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Politics & Government

Rossmoor Gears Up to Fight Land Grab

Los Alamitos officials are set to discuss a coveted commercial corner at Monday's Planning Commission meeting.

A public hearing Monday evening could prove to be quite rowdy.

The Los Alamitos Planning Commission is set to discuss a general plan land-use map. But Rossmoor residents reading between the lines see a move afoot to annex businesses and apartments in the the Rossmoor Shopping Center.

Not to worry, insists Los Alamitos City Councilman Troy Edgar. The purpose of the meeting is merely to update the city's development blueprint for the area, not to "go after any land," Edgar said.

But Rossmoor Community Services District Manager Henry Taboada isn't buying it.

“Obviously they are interested in developing the downtown area,” Taboada said. “But the annexation of the corner makes no sense and is not a necessity. This is an accelerated plan to take the corner either by a resolution of the City Council or a petition by the residents on that block.”

Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach said he supports handing control of the county-owned parcel to Los Alamitos.

“I understand Los Alamitos’ desire to annex the corner,” he said. “I think Rossmoor is fully aware that something has to be done. We have tried to work with them. When they wanted to incorporate, we supported that — but it was unsuccessful. This next step should be no surprise to them, there should be no shock.”

The property, which is commercial, is home to several businesses and generates roughly $250,000 a year in sales tax revenue.

Annexing the corner “would create a unified downtown commercial center,” Edgar said, adding that he doesn’t want to be known as part of a City Council that missed an opportunity to add the property, especially in this harsh economy.

But Edgar insisted there was “no immediate action to make a move.”

“I understand that Rossmoor is looking at this situation and trying to discern what the situation is,” he said. “But it is hard to tell when a decision will be made because neither community is ready to make a move.”

County officials are frustrated that Rossmoor won't “step up to the plate and [merge] with Los Alamitos,” Moorlach said.

“They could join Los Alamitos and have half the seats on the City Council,” he said. “Rossmoor is taking a my-way-or-the-highway approach and that doesn’t work when you are playing with others.”

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He added: “They [Rossmoor] are like a spoiled child. When they don’t get what they want, they get mad." Moorlach said if Los Alamitos is willing to annex the corner, "I have to figure out a way to get rid of it.”

But Taboada said Rossmoor residents intend to show up in force to protest the concept.

“We might not be able to stop this,” he said. “But we intend on letting the county know, letting Los Alamitos know and letting the people who care know that Rossmoor isn’t going to stand by and just be plowed over.”

Monday’s meeting is set to start at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers, 3191 Katella Ave., Los Alamitos.

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