South Gate Tow Yard Project

The South Gate Tow Yard Project, located at 9313 Rayo Avenue in South Gate, California, involves the expansion of towing business operations to occupy the entire project site. A primary component of the project is a zoning map amendment to change the rear portion of the property from Industrial Flex (IF) to Heavy Manufacturing (M3), aligning it with the front portion of the site. This change is necessary because vehicle towing and impounding uses are permitted by-right in the M3 zone according to SGMC Section 11.21.030. The physical scope of work includes the construction of an approximately 560-square-foot office building, the installation of new site lighting, and the creation of a new vehicle storage area featuring paving and striping. The project is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), with an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration concluding that the project will not have significant environmental effects. However, because the site is listed under Section 65962.5 of the Government Code pertaining to hazardous wastes, a Focused Soil Management Plan must be approved before any on-site grading begins to manage contamination risks. The City of South Gate Community Development Department is the lead agency, and a public hearing regarding the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration was scheduled for August 25, 2026, following a public review period that began on July 24, 2026.