CYPRESS : Army Criticized for Zones Near Airfield

City officials lashed out at the U.S. Army this week for releasing what they called an “inappropriate” study that establishes accident zones around the Los Alamitos Army Airfield and could jeopardize future development projects in those zones.

“There is nothing to justify these zones,” said Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry at Monday night’s council meeting.

The study, completed in December, establishes accident-potential zones around the airfield based on takeoff and landing patterns. The zones extend almost three miles from each end of the airfield’s runway, taking in portions of several surrounding communities including Cypress, Buena Park, Seal Beach, Stanton, Anaheim and Garden Grove.

The study recommends restricting future development in these areas and recommends that projects in these zones be limited to uses such as agriculture, roads and cemeteries. Hundreds of homes, several businesses, and a school have been built in the accident zones.

Officials questioned why the Army had requested the study after development had gone unchecked for years.

“It’s rather ludicrous that this plan would be adopted at this time,” said City Atty. Jerry M. Patterson. City Manager Darrell Essex said he stumbled upon the plan by accident while talking with airport officials about another project.

The county Airport Land Use Commission is expected to decide whether to adopt the plan within the next few months. However, even if the commission approves the report, the City Council can override its decision with a four-fifths majority.

But if the city decides to approve a project that conflicts with the recommendations of an adopted study, the city may be liable for an accident in the zones, Patterson said.

Airfield officials could not be reached for comment.

An aviation consultant hired by the city said the report was flawed because it didn’t take into account the types of aircraft that use the air base. John Chevalier of Aviation Systems Assn. said of the 50,000 takeoffs and landings at the air base last year 97% were by helicopters and 3% were by large aircraft.

Other branches of the military don’t consider putting the type of accident potential zones in place at Los Alamitos unless at least 5,000 large aircraft operations occur in a year, Chevalier said. He suggested that four accident zones contained within the property of the base would be adequate.

The council directed staff to ask the commission, which is scheduled to review the report June 17, to postpone consideration for 30 days. During that time, Cypress officials will solicit the support of other communities affected by the report.