Planning commission denies Impulse Space variance for four 38-foot cryogenic tanks after neighborhood safety concerns

The Redondo Beach Planning Commission on Sept. 17 denied a request from Impulse Space for an eight-foot variance to install four bulk cryogenic tanks (two liquid nitrogen, two liquid argon) with proposed heights of approximately 38 feet at an existing aerospace manufacturing facility on Manhattan Beach Boulevard. Planning staff had recommended approval contingent on findings and plan-check/permit conditions, but commissioners split over compatibility with adjacent residential areas and whether granting the variance would amount to an unfair special privilege.

The applicant’s representatives described technical and operational reasons for vertical tanks and detailed safety and monitoring systems. Jeff DeFazio, Impulse’s vice president of assembly integration and test, told the commission, “Safety is absolutely our priority when it comes to our operations, not only for the our neighbors here, but certainly our own employees.” Despite those assurances and outreach efforts, multiple residents raised concerns about asphyxiation hazards, visual impacts and incomplete notice; following debate the commission adopted a denial resolution (202609PCR11). The roll-call on the denial recorded Yes votes from Commissioners Gattis, Young, Boswell and Light and No votes from Commissioners Hazeltyne, Lucy and Chairperson Craig; the motion carried and the variance was denied.