Venice City Council approved a zoning and land use change for a 2-acre site near the Venice airport, allowing industrial development on land previously designated for residential use.
The council voted 5-2 to amend the future land use designation and 6-1 to approve the zoning change for 490 Substation Road, moving the property from Residential Multifamily 1 to Industrial and establishing the framework for redevelopment.
The applicant has proposed multi-tenant light-industrial buildings to replace a single-family home on the site and to expand a property that is already partially used for a contracting business. City planners said the change aligns zoning with existing activity while allowing a broader range of industrial and commercial uses.
The site sits in an area where industrial operations, residential properties and civic uses meet, a pattern that has become more common as development has filled in around the Venice airport. Planning staff described the corridor as one of the few places in the city where industrial activity remains viable.
However, nearby residents raised concerns about how additional industrial activity could affect daily conditions along Substation Road. The road, which is privately maintained, already shows signs of wear, and residents pointed to heavier truck traffic as a source of further strain. They also questioned whether additional industrial uses would remain compatible with nearby homes.
Those concerns surfaced during earlier review and contributed to a split vote at the Planning Commission, which recommended approval 4-2 in March. The divided outcome carried through to City Council, where the land use change drew more opposition than the zoning amendment, reflecting tension over how the area should evolve.
Even so, the council’s decision does not authorize construction. Instead, it moves the project to the next phase, where a site plan will determine building layout, access and circulation. That review will provide another opportunity to address how the project fits within the surrounding area and its impact on traffic.
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