Minutes 1974-02-14MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE CYPRESS PLANNING COMMISSION
HELD
February 14, 1974
A special meeting of the Cypress Planning Commission was called to order at
7 :35 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, 1974 in the Cypress City Council Chambers,
5275 Orange Avenue, Cypress, California, Chairman Warren presiding.
PRESENT: Commissioners Greenwood, Hart, Mullen, Ricker and Warren
ABSENT: None
Also present were Brian Hawley, Planning Director, Ron Hovland, Associate Planner,
Charles Bryant, Recreation and Park Director, Art Schatzeder, Public Works
Director, and John Murphy, Deputy City Attorney.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The pledge to the flag was led by Chairman Warren.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Chairman Warren inquired if anyone wished to address the Commission in regard
to a matter not on the agenda. No one approached the Commission to speak.
CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING RE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT - HARVEY PROPERTY:
Chairman Warren announced that this was the time and place for the public hearing
to consider an Environmental Impact Report prepared in response to the proposed
development of the Harvey property in the City of Cypress. Chairman Warren
noted that the public hearing was continued and open and he asked that the
staff present its report.
The Planning Director reported that he had previously submitted the preliminary
final environmental impact report to the Planning Commission. The report included
written comments from affected public and other agencies and from private indi-
viduals. He stated that the Commission may receive additional testimony
during this hearing if it so desired.
Chairman Warren inquired if anyone in the audience wished to speak in regard
to the environmental impact report. There was no one wishing to speak. He
then asked if the applicant wished to speak in regard to the report. The
applicant did not wish to be heard at this time
It was moved by Commissioner Hart and seconded by Commissioner Mullen to
accept the Environmental Impact Report submitted for the Harvey property.
The motion was unanimously carried by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
5 COMMISSIONERS: Greenwood, Hart, Mullen, Ricker and Warren
0 COMMISSIONERS: None
0 COMMISSIONERS: None
CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING RE: AMENDMENT TO THE GENERAL PLAN - MASTER PLAN
OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HARVEY PROPERTY: Chairman Warren announced that this was
the time and place for the public hearing to consider a proposed amendment to the
City of Cypress General Plan by the adoption of a proposed Master Plan of Develop-
ment which would provide for the establishment of various land uses in the area
generally bounded by Knott Avenue on the east, the Stanton Storm Channel on the
south, Walker Street on the west and Cerritos Avenue and the Southern Pacific
Railroad right -of -way on the north. Chairman Warren noted that the public hearing
was still open and he asked the staff to present its report.
Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 1974
The Planning Director indicated that the staff had received a letter from the
Cypress Citizens' Association requesting an opportunity to make a presentation
of their analysis and recommendations concerning the development proposal
of the Harvey property and he stated the presentation would be made at this time.
Mr. Jim Hardesty, 5853 Holmby Court, Cypress, president of the Cypress Citizens'
Association, introduced Mr. Donald Hudson who, he stated, would be making a
slide and verbal presentation in opposition to the development proposal.
Mr. Donald Hudson, 6153 Lawrence, Cypress, discussed the development proposal
in terms of whether or not it would provide a balanced community within the
City and its effect on the entire City and not just the subject property. He
presented slides of the City's zoning map for 1959, 1963, 1964, 1971 and 1973
indicating the population distribution and growth over the years and changes
in land use allocations. Mr. Hudson commented on the noise levels and fre-
quency of aircraft flights at Los Alamitos Air Station and the effect on
residential uses proposed for the Harvey property. Slides were presented
illustrating the elementary, junior high, high school, and college districts
in the County and student generation figures in these districts for the City
of Cypress. Mr. Hudson discussed school costs and the possible need for
student bussing because of declining enrollments. Mr. Hudson presented a
chart from the January 6, 1974 Los Angeles Times indicating city taxes and
expenditures per resident for Orange County cities which showed Cypress as
having the second highest overall tax rate and being the fifth lowest in
expenditures per resident. He discussed the development proposal in relation
to existing fire, school, park and recreation, and police services. Mr. Hudson
expressed that the development would have a substantial social impact and could
lead to deannexation proceedings by further separating the City. He noted that
residents in portions of Cypress identified with adjacent cities since they
received services from these cities, particularly, residents of Cypress who are
within the Garden Grove School District. The Association's recommendation was to
deny the development proposal and either retain the agricultural use of the
property or develop it industrially.
Mr. Jim Hardesty reaffirmed the position of the Cypress Citizens' Association
that the development proposal ignores the needs of the entire City and would
not produce a balanced community. He addressed the issues of the market
potential and anticipated revenues from commercial, industrial and residential
uses, the impact of existing and expanded aircraft activities at Los Alamitos
Air Station, and the impact of school children which would be generated to
Cypress schools. Mr. Hardesty read a resolution adopted by the Association
reaffirming their position of strong support of industrial /commercial development
and total opposition to a conversion of the Harvey property to residential use.
RECESS:
Chairman Warren declared a recess at 9:15 p.m. The meeting was called back
to order at 9:28 p.m. with all Commissioners present.
Chairman Warren asked if anyone wished to speak in regard to the Harvey property
development proposal.
Mr. Marvin Simpson, 6035 Jeffrey Mark Street, Cypress, stated he would favor
industrial /commercial uses developed in the City in order to lower the special
district taxes. He charged that several statements made by a member of the
Commission reflected a predetermination toward the development proposal and
would not allow for fair and impartial consideration by that person. The
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Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 1974
City Attorney responded in defence of statements made by Planning Commissioners
and stated he did not feel the statements made would prejudice the Commissioners
from an objective point of view.
Mr. Lee Heinen, 6421 Tulagi, Cypress, challenged that opportunity was not given
to hear opposition to the environmental impact report.
Mr. James Davis, 5761 Myra, Cypress, defended certain remarks of the Planning
Commission which he felt were made in the context of a hypothetical situation.
Mr. Davis stated he would like the alternatives explored of retaining the property
as an agricultural use or the Navy acquiring a portion for use as open space.
He discussed the absorption rate of industrial development and felt a rate of
35 to 40 years would be realistic.
Mr. Karl Mazzeo, 9949 Madrid Circle, Cypress, expressed concern that sufficient
time was not given to consideration of the environmental impact report and that
he felt the report was not complete enough to make a determination regarding
the proposal. The Planning Director reviewed the comments received in response
to the environmental impact report from the affected public and other agencies
as well as private individuals in the City.
Mr. Dan O'Connor, 5701 Belle, Cypress, stated he felt the Commission could not
get a justifiable opinion of the needs of the entire population of the City from
the small minority that appears at Planning Commission meetings. He felt a poll,
perhaps in a newspaper, should be taken to determine how the remaining citizens
feel about development of the property.
Mr. Howard Rowan, 5831 Shirt, Cypress, read various newspaper articles referring
to the status of the Harvey property over the years and the interests and rela-
tionships between the developer and Air Station with regard to the property.
He attempted to clarify his position regarding the property as a past officer
at Los Alamitos and spoke in opposition to the illegal petition circulation
activities which were carried on concerning the Harvey property. Mr. Rowan .
stated he did not support the proposal of the developer but did support
industrial development of the property.
Mr. Ed Jabbour, 11300 Providencia, Cypress, spoke in defence of his activities
in the petition drive regarding the Harvey property and felt the Planning
Commission might be negatively influenced by the allegations made against him.
Chairman Warren inquired if the applicant wished to speak at this time.
Mr. Bernard McCune, 926 Palo Verde, Long Beach, representing S & S Construction
Company, spoke against the personal accusations which were made during the
course of the four hearings regarding this issue and asked that tonight's hearing
be continued for one more meeting so that the applicant may make a rebuttal
at a less emotional time.
Mr. Orville Harms, 7558 San Rafael, Buena Park, stated he felt the testimony
presented tonight had been one -sided and that ample time should be given to
hearing both sides of the matter.
Mrs. Arlene Spatz, 9836 Avenida Mateo, Cypress, spoke against continuing the
public hearing to permit a rebuttal by the applicant and felt the rebuttal
should be made at this meeting.
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Planning Commission Minutes February 14, 1974
Mrs. Betty Jabbour, 11300 Providencia, Cypress, spoke against restricting
certain speakers during a public hearing.
Mr. Karl Mazzeo, 9949 Madrid Circle, Cypress, stated that, since the environ-
mental impact report was assessed in such short time, he felt the hearing on the
development proposal could be concluded at this time.
Following discussion by the Commission concerning continuance of this matter,
it was moved by Commissioner Mullen and seconded by Commissioner Hart to
continue the public hearing regarding the proposed amendment to the General
Plan, Master Plan of Development for the Harvey property to Thursday, February
21 at 7 :30 p.m. The motion was unanimously carried by the following roll call
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ADJOURNMENT:
5 COMMISSIONERS: Greenwood, Hart, Mullen, Ricker and Warren
0 COMMISSIONERS: None
0 COMMISSIONERS: None
It was moved by Commissioner Ricker, seconded by Commissioner Greenwood and
unanimously carried to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 p.m.
ATTEST:
SECRE
Y OF THE PLANNING C O I ISSION
CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION