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Westerly of Figueroa Street / South of Pacific Coast Highway / Alley / Street Vacation

Council File 26-0111

Under review — the city has cleared an alley vacation in Wilmington-Harbor City to allow development of an automated car wash, but the Public Works Committee must approve the project and the developer must complete several conditions—including infrastructure work and utility coordination—before the vacation becomes final.

Introduced
2026-01-26
Last changed
2026-05-22
Status
open
Expires
2028-02-10
Committee
Public Works Committee
Initiated by
Bureau of Engineering
References
Vacation: VAC-E1401447

Brief

The file proposes vacating a 20-foot-wide alley west of Figueroa Street in Council District 15 to allow Infinity CF LLC and partners to develop an automated car wash facility. Council voted 15-0 on February 10, 2026 to initiate proceedings. The Bureau of Engineering recommends approval, finding the alley unnecessary for public use, subject to substantial conditions including utility easements, sidewalk improvements, and unified property ownership. The matter is pending Public Works Committee action before a public hearing can be scheduled.

Full summary

This file concerns the proposed vacation of a 20-foot-wide, approximately 3,000-square-foot public alley located west of Figueroa Street and south of Pacific Coast Highway in the Wilmington-Harbor City area (Council District 15). The vacation was requested by petitioner Rob Katherman on behalf of property owners including Infinity CF LLC, with the stated purpose of enabling development of an automated car wash on land currently zoned C2 and used for trucking-related businesses. Council voted 15-0 on February 10, 2026 to initiate formal vacation proceedings, and action became final on February 12, 2026. The Bureau of Engineering's May 2026 report recommends approving vacation of the portion of the alley shown in blue on the project map, while denying vacation of a separate adjacent area currently used as a freeway exit and needed for public right-of-way purposes. The Bureau finds the alley unnecessary for present or prospective public use, vehicular circulation, or non-motorized transportation, and concludes that the vacation is exempt from CEQA review and consistent with the General Plan and the Wilmington-Harbor City Community Plan. City Planning specifically noted the project would support commercial development and a transition away from trucking uses. Key city departments have cleared the proposal. Caltrans, which initially objected in December 2023 on the basis that it owned a portion of the alley in fee, formally rescinded that objection after further investigation determined it holds no property rights in the alley. LADOT, the Fire Department, and City Planning all confirmed they do not oppose the vacation. AT&T has facilities in the vacation area and has requested an easement be reserved to protect them. The Bureau's report attaches a substantial list of conditions the petitioner must satisfy before the Resolution to Vacate can be recorded. These include submitting legal descriptions and a title report, dedicating five-foot strips along Pacific Coast Highway and Figueroa Street, constructing new concrete sidewalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps at the PCH-Figueroa intersection, closing unused driveways, coordinating with utilities, and recording an agreement to hold the vacated area and adjoining parcel under unified ownership to prevent creation of a landlocked parcel. The petitioner has paid a $14,980 deposit toward the cost of the investigation. The file is now pending in the Public Works Committee, which must approve the report before a public hearing can be scheduled, and all conditions must be met within two years of Council action or the vacation proceedings will be terminated.

Activity (7)

  • 2026-05-22 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Public Works Committee.
  • 2026-05-21 Document submitted by Bureau of Engineering, dated May 18, 2026.
  • 2026-02-12 Council action final.
  • 2026-02-10 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2026-02-06 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on February 10, 2026.
  • 2026-01-27 City Clerk transmitted Council File to Public Works Committee Clerk.
  • 2026-01-26 Document submitted by Bureau of Engineering, dated January 15, 2026.

Documents (7)

Council votes (1)

  • 2026-02-10 Adopted — 15-0-0 · Regular

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