Saturn Park Community Workshop Overview

The Saturn Park Advisory Review Committee (SPARC) conducted a series of community visioning workshops to gather public input on the future land use of Saturn Park, also known as McCaslin Business Park, in Monterey Park, California. The workshops aimed to develop a recommendation for the City Council on whether to maintain the current land use or consider alternative uses to revitalize the site. The site, originally a quarry and later a business park, has seen a decline in occupancy and utility, exacerbated by shifts in the office market post-pandemic.

The workshops, facilitated by Willdan, included presentations on existing land use and zoning regulations, and structured discussions to gather community feedback. The site, spanning 64.6 acres with 2,164,909 sq. ft. of building area, is characterized by high vacancy rates, outdated infrastructure, and a mix of office, warehousing, and distribution uses. It is adjacent to residential neighborhoods, a commercial development, and an electrical substation.

The visioning process involved identifying issues, envisioning future uses, and determining steps to achieve the desired future. The workshops included listening sessions, working group exercises, and a ranking exercise to gauge preferences for various land use categories. Participants expressed mixed opinions, with some favoring the current zoning and others advocating for more flexible uses to boost economic viability. Key potential uses discussed included innovation/technology, mixed-use development, neighborhood-serving commercial, and public/open space.

The ranking exercise revealed a preference for innovation/technology and mixed-use categories, while public/open space and high-density residential received the most disapproval. Concerns raised included traffic, noise, pollution, and the need for the city to meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation. The final workshop to be held on August 29, 2024 at 6:00 pm will involve SPARC deliberating and voting on recommendations to present to the City Council, which will then consider the recommendations and public testimony to decide on the future planning for Saturn Park.

View the agendas, minutes, staff report and accompanying documents here.