Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay

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Project Description

The State of California has adopted recent legislation to address the statewide housing shortage and now requires a streamlined and ministerial process for specific residential developments. After receiving Senate Bill (SB 2) grant funds from the State, the City of Rosemead is now considering a Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay zone in targeted areas in and around Interstate 10. The primary goal of this effort is focused on creating usable, modern and subjective development standards and guidelines, streamlining review procedures, and integrating implementation focused strategies. The City envisions transforming the identified opportunity areas into multi-modal, multi-use areas, where new residential development may be incorporated.

In addition, the creation of an overlay zoning district for opportunity sites along the I-10 Freeway with freeway ingress & egress off ramps is an action item in Strategy 1 of the City of Rosemead’s Strategic Plan 2018-2020. Strategy 1 focuses on aggressively pursuing economic development to enhance local shopping and dining options, encourage new high quality and affordable housing stock, beautify commercial corridors, create jobs, and increase General Fund revenues to sustain service levels and maintain public facilities.

Project Materials

Project Timeline

FCMUO timeline Frequently Asked Questions

What is the City doing?

The City is undertaking an effort to develop a new mixed-use overlay zone, known as the Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay. This overlay will provide subjective development standards and guidelines related to site planning and architectural design for all new projects within the identified project areas.

Why is the project happening now?

Recently adopted State legislation, including Senate Bills 35 and 330, requires cities to streamline the process of local review for new multi-family and mixed-use residential projects to address the state-wide housing shortage. The development of the Freeway Corridor Mixed Use Overlay will assist in streamlining both the development approval process and California Environmental Quality Act environmental review process by pre-entitling and analyzing environmental factors in advance based on the estimated development potential within the identified project areas.

In addition, the creation of a mixed-use overlay zoning district will contribute to Strategy 1 of the City of Rosemead’s Strategic Plan 2018-2020, to aggressively pursue economic development to enhance local shopping and dining options, encourage new high quality and affordable housing stock, beautify commercial corridors, create jobs, and increase General Fund revenues to sustain service levels and maintain public facilities.

How is this project being funded?

On September 18, 2019, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded the City $160,000 under the Senate Bill 2 Planning Grant. The funds received are intended to address the State’s housing shortage and high housing costs by enabling the preparation, adoption, and implementation of plans and process improvements to streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production. The City has hired a land-use consultant, RRM Design Group, to assist with the development of the Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay zone.

Where will the City apply the Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay?

 Working collaboratively with the State, the City has identified six project areas that will be the focus of the Freeway Corridor Mixed-Use Overlay zone. Please refer to the Project Areas Map here for specific area locations.

What is the project timeline?

The project kicked-off in January 2020 and is anticipated to wrap-up in June of 2021. Refer to project timeline graphic for a breakdown of the individual project phases. 

Contact Information

City Staff is available to answer your questions. Please contact:

Lily Valenzuela, Planning & Economic Development Manager
8838 E. Valley Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770
Phone: 626-569-2142
Email: [email protected]