Story Created:
Jul 15, 2010 at 11:57 AM PST
Story Updated:
Jul 15, 2010 at 12:06 PM PST
BELLFLOWER — Hit hard financially by the recent loss of the Ford West car dealership, the City Council will decide next month if a firm selling small electric vehicles can partially recoup the loss of the Ford dealership.
In an unusual move, City Manager Mike Egan has appealed to the council the June 21 decision of the Planning Commission to allow a Long Beach company to move onto a three-acre lot at 8739 Artesia Blvd. between Lakewood Boulevard and Downey Avenue.
Egan said he wants the council to decide if Electric Car Sales and Service Inc., which will sell, repair and lease new and used electric vehicles similar to golf carts but that are considered “street legal,” is what they had in mind for the West Artesia Boulevard Specific Plan.
In a letter to the council Monday night, Egan said he believes the Planning Commission decision that the small vehicles can fit in the automobile sales and dealership zoning classification is wrong.
Jeffrey Springer, attorney for the Long Beach firm, questioned Egan’s actions and asked the City Council to dismiss the appeal. Council members, however, formally received and filed the report, leaving the appeal to be decided at the Aug. 9 council meeting.
The City Council will take its usual end of July break and not meet July 26.
“We are trying to provide revenue to the city and bring some life to Artesia Boulevard with a green business,” said Wilfrid Billard Jr., of the Long Beach firm based at 3850 Cherry Ave.
Billard said the firm sells new and used vehicles, both all-electric and hybrid, which range in price from $6,500 to about $25,000.
The vehicles include the Club Car, similar in appearance to a two-seat golf cart; the Villager, a “street legal vehicle” which can go 20 to 30 miles on a single charge and reach speeds of 35 miles per hour and more; and the Gem Electric vehicle, manufactured by the Chrysler Group.
The latter is a four-seat vehicle with a top and windshield which can reach a speed of 25 miles per hour and go 30 miles on a charge.
Another model is a two-seater with a pickup-like deck used by many cities for park maintenance.
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