Jul
19
“Compass Study” recommendations from tonight’s Council Presentation
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council, Planning & Zoning, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(7/19/2010) Tonight’s 7 p.m. Los Alamitos City Council meeting will feature a presentation on the results of SCAG’s study of the city’s two major traffic corridors.
I was surprised by both what was included and even more by Read more
Jul
16
SCAG Vision for Katella & Los Al Blvds on Monday Council Agenda
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council Meetings, Development, Planning & Zoning | 5 Comments
(7/16/2010, Los Alamitos) The agenda is out for this Monday’s City Council Meeting, with several items of interest.
Most significant for the city’s future is Read more
May
22
Planning Commission stands by rezone to retail
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning, Troy Edgar | 2 Comments

One of the chain's restaurants
A word from Dave E: Jody Schloss is a former Planning Commissioner and one of the more informed local residents I know. She was the person who tipped off the city as to the Base’s plans to house a L.A. County Sherriff’s Helicopter Base several years ago.
When she sent me some information about the ongoing dispute about the 24 Hour Fitness property rezone, I asked her if she could write the article and e-mail it to me. There’s lots of good information in it, and I hope Jody will become one of a team of regular contributors to LetsFixLosAl.
by Jody Schloss. (Los Alalmitos, May 22, 2010) Just two weeks ago the Planning Commission reconsidered a rezone they’d done earlier at the request of the City Council. The property involved was the old 24 Hour Fitness building, and the back-and-forth between the Council and Planning Commission is an interesting story, to say the least.
Many residents would probably be surprised to know Read more
May
10
Your reporting and comments on Monday’s important Planning Committee Meeting
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning | 8 Comments
(5/10/2010, Los Alamitos) In view of the important items on tonight’s agenda for the Los Alamitos Planning Commission, we’re providing this space for anyone in attendance to report and comment on what they observed at the meeting.
I’m guessing that the meeting probably won’t be shown on LosAlTV3, but Read more
May
10
Is the hospital about to eat up Los Alamitos?
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Commission Meetings, Development, Planning & Zoning | 5 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 5/10/2010) Los Alamitos’ schools, neighborhoods, and location make it a great place to live, but it may well be the most poorly planned community in Orange County.
Los Al has the two busiest surface streets for miles around, but sales tax revenue from retail businesses on those streets is surprisingly low.
Due to a series of decisions made by developers and businesses more than by residents, Los Al has become a city people drive through to get to Costco, Target, Kohls, and restaurants in Seal Beach’s crazy northern dogleg and the unincorporated Rossmoor Center.
What do people drive into Los Alamitos for? Medical care, accountants, schools, Ganahl Lumber, and a handful of really good restaurants actually within the city limit.
While I thank God for our restaurants and Ganahl, and it’s nice to have doctors and schools nearby, the net result is more traffic than sales tax revenue.
My fear is that the Los Alamitos Medical Center’s new 25-year expansion plan is a step in the wrong direction. While it might make a lot of sense for the hospital’s owners, I’m having a hard time figuring out how it makes sense for the people of Los Alamitos, Rossmoor, or Seal Beach.
If you live in the area, tonight is a key night for you because Read more
May
7
3 important public hearings Monday night’s Planning Commission meeting
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning | 2 Comments
5/9/2010 update/summary: If you are not able to make it to the Planning Commission Meeting Monday night, you can still make your concerns heard on the key issues discussed below, by e-mailing Los Alamitos’ Community Development Director, Steven Mendoza, SMendoza@ci.los-alamitos.ca.us.
(5/7/2010, Los Alamitos) The community gets some great opportunities to express their concerns and insights into At their 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall the Los Alamitos Planning Commission will hold public hearings on three items that could significantly impact the city for decades to come:
- An initial “scoping” meeting in advance of the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed 25-year plan for the expansion of the Los Alamitos Medical Center (more on that below).
- A request by the City Council for the planning commission to consider changing the land use designations and concurrent zoning districts on the Katella parcel that was once planned to house an upscale Melting Pot restaurant. One of the options would be to return to a non-retail zone. To some this appears to be an unfortunate step that could lead to reduced sales tax income for the city.
- A request to allow motorcycle sales at the “Clock Tower” building at 10571 Los Alamitos Blvd.
The Medical center application obviously has the greatest implications long Read more
Mar
15
Council stymied by budget challenges
Filed Under City Budget, City Council, Planning & Zoning | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/15/2010, updated at 7:05 p.m.) The Los Alamitos City Council ran out of time when they met at 5:30 today for their annual mid-year budget review to consider additional budget cuts that would result in an “unprecedented” 2 year decline in General Fund Budget of over Read more
Mar
5
Planning Commission Meeting 3/8/10
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning | Leave a Comment
[Ed Note: JM - Still. Yeah I wish Dave were back doing this too...]
7:00 PM at the City Council Chambers.
On the agenda, 2 Public Hearings
1) 5122 Katella Avenue – Roof mounted wireless facility Recommendation: Continue the public hearing to the April 12, 2010 meeting of the Planning Commission (Ed Note: This is the same building that Councilman Edgar had issues with regarding signage)
2) a request to allow non-medical office uses in specific units not to exceed thirty (30) percent of the total units of the Los Alamitos Business Park (Cerritos and Los Al – where the Sizzler is). Recommendation: Adopt Resolution No. 09-18 (approval)
Then there are 2 community development reports.
1) Commissioners Andrade and Commissioner Grose will summarize the February 8 hearing regarding LAFCO Boundary Report
2) SCAG Compass Blueprint Update powerpoint presentation by staff
There is nothing on the agenda relating to the decision from last Monday regarding the zoning on Katella.
Feb
26
Council Meeting – 3/1/10 – 7PM
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council Meetings, Development, Planning & Zoning | 18 Comments
[Ed Note: JM still... Dave is still away so I'm still posting for him. It's Friday, the City Council Agenda has been posted... ]
Don’t go to City Hall! As part of our historic 50th celebration, the City Council Metting has been moved to…
ST. ISIDORE PLAZA, 10961 REAGAN STREET
Not much to discuss… unless you consider the Consent Calendar.
A little background and then…
Feb
15
Traffic Commission, Solid Waste, Melting Pot, & City Clerk on Los Al agendas for Tuesday, 2/16
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning, Traffic | Leave a Comment
(2/15/2010, Los Alamitos) Several items of interest are scheduled for two separate City Council Meetings that were moved back to Tuesday due to the Presidents’ Day Holiday today.
At a 5 p.m. Special Meeting the Council will meet in closed session to Read more
Feb
5
Time to move part of O.C. to Long Beach? Public Hearing this Monday, 2/8
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning | 4 Comments
(2/5/2010, Los Alamitos) In response to recommendations by Orange County and by the City of Long Beach, a Public Hearing will be held Monday night at Los Alamitos City Hall about moving parts of El Dorado Park Estates Imperial Estates and other border areas from Los Al to Long Beach or vice versa.
The intent is to straighten out a border that predated the current route of the Coyote “Creek” flood control channel. The current boundary certainly appears to be Read more
Feb
1
Feb 1: YOUR reporting on tonight’s 2 Los Al Council Meetings
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council Meetings, Commission Meetings, Planning & Zoning, The Base | 5 Comments
(2/1/2010, Los Alamitos): Once again it’s your turn to be the reporter on our City Council meetings. Tonight is interesting because it features Read more
Jan
29
Joint Los Al City Council and Planning Commission Special meeting @ 5:30 Monday
Filed Under 2010 Issues, City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning | Leave a Comment
(1/29/2010) A number of important zoning and planning issues will be on the table this Monday, 2/1/2010, when the Los Alamitos City Council meets jointly with the Planning Commission at 5:30, before the Council’s Regular Meeting.
Key issues on the agenda include the Read more
Jan
28
Los Alamitos needs your input on Katella/Los Al Blvd. study
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Planning & Zoning | 1 Comment
(1/28/2010, Los Alamitos) The city is finally moving forward with the SCAG-funded Compass study of the Los Alamitos Blvd. and Katella corridors.
Part of the initial phase involves a very important Read more
Jan
19
2010 Council priorities, new city engineer, trash bid on Los Al City Council’s Tuesday agenda
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning | Leave a Comment
(1/18/2010, Los Alamitos) After their 5:30 Special Meeting to interview 5 candidates for 3 vacancies on Los Alamitos’ Planning Commission (see “Resigned Los Al Mayor’s wife to interview for Planning Commission“), the Council will probably move directly into their first Regular Meeting of the decade at about 7:00 Tuesday night, 1/19/201.
Several interesting topics are included on a fairly lengthy agenda: Read more