A vacant lot in the unincorporated community of Florence-Firestone could be developed with multifamily housing, according to a staff report to the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission.

The project site, located at 1619 Firestone Boulevard, sits two blocks west of Metro's Firestone Station.  Plans call for the construction of a four-story building featuring 20 apartments - including two to be set aside for lower-income households - with a common laundry facility.

Property owner Makal Equities and project applicant CRATE Modular are planning a 42-foot-tall building which would be composed of prefabricated modular units.  All of the proposed apartments would span 318 square feet and have 40-square-foot balconies.

Due to the provision of on-site affordable housing, the project would be allowed to exceed zoning limits on density for the property - which would normally be restricted to just eight apartments.  Additionally, the development's proximity to rail transit allows the project to be built without on-site parking in accordance with the state law SB 35.

The staff report to the Regional Planning Commission argues that the project is in compliance with state and local regulations, and should be approved.

The item was originally scheduled to be considered at the March 18 meeting of the Commission.  However, the meeting has been rescheduled in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Los Angeles area.

The proposed apartment complex, consisting mostly of market-rate units, is a rarity in the Florence-Firestone community, where most new developments consist of subsidized affordable housing.  Two such projects are currently under construction near Metro's Florence Station.