BREA : Complex Delayed Again by Size Issue

A proposed office complex that city officials have been debating for more than five years was again delayed this week so that the city and the developer could study ways to scale back the size of the controversial project.

The Olen Pointe Brea Phase II project, which would include three office buildings and two restaurants, has drawn opposition from residents of the Country Hills development across the street from the site. The homeowners say the project will lower their property values and destroy the residential character of their neighborhood.

Olen Properties Corp. has proposed building a complex consisting of two six-story office buildings, a four-story office building, two free-standing restaurants and retail space. The complex, to be built on Lambert Road next to Olen Pointe Phase I, would also include a four-level parking structure.

For Olen to build the project, the city would have to approve a zoning change and grant three special permits. City planners recommended that the zoning changes only be approved if Olen met certain conditions, including scaling back the project to two three-story office buildings and a two-story office building and reducing the height of the parking structure to three levels.

This plan, which drew the support of residents and homeowners’ associations, would reduce the size of the project from 350,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet.

The Planning Commission approved this version of the project last month, but Olen appealed the decision to the council, saying the city staff had reduced the project so much that Olen would not be able to build it because it would be too expensive.

Dale M. Lyon, Olen’s senior vice president for construction, said that taller buildings attract higher rents and that tenants will expect a better quality development. “At that reduced square footage, we can’t do the same high quality” as planned, he said.

If the council does not approve the project as Olen proposed it, Lyon said the company would build a “downscale” project within the existing zoning requirements that would have more low-rise buildings and two parking structures.

He displayed copies of plans for such

a project, but council members were not enthusiastic about it.

Homeowners who spoke at the meeting said they were worried about how the complex would affect property values, traffic and noise pollution.

“I don’t see how anyone who’s thinking straight can think that a six-story building within 600 feet of a residence makes sense,” said resident Jim McDowell.

“The developer wants it his way or no way,” added Clay Smith, another homeowner.

After debate on the project had continued for more than three hours, the council voted to return the project to the staff to seek a compromise with Olen.