New Cypress Council Reverses Project in Face of Opposition

A newly installed Cypress City Council voted Monday to reverse the old council’s approval of a controversial development project.

The action came after a group of golfers filed a petition earlier this month with more than 4,000 signatures--almost twice as many as necessary--calling for a special election on the fate of the development. Golfers have criticized the council for approving the project because it would mean the elimination of the Los Alamitos Golf Course.

Other residents have voiced concern about increased congestion and traffic.

“A special election would have caused a lot of division in our city,” said newly installed Mayor John Kanel. Council members, who unanimously passed the resolution to kill the project, said they also were concerned about paying an estimated $27,000 for a special election.

“The community has spoken,” said Councilman Gerald Mullen, the only returning council member who had voted to approve the industrial park.

City planners had estimated that the development would have brought in at least $750,000 a year in revenue for the city and could have produced as many as 7,500 jobs. Although plans had not been completed, the business park was to include office, retail and light industrial space and possibly a hotel.

The council voted 3 to 2 on Oct. 14 to approve the rezoning and general framework of the 160-acre development.

Before formally leaving office, outgoing Mayor Otto J. Lacayo and Councilman Richard Partin--both of whom had voted in favor of the development--said they no longer supported the project in light of the public’s recent opposition.

Officials of Hollywood Park, owner of the golf course and the parent company of the development firm that proposed the industrial park, could not be reached for comment.