The Los Angeles harbor commission on Wednesday, Sept. 30, unanimously approved a proposed 18.4-acre truck parking project along John S. Gibson Boulevard and the 110 Freeway after the item was derailed for review by the L.A. City Council.
It was the second and final go-around for the proposal after the commission initially passed it on June 11, before the City Council sidelined it for further review at the request of the area’s council member.
In June, the council, in an 11-0 vote, approved a “245 motion” introduced by Councilmember Tim McOsker, who represents the 15th Council District, which takes in the Harbor Area. Section 245 of the City Charter gives the council the authority to review and veto certain actions by city boards and commissions.
“(The vote) gives me an opportunity to have further conversations,” McOsker said at the time. “We’ve had many, but (will) have further conversations with the proposed developer and the community, particularly the Wilmington community, who will not be housing this property, but will be taking the burden of the traffic that is anticipated.”
The item was eventually cleared to return to the harbor commission.
McOsker “has indicated that the developers have subsequently made good faith efforts to work with the community as requested,” Wednesday’s commission report said, clearing the way for the commission’s final approval.
But some Wilmington residents who have objected to the proposal continued to press concerns at Wednesday’s board meeting, saying the result would bring more truck traffic into and through neighborhood streets.
The proposed project, 1599 John S. Gibson Blvd., would create an 18.4-acre site for short-term truck and chassis parking serving the Port of Los Angeles.
Equipment would be allowed to park for no longer than 24 hours, and there would be no container stacking or other activity on the site. The facility would be overseen at all times by two employees on-site.
The proposed site is currently vacant. Once ready, it would include a paved, striped and fenced area with about 393 stalls for parking trucks and shipping containers on chassis. A planted landscaped area is also part of the plan.
Wilmington residents have repeatedly objected to the project, however, saying their neighborhoods already have taken too much port-related truck traffic.
Several speakers, including those from the Wilmington Neighborhood Council, reiterated those concerns at Wednesday’s commission meeting, saying the project will only bring more trucks in and through Wilmington.
Issues raised by opponents have included concerns about truck idling, traffic, and other impacts on roadways and the 110 Freeway. Wilmington, especially, has been hit with port-related truck traffic over the years.
Other neighborhood councils in San Pedro and Harbor City, however, have expressed support for the project, saying developers have worked with neighbors over the course of a few years to respond to residents’ concerns.
Supporters of the project have argued that the new facility will provide a dedicated location for trucks already serving the Port of Los Angeles to stage, park short-term, exchange equipment, and coordinate cargo movements instead of waiting or backing up onto public streets.
The board report describes the project as developing the port-adjacent hilltop property on flat land at the top, with a roadway added to connect the space with John S. Gibson Boulevard.
“This board action,” the report said, “would support the Strategic Plan Objective for strong relationships with stakeholders, as it would support the development of a neighboring truck and chassis parking lot facility on land that was sold by the Harbor Department for this purpose; in addition, the facility will reduce illegal on-street truck parking in theWilmington community.”