Brea : Residents Will Weigh 2 Redevelopment Plans

Residents and businesses in downtown Brea may see changes ranging from new “street furniture,” such as garbage cans and benches, to the conversion of commercial areas to residential.

The changes may result from two ongoing studies, commissioned by the city’s Redevelopment Agency last May, that will be discussed with residents during public meetings on Monday.

The studies examine both what is called “Good Old Brea,” or the downtown area north of Imperial Highway to Lambert Road, and South Brea Boulevard, south of Imperial Highway to the city limit. This is the third meeting with the public to discuss possible solutions that the studies will recommend when completed.

In the downtown area study, officials will look at redeveloping the commercial area at Imperial Highway and Brea Boulevard into a shopping center, city planner James DeStefano said.

In the South Brea Boulevard study, options include adding medians, improving traffic signals and building multiple-family housing and senior housing on some commercial blocks, DeStefano said.

Both studies were initiated following plans to widen Brea Boulevard, administrative assistant Sandra Schoales said. In developing the plans, San Diego-based BSI Consultants Inc. and Newport Beach-based Forma address such issues as land-use, zoning, parking, landscaping and signs.

On Monday, consultants will discuss the South Brea Boulevard Specific Plan beginning at 4:30 p.m. in the community room of the Brea Civic Cultural Center. At 7 p.m., in the same room, consultants will meet with the public on the Good Old Brea study.