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Politics & Government

Los Al Outlines Concerns About Proposed Trucking Center in Cypress

In addition to worries about health and traffic, officials say the project would "shorten the pavement life" of Katella Avenue, Cerritos Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard.

Traffic, road damage and air pollution top the list of troubles that Los Alamitos officials worry a proposed 33-acre Cypress truck complex could bring to the city

Recently the Los Alamitos City Council voted 5-0 to oppose the development. The 33-acre warehousing and light manufacturing site that industrial developer Prologis proposed for the corner of Enterprise and Katella will have significant environmental and human health impacts on the surrounding community, according to a letter from Los Alamitos to the Cypress.

And city officials want Cypress to address those issues in a draft report Cypress is preparing on project's potential effects.

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To read the letter in full, click the pdf under the picture on the right.

According to the letter, officials are concerned that the 134 truck bays could generate up to 1,131 trips in the morning hours and 1,080 in peak hours which would “shorten the pavement life” of local streets and increase traffic times.

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City staffers were also concerned about the project’s effect on air quality, especially because the site would be so close to Laurel Park (.62 miles away), the Los Alamitos Medical Center (.75 miles away) and the Alamitos West Care Center (.62 miles away). The last day to submit comments on the upcoming draft report is Wednesday.

At a recent meeting aimed at collecting comment on the project Garden Grove, Los Alamitos and Cypress residents said the project would increase traffic, damage streets and increase health risks, especially for children. 

Because of the impact on local residents and because of the residents’ objections, Los Alamitos Mayor Warren Kusumoto said there’s no amount of money the developer could pay the city to make him OK with the project.

“We don’t want their money,” Kusumoto said.  

The Los Al letter lists other concerns. The project would force traffic onto Midway and Enterprise and interfere with the commute for students and parents who use Katella to get to school, according to the letter.

Of the about 21 people who spoke on the issue at a Monday Cypress City Council meeting, most were against it, said Doug Hawkins, Cypress planning manager. He said most were also concerned with three main issues: noise, traffic and pollution.

Residents from Los Al and Cypress packed the council chamber occasionally yelling during the meeting, said those who attended the meeting. Cypress Mayor Prakash Narain, M.D., could not be reached for comment.

According to Hawkins, Assemblyman Travis Allen’s district director Emanuel Patrascu spoke in support of the project at the meeting. However, Patrascu later clarified that the assemblyman did not approve or support the project but supported the goal of “economic development.”

“He’s supporting the process involved,” Patrascu said.  “From what I’ve seen of it, it’s not what I would consider a truck stop.”

Patrascu added that "a truck stop is usually a place where trucks stop, heavy amount of trucks coming through and stopping over night.” Patrascu said he doesn’t believe this project is a truck stop.

“The Assemblyman wants to see what the final project looks like” before deciding whether he's in favor or against, Patrascu said.

The last day to submit comments by email, phone, fax or hand delivery before city staff begin drafting the EIR is April 10.

Emails can be sent to33acreproject@ci.cypress.ca.us, the phone number is 714 229-6720  and the fax number is 714-229-0154. For mail, address letters to the City of Cypress, Community Development Department, 5175 Orange Avenue Cypress, California, Attention Mr. Douglas Hawkins AICP, Planning Manager.

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