ProLogis cuts truck bays, not square footage

May 14, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Traffic

trucksx-large(Cypress/Los Alamitos, 5/14/2013)  ProLogis Senior V.P. Pat Maloney (rhymes with “baloney”) kicked off his “[Traffic] Jam on Katella Reunion Tour” with live appearances at Cypress City Council Meeting last night and Cypress Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast this morning.

The breakfast meeting was held at the “Marriott Residence Inn Cypress Los Alamitos,” which is both south and east of the 33 acres where ProLogis plans to erect three buildings so massive that 15 pro football fields  could be housed inside them!

I’m guessing Mr. Maloney might have spent the night at the Residence Inn rather than confront the morning rush hour gridlock on Katella his firm will be adding to if their proposed facilities are ever built.

At the  ”open house” ProLogis hosted two months ago I had a revealing discussion about trucking bays with Mr. Maloney.  Way back then he told me that ProLogis would be happy to replace truck bays with additional parking.

Pretty much a wash

However, Mahoney said the result would be pretty much a wash in terms of traffic impact:  Lots 

Read the rest of this entry →

Traffic Commission revisits Farquhar this Wednesday, 5/8/2013

May 7, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Commissions, Traffic

(Los Alamitos, 5/7/13)  Tomorrow’s the second Wednesday of the month, meaning it’s time for Los Alamitos’ Traffic Commission’s monthly 7 pm meeting at City Hall.

In response to a request last year from Alice Jempsa among others, city staff has taken a fresh look at traffic issues on Farquhar and potential additional traffic calming actions that might help resolve at least some of them.

If you live near or frequently use Farquhar, you might want to stop by City Hall around 7.  The agenda is available online (click here), but not the detailed agenda report on Farquhar, so I’m including it below.  I’ve added the bold and the subjeadings in bold italics for those among us who like to scan.  [Items in brackets and italics are also my additions]

Begin agenda report:

Background:  2003-4 Traffic Calming Studies

The Traffic Calming Study was started back in late 2002 and was mainly concerning the Old Town East area and the Cottonwood Church issues. In 2003, the Traffic Commission recommended the preparation of a comprehensive Traffic Calming Study for the Apartment Row, Carrier Row, New Dutch Haven, Old Dutch Haven, and Suburbia Neighborhoods. Later on, Old Town East, Greenbrook, and Woodcrest were added.

The Los Alamitos Traffic Calming Study was completed Read the rest of this entry →

Have you thought about this stuff?

April 11, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, Highlands Guy's Thursday Columns, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Safety, Schools, Traffic

trucksx-largeOur Thusday columnist is still thinking about the implications of Cypress “33 acre project,”  & he’s come up with some I never thought of: (Los Alamitos/Cypress, 4/11/2013)  The proposed mega storage and distribution warehouse, and the intrusion of hundreds of weekly big rig trips through our little city has taken up much of the local thoughts and press recently.  And with good reason, I might add.

Although the discussion has reached its tentacles into various areas of our local life. I thought I would add just a couple of issues that have here-to-fore not been delineated.

Some may be a bit obtuse, but could have far reaching effects on Los Alamitos, Cypress, Garden Grove, and Seal Beach during the second decade of the 21st century.

Traffic:   Obviously the increase in traffic will be horrendous. But, for a moment consider the ripple effects.

Yes, every school Read the rest of this entry →

No Thursday night food trucks this month! (Your April Community Calendar)

April 11, 2013 in Community Calendar & Bulletin Board, Cypress, Restaurants and food trucks, Safety, Traffic, Your reporting and comments

(Los Alamitos, 4/10/2013 update:)  No Thursday night Los Alamitos food trucks tonight or any Thursday this month.  But according to host truck Rancho Rocke BBQ’s   Chris Rocke:  ”We are scheduling a relaunch of the event for 5/2.”

In the meantime,  it’s my understanding St. Isidore’s will continue some Thursday evening fund raisers.  And Los Al is still chock full of all sorts of great eateries with distinct local character, at least 12 within a block or two of St. Isidore’s, from Greek to Thai to Mexican to all sorts of American.  Check it out!

updated 4/6/2013 for info on Los Al & later calendar items, scroll down past the first item, on Monday’s Cypress Council Meeting)  I’m not making this stuff up!  As Cypress residents are beginning to mobilize to fight adding hundreds of big rigs spewing carcinogenic particles to their streets, their City Council is about to prepare this week “Childhood Cancer Awareness Week” in Cypress!  (Item 5 on the Cypress Council’s Monday, 4/8/2013, 7 pm agenda!)

I’ve got to wonder if Read the rest of this entry →

Los Al Traffic Commission focuses on ProLogis Trucks tonight, as does our local media

April 10, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Commissions, Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Local Media review & reporting, Traffic, Your reporting and comments

bigrigpollute(4/10/2013, Los Alamitos)  Please note today is the  deadline for you to e-mail your concerns about Cypress  giant”Logistics” campus.  Click here for details.   The Traffic Commission meets tonight at City Hall to review a staff report on Cypress’ proposed 33 acre ProLogis logistics complex.  This is the first time the project has come before the Commission, and provides local residents an opportunity to express their concerns to the Commissioners.

Which is what Cypress area residents seem to be doing increasingly, judging by our local media!

Today’s News-Enterprise had a veritable logistics Grand Slam (which is more than you can say for the high-priced Angels sluggers so far):

  • Front page above-the-fold:  ”Public forum doesn’t quell fear.” 
  • Guest Column from Cypress resident George Pardon, “Residents shouldn’t be Read the rest of this entry →

Please send a brief e-mail today to save our quality of life!

April 9, 2013 in Cypress, Decency, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Safety, Traffic

Coming soon to a neighborhood near you!

(Cypress/Los Alamitos, 4/9/2013)  4/10  update:  Deadline’s tonight!  An International Logistics Monolith wants to build a 33 acre trucking, traffic, and pollution hub in the middle of four West Orange County bedroom communities, and it looks like it’s up to you & me 5to stop it!

The next 24 hours are critical.  You can scroll down for the heading on  ”Your easy steps” for what to do, but first, let me review a few key facts about the proposed project:

  • ProLogis wants to break ground this year on a 33 acre project that includes enough building space to house 12 pro football fields plus between 129 – 300- big rigs!
  • The site also requires almost 1,000 parking spaces for employees and visitors.  A simple reconfiguring  of the buildings would double the amount of employees and parking spaces to almost  2,000!
  • ProLogis claims to not know who they will lease the buildings too, but they are configured for multiple tenants.
  • The location near the Harbor suggests trucking of cargo containers for breaking down & reshipping.  Click here for a detailed comment from one port worker on what that means. 
  • Diesel fumes are the greatest source of airborne carcinogens, and Read the rest of this entry →

More info on Cypress 33 acre “Logistics” project & your reporting on tonight’s Cypress Council Meeting

April 8, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Cypress, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Traffic, Your reporting and comments

The newest ProLogis proposal.  Note the size of even the smallest building compared to the Marriott to the south (bottom), 24 hour fitness (lower right), or even the huge Cottonwood buildings on the left

The newest ProLogis proposal. Note the size of even the smallest building compared to the Marriott to the south (bottom), 24 hour fitness (lower right), or even the huge Cottonwood buildings on the left. Click on the photo for greater magnification.

(Cypress, 4/8/2013) I’ve got some more amazing  facts on the 33 acre “Logistics” facility that ProLogis wants to break ground on this December, but first look at the amazing photo above.

If you wondered what 725,000 square feet of buildings look like, compare the “footprint of the smallest of ProLogis’ three proposed buildings (# 2, upper left with Cottonwood church’s two huge buildings just to it’s west  (left, across Enterprise from it.)

Even more amazing, compare ProLogis’ second smallest building, across the bottom of the picture, with the itzy bitzy Marriott Residence Inn, the purplish little building to the east (right).   Or the 24 Hour Fitness/Office Depot building a little further to the east (right)>

Shoot, it looks to me like you could fit the Marriott, 24 Hour Fitness, Office Depot and both Cottonwood buildings into ProLogis’ Building 3 (top center) with room left over for maybe five more Marriotts!

Now the amazing facts that accompanied the photo/overlay, which came with my packet for this Wednesday’s 7 pm Los Alamitos Traffic Commission Meeting:  Read the rest of this entry →

The Stink on the Base

April 4, 2013 in 2013 Issues, Decency, Highlands Guy's Thursday Columns, Joint Forces Training Base, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Planning & Community Development, Seal Beach, Traffic

(Los Alamitos, 4/4/2013)  Like the gophers in Little Cottonwood Park, just when we think we’ve got the “recycling” problem solved at the Base, it pops up again, as a “mulching” and transportation problem.  Less garbage smell, same nasty trucks speeding by Los Al backyards on dusty dirt roads.  

Trucks to the North of  Carrier Row, trucks to the East of  the Highlands!  

Highlands’ Guy’s research focuses in on one more Los Al quality of life issue that, as he points out, actually affects us all:

By Highlands Guy: I am a staunch supporter of our JFTB. Always have been, probably always will.

The short time I was based there in the olden days, it was a positive experience.  For as long as I have been a Los Al resident, they have been a good neighbor.

To be honest, I sure hope they avoid the fall out from any future BRAC actions.  I much prefer the open space it sits on, rather than another inevitable mall or housing project.

Just as an aside, if they ever do close up shop, the responsibility for the clean-up of the subterranean toxic waste will be in the courts for the next 25 years.

But I digress. The focus today is the much misunderstood mulching project that is being supported by the JFTB.  Recently I heard about the an entire street in the Highlands neighborhood that is constantly bombarded with noise, a nasty Read the rest of this entry →

Scores jam Scoping meeting, Cypress extends EIR public comment deadline

April 3, 2013 in City Council, Cypress, Decency, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), Our Future, Safety, Traffic, Your reporting and comments

4 3 Cypress Prologis EIR meeting(Cypress, 4/3/2013) Mid day Thursday update:  I’m hearing reports of some come confusion resulting from the signs posted at last night’s meeting indicating the deadline for public comments was extended to next Wednesday, 4/10.  I’m told some residents thought that another meeting would be held then at the Clubhouse, but that is not the case.  Input must be delivered or mailed Douglas Hawkins, 5275 Orange, Cypress 90630 or e-mailed to 33AcreProject@ci.cypress.ca.us. No second meeting is planned, although the Cypress City Council will meet this Monday at 7 pm.

Scores of concerned Cypress, Rossmoor, and Los Alamitos residents and Los Al officials crowded both sides of the former Cypress Golf Course Clubhouse to express their concerns about the proposed 33 acre ProLogis Logistics hub.

It was designed as an interactive event, which worked well.   It provided an excellent opportunity to interact with staff of the Environmental Impact Firm, public officials from Los Alamitos, and Cypress’ Planning Director.

prologis plans4cyp (2)The good news is that Cypress has wisely extended the time for the public to comment on potential environmental issues/impacts that should be addressed in the EIR to a week from today, Wednesday, 4/10/2013.

I left convinced that a primary focus needs to be   Read the rest of this entry →

“The worst place in Orange County for this project?” My EIR letter

April 2, 2013 in 2013 Issues, About Dave Emerson, Cypress, Decency, LART ("Los Al Race Track" property), News you can use, Our Future, Safety, Traffic

(Los Alamitos, 4/2/2012)  Today is the last day for the public and local agencies to submit their Environmental Impact Report concerns for the draft EIR report on the proposed ProLogis trucking/industrial site on the Old Cypress Golf Course’s southern portion.

I wrote mine last night.  I could have kept writing, but ran out of time. . . not concerns.  I live to the southwest of the project.  Those living to the north, northwest, east, and south of the project probably have equal concerns.

The bottom line is, all the communities surrounding the complex are already gridlocked.  The last thing we need is 12 NFL Football fields of interior cubicles filled with office workers, or 250 truck bays with hundreds of trucks large and small arriving 24/7, or any combination of the two.

Read on for my perspective.  Feel free to cut & paste to make it easier for you to get yours e-mailed before today’s deadline, although it’s Read the rest of this entry →