BUENA PARK : Panel to Study Plans for Redevelopment

The City Council unanimously voted Monday night to send redevelopment plans for six parcels to the Planning Commission for review.

With the vote, the project overcame another hurdle, said May Hui, acting director of developmental services.

The City Council originally established a survey area of six parcels in October. The parcels, which total 200 acres, include the Buena Park Mall/Handyman site on La Palma Avenue, Orange County Flood Control near Malvern Boulevard and Dale Street; the Builder’s Square site near Beach Boulevard and Malvern Boulevard; the Buena Park Drive-In and strawberry fields near Holder Street and Lincoln Avenue; the southeast corner of Valley View Street and Orangethorpe Avenue, and the northwest corner of Crescent and Western avenues.

Although it is not known which sites eventually will be included in the final project, the main goal of the plan is to add improvements and intensify development at the various sites, Hui said. Some of the items being considered include adding room for more shop space at established commercial properties such as the Buena Park Mall and the Handyman site, as well as putting in homes in residentially zoned areas such as the strawberry fields.

A final decision is not expected for some time, Hui said. “We don’t know what is eventually going to happen,” she said.

A series of public hearings is tentatively scheduled for June. The proposal then goes to the council for a final decision.