Los Alamitos : Planners Back Revised Development Proposal

A development plan that was rejected two months ago by the city Planning Commission was approved last week after architects modified the proposal. The developer, the Dominion Property Co. of Santa Monica, scaled down the project to one building and changed its architectural style to Early California as required by city zoning laws, associate planner Larry Emerson said.

The original plans were to construct several buildings by subdividing the 11.44-acre site at 4281 Katella Ave. into five lots. But plans were revised to construct only one 81,000-square-foot office building, Emerson said. The architectural changes included adding a courtyard to the front of the building and using more earth tones in the color scheme, he said. Under city zoning laws, all commercial and industrial buildings must reflect the Early California styles of architecture, such as Western, ranch, Victorian or Spanish.

Construction of an access road from Noel Street to the lots is planned to start in February and ground breaking for the building will be in April, company official Evan James said. James said the firm has not made definite plans for developing the other lots. The project is subject to City Council approval.