Torrance mayoral candidates talk development, traffic in West Torrance

Torrance mayoral candidates discussed issues impacting the western part of Torrance during a candidates forum this week.

Incumbent George Chen and current City Councilmember Sharon Kalani were asked about the Beach Cities Health District's healthy living project, increased housing development and the Metro K-Line Extension to Torrance.

Beach Cities development

The Beach Cities Health District's healthy living project is located on the eastern edge of Redondo Beach and will potentially impact those within the West Torrance neighborhood. The project will redevelop and expand the current outdated Beach Cities Health District's Healthy Living Campus, 514 N. Prospect Ave. They also plan to build a 157-unit assisted living facility.

Residents of the area bordering the project site have expressed concerns about construction and traffic impacts, considering its proximity to Towers Elementary School.

"Construction activities may generate excessive noise and vibration, expose the public and surrounding uses to hazardous materials, interrupt school drop-off/pick-up activities, and increase pedestrian-vehicle conflicts," the Torrance Unified School District said in a response to the project's final environmental impact report. "Due to the proximity of the Project site to Towers Elementary School, TUSD requests that construction activities that generate the greatest noise and vibration impacts (i.e., building demolition and grading activities) occur when students are not in school."

Chen, the current mayor, said Torrance needs to continue providing input on the project and advocate for its residents.

"At the end of the day, Redondo Beach City Council will make the final decision," he said. "So, the best thing we could do is rally together, provide objective input on how it impacts the residents of Torrance (and) get our staff working with the Beach Cities Health District."

Kalani, who is also currently on the council, said because of discussions between Torrance and Redondo Beach, plans were changed to maintain the existing green space and add parking along Diamond Street, leading into Torrance.

"We need to keep it that way so that we ensure that we're thinking about your privacy, your light, your air and your comfort throughout this project," she said. "We need to make sure that there's clear and forcible traffic considerations to keep traffic out of Torrance. We don't have a vote; we don't have a voice, but I will stand with you to make sure your voices are heard."

Traffic was a major throughline during Monday's forum, which was hosted by the West Torrance HOA and the Southwood HOA.

Housing

Torrance has been scrambling to meet the demands of its Regional Housing Needs Assessment, which is dictated by the state every eight years. For the current RHNA cycle (2021-2029), Torrance must build nearly 5,000 housing units. This is a drastic increase compared to the 1,450 units required in the previous cycle.

This has led to a record number of housing developments in recent years. One of the biggest high-density projects currently under construction is in West Torrance: Del Amo Circle Apartments, 21507 Hawthorne Blvd., is a five-story apartment complex with 200 rental units and a 6.5 level parking structure.

Chen, however, said that infrastructure is always taken into consideration when the City Council approves a housing development project. The city is also able to make sure high density housing is built in areas that have been zoned for that, he said.

"A developer has to come and get the approval to make a development and a location," Chen said. "That's where we steer them to the places where it has the least impact. (Whether) our streets and sewers can handle those are all part of the process to determine if it's a go or no go."

Kalani, 67, echoed this sentiment, additionally noting that she supports pushing for local control to override some of the mandates from the state.

"We need to work together," she said. "We need to push for local control, but at this time, we do have to stay within the mandates that have been placed upon us."

When it comes to infrastructure, Kalani said, she would support alternative modes of transportation like buses and bicycles.

"Our streets don't really have a capacity to get bigger," she said. "So what are our other options? There's an opportunity to make other ways of transportation possible through our transit system that already exists, through our trolley system and maybe through our bicycle system, if we can help bring that forward."

Chen, though, said the best way to reduce traffic is to get elderly people out from behind the wheel.

"Because a lot of time traffic is caused by people who have accidents and close down a lane," said Chen, who is 64 years old. "We don't talk about that. Sometimes seniors can become dangerous drivers to themselves and others and they don't know that. And they can cause a traffic accident."

In California, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles, those who are 70 years old or older at the time their driver's license expires must renew their driver's license in person and pass a vision test. In some cases, the DMV website says, other exams may be required.

Still, Chen recommended that instead of driving, they should take advantage of Connect Torrance, which provides low-cost transportation, similar to Uber or Lyft, for seniors and those with disabilities.

"Use the tools available in the 21st century," he said, "while we're fighting back for local control and developing smartly."

Metro K Line

The Metro's K Line Extension to Torrance has been another hot topic throughout the city, specifically for those who will be living near and driving along the proposed route. The project will extend the current Metro K Line 4.5 miles to the Torrance Transit Center.

The extension will go along the Metro-owned right-of-way from the Redondo Beach (Marine) Station before diverting into an elevated guideway along the 405 Freeway and traveling through the center median of Hawthorne Boulevard, rejoining the right-of-way south of 190th Street.

This route, however, was strongly opposed by Torrance because of the negative traffic and economic impacts it would have on the city. Constructing the elevated rail along Hawthorne Boulevard, which abuts the West Torrance and Southwood neighborhoods, will require major construction, including lane closures and detours.

The large thoroughfare serves as a gateway into Torrance, the largest and most visited city in the South Bay, carrying about 70,000 vehicle trips daily.

Both candidates said that if elected, they would do what they could to stop the train from going along Hawthorne Boulevard. Chen, however, also said that he would support stopping it from being constructed at all - if that was the wish of the city.

"I'm wondering how many people really wanted the decision that no one talked about, which was no line," he said.

Chen also added that he is committed to looking at what the city can do within the law.

"We're going to look at every knob that we can turn to make sure that it doesn't come down Hawthorne Boulevard," he said.

Kalani, on the other hand, said she believes the City Council was distracted by potential safety issues with having Metro come to Torrance and "we had our eye off the ball," resulting in a decision that they did not agree with.

"We were not making friends with our local cities and communicating to make sure there was an agreement to go down the right-of-way," Kalani said. "We took too long to accept the Metro line into our city and it's going down Hawthorne. It's disastrous. It's going to cripple the economy, eminent domain our businesses.

"Seventy thousand cars going each way are going to wind up on your streets," she added to the residents gathered at Bert Lynn Middle School. Kalani did say, however, that she would work to create those relationships with neighboring cities and fight back against the route along Hawthorne Boulevard.

She also said that to address safety concerns, Metro would compensate the Torrance Police and Fire departments to patrol the line within the city's boundaries.

Upcoming Torrance candidate forums

* Mayor and city treasurer: 7p.m. Monday, April 20, at Alta Loma Park Meeting Room, 26126 Delos Drive. Hosted by the Hillside Neighborhood Association.

* Mayor, city treasurer and Districts 1, 3 and 5: 6:30 p.m. April 23 at Toyota Meeting Hall, 3330 Civic Center Drive. Hosted by the League of Women Voters.

The League of Women Voters will also be holding a State Assembly District 66 and State Senate District 24 candidates on Monday, April 20 at 5:15 p.m. at the Toyota Meeting Hall.

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