SANTA ANA : Some Landowners Can Retain Property

Owners of more than 1,000 parcels of land within a $335-million redevelopment project along Bristol Street can avoid losing the property through eminent domain if they maintain the property and meet other requirements.

According to guidelines approved by the City Council, sitting as the Redevelopment Agency this week, certain property owners can ask to be excluded from the eminent domain process, which allows the city to purchase property in a redevelopment area for a fair market price. By law, the city is also required to pay to relocate anyone affected.

The Bristol Corridor Redevelopment Project is designed to revitalize one of the city’s most congested streets, which is plagued with crime and drugs. The plan targets about 783 acres along Bristol, from Memory Lane to Central Avenue. The plan, approved by the City Council in November, 1989, will widen the street and replace existing buildings with new office buildings and shopping centers.

In order to be exempt from eminent domain, property use must conform to the city’s general plan, not be in violation of the city code, not be part of an area designated for other uses, meet specific design requirements, be properly maintained and not be land designated for the Bristol Street widening project.

All exemptions last for 5 years. When the exemptions expire, a property owner can reapply, and if the property still meets guidelines,it can remain exempt.

Councilman Miguel A. Pulido Jr. said the guidelines help to eliminate absentee landlords and slumlords from continuing to own property in the blighted area.

“People who are taking care of their property benefit from this,” Pulido said. “I know this doesn’t satisfy everyone, but I think it’ll satisfy a lot of people. It establishes a set of rules that everyone can understand and play by.”