Planners Clear Way for Soak City Park

On Wednesday, the project development director for Knott’s Berry Farm spent the day at City Hall to apply for hundreds of permits to begin construction on the region’s newest water theme park.

“There are specific land permits for every attraction,” said Knott’s spokesman Bob Ochsner, referring to the more than 20 activities that will be built at Soak City.

Planning commissioners, with one abstention, approved plans for the 14-acre park amid protests from some residents who live along Stanton Avenue, across the street from the site. Opening day has been moved back from Memorial Day weekend to the first or second week of June.

The water park will include a wave pool, a lazy river, a family raft ride and two activity areas, one for small children and one for families. A series of body slides will include one with a height of 82 feet. Annual attendance is projected at 333,547 patrons, and peak daily attendance is estimated at 6,200. Knott’s is also reconfiguring its parking lots to accommodate fewer parking spaces.

After a public hearing Dec. 15, Knott’s officials modified plans for the park to appease residents. But during Tuesday’s meeting, about 10 people continued to angrily voice concerns about potential noise levels, traffic and decreased property values.

Among the changes Knott’s officials made is a 62-foot, six-lane speed slide that will be moved from the southeast corner of the park near Crescent and Stanton avenues to the interior of the park. The vacated area will be landscaped with large trees. A restaurant called Edison Electric Grill, which originally would have boasted rooftop seating, will now have only ground-level seating.

Commissioners said that the noise levels are within limits set by city ordinances. It is significant, said Commissioner John Muller, that the park will only be open four months out of the year, with limited hours.

“The project is going to benefit the city, the community and will draw even more people to Buena Park and the E-Zone [entertainment corridor],” Muller said.

Pending approval from the city and Caltrans, a proposed slip ramp on northbound Beach Boulevard is expected to be completed within a year of completion of the park in order to lessen traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

The proposed lane would merge with the underground artery that comes from Grand Avenue and runs into the east parking lot across from the main theme park.

Ana Cholo-Tipton can be reached at (714) 966-5890.

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Knott’s Water-Themed Park Moves Forward

The Buena Park Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a revised version of Knott’s Soak City, which addressed some resident’s concerns about noise, aesthetics and traffic. The new area is schedule to open in June.

MAJOR REVISION

Buildings will be moved to accommodate water slide relocation. Large trees will be planted along Stanton Avenue to screen resident’s views.

Family raft and river area will be scaled down.

Edison Electric Grill will eliminate its 2-story seating.

62-foot-tall water slides will be moved to entrance area. Large trees will be planted to screen residents’ view.