Mayor Bass issues executive order to pause the Lineage warehouse rebuild. What’s next?

Topline:

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is directing city departments to stop the Lineage warehouse from being rebuilt pending an investigation. The City Council is also set to put a moratorium on warehouses like it near residences citywide.

City ordinances to come: Bass’ executive order calls on the City Council to introduce an ordinance that would “place a moratorium on large cold storage facilities within close proximity of Residential zones” and other sensitive areas. Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, who represents Boyle Heights, said she would introduce an interim ordinance next week that would do exactly that.

A multi-agency investigation: Bass’ order directs city departments, led by the departments of City Planning and Building and Safety, to come up with a report on the warehouse. “The report shall investigate and analyze the Lineage site and its proposed uses, as well as provide recommendations on how the City can apply a discretionary review and approval process for any future land uses proposed by the owner, including subjecting the proposed uses to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act,” the executive order states. Bass’ executive order states that any plans to rebuild Lineage’s cold storage departments will be on hold until the city reviews the report.

The backstory: Permit applications were filed this week to repair and rebuild fire-damaged portions of the warehouse. It’s not clear if those applications came under the direction of Lineage, who leases the property, or the owner, Chill Build Los Angeles I LLC. LAist has reached out to the contact listed on the application for further comment, and has not heard back.

Why the urgency: Bass’s executive order cited that odor concerns have gotten worse as a heat wave strikes L.A. — and the heat is not expected to let up anytime soon. She also noted that the fire at Lineage’s warehouse was the second fire there in two years. As of now, the L.A. Unified School District is still planning to reopen nearby schools starting Aug. 12, ahead of the city’s Aug. 14 deadline to have food waste fully cleared from the warehouse. School officials say they may keep students inside if odor and pest concerns persist.

Lineage’s response: LAist has reached out to Lineage’s representatives and did not immediately hear back.