What to do on a Saturday morning? For many residents from the Country Hills, Country Hills Estates and Eagle Hills neighborhoods, plus other interested Breans, it was to gather at 8 a.m.
Read more The US and others turn to Brazil for rare earths, raising environmental concerns
The reason they came with beach chairs to a grassy knoll or sat on the curb of a cul de sac on the morning of Aug. 8 was to learn more about Costco’s plans to open in Brea in the Kraemer Boulevard/Birch Street area. The 34-acre site now houses Beckman-Coulter, which will be moving in approximately two years and the buildings torn down.
Dwight Manley purchased the property last January for $140 million. Manley’ plans are to bring Costco to the site, along with 278 for-sale townhomes by Lennar Homes.
I expected far fewer attendees to come out on a Saturday morning, but there were more than 100 folks, according to the organizers. And they were ready to ask questions and learn about the proposed project from Jason Killebrew, Brea’s assistant city manager/community development director, and from Manley.
The two-hour meeting, organized by Brea4All’s Mark Struvent, went much better than I expected. No yelling or name calling. Most of the questions, not surprisingly, were about traffic impacts to Birch and Kraemer plus their neighborhoods. Some Eagle Hills residents were concerned about extra Costco traffic in December when tons of folks drive through their holiday-decorated streets.
Resident Nancy Clifton-Hawkins was an amazing moderator who quickly laid out the goals and ground rules. She said the purpose was to have a conversation about the prospects of Costco coming to 200 to 250 S. Kraemer Blvd. and Birch Street. She kept the meeting on track and it ran quite smoothly.
The city’s sales tax sharing agreement with property owner Manley was not on the agenda, and no one tried to bring it up. If they had, Clifton-Hawkins would not have allowed it.
Killebrew spoke first and explained that along with the warehouse store there would be 942 parking spaces, plus 30 gas pumps.
“The signal locations are yet to be determined,” said Killebrew. “They will be evaluated as the project processing progresses and there is more technical information.”
Many residents were very concerned about noise, especially from Costco’s tire shop. Killibrew explained that it would be located at the opposite end of the property, away from the neighborhoods.
Read more Pulitzers and American Library Association launch ‘Pulitzer on the Road’ touring exhibit
Poster boards on display had drawings of the proposed site plan, a current aerial view of the property, where Beckman-Coulter is located. Plus a poster explaining the progress of an EIR or Environmental Impact Report.
Killebrew also noted that no date is set yet for the scoping meeting. It comes after the EIR, when the public can ask questions or comment on the possible environmental impacts of the proposed project.
Manley said he thought the meeting was productive and informative.
“I talked to many people that seemed glad to hear from the city and see pictures first hand,” he said. He added that support has been growing as more people learn about the plans, and that outside of the immediate area, support has been 99% for it.
Former Brea mayor Bev Perry was also at the Saturday morning meeting. She said she thought the meeting was balanced with much good information presented.
“I honestly don’t know if it changed anyone’s opinion about the Costco, but at least they have more information about it,” Perry said.
Mark Strum, spokesperson for Brea4All, said the audience questions were excellent and hit all the expected topics.
“It is clear that Costco/Manley will do everything possible to get ahead of it in planning/EIR preparation,” said Strum. He also hopes the composite of the audience’s questions will help Costco and Manley and the city address the most troublesome areas.
Costco coming to Brea will be a big change, but so was the Brea Mall and the redevelopment of Brea Downtown.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at [email protected].
Read more Omaha’s largest public school district stops officers from using electric shock gloves