Monterey Park : Permits Denied for $10-Million Project

The Planning Commission by a 3-2 vote early Wednesday rejected conditional-use permits sought for construction of a four-level commercial project at Atlantic Boulevard and Garvey Avenue, but the developer is expected to appeal the decision to the City Council.

Tindo Valley Associates has proposed a $10-million project, including up to eight restaurants, for the site, which is now occupied by a gas station and a food stand. The commission hearing, which began at 7 p.m. Tuesday and continued past 1 a.m. Wednesday, drew 200 people, including many residents of an Alhambra neighborhood northwest of the site who complained that the project would add to the area’s severe traffic congestion.

John Keating, the city’s traffic consultant on the project, said 6,500 cars would go in and out of the site’s parking lots daily. Keating said that by adding a second left-turn lane for eastbound traffic on Garvey and a right-turn lane for southbound traffic on Atlantic, the city could ease traffic congestion at the intersection even though more cars would be passing through. Keating recommended that the 406 parking spaces proposed for the site be increased by 70. Douglas R. Ring, attorney for the developer, suggested that the city require restaurants to offer valet parking instead of insisting on additional parking spaces.

The proposed four-level structure would include a basement for parking, drive-in banking facilities alongside the structure and as many as 59 stores and restaurants.

Commissioners Patricia Chin, Yukio Kawartani and David Barron voted against the project, citing several concerns, including traffic congestion. Voting for it were commission chairman Fred Rivera and Johnny Li.