Council OKs Roller Hockey Rink Despite Some Protests

A plan to build a roller hockey rink in an industrial park was approved by the City Council this week in spite of protests from neighboring business owners.

Michael Hearn, owner of KDG Investments and a hockey enthusiast, requested to build a 10,000-square-foot, wood-floor roller rink, along with a retail and repair shop, offices, warm-up areas and a concession stand in a warehouse at 1100 Beacon St.

Hearn’s proposal was approved by the city’s Planning Commission in February, but the decision was appealed by a nearby business owner who said the hockey rink would hurt property values and raise his insurance rates.

The business park “was never intended for this kind of use,” said James Rudolph, a manufacturer of beauty products who filed the appeal. The city, he said, “will lose 65 employees when I take my company to Kentucky.”

Rudolph also said the facility would generate problems with parking, littering and loitering.

Research by city officials did not support Rudolph’s claims.

“I haven’t seen any evidence to support that property values will go down,” said Councilwoman Bev Perry. She said, “This is something that’s really needed in Brea.”

A recent citywide survey ranked roller hockey and other in-line skating facilities as the top request by young people in the city, Perry said.

During a nearly two-hour public hearing Tuesday, about a dozen residents and business owners spoke for and against the hockey rink. About 10 children in hockey jerseys attended the meeting to lend their support.

Hearn said the rink will be available for team play, pickup-team play, tournaments and private parties from 8 a.m. to midnight during the summer, and 4 p.m. to midnight the rest of the year. The rink is expected to open in the fall.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Wheels Turning

Roller hockey rink OKd despite some protests from businesses.