Pomona : Suit Seeks Sale of Land
A corporation headed by the business partner of San Dimas Mayor Terry Dipple has sued to force Pomona to sell five acres of land near the San Bernardino and Corona freeways.
Brian Barbuto Corp. filed the suit in Pomona Superior Court. Barbuto said his attorney is trying to negotiate a settlement with the city, which agreed early last year to sell the land to Dipple and Barbuto for $805,000, about 40% below its appraised value. The two plan to build housing or an industrial park on the land. Pomona officials said they had received no other offers before agreeing to sell to the partnership. The land was not advertised for sale.
The sale was in escrow for more than a year before the council canceled the transaction in June, saying the buyers had failed to complete the deal in a reasonable time. Dipple and Barbuto contend the city held up the transaction by failing to rezone the property, which is now zoned as open space.
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