Cypress Council approves resolutions to put zoning-change measure on June ballot

In the City of Cypress, Measure D constrains the ease of owners of property zoned public/semi-public to develop the land for other use.

Public/semi-public zoning generally covers uses such as public parks and schools. Los Alamitos Race Course is zoned public/semi-public, as was the long-closed Cypress Golf Course.

A corner of the defunct golf course is now Cottonwood Christian Center on the corner of Lexington Blvd. and Katella Ave.

Another piece of the old golf course just to the east of Cottonwood has drawn the interest of a developer who proposes to build an assisted-living community, a medical facility for residents of that community and a mixed retail and office building along Katella.

(If re-zoning is approved, nothing prevents the developer from submitting to the City plans that differ from these preliminary plans. Final plans may differ significantly.)

To enable development, the subject property must be re-zoned.

To be re-zoned, the change in zoning must be voted on and approved by the residents of Cypress, as required by Measure D.

To allow the vote, a proponent of development began collecting signatures late last year to qualify a measure for the June ballot.

Text of the ballot measure:

Shall the ordinance approving the amendment to the Cypress Business & Professional Center Specific Plan to allow additional uses, including market-rate senior citizen housing, assisted living facilities, professional offices, including medical services, and mixed-use commercial, in a planning area adjacent to Katella Avenue with related General Plan amendments and a zone change be adopted?

The collected signatures have now been verified by the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Therefore the ballot measure qualifies for the June 5 statewide election.

At its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, the Cypress City Council voted 4 to 1 to approve resolutions that will place the measure on the June ballot. (Councilman Phil Luebben voted against.)

The County of Orange Election Department estimates that the cost of placing the City’s measure on the County’s consolidated ballot will be $52,500 to $64,500.

The developer, Cypress GC, LLC, has agreed to reimburse that cost to the City up to $64,500.

The Cypress City Attorney is charged with writing an impartial analysis.

Anyone wishing to file an argument for or against the ballot measure may submit the argument to the office of the City Clerk of the City of Cypress, 5275 Orange Ave. in Cypress. The deadline is March 19.

The Los Alamitos City Council heard a report on this activity at that Council’s regular meeting on March 5. Council directed staff to keep up with events and to return to Council with updates as warranted.

Featured photo

A photo by C.E.H. Wiedel of the undeveloped land north of Katella Ave. and east of Enterprise Dr.

The viewpoint is roughly northeast. The grandstand for Los Alamitos Race Course is in the left background. The rear of one of the buildings comprising the Residence Inn by Marriott is in the right background.

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About the Author

shelley

Shelley Henderson is a reformed computer and networking geek turned freelance writer. Now she only fixes her own networks and computers. That leaves time for writing, and writing and more writing. And editing the Orange County Breeze. Shelley most enjoys visiting and finding out about local businesses to write business profiles that allow our communities to learn more about their local businesses and the people who own and run them. If you own or manage a business in our coverage area and would like to invite Shelley to write a business profile, let us know.