LA PALMA : Building of Homes on School Land Opposed

Angry residents of the area around Kennedy High School packed a City Council meeting this week to block a proposal to lease of some of the school’s property for home building.

At issue is school property fronting on Crescent Avenue near Walker Street. Anaheim Union High School District, which governs Kennedy High, sent out a “request for proposals” in August to developers who might be interested in the site.

“The district’s preference is for a long-term ground lease,” said the letter to developers, adding that proposals for apartments as well as single-family homes would be considered.

Dozens of residents turned out at Tuesday night’s council session to speak against the proposal, saying they feared that overcrowding and increased traffic would result.

Council members said that the land-lease proposal is only in the discussion stage and that, unless the school district officially requests permission for development, city government can do nothing.

Mayor Wally D. Linn said the school district’s proposal is “kind of a fishing expedition to see if there’s interest in the development community to develop a particular site.” Nothing specific has been proposed, the mayor said.

One resident, Ed Byrne, demanded that the City Council go on record as opposing any development on the high school property unless it is related to education.

But on the advice of City Atty. Joel D. Kuperberg, council members said they could not take a stand on a development proposal before it actually comes to them.

Council members, however, did agree to Byrne’s demand that a city ordinance be drafted that would forbid building on public land unless the project were first approved by voters.

Councilwoman Eva Miner Bradford told the audience she would support such an ordinance. “I think we should have a referendum,” she said.