Illegal trucking yard in South Gate agrees to cease operations

After a long battle, residents of South Gate celebrated the upcoming closing of a trucking yard company that was operating illegally.The yard company, located on 8530 Alameda Street, was originally a metal recycling facility owned and operated by Jack Engle & Company. 

In March 2020, the metal recycling operations ceased and acquired a new tenant, Fleet Yards, Inc., which used the site solely for storage of truck trailers and containers. 

While the owner, Jack Engle, tried to continue using his property as a truck yard and requested a zone change so he could obtain the proper permits, the South Gate Planning Commission voted against in 2023 and again on his appeal on March 18, 2025. 

While the next step was to appeal to the city council, in a surprising move during Tuesday’s meeting, Engle backed down on his petition and said the company will close down the truck yard in a year or so. 

Agreeing with the community

Jason Engle, owner and son of Jack Engle, said while the Engle property has been in South Gate for four generations and are considered part of the community, they are also mindful and care for the well being of the community. 

“Suggestions that our family is not concerned for the well being of this community are inaccurate and hurtful,” said Jason during the council meeting. “We have listened closely and appreciate the concerns expressed by our neighbors. We take their concerns to heart.” 

He said they are very proud of the businesses the family built in South Gate, the jobs they provided and their collaboration with the city as a corporate citizen and community partner over the past 50-plus years, when his grandfather started Alameda Engle properties. 

While the decision to give up a business that they worked so hard to build and maintain is difficult after hearing the concerns of the people, the Engles believe “the cessation agreement is the best path forward for our company, our family, the city and our neighbors.” 

The transition

Engle’s attorney, Alfred Fraijo, presented the City Council with a cessation agreement to formally withdraw the appeal and any applications proposing changes to the current zoning. 

The property stands in both the city and county’s jurisdiction, therefore, the cessation agreement provides that the use will be terminated in both jurisdictions on or before May 13, 2026. 

He said this date is much sooner than if the matter were to be subject to litigation, which could be very costly and would take years. 

“If the parties litigate, and should the city be victorious in that litigation, that would only apply to the portion of the property that's within the city's jurisdiction," explained Fraijo. “This agreement would immediately cease all use that is the subject of this issue on both sides of the property.”

The company agreed to immediately begin working with its tenant to wind down its current operations. It would immediately begin removing the hundreds of shipping containers located on the property and coordinating with the city regarding future uses, said Fraijo.

The attorney added that the company has listened closely to the concerns raised by the community and advocates regarding the environmental issues in the area. 

“Our client agrees to commit to an environmental remediation plan that is the subject of an enforceable provision in the agreement,” he said. 

There will also be an air quality monitoring work plan to monitor particulate matter and weather patterns to ensure air quality control on the site. The air quality reports will be submitted to the city on a periodic basis available for the public to review, if they wish. 

The decision

After listening to a series of public comments by the community, the council voted in favor of the one-year agreement  to shut down completely. There were three votes in favor: Mayor Maria Davila and councilmembers Gil Hurtado and Al Rios and two absent; Councilmember Maria del Pilar Avalos and Vice Mayor Joshua Barron.