LOCAL ELECTIONS LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE : Dissent Nil as Race Track Plan Nears Vote : Cypress: It is the first time in more than four years that a development proposal for the property has not been opposed.

Years of political debate and legal wrangling will come to a head Tuesday, as residents here vote on the development of a 75-acre business park next to the Los Alamitos Race Course.

It is the first time in more than four years that a proposal for the property has not been opposed. In fact, both city officials and members of a citizens group instrumental in the defeat of two previous development plans applaud the latest project.

“I don’t even know the words to describe how I feel,” said Jack Swank, founder of Concerned Citizens of Cypress for Greenbelt and Open Space Preservation.

Developers “have done far more than we asked” in the latest plan, he said.

If approved by voters, Tuesday’s referendum would allow the rezoning of 75 acres next to the track for the development of Cypress Business and Professional Center, which would include office buildings and a hotel.

A group of developers headed up by Lloyd Arnold bought the 298-acre property for $71 million from Hollywood Park Realty Enterprises, after citizens overwhelmingly defeated a proposal last year for a much denser business park.

The latest plan is getting rave reviews because, unlike previous proposals, the current owners have agreed to refurbish and operate the Los Alamitos Golf Course next to the track. The 75-acre business complex proposal is also scaled down from two previous plans, with less traffic congestion anticipated.

“We had a few nervous minutes for a while, but Mr. Arnold came through for us,” said Joyce Nicholson, president of the citizens group.

City officials and residents are encouraged that Arnold has already spent more than $3 million refurbishing the golf course and the track facilities. Future plans call for building a new clubhouse for the golf course and continual restoration of the racecourse buildings. In addition, the Cypress Business Park is expected to generate about $900,000 in annual revenue for the city.

To appease the citizens group, Arnold has also agreed to operate the golf course for at least the next 10 years.

“We have tried to be a peacemaker,” Arnold said. “The golf course will stay that way for a minimum of 10 years and probably for the rest of my life.”

Arnold said he has has also agreed not to expand Denni Street near the site, as previously planned.

If voters decide to allow the 75-acre frontage property on Katella Avenue and Walker Street to be rezoned for business use, it will put to rest more than four years of controversy.

The racecourse property has a long legacy of scorned developers, City Council disputes and million-dollar lawsuits. In 1986, Hollywood Park asked the Cypress City Council to rezone the land for a business park, Cypress Plaza, which the council approved.

By late 1987, Hollywood Park had closed the golf course next to the track. Preservationists and supporters of the golf course then mounted a petition drive and persuaded the council to rescind the zoning change.

Moreover, a coalition of Cypress residents in November, 1987, won voter approval of Measure D, which returned the property’s zoning to semipublic use. It also mandated voter approval for further zoning changes for the parcel.

Hollywood Park sued the city for the zone change. Later, an Orange County Superior Court judge invalidated Measure D. The city then appealed.

Meanwhile, SDC Development and Hollywood Park decided to put a scaled-down version of the development before the voters. Cypress Downs, which called for building a 167-acre business complex, was overwhelmingly rejected in February, 1989.

Hollywood Park then proceeded with a $125-million lawsuit against the city.

However, Arnold said that if voters approve the measure on Tuesday, he will drop the suit. Likewise, the city has agreed to drop its appeal, contingent on voter approval.

“It was worth the wait and the struggle,” said Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry, a staunch Cypress Downs foe.

RACECOURSE DEVELOPMENTS

Early 1986--Hollywood Park Realty Enterprises, the owner of Los Alamitos Race Course, asks the Cypress City Council to rezone the property around the course from public use to business use so the company can build the Cypress Plaza business park.

October, 1986--City Council approves rezoning.

November, 1986--Faced with mounting citizen opposition, the council reverses itself and changes the zoning back to public use.

October, 1987--Thwarted in its efforts to develop the property, Hollywood Park files a federal lawsuit against the city for $125 million.

November, 1987--Measure D, a citizens’ initiative requiring all future zone changes to go before voters, is passed.

March, 1988--Hollywood Park files suit over Measure D, which is invalidated by an Orange County Superior Court judge.

Spring, 1988--City appeals judge’s decision.

November, 1988--SDC Development and Hollywood Park propose a scaled-down version for a business park.

February, 1989--Residents overwhelmingly reject the SDC Development proposal by margin of almost 3-1.

Spring, 1989--Hollywood Park reinstates lawsuit for $125 million.

September, 1989--Lloyd Arnold buys the race track for $71 million.

January, 1990--The City Council approves a special election on a referendum to rezone the 75 acres for the Cypress Business and Professional Center.