Yorba Linda : Developer Pulls Out of Auto Center Project

The developer of a controversial, 40-acre auto center proposed in Yorba Linda said Wednesday that the company has pulled out of the project because of strong opposition from homeowners.

Kevin Hanson, vice president of Bedford Properties, said the company sent the Yorba Linda City Council a letter Tuesday night dropping the project because of the neighborhood battle against it. That battle included a lawsuit against the developer and a 4,000-signature petition.

“We lost a significant amount of money in the interest we had to pay on the property and the consulting expenses,” Hanson said, adding that the company will sell the land.

Members of a homeowners group, Aware Concerned Citizens Organized for Reasonable Development, had sued to block the project and had circulated petitions for a referendum because they feared that it would increase traffic and noise and reduce property values.

“We would rather see a row of restaurants, a two- or three-screen movie theatre complex or what it was originally zoned for, research and development building,” said Ron Taylor, chairman of the group.

City Manager Arthur C. Simonian said city officials are looking at alternative sites for an auto park because it is one of the best businesses to bring in large tax revenues. The proposed auto park would have brought in an estimated $2 million annually in revenues.