CYPRESS : Study Ordered at Site of Proposed Market
Despite threats of lawsuits, the City Council this week refused to allow the owner of a Texaco station at Cerritos Avenue and Valley View Street to add a convenience market.
Instead, it ordered that a traffic study be conducted to determine if the additional business would create a traffic hazard.
“I just don’t think we have all the facts,” Councilman Walter Bowman said at the public hearing Monday night. “I am very concerned about anything that would generate additional traffic,” Councilwoman Gail Kerry said.
The potential beer and wine sales stirred opposition from the local PTA group. “We oppose selling gasoline and alcohol at the same location,” Cherie Hippler of the Cypress High PTA told the council. “You are telling our youngsters that it is OK to drink and drive.”
But Texaco attorney Steve Solomon said: “There is no legal or factual basis to deny this permit. To do so solely on the political issue of alcohol would be against the law and would not be in the best interest of the city.”
City Atty. Jerry Patterson agreed that under state law cities can not deny permits because of alcohol sales. They may deny permits in areas saturated with liquor stores or where the crime rate is abnormally high. Neither of these conditions exist at the Texaco site, officials said.
The council is scheduled to review the proposal again at its Jan. 28 meeting.
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