CYPRESS : Church Bids OKd for Use of City Land

Churches and private schools can be considered possible users of redevelopment land around Los Alamitos Racetrack, the city decided this week, despite the loss of potential tax revenue to the city.

The City Council voted unanimously Thursday not to rule out either churches or private schools, both tax-exempt, when deciding how best to plan the area.

“We moved to have city staff, upon receipt of an application [from a church or private school], to start studies,” Councilman Walter K. Bowman said. Each application for land use will be judged on its merits, he said, and no church or school application will be viewed unfavorably simply because it would not bring revenue to the city.

Some church and school groups have approached the city about possible locations near the racetrack. Planning Director Chris Kelly, in a memo to the council, said that the Cottonwood Christian Center has inquired about building a church on 12 acres of land on the west side of Walker Street, north of Katella Avenue.

Brethren Christian School had asked about 10 acres of land on the west side of Walker Street, south of Cerritos Avenue, Kelly said. Both sites are on city redevelopment land.

Kelly said that taxpaying businesses on the two sites could generate as much as $400,000 a year in revenue to the city. But business demand for redevelopment sites has been negligible in recent years, he said.

He said the city should consider other benefits besides tax dollars. “I feel churches and schools have a very positive impact on the community.”