In my 25 years of real estate economics, I have never seen a City take a recreational open space area and heavily develop it. Wilmington, Compton and Commerce may have; however do we really want that happening in Orange County, in Cypress? Mr. Bardis knew when he bought the racetrack property, that it was zoned open space, so it is not about property rights, it’s about greed and control. Not only does Measure A ask us to trade a recreational use for homes, it foreshadows a shopping center and 11 acres of possible industrial use and no guarantee of a park.
The wise move would be to stop Measure A, repeal Measure L and rezone this land for recreational and open space only. The old golf course is a ready-to-go park with two lakes that can be stocked with fish for kids and rolling hills where families can enjoy cool summer evenings. We should preserve it much like Huntington Beach did with the Bolsa Chica wetlands. The racetrack could become a sports facility. We would still have room for an amphitheater and community meeting center. The wealthy should remember that their expensive box seats would be worthless without youth sports, and their society a jungle if not for places for young people to express themselves.
Measure A is the tipping point for our quality of life in Cypress, and if passed it could capsize us into overcrowding, congestion and a declining community.
The anti-business/ high tax climate of California already has good residents leaving in droves. Formerly well-kept homes are now becoming rental properties. If Measure A passes, we will likely see an exodus of long-time residents and young families. Formerly quiet streets already becoming congested, may become like L.A., un-navigable. Property values will decline and our already burdened infrastructure will become more costly to maintain.
I am sure Brooklyn and Detroit were great places to live once; however, we all know their quality of life now. Does Mr. Bardis really believe he can take it with him? He should take a page out of Andrew Carnegie’s book and give back to the community that has given him so much.
Measure A promises new homes, a beautiful park and jobs. However, all of the homes are in the Los Alamitos school district. The A promised park is actually being rezoned to Neighborhood Commercial. Measure A proponent, Steven Mauss, of CFRD even admitted in the media that Cypress could easily get a shopping center instead. The promised 354 jobs is unsupported. Worse, continually omitted by proponents of Measure A is that 11.2 acres of of the racetrack property will be rezoned to possible industrial use.
On June 25, Cypress voters must decide between community and development, between trusting an out of area landowner and the quality of life. Hopefully, wisdom will triumph over fear and Cypress will not let its paradise to be paved.
David L. Rose is a Cypress resident