City Council Plans Protest of Bixby Ranch Project in Seal Beach

Citing concerns about traffic and quality-of-life issues, Los Alamitos officials plan to protest a commercial development in Seal Beach.

City Council members said Monday that the proposed Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center project on Seal Beach Boulevard, north of Lampson Avenue, will worsen an already congested thoroughfare.

“I am afraid we’re heading for disaster,” City Councilman Robert P. Wahlstrom said.

The Bixby proposal calls for 25 acres of commercial and retail development on Seal Beach Boulevard between St. Cloud Drive and Rossmoor Way.

The preliminary proposal also lists a hotel, a senior citizen care center, a church and an expanded golf course as possible uses.

Los Alamitos officials said they want the proposal scaled down and developed away from homes in the Rossmoor Highlands neighborhood, which is in Los Alamitos but borders the project.

The council said excerpts from the project’s environmental impact report--including traffic and pollution sections--were alarming.

“We need to--as nicely as possible--tell Seal Beach this is not going to be acceptable,” said Ronald Bates, the mayor of Los Alamitos.

Ron Bradshaw, senior vice president of the Bixby Ranch Co. in Seal Beach, said the project includes roadway improvements that could help traffic flow.

Seal Beach officials said the proposal is preliminary and needs to go before the Planning Commission for public hearings.

“It’s probably going to be a hybrid of all the different proposals that will be the least impactive to both communities and Rossmoor as well,” Seal Beach Councilwoman Gwen Forsythe said.

“A no-development option is not possible. It is privately owned property, and it is zoned commercially.”

Los Alamitos council members will receive a second report May 26.

Later they will send a letter to Seal Beach detailing their objections, City Manager Robert C. Dominguez said.