Lawndale Tribune AND lAwNDAle News The Weekly Newspaper of Lawndale Herald Publications - Inglewood, Hawthorne, Lawndale, El Segundo, Torrance & Manhattan Beach Community Newspapers Since 1911 - Circulation 30,000 - Readership 60,000 (310) 322-1830 - March 27, 2014 Blue Medals For Going Green Hudnall and Kelso Elementary students, with school principals Dawnyell Goolsby and Brian Coffey, accept certificates from the Inglewood City Council for campus recycling initiatives. Four IUSD schools have reduced their trash outputs in response to the Grades of Green program. Hawthorne Rethinks Regulations for Condo and Apartment Development By Nancy Peters At its meeting on Tuesday evening, the Hawthorne City Council heard several different angles from citizens both for and against amending the municipal code as an ordinance relating to condominium and apartment development. Several comments included that more condos mean more people, and that means more cars and less parking available for an “already densely populated city,” while others stated that electing an official does not mean a decision they make or a suggestion made is fully trusted by the public. Converting current apartments to condominiums was cited as a way to increase the City’s revenue stream. Planning Department Director Gregg McClain explained that the code amendment provides a level “playing field” to the developers of new condominiums with developers of new apartments and is not meant to do more than that, although parking issues will continue to exist. Councilmember Nilo Michelin attempted to keep the existing ordinance in the code until more analysis could be accomplished, but a motion by Mayor Chris Brown was already on the table, seconded, and the discussion was within that motion. The vote had to be taken first on that motion, which the Mayor did not wish to withdraw. The ordinance passed with a vote of 3-2, with Michelin and Councilmember Alex Vargas casting the two no votes. The introduction of another ordinance garnered more comments from the public, including that developers do not want to work with the City because there are too many who oppose new development in Hawthorne and prefer the status quo, with vacant lots that become fenced-in trash heaps, such as on Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue. The Mayor commented that other surrounding cities have thriving areas with shopping, outdoor dining and condo developments in mixed-use areas and suggested that tours of the cities be conducted for local citizens to observe what can be done in Hawthorne. Another comment noted that zoning changes for development should be postponed until the Downtown Specific Plan is complete and in practice, but it was explained by Planning that the code changes for zoning are necessary in order to implement the specific plan. The mixed-use overlay ordinance in the Imperial Highway and Inglewood Avenue corridor was introduced with a vote expected at the next Council meeting. A public hearing for an ordinance allowing outdoor dining in specific areas of Hawthorne, particularly on Hawthorne Boulevard in the downtown area, was held with no comments made and the ordinance was introduced by Mayor Pro Tem Olivia Valentine who first brought the topic to the table in October 2013 and directed staff to write the ordinance for outdoor dining and include restrictions and regulations for restaurants that want to include innovation in the service they can offer to the public. Mayor Brown recused himself from voting on the outdoor dining matter and the subsequent discussion of an item from the City Manager dealing with a banner from Surf Air. The concerns included the permission for one vendor to be allowed use of the City seal for their own business promotion. Past use of the City seal by a vendor has been allowed only for a specific event, but overall use could mean liability to the City jointly with that company. The motion was withdrawn, although it was suggested that a uniform policy be written for businesses to use banners to advertise and allow the City seal with more thought and inclusion of all the pros and cons to the City when the seal appears with a vendor’s promotional material. A license was granted to the VFW Post 2075 to allow bingo to be played in its location. A letter will be sent to the California State Legislature, under the Mayor’s signature from the City Council, opposing any sunset extension of the bill that allows massage therapy parlors to continue to be unregulated by individual cities. The City Manager and staff will bring a plan back to the next meeting with a program to include incentives for retention, expansion and specific new types of businesses to be developed, such as waivers of sales tax, waivers of certain fees, etc. This program will also indicate the impact of such incentives on the general fund. The Good Neighbor Day and Annual Car Show has been scheduled for July 19 on the Civic Plaza. The Service Provider Fair will be held at the Hawthorne Memorial Center on Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mayor Brown requested that a program for design standards for any new developments and new homes should be presented by the Planning Department for the Council to see and approve in the next few months. The next meeting of the Hawthorne City Council will be held on Tuesday, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. • Inside This Issue Calendar...............................3 Classifieds............................3 Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................7 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Food.......................................5 Legals............................. 2,6,7 Pets........................................8 Politically Speaking............2 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Partly Cloudy 66˚/54˚ Saturday Partly Cloudy 67˚/57˚ Sunday Partly Cloudy 67˚/56˚ The Mayor commented that other surrounding cities have thriving areas with shopping, outdoor dining and condo developments in mixed-use areas
Lawndale 03_27_14
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