Carson Council Extends Construction Moratorium

The Carson City Council has extended for three months a moratorium on construction of apartments and condominiums in multifamily residential areas until the land can be rezoned to reduce density.

The extension was approved on a 4-0 vote Tuesday after no property owner or resident appeared to oppose it.

The freeze on development was originally imposed last November so the city could study the impact of a recent surge in multifamily building projects.

Mayor Michael Mitoma told city staff members that the 93-day extension had better be the last. “I don’t want to see this item on the agenda again,” he said.

Mitoma said he was concerned about rights of property owners.

Councilwoman Vera Robles DeWitt said Mitoma ought to be just as concerned about protecting people who live in the affected area.

Construction of multi-unit apartment and condominium projects has been particularly intense in the western part of the city bounded by Avalon Boulevard, Carson Street, 229th Street and the Harbor Freeway.

After studying the potential impact on traffic, parking, schools and public works, city planners are recommending reducing the density of nine vacant or under-utilized properties in the area from a maximum of 25 units per acre to 18 units.

Planners also want to rezone 11 other lots in the area from a maximum of 12 units per acre to eight. However, they said the current zoning should remain in effect on another lot on heavily traveled Figueroa Street.

The study also proposes more resident and guest parking.

Dewitt said the Planning Department report does not go far enough in examining the impact of large-scale development on neighborhoods.

She also objected to exempting any property from the proposed rezoning. Even with the restrictions, 440 additional units could be built in the area, DeWitt said.

Property owners will be notified about the proposed rezoning, and hearings will be held before the Planning Commission and City Council in the next three months.

In another action, council members approved a 45-day extension of a moratorium on the filing and processing of reports on converting mobile home parks to other uses.

The moratorium will remain in effect while the city revises an ordinance that requires preparation of relocation impact reports before mobile home park residents can be displaced. The revisions are intended to clarify what relocation benefits are necessary.

Community Development Director Pat Brown said the owners of two mobile home parks in Carson want to construct residential projects on their land.