If there’s one thing for sure horse racing has done for the city of Cypress, it has preserved more than 150 acres of real estate on which the Los Alamitos Race Course currently operates for future development.
Voters in 2018 gave their approval for conditional development of the property under a ballot measure entitled Measure A, the Cypress Town Center & Commons project.
Under the proposition approved by voters, LARC will have the discretion to continue operating until it decides otherwise, but the measure did provide the authority to develop certain parcels not being utilized.
By re-zoning of the 150-acre plus tract included in Measure A, Cypress voters overwhelmingly approved the Town Center and Commons Specific Plan 2.0 that included six land use districts, including: a 17.5-acre Town Center District for retail, entertainment, restaurant, commercial and residential uses, 17-acre Public Park District and 3-acre public park overlay, 73.6-acre, single-family Residential District, and 24.1-acre Senior Housing/Medium-Density Residential District, among other provisions.
One of the parcels included in Measure A designated a 9-acre parcel which could only be used as a park. LARC owner Dr. Edward Allred had already donated to the city of Cypress and it currently being developed into Lexington Park, slated to open this fall.
The other was a 7-acre parcel formerly used by a Cypress company, United Healthcare, for its overflow parking facility which will now be transformed into a Melia Homes development with 135 town homes.
At their meeting this past week, Cypress officials gave final approval, in a unanimous vote, that authorizes Melia Homes to begin construction within this 7-acre tract.
The Melia Homes 135 multi-family townhome development project will employ some of the architectural elements of the state’s most famous architects, said city planner Alisha Velasco.
In a presentation to the council before the vote for final approval, Velasco recapped what has been a multi-year project of preparation since voters approved the Cypress Town Center project.
Velasco said the project has received all necessary environmental and local authorizations to begin construction and she said that city officials are excited to learn the project’s architecture could mimic an early 20th century master.
“The architectural element was independently reviewed by city planners,” said Velasco, noting the staff “found that this style (developed by Melia) is reminiscent of a famous California architect named Irving Gill.”
Gill was known in the early 1900’s for “large windows with white exterior walls, and wood elements,” she said, adding that these distinctive elements “were really his signature style.”
There are 66 units within the interior of the property, said Velasco, which are two-story in height, and Velasco said these units are surrounded by 79 three-story perimeter units.
“We are excited to be back in Cypress,” said Chad Brown, Vice President of Development for Melia Homes. “And to be very clear,” he said, “we’re not looking to flip this (development) to anybody else.”
“We (Melia) are going to build and sell these homes ourselves,” he told the Council.
Brown said his company had reviewed and agreed with all of the “conditions” placed on the development by the city of Cypress. Brown noted that the city’s staff had taken into account their company’s construction needs and that the company was satisfied with all of the conditions listed in the proposed conditional use permit.
“This is a specific area of the town center portion that was allowed to be developed while the racetrack still operates,” said Brown. “And I know that the racetrack continues to desire to operate for the foreseeable future,” he added.
Therefore, said Brown, “we appreciate setting the standard. We think that our design is very representative of a high-quality architectural style.” Brown called the architectural style incorporated into the Cypress development project “timeless.”
Frank Sherren, a top LARC official, appeared during the public hearing to echo the facility’s support of the project.
“We’re so excited to finally get something developed on our property that is within the vision of the residents that voted for Measure A and approved the Cypress Town Center & Commons plan,” he said.
In 2020, the council voted 3-2 to authorize Shea Properties to develop a 13.3-acre mixed use development project along Katella Ave. that, at a point, is very near to the Melia Homes tract.
Brown told the council they have been in touch with Shea and are monitoring their project as well.
“We have been in communication with them (Shea) since June when their project came forward,” said Brown. To the extent appropriate and possible, Brown said Melia will work to coordinate traffic flows, pedestrian walkways, bike paths and other features to ensure an overall integration of the area development between the two projects.
“I want to share that we recognize the importance that this project has with regards to being [the] first [Measure A development to break ground],” said Brown.