Council Rejects Car Lot at Drive-In Site
City officials may lack a “vision” for the old Orange Drive-In Theater, but they have decided what they do not want there: a car sales lot with a 48-foot sign looming over the freeway.
City Council members, in a 3-1 vote last week, denied a proposal from Circuit City Stores, owner of CarMax, for a used and new auto lot on the site at State College Boulevard and the Santa Ana Freeway.
The city’s economic development director said the car lot would produce more revenue than almost any other use, including high-rise office buildings and hotels. And in June, the Planning Commission also approved the CarMax plan.
But council members said more thought is needed before deciding how to redevelop the site, citing a large outdoor mall called the Block being built nearby, and the Disneyland expansion and other planned projects.
“I don’t think we have a vision for this area,” Councilman Mike Spurgeon said.
Mayor Joanne Coontz said she was concerned about the rapid growth of CarMax and about the possible precedent of allowing the project’s large sign.
Councilman Dan Slater, citing the economic potential of CarMax, voted for the project; Councilman Mark Murphy abstained because of potential conflict of interest.
All four council members voted to conduct a study of what would be the best for the site.
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