Letter to the Editor: If The Shoe Fits

Submitted by George Pardon, Cypress Resident

Although I’m a longtime Cypress resident, I decided to attend the Los Alamitos City Council Special Meeting on Monday, June 17 because the City Council was going to hear a presentation on proposed changes to their General Plan and Land Use Plan and Priorities. 

After attending many Cypress City Council meetings listening to Los Alamitos residents complain to the Cypress City Council about traffic, a need for more parks and open space, and a performing arts center on Cypress property, I was very surprised that no Los Alamitos residents were there to complain about what was being proposed on Monday night.

There were no proposals for new parks or open space. There were no proposals for a performing arts center. There were no concerns raised about the traffic or environmental issues that could arise from the proposed changes.

Instead, the City Council was highly complimentary of the proposal and the efforts that were taken to obtain community input and the number of meetings with the Planning Commission and other groups. 

Probably the most significant changes included proposals to modify a number of areas to retail zoning including Arrowhead Products on the corner of Katella and Lexington. One suggestion was a hotel on the corner of Los Alamitos Blvd and Katella Ave. Another comment was that the Commission wants to preserve Katella Ave for Retail. 

The presenter also said that many Los Alamitos residents weren’t aware that the city had an Industrial area. Maybe that’s because Los Alamitos put the densest Industrial area next to Cypress neighborhoods. Other comments from City Council members included that the Council wanted to maximize revenues and not restrict existing property owners.

I understand why residents in Los Alamitos and Cypress have concerns about increased traffic, environmental impacts, and they have a desire to have more open space. What I don’t understand is why the Los Alamitos residents are not making the same demands of their City Council as they are of the Cypress City Council. 

After all, if the shoe fits, they should wear it.

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