Cypress Again Delays Action on Development Beside Race Track

The Cypress City Council on Wednesday, for the second consecutive night, postponed a vote on an environmental impact report for a proposed 167-acre business park beside the Los Alamitos Race Track because of continuing negotiations with the city of Los Alamitos.

More than 150 citizens packed the council chambers for a public hearing on the controversial Cypress Downs project. The hearing, which followed an executive session on the negotiations, continued late into the night.

The council scheduled another meeting for Monday to decide on the environmental study. The Los Alamitos City Council plans to hold an executive session Monday to discuss the project’s effect on its city, and the possibility of litigation.

Negotiations over the project between Los Alamitos and Cypress officials have delayed Cypress City Council action on the environmental study. The impact report must be approved before the council can make a decision on the project itself.

SDC Development of Newport Beach has proposed the Cypress Downs project for a site that is considered one of the largest remaining open spaces in northwestern Orange County.

Some residents have complained that the environmental impact report is inadequate and the development project is too dense.

Business Park, Offices

A coalition of residents called Concerned Citizens of Cypress has said it is not against developing the site, but believes that the developers are trying to build too much on the property and that this will increase traffic in the area.

SDC Development officials have said their proposal is well-planned and well-researched, and that approval of the project will eliminate current litigation and will save the city money.

The city of Los Alamitos, which borders part of the project site, also has expressed concerns about traffic congestion. The city has been negotiating with SDC Development and Cypress officials over additional steps to mitigate the problem. The city has also hired an attorney to protect its interests.

The Cypress Downs project would include a 55-acre mixed-use business park, a 46-acre professional office complex, a hotel and 14 acres of general retail and commercial space. Two churches and a school have tentatively agreed to purchase about 30 acres of the land for their facilities.

The proposed site surrounds the Los Alamitos Race Track