Land Use, Open Space,
Recreation &
Conservation
Issues and Goals
of the Cities in the
Dominguez Watershed
August 14, 2002
DWAC Monthly Meeting
Carson
• Land use
– Allow each land use sufficient area to develop to fullest extent
indicated by the economy and general welfare
– Separate non-conforming uses
• Open Space/Recreation
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Protect open areas
No links exist between open space areas
Clean up vacant land and blighted areas
Promote landscaping along Dominguez Channel
Provide additional parks especially in areas with greatest need.
• Conservation
– Regulate development to control loads on treatment facilities
El Segundo
• Land use
– 103 acres of vacant land in non-residential areas
– Encourage shift from manufacturing and heavy industry to
commercial.
• Open Space/Recreation
– Mostly commercial and industrial area in watershed.
– Increase quantity of plant material to increase water percolation
– Private owned recreational facilities in commercial areas
• Conservation
– Protect groundwater from contamination
– Minimize surface run-off and allow replenishment of soil moisture
Gardena
• Land use
– Mixed land uses and minimal buffer areas
– No community identity
– Promote a pedestrian oriented environment and balanced
development
• Open Space/Recreation
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Minimal landscaping and parkway trees
Reestablish and preserve City’s agrarian history
Gardena Willows
Establish small community centers and large parks
Acquire land for parks and recreational open space.
• Conservation
– Maintain an independent source of water
Hawthorne
• Land use
– Stimulate, attract and enhance commercial development
– Conserve water and utilize reclaimed water where feasible
– Promote conservation, recycling and public education.
• Open Space/Recreation
– Undeveloped land in the southwest corner of the city which is
currently owned by Caltrans and Southern California Edison.
– Develop and maintain recreational parks and open spaces
– Provide recreational variety
• Conservation
– Potential to recharge Gage Aquifer in West Basin
– Use reclaimed water where feasible.
Harbor Gateway (LA)
• Land use
– Designated as a center for commerce and industry.
– Cumulative effects of development exceed infrastructure capacities.
– Lack of transitions in landuse
• Open Space/Recreation
– Lack open space and recreational areas
– Propose bikeways along power line, flood control and vacated
railroad rights of way
– Utilize deeded lots, fragments of public land and unneeded street
areas for use as open space
Inglewood
• Land use
– All city parks utilize recycled water
– Potential for additional oil extraction sites
– No distinct physical or social make-up.
• Open Space/Recreation
– Potential for open space where faults traverse unbuilt land
– Deficient of open space and recreational areas
– Constructing additional parks will entail removing residences or other
developed land
• Conservation
– Reduce water demand and utilize reclaimed water
– Promote conservation, protection and effective use of natural
resources through local and cooperative efforts.
• Land use
Lawndale
– “a city of renters”
– Abandoned but not depleted oil field
– Develop a system to utilize storm water for landscaping needs
• Open Space/Recreation
– 9.1 acres of vacant, privately owned land
– Pursue and acquire additional parkland.
– Pursue discussions with railroad companies to acquire right of way
for linear parks
– Develop a trail plan
• Conservation
– Protect limited groundwater supply
– Conserve domestic water
Lomita
• Land use
– Promote more efficient use of underutilized properties
• Open Space/Recreation
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Expand recreational open space.
Sensitive habitat located near City Hall (spadefoot toad)
Palos Verdes blue butterfly located at US Navy fuel depot
Improve and increase size, acreage and accessibility of local parks
• Conservation
– 1360 ft unused groundwater allotment awaiting treatment facility
– Preserve resources and amenities that enhance City’s living and
working environment
– Conservation of natural resources
Los Angeles
• Land use
– Reduction and loss of fisheries due to human activities and
contamination
– Reduce the amount of waste released to water
– Damage to the ecology of bays has a direct effort on the
environment and economy of the city
– DDT deposits in Consolidated Slip
– Encourage cleanup and development of brown fields
• Open Space/Recreation
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Endangered California least tern nests in Harbor area.
Protect and promote restoration of native species and habitats
Protect and restore Ocean fisheries
Link existing parklands
Manhattan Beach
• Land use
– Residents do not want an increase in density.
– Area in watershed contains a mall, hotels, office space, aerospace
industry and residential
• Open Space/Recreation
– Required landscaping and setbacks
– Maintain open space for flood control.
– Provide parks at 5 acres / 1000 residents
• Conservation
– Promote water conservation using drought resistant/native plants
and recycled water
Palos Verdes Estates
• Land use
– Low density land use
– Emphasize natural beauty of hills and canyons and diminish impact
of man-made things
• Open Space/Recreation
– Reserve undeveloped parklands for passive recreation
• Conservation
– Participate in water management programs for water conservation
and flood control
– Required sewers
– Encourage proper planting of parkland areas to improve habitation
for wildlife.
– Conserve the natural canyons and hillsides for drainage control.
Rancho Palos Verdes
• Land use
– Low density land use and large open space areas
– Unusual topography, high landslide potential
• Open Space/Recreation
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Any re-development requires planting native vegetation
Preserve natural drainage courses
Existing and adopted bike plan has not been implemented
Equestrian
• Conservation
– Encourage use of alternate water sources
– Cooperate regionally in water management
– Encourage investigation of controlling pollution in runoff
• Land use
Redondo Beach
– Long standing “nuisance” water from domestic uses along streets in
certain areas.
– High permeability of soil
– Provide land uses that attract are regionally attractive and
contribute revenue to the City.
• Open Space/Recreation
– Insufficient space for bike trails
– Decreasing areas of private open space
– Hopkins Wilderness Park located in watershed
• Conservation
– West Coast salt water intrusion barrier
– Encourage water conservation practices
– Examine feasibility of utilizing alternative means of water resources
and production for use (de-sal)
Rolling Hills
• Land use
– Minimal land available for development
– Rural residential character
– Accommodate development that is sensitive to the natural
environment
– Potential leaking septic systems during rain
– No flooding concerns
• Open Space/Recreation
– Residences landscaped with non-native vegetation
– Preserve open space and native character
– Maintain and improve hiking and riding trails.
• Conservation
– Conserve and enhance natural resources.
– Low permeability soils
Rolling Hills Estates
• Land use
– City is almost completely developed
– Low density residential character
– Potential for re-development of Chandler Quarry, Northop and former
landfills
– 15% of city on septic tanks
• Open Space/Recreation
– Open spaces consist of steep slopes and serve as natural drainage
courses and plant/animal habitats
– Privately owned and undeveloped open space
– Abundance of parks and open space
• Conservation
– Conserve natural resources and maintain balanced ecology
San Pedro (LA)
• Land use
– Maintain low density character of single family areas
– Two current community redevelopment agencies
• Open Space/Recreation
– Lack of usable open space in multiple family residential projects
– More public recreational water access is needed, e.g. a second boat
launch
– Provide recreational facilities along public right of way, I.e. flood
control facilities and utility easements.
• Conservation
– Protect, enhance and restore the overall quality of the Coastal Zone
environment and its natural and man-made resources.
Torrance
• Land use
– “Balanced city”
– Preserve areas of historic and cultural significance.
• Open Space/Recreation
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Preserve wildlife habitat areas.
Tree coverage throughout city.
Preserve open space and provide adequate space for recreation.
Acquire lands for parks
Acquire Railroad ROW for trails
• Conservation
– Encourage use of alternate water sources and water conservation
– Water desalinization plant treating brackish groundwater
Wilmington (LA)
• Land use
– Preserve and enhance the varied and distinct uses (residential,
commercial, industrial)
– Long-standing desire to have a marine-oriented commercial area
develop at the foot of Avalon Blvd (near Bannings Landing)
– Lack of transition areas between landuses.
• Open Space/Recreation
– Open space and recreational amenities of the community are
concentrated in Harbor Park and Banning Park.
– Need for more neighborhood parks
– Preserve unique wildlife habitats and ecologically important areas
within parks and recreation areas in a natural state, for the protection
of plant and animal species, and for public enjoyment, health and
safety.