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Zone
Changes Will Allow Development of Edison Property
City to gain 26 acres of parks and open space land
By Cheryl
Scott
Bulletin Staff
Writer
The City Council recently approved a set of zone changes in the
Edison right-of-way that will allow a greater variety of uses within
that area. The new zoning will allow the city an opportunity to increase
and develop additional park and recreational areas.
A total of 43.28 acres will be changed from Public/ Quasi-Public
to 26.47 acres of open space/parks and 16.81 acres of industrial. In
addition, 19.03 acres now designated for heavy manufacturing will be
changed to a buffer zone, 4.4 acres of low density residential land will
now be zoned for heavy manufacturing and 10.75 acres of residential agriculture
zone will be changed to a buffer zone.
Southern California Edison requested the changes to allow a greater
variety of uses on some of the properties in the right-of-way and give
the city additional land that it could use for parks.
Compton has been discussing the property, which is about 160 feet
deep and runs the entire length on the south side of Greenleaf Boulevard,
with Edison for some time.
“SCE’s property is predominantly vacant,” said Planning
and Economic Development Director Joseph Lim. “Some lots have tenants
that operate open air nurseries, most of which are not open to
the public.”
In 2005, Edison approached the city to discuss development and
use of several of its properties in the city of Compton. “While
SCE would like much of its property to be able to be developed, the city
would like most, if not all, of the property to be designated as park
and open space,” Lim said.
The proposed changes would benefit both Edison and the city. The
city will gain more than 26 acres of parks and open space-zoned land
that may be developed for a variety of uses. The land could be used for
active park activities like ball fields and horse or bike trails, but
it could also be used for a variety of other types of development.
Compton has 123 acres of land designated as parks and open space.
Only 103 acres are actually useable because 20 acres are located within
the boundaries of the Los Angeles River. The additional 26 acres resulting
from rezoning the Edison right-of-way will bring a 21 percent increase
in the city’s parks and open space system and will create a ratio
of 1.6 acres per thousand residents.
“This is substantially lower than the National Recreation and Parks
Association standard of 6.25 acres per thousand population,” said
Lim. “But it is a positive step toward creating opportunities for
joint use of public facilities for recreational purposes.”
The change of designation of some of the property for commercial
or industrial uses would also bring revenue into the city from licensing
fees and increased sales taxes. Edison or its tenants will be required
to improve the property to city standards with increased landscaping,
and comply with its property maintenance standards.
Current tenants will be allowed to stay in their present locations
until Edison leases the land to someone else, Lim said. In that case
the tenants will be given ample notice and time to relocate. Some of
the properties are currently vacant.
“The reason Edison wanted this change was so that they can lease
land to other tenants,” said Lim. “But the city benefits
as well because of the increase in land that will be designated
as open space and will be open for future park usage.”
The city currently has a total of 13 parks totaling just under
60 acres, a golf course and equestrian and bicycle trails.
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