Redondo Beach makes exception for taller tanks at aerospace property
By Garth Meyer
By Garth Meyer
The Redondo Beach city council gave clearance Oct. 6 for Impulse Space to put up 38-foot tanks on its Manhattan Beach Blvd. property, making an exception to the 30-foot rule.
Impulse sought the variance after the city’s planning commission denied their request on a 4-3 vote in September.
Founded in 2021, Impulse Space leased an old T.R.W. building at the North Redondo site to expand its space vehicles business, which require tanks of liquid nitrogen and liquid argon.
The safety of the tanks will go through a whole separate process by Los Angeles County and the State of California.
Last week, after testimony to the Redondo Beach city council from two Impulse representatives, the council took in public comment from a couple dozen residents, with others calling in, along with 60 e-comments, all but six opposed to allowing the larger tanks.
Councilman Scott Behrendt, who represents the area (District Five) voted against the height request.
Impulse representatives Jeff DeFazio and Mike McDermott told the council that the taller tanks allow them to save as many as 50 parking spaces, compared to using 30-foot tanks. They also cited more truck deliveries to resupply smaller tanks.
In the end, the council’s 4-1 vote included a requirement for Impulse to work with the city to place the maximum amount of trees possible on the frontage of the property, and replace its gray wall with something more aesthetically-pleasing.
“We agree that it is an eyesore. We will tear down the inherited fence,” said DeFazio, vice president of assembly, integration and test.
The tanks may or may not be obscured by screens of some kind.
“We’re bound by the four corners of this ordinance; nothing more, nothing less,” Behrendt said in his preface to the public hearing.
Later, in his comments just before the vote, Behrendt said, “What sticks with me is the concerns of the residents. This is real to them. (Other neighbor) Northrop Grumman is differently-zoned, they don’t have a 30-foot limit.”
Behrendt and others pointed out that Northrop’s Grumman’s tanks are placed well off of the streets surrounding its property.
The building Impulse leased is 250,000 square feet, to be used for expansion, on a narrow four-acre lot at the intersection of Manhattan Beach Blvd. and Redondo Beach Blvd.
Mayor Jim Light gave DeFazio and McDermott one hour to present their case Tuesday.
“And if you don’t need the whole hour, don’t take it,” Light said.
Impulse employs 400 people at its Redondo Beach headquarters.
Defazio and McDermott, director of infrastructure and operations, pointed out that liquid nitrogen and liquid argon have been used in the South Bay aerospace industry for decades. They said that 38-foot tanks are the industry standard, adding that Impulse’s current 26-foot tanks are not conducive to the company’s projected growth. Horizontal tanks would be too small, they said.
“Our request is directly aligned with the city’s stated goals for a thriving jobs center for innovation,” said McDermott.
“We would be happy to work with the city (on beautification),” DeFazio said.
In public comment, several across-the-street neighbors called for denial of the taller tanks.
“Why did you lease a parcel that does not fit your operational needs?” said Roxanne Ferebee.
“We are not Chevron, we are not El Segundo,” said another neighbor. “We are not the City of Commerce and certainly don’t want to be.”
“This area is smaller and closer to houses,” said another neighbor.
Jeep Suddeth called for further study.
Jess Money said, “It’s not the likelihood of something, it’s the ‘what if’?”
Councilman Zein Obagi, Jr., in his comments, added, “I’ve never seen so many District Five residents in this chamber.”
With approval for the tanks, Impulse will now begin the state and county process to be permitted to install them. ER
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