacts it has on structures. 3.6.3 Minerals Mineral resources include nonrenewable deposits of ore, stone, and earth materials. Gold, copper, lead, silver, zinc, and manganese deposits are believed to be scattered throughout the mountains to the east and north of the project areas. The largest known resources of titanium in California are found in the western San Gabriel Mountains. The State Division of Mines and Geology has not designated any lands within the planning area as state classified mineral resource deposit area. Due to the urbanized nature of Gardena, it is unlikely that any mineral resources will be discovered or mined within the planning area. 3.7 Flora and Fauna Gardena has limited important ecological and riparian areas due to the nature of this urbanized City. Ruderal communities have taken over some open areas and consist of non-native grasses and weeds. Riparian plant communities occur around drainage and low areas. Wildlife in Gardena includes a variety of native and introduced species. Some amphibian species are seasonally abundant in willow woodlands. Several sensitive animal species may be present in the are as indicted by their preferred habitats. Some of these areas serve as a migration corridor as well as supporting diverse wildlife (source: Willows Wetland Jurisdictional Delineation, Envicom Corporation, 1994). The natural climate of the planning area is temperate, Mediterranean climate with limited water. Prevalent landscaping styles within the planning area are based on a cooler climate with abundant rainfall. In order to maintain these green lawns and shrubbery, irrigation is necessary. Excessive watering may be detrimental to native plants and increase their scarcity in the planning area. To prevent further decline in the limited biota within the planning area, natural habitat should be preserved and these native species and their favorable habitat should be incorporated whenever possible into the developed areas and built landscapes. 3.8 Cultural and Historical Resources Gardena has a rich and colorful history within the Los Angeles Basin. There is evidence of human occupation from prehistoric times and originally recorded in 1939 (source: City of Gardena, Draft Environmental Impact Report, Smith’s Food & Drug Center, State Clearinghouse No. 94071008, August 23, 1994).



In addition, there is evidence of historic resources within the planning area. The amount of existing cultural resources directly determines the extent of conservation that can be realized. Due to the built-out nature of the City, it is impossible to examine fully or recover these resources. To prevent further declines in quality or availability of historical resources, the City of Gardena undertook a historical resources survey that it submitted to the Office of Historic Preservation in the State of California in April of 1981. The intent of the survey was to create more public awareness in the community’s significant sites, to encourage a preservation ordinance to be developed at the local level, to increase the level of preservation activity within the City and to transmit the history of Gardena to its newer generation. The entire City was surveyed block-by-block and each building was researched to see if it might have any architectural, cultural, or historic significance. For their final list, they chose 111 sites that would give a balance of the history and culture of the City. These sites include 20 commercial buildings, 82 residential buildings, 4 churches, 2 schools, a natural area, federal post office and a social hall. Of these, the following were recommended to be included for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places:

• Allen B. Hobbs Residence, 14307 South Kingsley Drive • Samuel K. Woodward House, 15309 South Normandie Avenue • Willows Wetland, Artesia Boulevard and Vermont Avenue • William A. and Karen M. Wills House, 15625 South Vermont Avenue • Charles E. Wallin House, 1726 West 145th Street • John W. Klasgye House, 835 West 145th Street (has since been removed from the

list) (source: City of Gardena, Gardena Historical Resources Survey, Final Report, April 1981).

Since the publication of the Historical Resources Survey in 1981, a number of buildings have been removed from the list because they are no longer part of the City of Gardena or they no longer exist. Appendix A to this Element lists all the buildings listed in the survey and includes a map of their locations (Figure OSC-6). The final results also contain several recommendations to the City, including the formation of a Cultural Heritage Board to develop a historic preservation plan and an ordinance that would provide for the designation, preservation and control of architectural, historical, or cultural landmarks in the City. These landmarks would not only be those nominated to the National Register but would also include those buildings considered to be local landmarks. It was hoped that the information contained in the report would be used by planning staff for future development decisions. Finally, it was recommended that a follow-up survey be conducted to reflect the current ethnic diversity within the city. It was hoped by those that undertook the survey that it would foster pride in the community resulting in more community involvement and interest in the City’s heritage.


City of Gardena ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT


Technical Background Report Economic Development


I. Introduction The Economic Development Chapter of the Technical Background Report provides an explanation of local economic conditions that affect the City of Gardena. Section 65030.2 of California’s Planning and Zoning Law states that “It is the policy of the State legislature that land use decisions be made with full knowledge of their economic and fiscal implications, giving consideration to short-term costs and benefits, and their relationship to long-term environmental impact as well as long-term costs and benefits.”

2 Setting and Existing Conditions 2.1 Employment and Work Force Unemployment The unemployment rate in the City of Gardena as of January 2000 was 3.7%. In a regional context, the average unemployment rate was 4.0%, in the South Bay area and 4.6% in LA County. Ten years ago, the unemployment rates were 5.9% for Gardena, 6.4% for South Bay, and 7.4% for LA County. Changes over the last decade have resulted in Gardena having a slightly lower unemployment rate in comparison to neighboring cities (see Figure ED-1).



Figure ED-1: Unemployment Rates

1.2%

1.4%

1.5%

1.9%

2.1%

2.1%

2.2%

2.4%

2.9%

3.7%

3.7%

4.3%

4.3%

4.5%

4.6%

4.7%

6.3%

0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0%

Hermosa Beach

Rancho PV

Manhattan Bch

RH Estates

El Segundo

Redondo Beach

PV Estates

Torrance

Lomita

Gardena

United States

Hawthorne

California

Carson

LA County

Lawndale

Inglewood

Source: State Employment Development Department, 1/10/01 Household Income The median household income provides a general indication of the consumption ability and effective purchasing power within the local area (see Figure ED-2). Figure ED-2 illustrates Gardena’s relatively low median household income in comparison to nearby cities in terms of median household income.



Figure ED-2: Median Household Income

$29,881

$30,967

$33,063

$34,552

$34,965

$43,882

$47,204

$51,913

$- $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000

lnglewood

Hawthorne

Gardena

Lawndale

LA Co.

Carson

Torrance

Redondo Bch.

Source: 1990 U.S. Census

2.2 Training Programs

Comparison of Educational Facilities Related to Job Training The City of Gardena has one trade school, Bryman College within its borders (see Table ED-1). El Camino College, a two-year college is located at Gardena’s western border. Such community colleges are major providers of workforce and vocational training and provide the labor force with technical and professional skills valuable to local businesses. Community colleges also provide forums to facilitate public/private cooperation that focus on job training programs.



Table ED-1: Job-training Related Educational Facilities

Source: www.yahoo.com 2.5 Redevelopment Activities There are several programs in the area that contribute to the economic health as well as create competition for the City of Gardena. These include the following; Torrance Downtown Redevelopment Project Area: This redevelopment project is a cooperative public-private endeavor of the City of Torrance, ANA Real Estate U.S.A., Inc. and Gascon Mar Ltd, to redevelop the original commercial core into a mixed-use development. The project contains 28,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, three residential condominium complexes (179 units), and 529 parking spaces. The plan also incorporates a Historic Downtown Redevelopment Project. Commercial Rehabilitation Program: The City of Torrance assists business owners in making exterior appearance improvements by matching funds up to $20,000 per property. The program is intended to compliment the Downtown Redevelopment Project and has been very successful in increasing property value in the area. Industrial Redevelopment Project Area: A mixed-use project in the City of Torrance containing retail, commercial, office, and hotel uses. The project has attracted companies, such as American Honda, and Sunrider International Company.

Meadow Park and Sky Park: As successful past redevelopment cases, Meadow Park and Sky Park were Public/Private efforts in Torrance that significantly revitalized deteriorating business parks. The office parks continue to thrive economically today New Redevelopment Zone: The City of Lawndale initiated its first Redevelopment Plan and Project Area in May 1999. The program emphasizes economic development focused on residential and commercial improvements.

City Number of Educational Facilities (Colleges and other career-related)

Notes

Gardena 1 Bryman College- medical and dental assistance training

Redondo Beach 1 South Bay Advanced Education Technology Consortium

Hawthorne 0 Lawndale 0

Compton 2 Compton Community College, California Yuin University

Inglewood 0 Torrance 1 El Camino College



Business Expansion: The City of Carson has been successful in retaining and promoting the growth of existing businesses. For example, Pioneer Video Manufacturing recently expanded by 320,000 square feet and Leiner Health Products by 471,000 square feet. Dominguez Technology Center: A 438-acre master planned office park development, which has been successful in attracting prime companies such as Nakamichi America, and Epson America. The project is under Foreign Trade Zone Tax Exemption and is owned by the Carson Company and Watson Land Company. Harbor Gateway Project: 74 acres of industrial space under construction and already partly built. The project is in the hands of Boeing Realty

Port of Los Angeles Distribution Center: Redevelopment of a former oil tank site into 1.9 million square feet of warehouse and distribution buildings.

Continental Grand Plaza II: 237,000 square feet of new office development in addition to renovation of 84,000 square feet of an existing office building in El Segundo.

Crosspointe on Pacific Concourse: Additional 170,000 square feet of new office building in El Segundo. 2.4 City Budget On June 30, 1998, the City of Gardena ended the year with a General Fund deficit of $5.2 million. Through the application of a cost-reduction plan, on June 30, 2001, the General Fund deficit had been significantly reduced. It is projected that the General Fund deficit will be reduced to $780,000 by June 2002. Complete repayment is projected to occur by June 2003. There are also issues associated with the City’s long-term debt, of which the principal exceeds $40 million. As of July 1, 2004, the City will be required to begin principal payments on two long-term debt programs: First-Time Homebuyers (FTHB) and Municipal Mutual Insurance Company (MMIC). Continued economic growth and revitalization, particularly in north Gardena, is vital to increasing sales tax and revenue for the City, which will enable the City to grow and offer additional city services, as well as to make on-going debt service payments. Total estimated revenue in fiscal year 2001-2002 for all funds is $69,482,942 (see Table ED-2). The total estimated revenues listed include net transfers.

Table ED-2: Revenue Summary for Fiscal Year 2001-2002 Revenue Sources Adopted Budget Percent of Total

General Fund $33,078,544 48% Enterprise Fund $17,357,581 25% Accumulated Special Revenue $8,495,235 12% Internal Service Funds $4,883,835 7% Debt Service Funds $2,787,747 4% Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) $2,880,000 4% Total Budget $69,482,942 100%

Source: City of Gardena Adopted Budget FY 2001-2002



2.5 Sales Tax and Other Local Taxes A sound local economy should be able to attract investment, increase the tax base and generate public revenues through property taxes, utility user taxes, and business licenses. The two most common ways to achieve these goals are as follows: • Increased retail tax revenues through expansion of the retail tax base and/or

increase in the number of potential shoppers. • The retention and use, to the maximum extent practicable and feasible, of tax

increment revenues for development activities as permitted by law. Sales and Use Tax Retail sales tax is a major source of revenue to the City. The following figure shows the comparison of taxable retail sales volume in Gardena and seven cities near Gardena from 1992 to 2000 (see Figure ED-3). During the Fiscal Year 1999-2000, the retail sales volume improved significantly in most of the cities in this region.

Figure ED-3: Taxable Retail Sales in Cities Near Gardena

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

US$

Mill

ion

GardenaComptonEl SegundoHawthroneInglewoodLawndaleManhattan BeachRedondo Beach

Source: California State Board of Equalization

Utility Users Tax A utility user tax of 4% is assessed upon electricity, gas, water and telephone services consumed by the residential and commercial community in Gardena. The 4% utility user tax is significantly lower than most of the cities in the surrounding area (see Figure ED-4). A low utility tax is an incentive for businesses to locate in Gardena.



Figure ED-4: Utility Tax Comparison

0.0%

4.0%

4.8%

5.0%

5.0%

5.5%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

10.0%

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%

Manhattan Beach

Gardena

Redondo Beach

El Segundo

Hawthorne

Lawndale

Compton

Inglewood

Long Beach

Los Angeles

Torrance

Source: City of Gardena Department of Economic Development

3 Local Setting 3.1 Employers Gardena has 6,500 licensed businesses. A survey of businesses conducted by the City in 2000 revealed that fifty-six percent (56%) of those surveyed were retail, twenty percent (20%) were manufacturing, ten percent (10%) services, nine percent (9%) wholesale, and five percent (5%) transportation and construction related business (see Figure ED-5).

Figure ED-5: Profile of Business by Industrial Type

56%

20%

10%

9%3%2%

RetailManufacturing ServicesWholesaleTransportationConstruction

Source: Survey of Top-Revenue Generating Businesses, December 2000, USC Center for Economic Development



Another aspect of the business profile relates to whether the businesses own or rent the site of their business. Approximately forty-seven percent (47%) of those surveyed owned their site while twenty-nine percent (29%) held long-term leases and twenty-four percent (24%) rented on a month-to-month basis. Ownership and tenancy has implications for business retention and longevity within the City of Gardena. Eight of the companies that responded to the survey employ more than 100 people; the median number of employees is 31 (see Figure ED-6).

Figure ED-6: Businesses by Numbers of Employees

02468

1012

0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

501-600

601-700

Number of Employees

Num

ber o

f Firm

s

Source: Survey of Top-Revenue Generating Businesses, December 2000, USC Center for Economic Development Most of the 6,500 licensed businesses within the City can be classified as small businesses including: child day care centers, gardeners, manufacturing companies, wholesalers, auto related businesses, trucking and freight forwarding, warehousing, waste management, retail, card clubs, two auto dealers, and recycling stations. Larger businesses include card clubs, two major auto dealers and a Sam’s Club (members-only wholesale outlet). Some parts of Gardena have experienced decline in business and it is difficult for many of the small businesses to survive. One of the problems is that many areas in the city suffer from a visually unhealthy business environment. Deteriorated and vacant storefronts and offices are noticeable as one passes through the city. Business owners lack the funds needed to improve these conditions and in many cases absentee building owners haven’t been much help. 3.2 Labor Force and Education The local labor force consists of 29,020 Gardena residents. Among them 27,960 are employed and 1,060 are unemployed. The unemployment rate as of the second quarter for 2001 was 3.7%. The educational attainment of the City of Gardena is shown in Table ED-3.



Table ED-3: Educational Attainment Comparison

Y LA Co. Carson Gardena Hawthorne Inglewood Lawndale Torrance Persons 25 Years and Over 5,481,222 51,519 33,424 44,191 63,398 16,603 94,407% High School Graduate 70.0% 71.4% 73.4% 73.9% 66.0% 69.4% 87.6%% Bachelors Degree 22.3% 17.1% 16.5% 15.7% 14.9% 13.1% 31.2%Source: US Census 3.3 Job Training Programs The City of Gardena’s One Stop Center, which assists both residents looking for jobs and business seeking employees provides quality employment and training programs to economically disadvantaged citizens with the following barriers: basic skill deficiency, lack of a high school diploma, recipients of cash welfare payments, physical or mental disabilities, homelessness, criminal offenders, and residents of high crime/high poverty areas. Additionally, training programs help dislocated/laid off workers through on-the-job training, vocational training, job search assistance, job development and support services. 3.4 Redevelopment Activities Recent years in Gardena have been characterized by cooperative efforts designed to improve the economic situation of the City. Economic development projects in Gardena include the following: Community Redevelopment Agency: The City of Gardena is currently in the process of assessing the feasibility of establishing a Redevelopment Agency. The Agency will focus on identifying problems and opportunities to target for redevelopment and revitalization projects. Special attention will be paid to the expansion, improvement, safety and appearance of commercial and industrial sites. “Absentee” property ownership and other land ownership problems common in Gardena will also be targeted by the Agency. The presence of the Agency will facilitate needed programs, especially those related to financial support such as Tax Increment Financing.

Rosecrans Corridor Revitalization Program: The Rosecrans Corridor has been identified as a key commercial area. However, to take advantage of this particular opportunity, extensive physical improvement activities need to be carried out. Current conditions of the corridor include blight, vacant lots and buildings, irregular signage, lack of landscaping, narrow sidewalks, and excessive curb-cuts. Land assembly issues, such as shallow parcel depths, small lots, multiple landowners and insufficient amount of sites available for industry, further complicate the challenge of improving the area. The Rosecrans Corridor had previously been zoned, for C-2 and C-3 commercial land use. Revitalization of this major arterial will stimulate economic development for all of Gardena. The overall objective of the project is to attract and retain businesses, provide



additional job opportunities, improve public services and safety and to increase revenue for the City. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) was retained to perform a consultation based on needs assessment and potential economic development strategies for the Rosecrans Corridor in the summer of 2001. ULI identified a series of elements that promotes the revitalization of the Rosecrans Corridor, which included the following:

• Designation of a Specific Plan Area • Joint public/private funding of programs • Completion of a Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR) • Implementation of the Concentrated Code Enforcement Program • Formation of the Rosecrans Corridor Alliance- a permanent public/private

partnership ULI also recommends the continuation of involvement of the Revitalization Task Force, which was created in July, 1999 to address the needs and potential implementation strategies for streetscape and infrastructure improvements. ULI has estimated that it will take 5-7 years for the proposed strategy to reach visible effectiveness. Brownfields Pilot Program: Through the initial activities of the Brownfields Pilot Program 47 vacant sites or buildings, totaling over 100 acres, have been identified as land in need of assessment for toxic contaminants before accommodating any form of redevelopment. Most of the sites are within commercial zoning and often share property lines with low-income and minority residential neighborhoods. The City of Gardena has received a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to aid in the Program. The environmental services firm of Erler & Kalinowski, Inc. has been retained to assess the environmental and hazardous conditions of the sites and propose possible methods for clean-up, redevelopment and reuse. Six of the sites have been chosen for redevelopment in the near future.

Van Ness Façade Program: The Van Ness Façade Program is aimed at revitalizing the exterior appearance of a block of retail establishments north of Rosecrans on the west side of Van Ness. Federal and local matching funds have been obtained to promote commercial activity by creating a more inviting environment for businesses and consumers, and will act to attract tenants into vacant tenant spaces. Methods for revitalization include landscaping, a comprehensive signage program, security lighting and improved parking lots. For storeowners who are financially unable to participate in the façade improvement program, small business loans will be available to help the success and uniformity of the project. Crenshaw Boulevard is another target area for future façade improvement efforts.



Exterior Housing Rebate Program: The rebate program targets rental housing, persuading property owners to make improvements to the exterior appearance and safety of their buildings. Such efforts include landscaping, and installment of security lighting. The rebate programs are also an effort to involve absentee property owners in the revitalization of Gardena. Commercial Rebate Program: Businesses that have earned a Certification of Participation for code compliance in the Rosecrans Corridor Revitalization Program are eligible for a rebate. The additional funds are to be used for the improvement of the exterior appearance of existing buildings and sites, to provide better parking facilities and to make upgrades. 3.5 Sales Tax and Other Tax Revenue Sources In Gardena, the top five General Fund revenue sources contribute 64% to support General Fund operations for Fiscal Year 2001-2002 (see Table ED-4). Table ED-4: Composition of the General Fund Revenue Sources for FY 2001-2002

Name of Fund Amount Percentage Sales and Use Taxes $7,400,000 22.37% Card Club Gross Revenue Fees $4,650,000 14.06% Property Taxes $3,693,000 11.16% Utility Users Tax $4,000,000 12.09% Motor Vehicle In-Lieu fees $2,800,000 8.46%

Source: City of Gardena Adopted Budget FY 2001-2002 Sales and Use Tax An 8% sales tax rate is applied to taxable sales within Gardena, while only 1% of those proceeds are actually received by the City. As a result of a recession, sales and use tax declined sharply in the following Fiscal Year of 1992-1993. Starting from Fiscal Year 1994-1995, the City has been realizing increases and is demonstrating signs of an improving economy (see Figure ED-7). Sales and use tax revenue is estimated at $7,400,000, which amounts to 22.37% of the General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2001-2002.



Figure ED-7: Taxable Retail Sales in Gardena

350

370

390

410

430

450

470

490

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

US$

Mill

ion

Source: California State Board of Equalization

Property Taxes Property tax is imposed on real and tangible personal properties located within the State. Real estate property is assessed by the County Assessor. Article XIII of the State Constitution limits the real property tax rate to 1% of the property’s value and rates imposed to fund indebtedness approved by the voters. The City of Gardena’s property tax revenue has experienced some growth due to the annexation of unincorporated area from the County of Los Angeles, referred to as the West Gardena Annexation, which added 861 housing units to the City in May 1995. New development approved in Fiscal Year 1999-2000 and slated for occupancy in 2002, will increase the City’s housing stock by more than 280ouses increasing the property tax base. Property taxes are estimated to be $3,693,000 or 11.16% of the General Fund in Fiscal Year 2001-2002. Card Club Gross Revenue Fees Card club gross revenue fees are estimated to be $4,650,000, which makes up approximately 14.06% of the City’s General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2001-2002. In past years, the City experienced overall growth in this revenue source. However, the opening of new card clubs in nearby cities has reduced the overall card club gross receipts to the City. Revenue from the remaining two card clubs is therefore projected to increase and stabilize in Fiscal Year 2001-2002. Motor Vehicle in-Lieu Taxes Motor vehicle in-lieu taxes are estimated to be $2,800,000, which amounts to approximately 8.46% of the General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2001-2002. Moderate growth is anticipated with this revenue source. Motor vehicle in-lieu taxes are special license fees equivalent to 2% of the market value of motor vehicles, which are imposed annually in lieu of local property taxes. These revenues are collected by the State and are apportioned based on population. The City of Gardena’s population has been growing



over the past few years and therefore, the taxes received by the City are anticipated to increase. Utility Users Tax Utility user’s tax is estimated to be $4,000,000, which accounts for approximately 12.09% of the General Fund budget in Fiscal Year 2001-2002. With significant growth due to the increase in housing and a number of economic developments currently underway, utility user’s tax revenue is expected to increase. The current utility user tax is 4%.


City of Gardena APPENDICES


Technical Background Report Appendices


APPENDIX A

Master List of Buildings (From the Gardena Historical Resources Survey, April 1981)

1. (The Barbara P. Jones House, 730 Alondra Blvd.) ** 2. (The Dr. Paul W. McMath House, 935 Alondra Blvd.) 3. The Herbert Jeffers House, 16525 S. Berendo Ave. 4. The Gardena Bible Church, 15801 S. Brighton Ave. 5. Residence, 16119 S. Brighton Ave. ** 6. Residence, 14006 S. Budlong Ave. 7. The George Nelson Young House, 14827 S. Budlong Ave. 8. The Rankin House, 15029 S. Budlong Ave. 9. The Strawberry Park Library, 1218 W. Marine Ave. 10. The Pursche House, 1305 W Marine Ave. 11. The Hiraizumi House, 2007 W. Marine Ave. 12. The Harrell House, 16523 S. Dalton Ave. 13. The Robert F. Cline House, 16825 S. Dalton Ave. 14. The Brown House, 14707 S. Denker Ave. 15. The Adam House, 16939 Denker Ave. 16. Willows Wetland, Vermont & Artesia * 17. (Gardena Elementary School, 647 W. Gardena Blvd.) 18. (The Isaac S. Ball House, 739 W. Gardena Blvd.)** 19. (The Dr. J.F. Spencer House, 749 W. Gardena Blvd.) 20. (Jeffers General Store, 825 ½ W. Gardena Blvd.) 21. (Thomas Drug Store, 855-859 W. Gardena Blvd./16414-16422 S. Vermont

Ave.) ** 22. Bathrick Hall, 1004 W. Gardena Blvd. 23. Ernst Sweet Shop, 1005 W. Gardena Blvd. 24. Gardena Post Office, 1007 W. Gardena Blvd. 25. Kurata Department Store, 1024 W. Gardena Blvd. 26. George W. Flaer Shop, 1040 W. Gardena Blvd. 27. Gardena Branch, United States Post Office, 1103 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 28. The Edward L. Warner House, 1123 W. Gardena Blvd. 29. The Wood House, 1154 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 30. The Bathrick House, 1157 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 31. The Byhower House, 1212 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 32. The Simgen House, 1220 W. Gardena Blvd. 33. The Chapman House, 1304 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 34. The Delight House, 1328 W. Gardena Blvd. 35. Peary Jr. High School, 1415 W. Gardena Blvd. ** 36. Gardena Fire Station, 1434 W. Gardena Blvd. 37. Gardena Valley Church of Christ, 1842 W. Gardena Blvd. 38. Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, 16215 S. Gramercy Pl. 39. Tahtian Village Mobile Home Park, 17100 S. Gramercy Pl. 40. The Vickers House, 15017 S. Halldale Ave.



41. The DeHart House, 15927 S. Halldale 42. The Mary Wolfe House, 16419 S. Harvard Blvd. 43. The Peterson House, 16930 S. Hobart 44. The Heredia House, 17826 S. Hobart 45. The Villa House, 17904 S. Hobart Ave. 46. The Hobbs House, 14703 S. Kingsley Dr. * 47. The Gohata House, 1107 W. Magnolia Ave. 48. The Ybarra House, 16417 Manhattan Pl. ** 49. The John Schroeder House, 16503 S. Manhattan Pl. 50. The Fernandez House, 15220 S. Normandie Ave. 51. The Yokoto House, 15220 S. Normandie Ave. 52. The Samuel K. Woodward House, 15309 S. Normandie * 53. (Wednesday Progressive Clubhouse, 16121 S. Orchard) 54. (The William McCarrel House, 16215 S. Orchard) 55. (The Doan House, 16221 S. Orchard) 56. (The Morgan House, 16229 S. Orchard) ** 57. (Residence, 16321 S. Orchard) 58. (The John S. Kuns House, 16404 S. Orchard) 59. The Aaron W. Frazer House, 15104 S. Raymond 60. Roadium Drive-In Theatre, 2500 W. Redondo Beach Blvd. 61. Embassy Theatre/Embassy Palace/The Eldorado Club, 15401 S. Vermont

Ave. 62. The William A. and Karen M. Wills House, 15625 S. Vermont * 63. The Rudd House, 15911 S. Vermont 64. Storefront, 14512 S. Western Ave. 65. Donut King, 15032 S. Western Ave. ** 66. Storefront, 16411 S. Western Ave. ** 67. Central Garage, 16417 S. Western Ave. ** 68. Olsen’s Grocery Store, 16501 S. Western Ave. ** 69. Moneta Commercial Bank/The Bank Club, 16522 S. Western Ave. ** 70. The Carrell Building, 16535 S. Western Ave. ** 71. The Howard House, 1727 W. 130th St. 72. Kobata Nursery Office, 1433 W. 139th Sr. 73. The Kobata House, 1448 W. 139th St. ** 74. Residence, 1418 W. 154th St. 75. The Tippin House, 1519 W. 145th St. 76. The John R. Brown House, 1708 W. 145th St. 77. The Charles E. Wallin House, 1726 W. 145th St. * 78. The Masuda House, 1742 W. 145th St. ** 79. The Paul C. Carter House, 1504 W. 146th St. 80. The Carroll House, 1836 W. 152nd St. 81. The Sloss House, 1860 W. 152nd St. 82. The Bolle/Oya House, 1011 W. 161st St. 83. Residence, 1022 W. 161st. St. 84. The Fred S. Thompson House, 1029 W. 161st St. 85. The Jeff Clark House, 1203 W. 162nd St. **



86. The Earl H. Stewart House, 1212 W. 162nd St. 87. The Moneta Water & Power Building, 1820 162nd St. ** 88. (The Beri Fanning House, 802 W. 164th St.) ** 89. (The John W. Klasgye House, 835 W. 164th St.) * 90. McMillan Mortuary, 1016 W. 164th St. 91. The Willie W. Dow House, 1037 W. 164th St. 92. McCormick Mortuary, 1044 W. 164th St. 93. The Carl E. Huntington House, 1054 W. 164th St. 94. The Stillman Gates House, 1104 W. 164th St. ** 95. The Rentschler House, 1110 W. 164th St. ** 96. The Phillip B. Chase House, 1133 W. 164th St. 97. The Sarah Furber House, 1144 W. 164th St. 98. The Milton B. Clark House, 1253 W. 164th St. 99. (The First United Methodist Church, 812 W. 165th Pl.) 100. The Arellano House, 1745 W. 165th Pl. 101. The Masters House, 1122 W. 166th St. 102. The Mathieson House, 1139 W. 166th St. 103. The Charles E. Smith House, 1309 W. 166th St. 104. Gardena Buddhist Church, 1517 W. 166th St. 105. The Mary and Nimrod Woody House, 1215 W. 166th St. 106. The Perry House, 1247 W. 166th St. 107. (First United Methodist Church Rectory/The Hernandez House, 739 W. 167th

St.) 108. (The Abel L. Lewis House 750 W. 167th St.) 109. (The Hansen House, 757 W. 167th St.) 110. The Getz House, 1038 W. 167th St. 111. The Collins House, 1430 W. 182nd St.

* Recommended for Nomination to National Register of Historic Places ** Recommended for Local Historic Sites ( ) No longer in the City or no longer exists



Figure OSC-6: Survey Map of Historically Significant Structures on Master List

Source: Gardena Historical Resources Survey, April 1981



APPENDIX B List of Maps

1. Figure LU-7: Existing Land Use Map 13 2. Figure LU-8: Gardena Zoning Map 17 3. Figure CI-1: Street System 28 4. Figure CI-2: Transit Routes 30 5. Figure CI-3: Surrounding Area Major Transportation Facilities 33 6. Figure CI-4: Solid Waste Facilities in Los Angeles County 36 7. Figure CI-5: Southern California Gas Company– Service Territory 37 8. Figure CI-6: Southern California Gas Company– Major Pipeline Facilities 38 9. Figure CI-7: Time Warner Fiber Optic and Internet Service in the South

Bay Region 40 10. Figure OSC-1: Master Plan of Regionally Significant Bikeways 55 11. Figure OSC-2: Existing Open Space 59 12. Figure OSC–3: Local Parks and Recreation Facilities 60 13. Figure OSC-4: Bicycle Routes 65 14. Figure OSC-5: Liquefaction Map 67 15. Figure OSC-6: Survey Map of Historically Significant Structures 89

city of gardena general plan 2020 draft technical ...s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/€¦ · city...

Documents