The Cypress City Council faced another capacity crowd during its Monday, April 22, meeting that once again expressed their displeasure over the proposed 33-acre Katella Avenue truck project.
The Cypress City Council faced another capacity crowd during its Monday, April 22, meeting that once again expressed their displeasure over the proposed 33-acre Katella Avenue truck project.
The project is in its early stages, and the city should receive its preliminary impact report on the project sometime in May.
The project began moving forward last November when voters passed measure L, which changed the zoning to mixed-use and light industrial.
Residents complained during council meetings on March 25, and April 8, saying they were sold a senior project for the area before the election, only to have it switched to a truck center after the zoning changed.
The recent city council meeting sent a loud message to the council that no one is going to back down in the community.
“On behalf of the Cypress City Council I would like to thank all of you for your continued interest in the 33-acre Katella Avenue development,” Mayor Prakash Narain said. “The city council will not consider this matter until late summer. The next phase of the project is the draft EIR. Once the draft report is completed, a 45-day public comment period will allow residents the opportunity to comment on the report.”
He advised the crowd not to speculate on the report, and to wait until all the pertinent information was available.
Golf Course Owner Chris Bardis said he plans on restricting land use on 30 residential acres on Cerritos Avenue that will be decided by voters with Measure “A.”
“We have communicated through City Attorney William Wynder our intention to put a restricting covenant on the area, and will not expand the zoning beyond single-family use,” he said. “There will not be any trucks stops or industrial development in that area. This is a good project and I hope we get support from the public and city council.”
Resident Sue Douglas said she has been talking to people around town and there is a sentiment that the issue has already been decided.
“I know three of you very well, and understand you are trying to do what is best for Cypress,” she said. “On Katella we have this big where a lot of people go. It would be nice if there were paths around the area for kids to go and ride bikes. What we do not need is 129 trucks driving down the street.”
There is plenty of bare land just off the 605 freeway, Douglas said, and the trucks can be located in that area.
“We were on a five-hour hike in the area and there is nothing,” she said. “Nobody will be harmed if the facility is there, in Cypress, they will affect us all.”
Citizens for Responsible Development Director Steve Mauss said that its members want more information about the project and influence policy at the city level.
“We are a fact based organization and want responsible development, like a mix of housing, retail commercial uses that maintains the quality of life. We are not rabble rousers,” he said.
The only obstacle the group has faced is getting information from the city’s planning department.
“I think we can enjoy more rational thought if we can get information from the planning department and the developers,” Mauss said.
The group does have meetings planned with ProLogis.
“We are going to meet on Wednesday, April 24, and discuss appropriate uses in the area and how we can work together,” Mauss said. “When I look at the ProLogis website, it looks like they always set up large logistic truck centers. If they do not want to look at other ideas like corporate offices I do not think we are going to reach an agreement.”
A visit to Google maps would be educational for residents, he said, and spells out just how close the proposed logistic center will be to residential neighborhoods.
“We normally enjoy a nice ocean breeze in those neighborhoods,” Mauss said. “A large trucking center with more diesel fuel will blow right through our homes. This is not something we can put up with.”
ProLogis representative Tom Maloney said during the Tuesday, April 8, city council meeting that it has no intention of building a truck terminal, and is planning a high-image, quality corporate headquarters and business park environment similar to what already exists in Cypress.
Mauss said he is very pleased with the attendees who are making their sentiments known about the project in a decent and respectful way.
“We did not come here to yell, scream, and abuse,” he said. “Everybody from Cypress expressed themselves calmly. That will encourage the city council to take us seriously.”
JM Ivler said the city is listing the Pro Logis development on its website.
“They are promoting the development and it has not been through the EIR process yet,” he said. “I first saw the listing on Friday, April 19, and wanted to let everyone here know about the posting. There will be a screen shot of the listing on the OC for us website.
Ivler said ocforus.com is a blog that only provides factual information.
“We do not publish information until we receive and confirm information,” he said. “Factually, I cannot say there is a hidden agenda, but they said one thing and are doing another thing.”
Narain said the city will continue to provide informational updates on the project through its website, television channel, and press releases.
The next Cypress City Council meeting is Monday, May 13.