Land Wanted for Access to Development : Anaheim to Condemn Part of Strawberry Farm

The Anaheim City Council voted Tuesday to condemn part of a strawberry farm to permit construction of two access roads the city says is needed for a $200-million hotel and office development project.

The city, which hired the developers’ attorney, Floyd A. Farano, to represent it in efforts to take the land, will begin eminent domain proceedings to take 3.92 acres of a 58-acre farm owned by brothers Hiroshi and Masao Fujishige and their families.

Four council members voted for the condemnation, with Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood abstaining.

Beth Fujishige, daughter of one of the owners, told the council that the proposed road is too narrow to handle the traffic flow and that widening it later would further shrink the farm at 1854 S. Harbor Blvd. She said that the city in 1968 proposed a 90-foot-wide road and a 120-foot right-of-way through the same area. The current proposal is for a 40-foot road.

“What are they going to tell us down the line?” she asked. “Once they get a road, it’s going to be easier for them to expand it.”

Farano said the city’s plans call for wider roads only after the Fujishige farm is entirely developed, if ever. A larger road built now would deteriorate before being used to full capacity, he said.

Before the developers, Becker Ltd. and Alexandra Ltd. of Hong Kong, could continue their project on a 23.4-acre Katella Avenue site nearby, the city asked that they build two access roads to ease traffic expected to result from the development--a 17-story hotel, two 14-story office buildings and two 180-unit condominium towers.

The Fujishiges want $1 million per acre; the developers say the land is worth about $30,000 per acre. But Beth Fujishige said that the main concern of the families is to stay in business. “It’s our livelihood,” she said. “My family have been farmers all their lives.

“We have had thousands of offers to sell the farm . . . but we have turned them all down.”

In April, the city hired Farano, the developers’ attorney, to represent the city in the efforts to obtain the land.

Fujishige and Farano both said that negotiations will continue. Farano said the city will invite the Fujishiges to another session this week.