Residents near Traffic Circle say neighborhood is becoming an 'auto repair corridor'

Residents in the neighborhood north of Anaheim Street and east of Ximeno Avenue say they’re afraid the area is tuing into an auto repair corridor, disrupting their lives.

But officials, including the City Councilman representing that district, say the conces are exaggerated and all changes are within the current zoning regulations.

Members of the Recreation Park Neighborhood Coalition started worrying when East Long Beach Brake Service moved its operation a block east, from Anaheim and Ximeno to Anaheim and Prospect Street. While the office is on the coer, the primary garage is facing Prospect.

Then it was aounced that Tom Beett of Tom’s Tires would be moving an operation into the site on the coer of Anaheim and Ximeno. Tom’s Tires has a large wheel and tire store, including auto repair, at 2775 E. Willow St. in Signal Hill.

That prompted the residents’ coalition to start circulating a petition saying they did not approve of a Tom’s Tires at the coer and questioning why there were no public hearings or change of use permits required.

According to Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supeaw, the new location for the brake shop previously was an automotive glass shop, so there was not a change of use there. Beett said that he plans to use the coer for a Tom’s Automotive Service Center, again continuing the use permitted on the property.

“I’ve been eying that property for 15 years,” Beett said. “We had talked about moving, but we’ve decided to make it a second location and cater more to auto repair… All our tools are the most mode and quiet, and all the garages face the street.”

According to the petition, residents are conceed about the noise pollution from pneumatic impact tools as well as a more industrial feel for the neighborhood.

“This area has been long neglected by our city officials,” the petition says. “Recently we are witnessing good signs of urban gentrification: New multi family residences with over 100 apartments, many young couples moving into the surrounding neighborhoods and improving their properties, new bars and restaurants opening. The area residences are strongly opposed to tuing our area of Long Beach back into a car repair center.”

Supeaw met with the residents’ group last week, and said that the changes are a matter of private investment on private property, all within the permitted uses.

He pointed out that Beett has plans to upgrade the property at the coer of PCH and Ximeno, actually improving the area.

“Once we get the coer in shape the way we want it to, they’ll be very happy, I think,” Beett said. “Noise shouldn’t be an issue.”

Beett said he hopes to have the new business open some time in September.

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