What was approved at 11136 Dollison Drive in Downey?

Downey approved 144 ownership townhomes at 11136 Dollison Drive, the former Honda World service center. The approval describes the development’s land use and buildings. It doesn’t supply a price list or a move-in date.

This explains the rule and approval; it is not tax or legal advice.

What did the Planning Commission approve?

The City of Downey Planning Commission approved a 144-unit residential condominium townhome ownership development on a 6.15-acre site.

The city’s Notice of Exemption identifies Meritage Homes as the applicant. The requests were Site Plan Review, Tentative Tract Map and Density Bonus. The case references are Site Plan Review PLN-25-00133 and Tentative Tract Map 84963.

According to The Downey Patriot, the commission approved the project on October 7, 2026, by a 3-1 vote with one abstention. The city’s October 7 staff report records the July 15 vote of 5-0 to deny the original 145-unit proposal and the August decision to reconsider. Its recommended action was Planning Commission Resolution No. 26-4071.

Those votes explain why you may have encountered different home counts. The approved proposal has 144 homes. Under Downey Municipal Code Section 9806, a written appeal to the City Council must be filed with the City Planner within 15 calendar days after the decision, or 10 calendar days for subdivisions. The sources do not show whether an appeal was filed. Ask the City Clerk or Planning.

Where is the site, and what land use applies?

The site is at 11136 Dollison Drive, between Crossdale Avenue and Fairford Avenue, on land previously developed with an automotive dealership and service center.

The commission’s findings describe single-family residential uses to the west, south and east, with commercial uses to the north. Those are the surrounding land uses identified in the city’s record.

The General Plan designation is General Commercial. The zoning is SP90-1, the Florence Ave/I-5 Specific Plan, with Housing Overlay Zone 2, or HOU-2.

That housing overlay matters to understanding the approval. The notice identifies the property as a Housing Opportunity Site with a minimum density of 30 dwelling units per acre. It also says HOU-2 permits development below that density subject to review and approval of a Site Plan Review. Reading only the commercial designation would leave out the housing provisions that also apply to this property.

What will the buildings and parking look like?

According to the city’s staff report, the plan has 14 buildings containing two-, three- and four-bedroom homes ranging from 1,215 to 1,765 square feet.

The report lists 129 market-rate townhomes and 15 homes designated for moderate-income households. Of the 144 homes, 141 would have three stories and three would have two stories. The maximum height is 37 feet, 6 inches.

The staff report’s revisions include several specific changes:

• Three homes along the southern property line were lowered to two stories.
• Open parking increased from 40 to 62 spaces.
• The Fairford Avenue setback increased from 10 to 15 feet.
• A home at the northwest corner was removed.
• The central communal open space was widened by 2 feet.

The report lists 350 parking spaces: 288 garage spaces, with a two-car garage per home, plus 62 open spaces. A draft condition would require the HOA’s CC&Rs to keep garages free of storage and limit how long a vehicle may park in the open guest spaces.

Planned shared amenities in the staff report include a shade structure, barbecue counter, picnic area, benches and a children’s play structure.

These details describe the plan. They don’t establish sale prices, HOA dues or when a particular home will be offered.

What does the record say about traffic?

The city’s staff report describes a traffic study for the original 145-unit plan estimating about 926 daily vehicle trips, compared with 832 from the former service and parts facility.

Keep the study’s scope in view: those figures came from the original proposal. The report does not provide a replacement trip estimate for the approved 144-home plan. All eight study intersections were projected to operate at acceptable levels of service. Public Works peer-reviewed the study and concurred.

The staff report describes access as a driveway on Dollison Drive for both entry and exit, plus an entrance-only driveway on Fairford Avenue.

Its recommended conditions would require the developer to monitor traffic volumes and speeds after occupancy on Dollison Drive, Fairford Avenue, Crossdale Avenue and Cecilia Street. Traffic calming would be required if that monitoring found project-related impacts warranting it.

The staff report also found a requested signal at Cecilia Street and other street changes were not warranted by engineering criteria and observed traffic volumes.

Why did the city find no further CEQA review was required?

The city’s notice says the project is statutorily exempt under Public Resources Code Section 21080.66 and is not subject to further CEQA review.

The notice identifies that provision as having been created by Assembly Bill 130, effective June 30, 2025, for a broad array of infill housing projects. Its listed criteria include sites of 20 acres or less, location within an incorporated municipality, previous urban development, consistency with general plan and zoning requirements, minimum density, and no demolition of a listed historic structure.

The commission also found the project more than 500 feet from any freeway and that maximum building height would not exceed 85 feet. That 85-foot figure is the finding’s threshold. It is not the project’s height of 37 feet, 6 inches.

Separately, the city’s staff report found the moderate-income ownership housing qualified the project for density bonus waivers covering setbacks, building height, lot area per dwelling unit, open space dimensions and window treatments. Staff found the record lacked the findings required under the Housing Accountability Act to deny the project or approve it at a lower density.

What should you check before considering a purchase?

You should ask for the sales, ownership and cost information that the approval sources do not provide.

There are no sale prices, HOA dues, Mello-Roos or special tax figures, construction start or completion dates, or sales release dates in these sources. An approval is therefore only part of your purchase research.

For the 15 moderate-income homes, ask the planning division at (562) 904-7154 and Meritage Homes how the homes will be offered and what restrictions attach. The staff report gives a 2026 example: a household of four counts as moderate income with annual household income of $86,480 to $129,720. The sources do not give prices, resale restrictions or an application process.

Because the city describes a condominium townhome development, the California HOA disclosure guide is a useful companion when reviewing ownership documents. Look in the CC&Rs for garage storage restrictions and open guest parking time limits. You can also use the new construction buying checklist for general questions, keeping its Menifee setting in mind. The supplemental property tax guide provides separate background for your purchase research.

The short version

Downey approved a proposal for 144 ownership townhomes at the former Honda World service center, with revised building, parking and setback details described in the city’s staff report.

Buyers still need prices, ownership documents, sales timing and details about the moderate-income homes. Nearby owners can check the reported access plan and traffic monitoring conditions.

For a separate look at your own property, use the home value tool.