Northwest : CYPRESS : Developer Withdraws Warehouse Plan

The developer of a controversial warehouse project unexpectedly withdrew the proposal late Monday night after many residents spoke against it at a City Council meeting.

The developer, Brian Harvey, told the council he was scuttling plans to build a 153,000-square-foot food distribution warehouse in a business park at 11261 Warland Drive. The project, on 8.2 acres, called for 24-hour activity and truck deliveries.

Many residents protested the proposal for weeks, charging that the warehouse would cause noise and traffic problems and ruin nearby residential areas. City Council chambers overflowed Monday night as about 225 people packed a public hearing on the issue.

They included Ingrid Kline, who presented the council with a petition she said was signed by 2,293 city residents opposed to the warehouse. “Heed the will of the people,” she told council members.

Many other residents also testified during the council session, including Tony Smith, spokesman for an anti-warehouse group called the Citizens Assn. for Sensible Development of Warland Center.

That organization opposes another large warehouse approved by the City Council in September, and is challenging that project in Superior Court lawsuit.

In an interview Tuesday, Smith praised Harvey’s decision to withdraw the warehouse proposal. “Brian Harvey recognized he faced tremendous opposition, and he made a good business decision” in withdrawing the project, Smith said. “The community wants to work with him in finding an acceptable use of that land.”

Smith said Cypress residents have proved they can successfully band together to oppose development they consider harmful.

“This is a clear-cut example of grass-roots organization in a small community,” he said.