Bellflower : Developer Protests Stricture

Flanked by his attorney, an architect and a court stenographer, developer George Holiday Monday night protested a restriction imposed by the City Council on a proposed 270,000-square-foot industrial park.

The council has delayed issuing a building permit for the project until Holiday agrees to sign a document stating that the property will not be used as a storage warehouse.

The council postponed action on the item until its next meeting, when Holiday and city officials will discuss the issue.

In June, the city approved a 10 1/2-month moratorium on storage facilities in order to study other uses for the properties that would generate more revenue for the city.

Holiday told the council that the project would not be used as a warehouse facility, but in earlier discussions with the council he said that the project would be used for storage on a temporary basis. The Development Review Board denied that proposal.

The city is “asking me to sign a document saying in essence that I will not break the law,” Holiday said after the meeting. “I see this is an abuse of power on the part of the city.”