A Proposed 5-Story Storage Project Pitches a Parking Solution for The Groves
The proposal would add public parking next to The Groves, but it also asks the city to transfer public land, rezone the property and approve cleanup of a former auto-salvage yard.
A developer wants to build a five-story, 998-unit self-storage facility at 12090 Whittier Boulevard, next to Rodeo 72 at The Groves. Part of the proposal includes new parking that would be shared with customers visiting The Groves.
But that tradeoff is bigger than a new storage building. To make it happen, the city would have to hand over a piece of city-owned land, allow this self-storage business where it’s currently not permitted, and decide whether the envircleanup plan for a longtime auto-salvage yard is enough.
The Whittier Planning Commission will hold its first public hearing on the proposal Monday, July 20.
Here's what's known about the project so far — and what's still being decided.
A longtime salvage yard would become self-storage
The project would replace the longtime M&S Auto Salvage at the southeast corner of Whittier Boulevard and Walnut Grove Drive.
The proposal comes from Madison Capital Group under its Go Store It brand. According to city documents, it combines the existing private auto salvage yard with an adjoining city-owned parcel through a proposed land exchange.
The project would also remove a row of about 50 mature cypress hedge trees and other trees on the city-owned parcel, with replacement landscaping planned.
City documents say the developer believes there is community demand for additional self-storage, although the materials prepared for the hearing do not include a market study or other data supporting that claim.
The project's biggest selling point is parking
One of the project's biggest selling points is additional parking for visitors to The Groves and Heritage Court, an area that's dealt with parking shortages since it opened.
The plans include:
- 42 public parking spaces (6 a.m. to midnight)
- 17 spaces reserved for Go Store It customers
- Three loading bays for the storage facility
For comparison, Whittier's parking standards would require only about 12 parking spaces for a storage facility this size. That means most of the parking being built isn't for the storage business itself. It's intended for public use.
Recently, city staff warned that The Groves could reach maximum parking capacity if Capo Public House at Rodeo 72 expands and a proposed Korean BBQ restaurant opens. (Read our previous article.)
The parking comes with a land trade
But those parking spaces come with a catch. The project sits on two pieces of land side by side. One is privately owned — that's where the auto salvage yard operates today. The other is owned by the city.
To build the project as proposed, the developer is asking the city to give up ownership of its land. In exchange, the developer would construct public parking and other site improvements that the city would keep.
The city's report describes the proposal as an Exchange Agreement. The materials currently available don't include an appraisal showing what the city-owned land is worth, what the parking is worth, or whether the exchange is considered an equal trade. Those documents may become available as the project moves through future hearings.
The city has to rezone this site
Every property in Whittier has rules about what can be built there. Right now, those rules don't allow a self-storage business on this property.
Before this project can move forward, the city has to change them.
The city's long-term vision for this area is laid out in the Lincoln Specific Plan. The property is currently designated as a "Future Expansion Area" — land set aside for whatever comes next.
The plan is specific about what that "next" was supposed to be. The land was intended to support future commercial expansion connected to Heritage Court and The Groves. A five-story self-storage building wasn't part of that vision.
The site has already been tested for contamination
Because the property has operated as an auto-salvage yard for roughly 60 years, environmental consultants tested the soil before the project moved forward.
Testing found petroleum in portions of the site, along with elevated levels of arsenic and lead in some locations. While the petroleum levels didn't exceed the report's screening levels for future commercial use, one soil sample contained enough lead that, if excavated, it would have to be handled as California hazardous waste.
The report also notes that environmental crews couldn't drill part of the northern portion of the property because vehicles, parts and equipment blocked access. Consultants instead collected surface samples in that area and concluded no additional environmental investigation was needed.
The consultants called for a Soil Management Plan requiring affected soil to be properly excavated, tested and disposed of as the site is redeveloped. The report also notes that additional petroleum- or metal-affected soil could still be discovered during excavation, which is one reason the Soil Management Plan would remain in place throughout construction.
In other words, the question before the city isn't whether contamination exists. It's whether the proposed cleanup plan is enough.
What's been approved, and what hasn't
So far, only the building's appearance has been approved. In May, the Design Review Board approved the project's design and signage.
Still ahead are:
- Changing the city's zoning rules to allow self-storage
- Approval of the environmental review
- Approval of the proposed land exchange
- A Development Agreement
- A Parking Agreement
- Combining the two parcels into one development site
How to weigh in
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal Monday, July 20, at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at 13230 Penn Street.
Residents can review the environmental documents through July 20 at the Community Development Department, 13230 Penn Street, or on the city's website.
Written comments can be emailed to comdev@cityofwhittier.org before 4:30 p.m. on July 20.
Residents can also speak during the hearing in person or by Zoom.
The Planning Commission's recommendation won't be the final word. Several key decisions would still go before the City Council before the project could move forward.
Whittier Informed will continue following the proposal as those decisions unfold.
