Stanton residents could one day enjoy a new town center after council members approved a specific plan for a downtown, a step toward the city’s long-time goal.
The new town center would focus on preserving the existing residential neighborhoods and businesses while promoting redevelopment, such as a pedestrian-friendly landscape and connecting the center to future transit, according to a city staff report.
Councilmember Hong Alyce Van pushed her colleagues to move forward with the plan.
“This is a really big deal, resources were put in for us to have a town years ago, and they just sat on the shelf,” said Van at the April 9 meeting.
Efforts to create a downtown were initially made in 2010, but no plans were adopted.
Instead, city staff gathered community input to reshape some of the plan’s goals and objectives, according to the staff report.
“What we heard as part of these outreach meetings was to create a main street and really have a focus on improving the walkability of a main street,” said Director of Community Planning John Moorland during a presentation to the city council in March.
He also said it could take up to 20 years to get everything built out.
The final vote at the April 9 meeting was 3-0, with Warren and Shawver both absent.
What Could a Small Downtown Look Like?
Officials expect the downtown to be 157 acres of designated mixed-use land for retail and residential developments, running west of Beach Boulevard, south of Cerritos Avenue, west of Dal Street, and north of Katella Avenue.
Staff say the development would encourage new apartments within walking distance and enhance the area’s appeal for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
According to the staff report, Town Center Industrial District intends to mix in existing industrial businesses – like the brick factory on Katella and Beach – and new artisanal business manufacturing, like distilleries and tasting rooms.
Councilmember Carol Warren raised concerns about how the new development would bring in new residents in an area that might not be residentially friendly.
“We’re at the mercy of developers to bring thousands more residents to Stanton, and the best we’re gonna get is a couple pocket parks?” said Warren at the March 26 meeting.
Moorland stated that developers would be given incentives in order to incorporate some of the amenities, such as a park. Incentives include increased building height and resident density, reduced requirements, expedited permits and other flexible criteria.
Warren still had concerns about how residential apartments would fit into the area.
“Do we have a limit as to how many apartment structures can go up there? It’d be sad if this ended up being a wall of apartments,” she said.
Moorland said some limitations would be rolled out.
Mayor David Shawver brought up the model of other cities’ downtowns that have been effective.
“We could have commercial on the base of the main street, and then people living above, that’s been very successful in many developments in Orange County,” said Shawver.
Scott Harrison, a local entrepreneurs who’s attempting to sell his land, commended the plan but also said it’s already impacting property and business owners
“Stanton’s done a good job at this whole plan, I would say lofty, but it’s interesting,” said Harrison at the March meeting. “I’ve lost two possible buyers as they call the city and ask ‘What can I do with this [property]?’ and they’re pretty much backing away.”
Andrew Seymour, a representative for Unite Here Local 11 spoke on behalf of over 30,000 workers in the hotel and service industries at the April 9 meeting.
Seymour requested the City include development agreements for hotels within the Specific Plan to ensure the community benefits.
“When it comes to development, one very good way to mitigate harms and maximize benefits is the decisions about hotel developments,” said Seymour.
In response, councilmember Donald Torres suggested that staff research and return with an amended Specific Plan that would include requirements for community development.
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