Santa Ana : Westdome, New School Stadium Given Backing

The Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce voted Tuesday to support the proposed $40-million Westdome but urged the City Council to work with the community to head off expected traffic and parking problems and build a new stadium for local schools.

The endorsement was designed to show support from the business community before next Monday, when the council considers approval of $40 million in industrial bonds to finance the project, which is to be developed by four county businessmen.

“We’re saying, ‘Approve the bonds now, and we’ll still have until March to analyze it,’ ” chamber President Michael Metzler said. “Just take that next step.”

Westdome plans call for an 18,500-seat domed sports arena.

The endorsement came on an 11-1 vote of 12 of the 17 board members. The no vote was cast by accountant Bob Lopez, leader of a movement to preserve Santa Ana Stadium, at Flower Street and Civic Center Drive, which would be demolished to make way for the arena. Lopez, who stressed that his Save Our Stadium group would support the arena plan at another location in the city, played down the significance of the vote.

“I think it means 11 people voted to support the Westdome downtown. I would say we haven’t heard from the business community yet,” he said, adding that he believes the plans should be put to a citywide vote. “That, I think, would be the real opportunity for the city and the City Council to let the people decide.”

Westdome would generate about $55 million in retail sales, which would translate into $560,000 in sales tax revenue, according to a city-commissioned economic analysis by the Harrison Price Co. The chamber’s resolution of support stressed that the arena should have a “positive impact on additional downtown development, such as the (Centerpointe office-hotel complex) at 4th and Ross streets.”

Metzler said hotel development would be spurred by the arena. But he said the chamber could withdraw its support if the stadium causes problems for neighborhoods and schools in the area.