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 - April 20, 2017 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.......................2 Classifieds............................3 Community Briefs...............3 Finance..................................6 Food.......................................5 Hawthorne Happenings....3 Legals................................ 6-7 Seniors..................................8 Police Reports.....................2 Sports....................................4 Weekend Forecast Friday Sunny 77˚/59˚ Saturday Sunny 76˚/59˚ Sunday Sunny 74˚/57˚ Lawndale, South Bay Cities Spark Interest in Going Solar During last Saturday’s Inglewood Earth Day Jazz Festival, the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) unveiled a new program designed to encourage area residents to go solar. Known as Renewable South Bay, the program will connect residents with resources, education and materials about how to add renewable energy to their homes. In this photo, Lawndale Councilman and SBCCOG Chair Jim Osborne announces the initiative during the festival. (Photo by Jamie Bando, Renewable South Bay) Development Stalls as Community Faces Off in Public Hearing By Haleemon Anderson The mixed-use development proposed at Grevillea Avenue and West 153rd Street came under intense scrutiny at Monday’s meeting of the Lawndale City Council, with concerned citizens voicing both pros and cons regarding the construction. The Council had intended to adopt a resolution approving the project, but instead opened a public hearing to address an appeal, filed March 8. Gary Adams, a 37-year resident of Lawndale, spoke to the appeal, saying he filed it because the project is not compatible with existing residential properties in the vicinity. “I’m not opposed to it in general,” said Adams. “I’m opposed to it as planned.” Other public comments in opposition to the construction cited increased traffic and parking problems. Many expressed concern for the safety of children who live in or nearby the proposed 42-unit complex. Several people spoke in support of the development, citing construction jobs and property taxes that would benefit the City, as well as the incentive of homeownership. The building design includes two- and threebedroom condo-style dwellings and sets aside a few as low-income rentals. The 20-page resolution detailed extensive mitigation protocols and other code provisions, requirements and conditions of approval. It also noted a vigorous round of notifications, public hearings and continuances since October 2014. Community Development Director Sean Moore explained the project is consistent with Lawndale’s general plan and with Hawthorne’s specific plan. The City’s plan is updated every five years, noted Moore. “It encourages this [kind of] development,” he said. A representative of the development group Awad Investments thanked the Council, noting the diligence and expertise put into the resolution report. “I have been a planner for 30 years,” he said. “This is the most comprehensive report I have ever seen. It meets or exceeds every code requirement. It complies with every development standard.” Moore noted the vacant 1.2-acre lot is targeted for recent high-density mandates per the State of California. The State is adamant about new developments being targeted for high-density occupancy, said Moore, especially in tandem with mass transit. The three-story development, as proposed, adds 2,800 square feet of commercial retail space to the Lawndale landscape. Comments from the public, the Council, City staff and the developer continued until after 10 p.m. Ultimately the Council decided to postpone action until a feasibility study could be done to determine if redesigning the buildings’ parking entrance and exit on Grevillea Avenue would mitigate the concerns raised about child safety. In other business, the Council introduced an amendment to municipal codes limiting new medical and dental businesses to second or higher floors and requiring special permits and changed parking requirements. See Development Stalls page 8 Free Digital Delivery Herald Publications is now offering to send you a link to your favorite community newspaper every Thursday morning! The emails will also include a list of upcoming local events. Just email us at: web@heraldpublications.com and tell us which local community newspaper you’d like. Simple as that and free!!!
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