Proposed trucking depot near school in Lincoln Heights halted

A proposed trucking depot in Lincoln Heights that has raised the ire of residents concerned about potential pollution in their neighborhood will be required to meet new regulations before it can move forward, officials announced Tuesday.

"For too long, our communities have been treated as afterthoughts in the face of unchecked pollution and hazardous development," Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez said.

During a morning news conference at City Hall, Hernandez, who represents the First District encompassing Lincoln Heights, announced that the applicant's deadline passed on Monday.

Last week, Hernandez joined local parents, students and other residents at a protest outside Hillside Elementary School, across from the proposed distribution center. L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis and LAUSD Board Member Rocío Rivas, who represent the areas, opposed the project as well.

Opponents expressed concerns that developing the land could release toxic chemicals into the air and harm residents in the surrounding neighborhoods of Cypress Park, Montecito Heights and Mount Washington.

To reapply or request an extension, the applicant will now be subject to rules under the recently approved Interim Control Ordinance, which mandates stricter regulations before a permit can be issued for warehousing, distribution and storage developments larger than 15,000 square feet in the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific Plan.

Xebec, a privately held real estate investment company, sought to develop a 56,700-square-foot distribution center on an empty lot at 3505 Pasadena Ave. Representatives for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On its website, the company said it has acquired and developed industrial projects "totaling more than 11.5 million square feet, including approximately 14.6 million square feet currently in various stages of development."

Rivas previously highlighted the site's history, alluding to an ongoing effort by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to clean up the location. According to the department's website, the agency entered into a voluntary agreement in 2007 to remove harmful chemicals left by the site's former owner, a Welch's Uniform & Laundry.

The department identified trichloroethylene, which can lead to cancer and lymphoma, among other chemicals found in the soil and ground water.

Residents also raised concerns over a stream of trucks moving through their neighborhood every day if the project was completed, which would expose them to increased rates of diesel emissions and pollution.

Michael Henry Hayden, a member of the Lincoln Heights Coalition that opposes the distribution center, said residents shouldn't have to "play detective" to uncover such dangers.

"The city must take responsibility by ensuring contamination records are shared across all city departments, and that toxic sites are remediated before becoming homes," he said.

Hernandez also highlighted a legislation package she introduced Tuesday that would further regulate orphan oil wells and address so-called brownfield sites, or properties that may contain a hazardous substance that makes it difficult to redevelop.

According to the councilwoman's office, there are more than 5,000 active, inactive or abandoned oil wells in the city, many located near homes, schools and parks. These sites allegedly expose more than 3.8 million residents to toxic chemicals and safety hazards.

Her motion also called for city departments to incorporate more community input into redevelopment processes, improve messaging about local oil spills and update procedures for identifying and managing historic wells.

"For far too long, the oil industry in Los Angeles has been allowed to pollute the air we breathe with impunity," Wendy Miranda, policy associate at Esperanza Community Housing, said in a statement.

"Communities have lived with the consequences --- breathing in toxic chemicals from oil sites that have caused allergies, asthma, nosebleeds, and different types of cancer. We are glad to support a motion that will address these gaps and finally hold the industry responsible for the harms they have caused," she added.

Hernandez's motion aims to better identify brownfield sites, and ensure thorough environmental reviews and remediation before issuing permits for construction.

"The presence of such environmental hazards near schools jeopardizes our children's safety and their ability to learn in a healthy environment," Rivas said in a statement. "Addressing these threats is crucial for safeguarding the well-being of our students and their futures."

Additional reporting by City News Service.