After conducting a public hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, the Signal Hill City Council approved zoning amendments and a negative environmental declaration to allow construction of a light-industrial business park spanning both sides of Walnut Avenue between Hill and 21st streets.
The nearly nine-acre Signal Hill Business Park would include nine buildings with light-industrial condominium spaces totaling more than 150,000 square feet, with parking.
Steven Christie, senior development manager of developer Xebec Realty, said he believes there is “significant demand” for light-industrial warehouse space, as evidenced by the current backlog of shipping containers at the local ports.
“This will be a first-class, state-of-the-art industrial park, really a business park,” Christie said. “It has a lot of vibrancy to it.”
Christie said the business park would “uplift” the immediate area through its environmental cleanup of the site—formerly occupied by an oil refinery until 1997—and architecture that blends with nearby American University of Health Sciences and Zinnia apartments.
The site currently has no permanent structures, said Planning Manager Erika Ramirez.
The Los Angeles County Regional Water Quality Control Board will install and oversee new environmental remediation equipment at the site at each phase of construction, Ramirez said, adding that remediation will continue even after the project is complete.
Due to potential contamination from ground chemicals, stormwater runoff would be bio-filtered before entering storm drains, Community Development Manager Colleen Doan noted.
Doan also said Xebec has adjusted its plans over the past four years in response to feedback from community meetings, public workshops and recent Planning Commission public hearings.
Some of the plan changes include reducing building “mass” by adding color and windows on the sides viewable from nearby neighborhoods and the Jenni Rivera Memorial Park in Long Beach, Doan said. Parking area plans now have bicycle racks, carpool and vanpool spaces and public transportation markers.
Associate Engineer Jesus Saldana added that the stretch of Walnut Avenue that goes through the project would be widened with new curbs, gutters, streetlights and trees. Utility lines would be moved underground.
Creation of business park raises concerns about truck noise and hiring local labor
Both the council and members of the public raised concerns during the public hearing.
Councilmember Lori Woods expressed worry about business-related trucking disturbing area residents at odd hours once the business park is complete. But Doan said those businesses would have to comply with the City’s normal business hours and noise ordinances.
From the public, four members of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters labor union— Steven Donahue, Ray Lawson, Robert Rojas and Sam Salinsky—asked the council to ensure the project would be constructed using local skilled labor.
Employing area workers would add to the local economy and reduce the environmental impact of workers commuting to the site from outside the area. Rojas said he commutes hours to his construction job and working locally would allow more time with his family.
Councilmember Robert Copeland, Vice Mayor Keir Jones and Mayor Edward Wilson all expressed support for Xebec to employ area workers.
“I would highly encourage local hire,” Wilson said.
Christie said Xebec hires both union and non-union labor but would consider the request.
“This is a first-class facility,” Christie said. “We pride ourselves on doing good work and hiring locally.”
The council will deliberate final approval of the project after a second public hearing scheduled on January 25, 2022.
