Orange County Elections : Cypress Open-Space Battle Bewildering, Residents Say

One of the more controversial and heated debates of the election campaign is taking place in the tiny north county community of Cypress, where a men’s golf club, the owners of a famous race track and the city are locked in a dispute over who controls 160 acres of open space.

The dispute over development of what was once a popular golf course resulted in Measure D, the “Greenbelt Preservation and Open Space Initiative.” If passed, the measure would require a public vote for any proposed changes on land zoned for public or semi-public use in the city.

The measure has prompted several legal challenges, has confused many residents, and all sides accuse one or the other of muddying the debate with misleading statements.

Mayor John Kanel and the Cypress Chamber of Commerce have issued press releases aimed at clarifying the issue for voters, but many remain bewildered.

“I know that many people wanted the golf club to stay open, but now it seems to involve all public land in the city,” said resident Susan Greene. “I really couldn’t say what would be best for the city, based on what I have heard so far.”

The controversy began when Hollywood Park Realty Enterprises Inc., owners of the Los Alamitos Golf Course, asked the city to rezone the property to allow development of a business park on the site. The golf course was closed in January, 1987, despite protests by the Los Alamitos Men’s Golf Club, and later preservationists, who said the city has not adequately protected scarce open land.

After the city approved the zoning change, golf course supporters mounted a petition drive resulting in the initiative measure, and two months later, the City Council rescinded the zoning change.

On Tuesday, Hollywood Park Realty filed a $125-million federal lawsuit against the city, alleging that its constitutional rights were violated when the city changed its mind on the zoning change.

The suit, according to some observers, further confused the initiative battle. Kanel called the suit a “scare tactic” and accused Hollywood Park Realty of conducting a “misinformation” campaign.

“They are just poisoning the air by the way this campaign is being conducted,” Kanel said. “In the last few weeks, I have received many telephone calls from upset and confused Cypress residents.”

Hollywood Park Realty representatives could not be reached for comment on the suit or the initiative campaign.

Kanel has not taken a position for or against the initiative, but he argues that it would, in fact, have little impact on most public and semi-public land.

Nearly 600 acres of such property, including parks, public school property, city buildings, the Forest Lawn Cemetery and Los Alamitos Race Track (also owned by Hollywood Park Realty) could be affected.

City Atty. Jerry Patterson said adverse factors could include the loss of revenues if the property is not developed and the $35,000 to $40,000 it costs to hold an election if developments are challenged and must be put to a public vote. Patterson said there are also two other legal suits pending against the city--one challenging the initiative if it is successful and the other the zoning change.

Cypress School District trustees voted 3 to 2 recently to oppose the initiative, and the Cypress Chamber of Commerce has urged voters to defeat the measure.

In the Chamber of Commerce press release, executive director Ned Fox argued that the initiative would mean a usurpation of private property rights. Fox said the city has been able to attract “first-class corporations to the city in a very competitive market.”

“A large corporation seeking to locate in Cypress would have little or no interest if they were forced to spend time and money to have the voter approve their proposal,” he warned.